"I will go up to the lookout tower.
I'll station myself on tHe city wall.
I'll wait to see how the LORD will reply to me.
Then I'll try to figure out how to answer him." Habakkuk 2:1
"Lord how long do I have to call out for help?
Why don't you listen to me?
How long must I keep telling you
that things are terrible?
Why don't you save us? Habakkuk 1:1
Habakkuk knew where to go with his burning questions
He didn't wait until he had his emotions under control
It came out all hot and fiery
But it came out to the one who He knew was listening and cared
and who he knew would answer him in His own time and way
To Whom am I speaking?
Trusting God does not mean I do not feel angry, depressed, sad, bewildered or even abandoned
What do I do with these feelings?
Do I bring them to Him?
Reading the lives of others to see God working
I love reading biographies of persons seeking to trust and obey God through all kinds of difficulties and their own failings and flaws
Lately to me, it seems that many of these stories are written showing persons who by the grace of God come through their struggles
are enabled to persevere and do amazing things
including overcoming themselves
their fears, hesitations, inclination to self-preservation and racism etc
The ones I find most encouraging are the ones who bare their souls and let me see the struggles,
the failings, the doubts, etc.
I wonder, though, in our human tendency to want to make a nice story and a happy ending
we don't inadvertently gloss and smooth over rough points too much
making and drawing straight lines and conclusions
where the truth was more complex and murky
Why I need to see and hear your struggles
I love Habakkuk because he just lays it out there
"Lord how long do I have to call out for help?
Why don't you listen to me?
How long must I keep telling you
that things are terrible?
Why don't you save us?
This comforts me because I don't always find any improvement ( to my own limited sight and to my own limited definitions) to the things I am so desperately in conversation with God over
It is always true that I need to grow in grace
in trusting in
in believing in you
in practical working out of your truth
in my heart, inner thoughts, conversations, perspectives, reactions, relationships, etc
but there is this sharp assassin's blade thrown into my heart
If you trusted God ___________
(more, better, fuller, deeper, more practically - you fill in the adjective)
then you would
be more full of joy and peace, be able to have a stronger and better effect on those around,
see more spiritual fruit, etc, etc, fill in the blank...)
Partially true / Partially false
YES it is true that we can always be more filled with the Holy Spirit
and His working of inner peace and joy and love to others
courage to act selflessly
persist in difficulty
YES
But even Christ said "Father Father, why have you forsaken me?
He felt abandoned and alone even in the center of God's will
and accomplishing the very work He came to do
You gave us the Psalms that are full of poignant emotion
much of it we would term negative
Habakkuk is feeling deep pain and angst
even as he is looking forward to hearing how the Lord is going to meet him
I am struggling through a long season of trial
feeling as one could imagine
and the thought that things could/would be better if I were more spiritual is a painful one
true but also untrue
I think the best way forward is to just talk with you about this
let you sort me out
You can show me where there is unbelief, bitterness, self pity, resentment, hardness of heart
Only you can help me to see the truth
Only you can bring me closer to you and more and more free of these things
Only you can transform me
and those around me
Worship and Peace
Yes, this is the point
all about you and not me
O Lord,
help me to remain in openness to you
where you can work in me
Help me to trust in you
when there is a sense of overcoming
and when there is not
it is not about my feeble evaluations
You are the one I need no matter what is going on around me and in me
You are able to get what you want in me
24 God is strong and can help you not to fall.
He can bring you before his glory without any wrong in you
and give you great joy.
25 He is the only God.
He is the One who saves us.
To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority
through Jesus Christ our Lord
for all time past, now, and forever. Amen.
Jude 24-25 International Children's Bible
Showing posts with label growing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label growing. Show all posts
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Sunday, March 6, 2016
For When You feel You Could Never Recover
Near my house is a field of avocado trees. One day, driving by I was shocked to see the trees had all their branches severely lopped off until there was truly only a 4 to 5 foot stump left and every inch had been sealed over with glaring white paint.
