Unbreakable

2 Timothy 1:7

New King James Version (NKJV)

^" For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

2 Timothy 1:7 The Message

"God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible."

Faith is a living, well-founded confidence in the grace of God, so perfectly certain that it would die a thousand deaths rather than surrender its conviction. Such confidence and personal knowledge of divine grace makes its possessor joyful, bold and full of warm affection toward God and all created things - all of which the Holy Spirit works in faith. Hence such a man becomes without constraint willing and eager to do good to everyone , to serve everyone, to suffer all manner of ills, in order to please and glorify God, who has shown toward him such grace. 

Great Voices of the Reformation: An Anthology Martin Luther, quoted in Harry Emerson Fosdick, ed., (New York: Modern Library, 1954), 121-22.

 Oh Lord, 

may we be enabled by your Spirit to live in your grace

 to not live in fear and shame and trepidation

 but in confidence and boldness 

not that we will get what we want, 

 but that we are yours by the work of Jesus Christ

not that we might not suffer loss, humiliation, defeat, disappointment or confusion,

 but that we might not shrink back from what you are calling us to

not that we are confident in ourselves,

 but in you 

 and what you are making us to be, 

 by your power to transform, change, resurrect and create anew

 right here, right now, where I am and who I am with

Let your seed take root and grow in me

1 Peter 1:22-25

New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

²² You have made yourselves pure by obeying the truth. So you have an honest and true love for your brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply, from the heart.

²³ You have been born again by means of the living word of God. His word lasts forever. You were not born again from a seed that will die. You were born from a seed that can’t die. ²⁴ It is written,

“All people are like grass.
    All of their glory is like the flowers in the field.
The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground.
²⁵     But the word of the Lord stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:6–8)

And that word was preached to you.

  Henri Nouwen: How do we work for reconciliation? First and foremost by claiming for ourselves that God through Christ has reconciled us to God. It is not enough to believe this with our heads. We have to let the truth of this reconciliation permeate every part of our beings. As long as we are not fully and thoroughly convinced that we have been reconciled with God, that we are forgiven, that we have received new hearts, new spirits, new eyes to see, and new ears to hear, we continue to create divisions among people because we expect from them a healing power they do not possess.

Only when we fully trust that we belong to God and can find in our relationship with God all that we need for our minds, hearts, and souls, can we be truly free in this world and be ministers of reconciliation. This is not easy; we readily fall back into self-doubt and self-rejection. We need to be constantly reminded through God's Word, the sacraments, and the love of our neighbours that we are indeed reconciled.

"In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge."
Proverbs 14:26KJV

"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Proverbs 14:27 KJV

Proverbs 14:26

Living Bible (TLB)

²⁶ Reverence for God gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security.      (man or woman)

Proverbs 14:27

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

²⁷ Respect for the Lord gives true life and will save you from death’s trap.

Hoping In God

This is such a wonderful and beautiful expression of hoping in God! May it bless! 

 "A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him." (Isaiah11:1-2).

These words from last night's liturgy have stayed with me during the day. Our salvation comes from something small, tender, and vulnerable, something hardly noticeable. God, who is the Creator of the Universe, comes to us in smallness, weakness, and hiddenness.

I find this a hopeful message. Somehow, I keep expecting loud and impressive events to convince me and others of God's saving power; but over and over again I am reminded that spectacles, power plays, and big events are the ways of the world. Our temptation is to be distracted by them and made blind to the "shoot that shall sprout from the stump."

When I have no eyes for the small signs of God's presence - the smile of a baby, the carefree play of children, the words of encouragement and gestures of love offered by friends - I will always remain tempted to despair.

The small child of Bethlehem, the unknown young man of Nazareth, the rejected preacher, the naked man on the cross, he asks for my full attention. The work of our salvation takes place in the midst of a world that continues to shout, scream, and overwhelm us with its claims and promises. But the promise is hidden in the shoot that sprouts from the stump, a shoot that hardly anyone notices."

Henry Nouwen

Zechariah 4:8-10

"After that, the Word of God came to me: “Zerubbabel started rebuilding this Temple and he will complete it. That will be your confirmation that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me to you. Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? They’ll change their tune when they see Zerubbabel setting the last stone in place!”

Going back to the vision, the Messenger-Angel said, “The seven lamps are the eyes of God probing the dark corners of the world like searchlights.”

What is a Life of significance?

Linking with Where a Woman Finds Her Voice at http://joannfore.com/voice-bloggers/on the topic of healthy relationships/community. I believe God is teaching me the way to be able to enter into true community is to really see myself and my life as valuable in Him, regardless of all else. I believe this is a key to healthy relationships: to see and treat each other with the dignity and respect that God gives to each person.

Also linking with Bonnie Gray at http://www.faithbarista.com/2013/12/my-real-birthday-gift-giving-myself-permission-to-receive/
I am desiring to let the truth of what God says completely reorient and transform from the inside so I can receive freely from him and others. And then share what God has given to me without clinging to what I want in return.  "Freely you have received, freely give"

Linking also with Emily Wierenga at: http://www.emilywierenga.com/2013/12/the-day-jesus-gave-me-new-name-and.html  Her post is wonderful on this same idea. :)

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

New International Version (NIV)

13 If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages
2. 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames

1 Corinthians 13:1-7

The Message (MSG)

The Way of Love

13 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.

² If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.

^3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

A life of significance

What makes a life meaningful and significant?

What is time well spent?

How do I leave a lasting and meaningful legacy
for when my life is over and done?

Thank you Lord, thank you

I hear you in this passage

Yes, you tell me plainly,  even painfully 

all my so called great accomplishments

acts of devotion and service

sharing of wisdom and experience

are nothing 

without you and your love

no matter what I say
without love it is nothing

worse than nothing

a harsh, grating sound

bringing no pleasure to anyone

not helpful at all

no matter what gifts I have

or how much faith I have

without love

I am nothing at all

it will leave nothing lasting behind

bring no deep transformative change to anyone

no matter how sacrificial I try to be

no matter what I try to give up

no matter what I try to endure

for the sake of others

without your love in it

I have accomplished nothing of true lasting value

without your love in it

these verses seem so harsh,
cutting down so much of what I look to to feel good about myself
and what I have done,
what gifts God has given,
what actions or sacrifices I have tried to make

but there is something so incredibly beautiful and powerful here

If this is true...
then the the other side of the coin must also be true...

When I speak, haltingly, in simple words that could easily be despised by anyone, 

including myself

 for their lack of eloquence, grace, wisdom etc.

If I speak or act in love, whether impressive or knowledgeable 

by anyone's estimation or not

If I am filled with your love

and it moves me to speak or act

what I believe to be your words or actions

your thoughts and way

instead of mine

this is significant

whether it seems so to me

or to whom I am speaking

or to any one at all

whether I feel good or bad about it

whether it seems to make any difference or not

The measure you give us:

is it done in love?

your love

that does not run out

that does not get irritated 

or envious

that is not motivated by the object at all

or what kind of response I may or may not 

get in return

because love is your essential nature

it defines who you are

and everything you do or say

You cause the sun to shine and 

the rain to fall 

on the evil and the good

because that is who you are

"This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty." Matthew 5:45 The Message

You do not love because you will be loved in return

or someone will understand you

or someone will appreciate you

or you believe you will get desirable results

You can enable me to love

anyone

anywhere

anyhow

no matter what I think,

you count this as lasting and significant

So, as I sit here struggling 

I couldn't impress anyone if I tried

Whether those closest to me understand or appreciate me

whether my children rise up to respect

love and appreciate me

or they don't

whether anyone in my neighborhood 

or at my church 

thinks I am _____________ :)
or thinks I am____________ :(

You

are saying:

this is significant

this is lasting

this is meaningful

this will bear lasting fruit

whether you see it 

or understand it 

or not 

right now

because you have done it

unto me

"The King will reply, 'Truly, I tell you,
whatever you did
for one
of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine,
you did for me.'"
Matthew 25:40NIV

"His master said to him,
 'Well done good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful over a little;
I will set you over much.
Enter into the joy of your Master.'"
Matthew 25:23 ESV

"...The LORD does not look at
the things people look at.
People look at the outward appearance,
but the LORD
looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7

"For the eyes of the LORD run

to and fro

throughout the whole earth

to show himself strong 

on behalf of those

whose heart is loyal

to Him..."

II Chronicles 16:9 NKJV

none of us have this heart...

"Create in me a clean heart O God.
 Renew a loyal spirit
within me."
Psalm 51:10 
The Living Bible

but we can cry out to God to do His work within 

to do and give us what we cannot

to give us Joy In You

whether we feel meaningful, significant,

beloved, helpful 

or otherwise

"Though the fig tree 

should not blossom,

And there be no fruit on the vines

Though the yield of the olive shall fail

And the fields produce no food

Though the flock be cut off from the fold

and there be no cattle in the stalls,

Yet, I will exult in the LORD.