What before was a field of vibrant green, tall and verdant, blowing in the breeze and producing bounty was now a stark view of bare brown dirt and white skeletons dwarfed to a mere fraction of their former size.
Not a single leaf, branch or twig could be seen anywhere.
It was so distressing to see that the owners of the field felt compelled to post a small sign providing a phone number that those concerned for the trees could call and they would explain this drastic procedure.
Beautiful large and strong branches had been violently severed from their only source of life, never to recover.
What remained was completely sealed off - isolated into itself.
Sometimes we go through a season where this mirrors our experience.
The cutting is so deep and so pervasive and prolonged, we feel we may never recover from this. Ever.
Made all the more painful by the sight of the beautiful branches laying severed and lifeless on the ground. What took large amounts of time, energy and resources to produce, is now lost and dying.
Seemingly a senseless loss. One can imagine no purpose or meaning to this.
And yet, the wise farmer knows the long term benefit of such outweighs the loss.
Please Lord, let us hear your words and let them sink deep down in.
1-3 “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
Please Lord, let us hear you. Sometimes you prune off what is not fruit bearing in our lives.
But sometimes you prune off even what IS fruit bearing. It appears senseless and meaningless. But you do have an end result we cannot see or even imagine right now.
Please help us to keep open and vulnerable and trusting in you. To let your word still reach my heart. To not shut you out or harden my heart to you. To grieve with you and through the tears and loss, know you can bring life from death, light into darkness.
4 “Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
Yes, Lord, help me to pursue You and a deeper relationship with you. Please help me to communicate honestly with you and let your words of hope and comfort in. To know you are with me and will not leave me. Praise you that anyone, ANYONE can be connected to you through what you have done to die in our place and take away my sins and shame.
5-8 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
9-10 “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love. John 15:1-10 The Message
Yes, Lord Jesus, help me to make my home in your love, to turn my gaze onto your beautiful face and rest in who you are.
23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
John 14:23 Holman
John 14:23 Holman
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,goodness, faith,[a] 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25 Holman
Galatians 5:22-25 Holman
Who believes what we’ve heard and seen?
Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this?
Who would have thought God’s saving power would look like this?
2-6 The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
Through his bruises we get healed.
We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.
We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,
on him, on him.
a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
Through his bruises we get healed.
We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.
We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,
on him, on him.
Isaiah 53:1-6 The Message
Yes, Lord, you are working in ways I could never see or imagine
In where I only see loss, you see what I cannot
You want to bring me deeper into yourself
Praise you that through your wounding we are made whole
I love you, Lord
Yes, Lord, you are working in ways I could never see or imagine
In where I only see loss, you see what I cannot
You want to bring me deeper into yourself
Praise you that through your wounding we are made whole
I love you, Lord
The following post by Bonnie Gray was a great comfort to me:
http://www.faithbarista.com/2016/03/why-we-all-need-someone-onewordlent/
Monday, February 15, 2016
What is Truly Effective?
"to keep doing the same thing and expecting different results is insanity"
and yet...
and yet...
Later, Jesus showed himself to his followers by Lake Galilee.[a] This is how it happened: 2 Some of the followers were together. They were Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the two sons of Zebedee, and two other followers. 3 Simon Peter said, “I am going out to fish.”
The other followers said, “We will go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat. They fished that night but caught nothing.
4 Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore. But the followers did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then he said to them, “Friends, have you caught any fish?”
They answered, “No.”
6 He said, “Throw your net into the water on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they did this. They caught so many fish that they could not pull the net back into the boat.
7 The follower whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” John 21:1-7 ICB
Praise you Lord, you are not limited by our limitations
you are not restricted by our restrictions
You can bring complete and utter transformation into something I have done
repeatedly and fruitlessly for years....
You are able to change me in ways i could never imagine
You are able to change situations and relationships and dynamics
The Lord replies,
“Look at the nations. Watch them.
Be totally amazed at what you see.
I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe.
You would not believe it
even if someone told you about it....