I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength.

And he has made my feet like hinds feet.

and makes me walk in my high places."

Habakkuk 3:17-19 NIV

 a gentle pushing back...

for some of us right now

who truly do not have the strength, time or energy to

do what most wouldconsider beautiful and meaningful

 I would love to 

bake with my children

prepare gifts for others

travel to _________

 give _________ to ____________
but really am not able to at this time...

For those who are looking for work

not because the are looking for a career 

that is meaningful and significant

but because the family needs to eat

who may truly need to take a job they do not even like

because the family needs to eat

some of the wonderful and beautiful encouragements 

to find your passion

to those whom there is no one else to hand the baby off to,

to go and ___________

some of these encouragements can, without meaning to

place a burden on the heart

undermine 

without meaning to
the value God places
in the hidden, unseen, mundane, 
even the trivial and tedious
done in love for Him

for those who cannot do beautiful craft projects

who can barely keep the children clean and well - fed

whose passion is to have just one night of undisturbed sleep

God sees you

God values you

God can make what you are doing so significant

For those who are shut in caring for the shut in

For those whose health has boxed them in

and put so much out of reach 

For those for whom the care of family 

takes nearly all available resource

God sees you

God values you

God knows what you are doing

out of love for Him

For those who experience severe limitation

in body, soul, mind, spirit

God is not limited to work in you

and through you

to shine His Glory

to fill you 

and use you

for unspeakable 

unimaginable 

good

Oh Lord,
You who have experienced all we do
you who are not a high priest who 
cannot be touched with all the feelings of our infirmity
you know severe pain, loss, grief,
 limitation
death

You who Paul, could say with confidence
I know how to abound and I know how to suffer
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

Help us to not close our hearts to whatever you call us to
whether it be our wildest dreams come true
or the hardest challenge we have ever faced.
Help us to find our joy in you 
and remain there through 
the heights and depths this life 
has to offer

Help us to live in your love
to fully believe and receive your love
in the midst of our exhilarations
our joys, our sorrows
our depletion
our confusion 
our disappointment

Help me to love you 
more than all else 
and know your love
that
abides 
through all else

"we love you because you have first loved us"
I John 4 :10

The Transaction

Linking with JoAnnFore at http://joannfore.com/thursdays-with-the-voice-bloggers/
on the topic of laying down masks and how sharing our story can help others.

The story of Hannah this week really parallels my own. Crying out to God and knowing He has really heard, not because I get what I want but because He is able to come within and bring peace, no matter what happens next. 

^15-16 Hannah said, “Oh no, sir—please! I’m a woman hard used. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God. Don’t for a minute think I’m a bad woman. It’s because I’m so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I’ve stayed here so long.”

¹⁷ Eli answered her, “Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.”

¹⁸ “Think well of me—and pray for me!” she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant. I Samuel 1:15-16 The Message 

( the wider story below - I Samuel 1:1-28 )

desperately unhappy and in such pain...

Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably...

she entered the sanctuary...

The Transaction

a long time pain

day after day

loved, barren, tormented was Hannah

misunderstood and misinterpreted

but she entered the sanctuary

a place of refuge where she could pour out her soul

an offering to God most High

he will hide us in the secret of his presence

²⁰ In the shelter of your presence you hide them
    from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling
    from accusing tongues.

²¹ Praise be to the Lord,
    for he showed me the wonders of his love
    when I was in a city under siege.
²² In my alarm I said,
    “I am cut off from your sight!”
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
    when I called to you for help.

Psalm 31: 20-22 NIV

there I can say it like it is

no holding back

there is no time limit

there is one who is listening

I may not feel Him

I may not see Him

but He is here

He is listening

His tears fall with mine

His heart feels my every wound

the head that once was crowed with thorns

bows to touch the thorns in my life

He does not dismiss

He does not diminish

He does not excuse

He does not explain away

He hears

He cares

He moves

He responds

It may not be in my time

It may not be in my way

It may not be able to be seen by me now

But He has heard

He has heard

He has put my tears in his bottle

He has promised to one day wipe them all away

He will give the meaning to what I am experiencing

whether I can see it now or not

I can come here

He will hear

anytime

every time

all the time

I can trust Him to work

though he bear long with me

though it seems like nothing will ever change

He can give peace in my heart

this does not mean I will never be sad

this does not mean I will never feel devastated

or confused or bewildered or angry

but it does mean underneath it all are the everlasting Arms

"the Eternal God is our Refuge and underneath are the everlasting Arms" Deuteronomy 33:27 NIV

I can lay my burden down

"at the foot of the cross

I lay every burden down"

from the hymn "At the foot of the cross"

listen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk7_SBxYSZs

His peace can flow in

to fill all the empty

all the void

soothing and calming all the sharp and painful nerve endings

Rest, my child

I will not rest till I have finished my work

I love you so...