Be totally amazed at what you see.
I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe.
You would not believe it
even if someone told you about it....
The message I give you
waits for the time I have appointed.
It speaks about what is going to happen.
And all of it will come true.
It might take a while.
But wait for it.
You can be sure it will come.
It will happen when I want it to.
waits for the time I have appointed.
It speaks about what is going to happen.
And all of it will come true.
It might take a while.
But wait for it.
You can be sure it will come.
It will happen when I want it to.
Habbakuk 1:5 and 2:3 NIRV
The KEY is to hearing your message...
How can I hear you and be moving along in your plan
and not just stuck in my own universe of what I want and feel and desire?
In physics, it is proven that it is impossible to determine the motion of one object relating to another object from the viewpoint of either of these objects.
If you are in one, it looks like the other one is always moving but you are still
but you may be moving and the other object is still.
Like when you are in a parked car and the car next to you begins to move
you have a sensation that you are moving if you are looking at the car next to you, but in fact you are not moving at all
motion can only be confirmed by a non mobile observer from a completely separate vantage point
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ....
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed...
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure...
2 Corinthians 10: 5, 8, 12-14a KJV
Now I am going to appeal to you personally, by the gentleness and sympathy of Christ himself...
The truth is that, although of course we lead normal human lives, the battle we are fighting is on the spiritual level. The very weapons we use are not those of human warfare but powerful in God’s warfare for the destruction of the enemy’s strongholds.
Our battle is to bring down every deceptive fantasy and every imposing defence that men erect against the true knowledge of God.
We even fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of Christ. Once we are sure of your obedience we shall not shrink from dealing with those who refuse to obey....
12-16 Of course we shouldn’t dare include ourselves in the same class as those who write their own testimonials, or even to compare ourselves with them!
All they are doing, of course, is to measure themselves by their own standards or by comparisons within their own circle, and that doesn’t make for accurate estimation, you may be sure.
No, we shall not make any wild claims, but simply judge ourselves by that line of duty which God has marked out for us, and that line includes our work on your behalf. We do not exceed our duty when we embrace your interests, for it was our preaching of the Gospel which brought us into contact with you. Our pride is not in matters beyond our proper sphere nor in the labours of other men. No, our hope is that your growing faith will mean the expansion of our sphere of action, so that before long we shall be preaching the Gospel in districts beyond you, instead of being proud of work that has already been done in someone else’s province.
17 But, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord’.
18 It is not self-commendation that matters, it is winning the approval of God.
2 Corinthians 10: 1-6, 12-16 Phillips
(Note: I have really selected a few verses out from a longer passage - for the context of the whole chapter see: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2011&version=PHILLIPS )
Paul is effective and fruitful in what he is doing because:
1. He understands it is a spiritual battle
2. He seeks to bring/let his own thoughts, perspectives and attitudes be brought into the light of God's word and evaluated there
3. He seeks to obey Christ, beginning in his thoughts and inner life
4. He does not try to figure out where he is and how he is doing by comparing himself to others
5. He is seeking to be in the boundaries that God has given him
Like the disciples hearing the direction - put the net on the right side of the boat - put it here not just anywhere
O, Lord, sometimes I have a pretty clear idea what you want me to do be doing and most of the time I don't really. I have so much trouble knowing where healthy boundaries are, in my thoughts, in my relationships, in my work
Lord please show me my sphere,
help me to be in the boundaries of where you want me and do what you want me do to
no more and no less
to not go beyond and be overbearing and controlling
to not shirk responding to a need you are presenting to me that you want me to respond to
I wake up each morning and there is more to do than can ever be done
more needs around than can ever possibly be met
help me to abide in you and walk with you
to simply hear and respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit and
be in the flow of what you are doing
in the sphere you want me to be in
amen
"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God.
Trust in me also....
Remain joined to me and I will remain joined to you...