Philippians 4:6-7

The Message (MSG)

^6-7 Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Hannah Pours Out Her Heart to God

1 ^1-2 There once was a man who lived in Ramathaim. He was descended from the old Zuph family in the Ephraim hills. His name was Elkanah. (He was connected with the Zuphs from Ephraim through his father Jeroham, his grandfather Elihu, and his great-grandfather Tohu.) He had two wives. The first was Hannah; the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children; Hannah did not.

^3-7 Every year this man went from his hometown up to Shiloh to worship and offer a sacrifice to God-of-the-Angel-Armies. Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, served as the priests of God there. When Elkanah sacrificed, he passed helpings from the sacrificial meal around to his wife Peninnah and all her children, but he always gave an especially generous helping to Hannah because he loved her so much, and because God had not given her children. But her rival wife taunted her cruelly, rubbing it in and never letting her forget that God had not given her children. This went on year after year. Every time she went to the sanctuary of God she could expect to be taunted. Hannah was reduced to tears and had no appetite.

⁸ Her husband Elkanah said, “Oh, Hannah, why are you crying? Why aren’t you eating? And why are you so upset? Am I not of more worth to you than ten sons?”

^9-11 So Hannah ate. Then she pulled herself together, slipped away quietly, and entered the sanctuary. The priest Eli was on duty at the entrance to God’s Temple in the customary seat. Crushed in soul, Hannah prayed to God and cried and cried—inconsolably. Then she made a vow:

Oh, God-of-the-Angel-Armies,
If you’ll take a good, hard look at my pain,
If you’ll quit neglecting me and go into action for me
By giving me a son,
I’ll give him completely, unreservedly to you.
I’ll set him apart for a life of holy discipline.

^12-14 It so happened that as she continued in prayer before God, Eli was watching her closely. Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk. He approached her and said, “You’re drunk! How long do you plan to keep this up? Sober up, woman!”

^15-16 Hannah said, “Oh no, sir—please! I’m a woman hard used. I haven’t been drinking. Not a drop of wine or beer. The only thing I’ve been pouring out is my heart, pouring it out to God. Don’t for a minute think I’m a bad woman. It’s because I’m so desperately unhappy and in such pain that I’ve stayed here so long.”

¹⁷ Eli answered her, “Go in peace. And may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of him.”

¹⁸ “Think well of me—and pray for me!” she said, and went her way. Then she ate heartily, her face radiant.

¹⁹ Up before dawn, they worshiped God and returned home to Ramah. Elkanah slept with Hannah his wife, and Godbegan making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had asked.

Dedicating the Child to God

²⁰ Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, “I askedGod for him.”

^21-22 When Elkanah next took his family on their annual trip to Shiloh to worship God, offering sacrifices and keeping his vow, Hannah didn’t go. She told her husband, “After the child is weaned, I’ll bring him myself and present him beforeGod—and that’s where he’ll stay, for good.”

^23-24 Elkanah said to his wife, “Do what you think is best. Stay home until you have weaned him. Yes! Let God complete what he has begun!”

So she did. She stayed home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Then she took him up to Shiloh, bringing also the makings of a generous sacrificial meal—a prize bull, flour, and wine. The child was so young to be sent off!

^25-26 They first butchered the bull, then brought the child to Eli. Hannah said, “Excuse me, sir. Would you believe that I’m the very woman who was standing before you at this very spot, praying to God? I prayed for this child, and God gave me what I asked for. And now I have dedicated him to God. He’s dedicated to God for life.”

Then and there, they worshiped God. I Samuel 1 :1-28 The Message


two blog posts that have really ministered to me in suffering:

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/homeschoolchronicles/2013/03/on-the-way-to-easter-mourning-with-jesus/ http://natepyle.com/confronting-the-lie-god-wont-give-you-more-than-you-can-handle/