I am the vine. You are the branches. If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit. You can’t do anything without me. "
John 14:1, John 15:4-5
Thursday, February 4, 2016
For the Joy of the Lord is your strength
"For the Joy of the Lord is your strength" Nehemiah 8:10
My good friend shared this with me in the context of not being crushed by surpassing difficulties and concerns.
This thought has sustained me and the following passage is, to me, a vivid example of this
(small note - It is upsetting to read about David having two wives. The fact that this detail is included in the Bible does not mean in any way that God condones or endorses David's choice to do this)
Disaster comes to David
Upon arriving home, David finds an unforeseen disaster has occurred
those he loved: gone
what he had built: destroyed
his place of shelter, homecoming, and refuge: obliterated
his companions: distressed and despairing
blaming him and wanting to wreak their grief on him
David encourages himself in His God
Nothing in the situation to find courage in
Nothing in his friends to help him
No reason to hope
Except in who God is
The Wellspring
There is always courage and encouragement in dwelling on the character of our great God
He is powerful
He is kind
He cares
He is loving
He is never discouraged or weary
He is never confounded or unsure
He is the I am God
It is this truth that can strengthen my heart to face the hard situation
David found encouragement and courage to pursue and to recover in God
God himself
Abundance
not only did David recover
But he gained an abundance
to share and bless others as well
My good friend shared this with me in the context of not being crushed by surpassing difficulties and concerns.
This thought has sustained me and the following passage is, to me, a vivid example of this
David’s Strength Was in His God
30 1-3 Three days later, David and his men arrived back in Ziklag. Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They tore Ziklag to pieces and then burned it down. They captured all the women, young and old. They didn’t kill anyone, but drove them like a herd of cattle. By the time David and his men entered the village, it had been burned to the ground, and their wives, sons, and daughters all taken prisoner.
4-6 David and his men burst out in loud wails—wept and wept until they were exhausted with weeping. David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken prisoner along with the rest. And suddenly David was in even worse trouble. There was talk among the men, bitter over the loss of their families, of stoning him.
6-7 David strengthened himself with trust in his God. He ordered Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the Ephod so I can consult God.” Abiathar brought it to David.
8 Then David prayed to God, “Shall I go after these raiders? Can I catch them?”
The answer came, “Go after them! Yes, you’ll catch them! Yes, you’ll make the rescue!”
.... David rescued everything the Amalekites had taken. And he rescued his two wives! Nothing and no one was missing—young or old, son or daughter, plunder or whatever. David recovered the whole lot. He herded the sheep and cattle before them, and they all shouted, “David’s plunder!”
.....26-31 On returning to Ziklag, David sent portions of the plunder to the elders of Judah, his neighbors, ... He sent them to the elders in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, Jattir, Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa, Racal, Jerahmeelite cities, Kenite cities, Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach, and Hebron, along with a number of other places David and his men went to from time to time.
I Samuel 30:1-8, 18-20, 26-31
to read the whole passage see:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Samuel+30(small note - It is upsetting to read about David having two wives. The fact that this detail is included in the Bible does not mean in any way that God condones or endorses David's choice to do this)
Disaster comes to David
Upon arriving home, David finds an unforeseen disaster has occurred
those he loved: gone
what he had built: destroyed
his place of shelter, homecoming, and refuge: obliterated
his companions: distressed and despairing
blaming him and wanting to wreak their grief on him
David encourages himself in His God
Nothing in the situation to find courage in
Nothing in his friends to help him
No reason to hope
Except in who God is
The Wellspring
There is always courage and encouragement in dwelling on the character of our great God
He is powerful
He is kind
He cares
He is loving
He is never discouraged or weary
He is never confounded or unsure
He is the I am God
It is this truth that can strengthen my heart to face the hard situation
David found encouragement and courage to pursue and to recover in God
6 Do not worry about anything. But pray and ask God for everything you need. And when you pray, always give thanks. 7 And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is so great that we cannot understand it.
8 Brothers, continue to think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. 9 And do what you learned and received from me. Do what I told you and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9 ICB
One place there is always something true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful to focus on:God himself
Abundance
not only did David recover
But he gained an abundance
to share and bless others as well
Nehemiah 8:10International Children’s Bible (ICB)
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy good food and sweet drinks. Send some to people who have none. Today is a holy day to the Lord. Don’t be sad. The joy of the Lord will make you strong.”
Sunday, June 28, 2015
True Peace =Your Peace
"You, Lord, give true peace.
You give peace to those who depend on you.
You give peace to those who trust you.
So, trust the Lord always.
Trust the Lord because He is our Rock, forever"
Isaiah 26:3-4 International Children's Bible
MY PEACE....
my peace is like a Hallmark Card
or a
G-rated movie made for 2-3 yr olds
very little conflict
easily solved with a few words
everyone happy and getting along together in a wonderful way
YOUR PEACE
but your peace is
strong
durable,
deep
lasting
enduring storms
rugged
not flimsy or fragile
like cookies made of delicate icing
beautiful to behold but shattered with the least pressure
your peace is like the rocky cliff that endures the battering and bashing of pounding waves
and stands still
it can be counted on
it can be depended on
it can be the rock on which the foundation can be built for a house that will stand through any storm
A SURE FOUNDATION
"Everyone who hears thes things I say
and obeys them
is like a wise man.
The wise man build his house on a rock.
It rained hard and the water rose.
The winds blew and hit that house.
But the house did not fall,
because the house was built on the rock.
But the person who hears the things I teach and does not obey them
is like the foolish man.
The foolish man built his house on sand.
It rained hard, the water rose, and the winds blew and hit that house.
And the house fell with a big crash." Matthew 7:24-27
Both houses might have looked just the same
Both individuals heard the teachings of Jesus
but only one responded beyond just the hearing
They looked the same
until the storms came
GOD'S WAY FORWARD
I have learned that pretty much anytime I pray for a better relationship with someone
what comes to my mind is beach sunsets and lots of smiles and quick understanding and comfortable times together
what I tend to experience is:
Conflict
not just Conflict but
CONFLICT !!!!
nail bitting, up all night for days at a time kind of stress
this always comes as a shock and surprise to me
but I begin to see You in this
MY WAY - SLIGHT HEALING
"They try to heal my people's serious injuries
as if they were small wounds.
They say, 'It's all right, it's all right!"
But really, it is not all right."
Jeremiah 6:14 International Children's Bible
"They have also healed the hurt of my people slightly,
Saying, 'Peace, peace!'
When there is no peace."
Jeremiahh 6:14 KJV
I want to smooth things over with something nice
and it is always wonderful to show love and kindness to others
a soft answer does turn away wrath
but I see that I really wish to avoid dealing with the unpleasantness that is lurking below the surface
this is where sin lurks, hides and grows
like a poisonous plant
like a cancer cell
silently mutating microscopically
but then duplicating itself over and over again
over time
until
many times
by the time it is known
it is too late
ROOT OF BITTERNESS
"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and by this many become defiled.
Hebrews 12:14-15 NKJV
"Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left our of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye our for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time." Hebrews 12:14-15 The Message
all plants grow from a tiny seed
hidden under the soil
we only see the plant springing up
the fruit it bears
("You will know them by the fruit they bear" Matthew 7:20)
but the root grows below the surface
hidden and unseen
I may cut off the part I see
but the root persists
it springs anew and afresh
It seems, for me, anyways, that it is only in deep seated difficulties
with those whom I am very close to and love deeply
and/or are in consistent and close levels of interactions with
that the roots of things become clear
I can put up with a lot
or at least I try anyway
but it these deep and intimate relationships
I cannot
and the truth of what is in my heart is made manifest
for those who have eyes to see it
LIGHT MAKES MANIFEST
"The secret things in his heart will be made known.
So he will bow down and worship God.
He will say, 'Truly God is with you.'"
I Corinthians 14:25 ICB
this passage is not talking about an individual alone with God and a Bible
it is describing the community of believers
together
I have found this to be true
it is in relationships with others
that the revealed truth of God is made clear to me
the truth - not what I think is true about myself and my behaviour
but actually what is truly true
I need you to help me see what God is trying to show me
about myself and what He wants to heal, change, transform
where He wants to get worship and glory
I cannot see it clearly on my own
because my own point of view most likely will distort it
"Every person who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches"
Revelation 3:13 ICB
OPPORTUNITY
right here in this relationship
in this difficulty and conflict
is an opportunity to hear You, to really hear You
Oh Lord, grant me the eyes and ears and heart to really see, hear and receive the truth you are wanting me to face
to not sugar coat it
excuse it
defend it
point the finger out to another
or to the circumstances
What are you trying to communicate to me?
Regardless of what another may be saying, doing, thinking,
You are at peace
You are not perturbed
You are not agitated
You are at rest
You are full of love
Even when you must take strong actions and words
They are done in your wisdom
and rightousness
and for the ultimate good of another
This is the only path to your peace
PEACE WITH GOD
Your peace that came through shedding of blood, betraying, mocking, whipping, scourging, rejecting, nailing, crucifying
dying
no smooth, simple, easy peace here
"We have been made right with God because of our faith.
So, we have peace wtih God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through our faith, Chriat has brought us into that blessing of God's grace that we now enjoy.
And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God's glory.
And we also have joy with our troubles
because we know that these troubles produce patience.
And patience produces character,
and character produces hope.
And this hope will never disappoint us,
because the God has poured out his love to fill our hearts.
God gave us his love through the Holy Spirit whom God has given to us.
Christ died for us while we were still weak.
We were living against God, but at the right time, Christ died for us.
Very few people will die to save the life of someone else.
Although perhaps for a good man someone might possibly die.
But Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
In this way, God shows his great love for us.
We have been made right with God by the blood of Christ's death.
Romans 5 :1-9 ICB
"You, Lord, give true peace.
You give peace to those who depend on you.
You give peace to those who trust you.
So, trust the Lord always.
Trust the Lord because He is our Rock, forever"
Isaiah 26:3-4 International Children's Bible
You give peace to those who depend on you.
You give peace to those who trust you.
So, trust the Lord always.
Trust the Lord because He is our Rock, forever"
Isaiah 26:3-4 International Children's Bible
MY PEACE....
my peace is like a Hallmark Card
or a
G-rated movie made for 2-3 yr olds
very little conflict
easily solved with a few words
everyone happy and getting along together in a wonderful way
YOUR PEACE
but your peace is
strong
durable,
deep
lasting
enduring storms
rugged
not flimsy or fragile
like cookies made of delicate icing
beautiful to behold but shattered with the least pressure
your peace is like the rocky cliff that endures the battering and bashing of pounding waves
and stands still
it can be counted on
it can be depended on
it can be the rock on which the foundation can be built for a house that will stand through any storm
A SURE FOUNDATION
"Everyone who hears thes things I say
and obeys them
is like a wise man.
The wise man build his house on a rock.
It rained hard and the water rose.
The winds blew and hit that house.
But the house did not fall,
because the house was built on the rock.
But the person who hears the things I teach and does not obey them
is like the foolish man.
The foolish man built his house on sand.
It rained hard, the water rose, and the winds blew and hit that house.
And the house fell with a big crash." Matthew 7:24-27
Both houses might have looked just the same
Both individuals heard the teachings of Jesus
but only one responded beyond just the hearing
They looked the same
until the storms came
GOD'S WAY FORWARD
I have learned that pretty much anytime I pray for a better relationship with someone
what comes to my mind is beach sunsets and lots of smiles and quick understanding and comfortable times together
what I tend to experience is:
Conflict
not just Conflict but
CONFLICT !!!!
nail bitting, up all night for days at a time kind of stress
this always comes as a shock and surprise to me
but I begin to see You in this
MY WAY - SLIGHT HEALING
"They try to heal my people's serious injuries
as if they were small wounds.
They say, 'It's all right, it's all right!"
But really, it is not all right."
Jeremiah 6:14 International Children's Bible
"They have also healed the hurt of my people slightly,
Saying, 'Peace, peace!'
When there is no peace."
Jeremiahh 6:14 KJV
I want to smooth things over with something nice
and it is always wonderful to show love and kindness to others
a soft answer does turn away wrath
but I see that I really wish to avoid dealing with the unpleasantness that is lurking below the surface
this is where sin lurks, hides and grows
like a poisonous plant
like a cancer cell
silently mutating microscopically
but then duplicating itself over and over again
over time
until
many times
by the time it is known
it is too late
ROOT OF BITTERNESS
"Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and by this many become defiled.
Hebrews 12:14-15 NKJV
"Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left our of God's generosity. Keep a sharp eye our for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time." Hebrews 12:14-15 The Message
all plants grow from a tiny seed
hidden under the soil
we only see the plant springing up
the fruit it bears
("You will know them by the fruit they bear" Matthew 7:20)
but the root grows below the surface
hidden and unseen
I may cut off the part I see
but the root persists
it springs anew and afresh
It seems, for me, anyways, that it is only in deep seated difficulties
with those whom I am very close to and love deeply
and/or are in consistent and close levels of interactions with
that the roots of things become clear
I can put up with a lot
or at least I try anyway
but it these deep and intimate relationships
I cannot
and the truth of what is in my heart is made manifest
for those who have eyes to see it
LIGHT MAKES MANIFEST
"The secret things in his heart will be made known.
So he will bow down and worship God.
He will say, 'Truly God is with you.'"
I Corinthians 14:25 ICB
this passage is not talking about an individual alone with God and a Bible
it is describing the community of believers
together
I have found this to be true
it is in relationships with others
that the revealed truth of God is made clear to me
the truth - not what I think is true about myself and my behaviour
but actually what is truly true
I need you to help me see what God is trying to show me
about myself and what He wants to heal, change, transform
where He wants to get worship and glory
I cannot see it clearly on my own
because my own point of view most likely will distort it
"Every person who has ears should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches"
Revelation 3:13 ICB
OPPORTUNITY
right here in this relationship
in this difficulty and conflict
is an opportunity to hear You, to really hear You
Oh Lord, grant me the eyes and ears and heart to really see, hear and receive the truth you are wanting me to face
to not sugar coat it
excuse it
defend it
point the finger out to another
or to the circumstances
What are you trying to communicate to me?
Regardless of what another may be saying, doing, thinking,
You are at peace
You are not perturbed
You are not agitated
You are at rest
You are full of love
Even when you must take strong actions and words
They are done in your wisdom
and rightousness
and for the ultimate good of another
This is the only path to your peace
PEACE WITH GOD
Your peace that came through shedding of blood, betraying, mocking, whipping, scourging, rejecting, nailing, crucifying
dying
no smooth, simple, easy peace here
"We have been made right with God because of our faith.
So, we have peace wtih God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through our faith, Chriat has brought us into that blessing of God's grace that we now enjoy.
And we are happy because of the hope we have of sharing God's glory.
And we also have joy with our troubles
because we know that these troubles produce patience.
And patience produces character,
and character produces hope.
And this hope will never disappoint us,
because the God has poured out his love to fill our hearts.
God gave us his love through the Holy Spirit whom God has given to us.
Christ died for us while we were still weak.
We were living against God, but at the right time, Christ died for us.
Very few people will die to save the life of someone else.
Although perhaps for a good man someone might possibly die.
But Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
In this way, God shows his great love for us.
We have been made right with God by the blood of Christ's death.
Romans 5 :1-9 ICB
"You, Lord, give true peace.
You give peace to those who depend on you.
You give peace to those who trust you.
So, trust the Lord always.
Trust the Lord because He is our Rock, forever"
Isaiah 26:3-4 International Children's Bible
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