June 17, 2010 at 16:10:10 · Filed under Inspiring Excerpts
An excerpt from a wondrous message I heard today. It astounds me every time I realize that God’s Spirit is inspiring such marvelous messages all over the world and all the time and in so many places and people.
The more the Internet connects us together, the easier it is to access these wonderful resources.
Anyway, so I don’t want to lose the confirmation of this message, so I’m jotting it down here to read again and again…
[begin excerpt:]
“All things were created through Him and for Him and in Him all things hold together…” (from Colossians 1:16-17)
Sometimes what you pick up in religious circles is that the job of a Christian is to take Jesus to a land or a people that doesn’t have Him, and then sort of deliver Him. Like, “Where do you want me to put Him?”
But Jesus is HEAVY.
Is witnessing, or sharing your faith, transporting Jesus — *grunt* lift with your legs, not your back — to some place: “Here is our Jesus.”
OR is He already, in some profound way, present in that place with that person, giving life? Is He not holding things together already and your job is simply to NAME that which is already real, true and present.
Is it Jesus over *here* and then all the people that need Him over *here*, or is He some way already present and your job is naming the reality that they are already in but they just haven’t recognized yet? Come on!
… How many of you, when you first met Jesus, coupled with your first encounter with Jesus was this realization that He had in some way been with you the whole time? You woke up to a life that had been sustaining you. It’s like you’d been asleep. And you woke up. You’d been blind and all the sudden, you saw. You had been ignorant, and all the sudden you became aware.
That’s how these first Christians wrote and talked about this Jesus, this power at the center of everything that was made known in its fullness when God raised Him from the dead.
[end excerpt]
– Rob Bell, in his message at Mars Hill, “Uncaging the Lion”
I’ve sensed the reality of this many times, but never quite connected the scripture and the experience this way, so I could put my finger on it. It can be so fundamentally at odds with the almost unmentioned background idea I’ve picked up in church, that people are lost and completely disconnected in all ways with God — and then at some specific point in time, they encounter the gospel and God shows up in their lives.
That somehow, God wasn’t involved before that. That every bit of “truth” they picked up before then is somehow tainted or not really true because they weren’t connected with God “back then”. That somehow, their spiritual gifts couldn’t have been in operation “back then”. That somehow, they couldn’t have been hearing from God or listened to His Spirit “back then”.
Erp! Wrong!
I like this Rob Bell guy. Heh.
July 16, 2009 at 21:22:53 · Filed under Epiphanies
I’ve read a lot of things over recent years that have convinced me that my “Type A” personality needs to take a chill pill. I have spent WAY too much of my life focused on getting a list of things done, basing my personal value on my accomplishments (whether quantity or some desired specific goal being met). I’ve internalized to some extent this concept: my worth is not determined by what I do, but by who I am. I am God’s child, I am His friend, I am all these wonderful things because I am in Christ.
With that bit of backdrop to give you some context for where I’m at mentally / spiritually, here’s tonight’s ponderance. . . I was washing the dishes and imagining a conversation with my husband.
“What do you want to do tonight, honey?”
“I don’t know. What do YOU want to do?”
“No, sweetie, I want to bless you — what would you like?”
“Well, I want to bless you, too — what are YOU in the mood for?”
And yes, sometimes it goes on… and on… like those two crows in the old Disney cartoons. “I dunno, whataYOUwannado?”
From a Specific Example Comes General Revelation
I thought about the things I usually like to do with him: watch movies, play computer games, watch good preaching, etc. I wondered why I often seem to shy away from sitting down specifically to “just talk”. I realized that in some part, I probably don’t like doing this because 1) I often walk away from our conversation with a list of to-do items and 2) I often walk away from these conversations with a list of things to repent of and/or change in my life or daily routine. *sigh*
So I thought, what if I knew our conversation would be pleasant and free of any to-do items or emotionally trying discussions? Would I still avoid “just talking”? Is this an area where I need to apply more “be” vs. “do”? Are there people who enjoy just “being” with each other? Not even talking, just “being”?
Weird concept. Just sitting there, doing NOTHING?
But… but… but… could that be right?
Am I missing something vital because of my typical Type-A approach?
Is Being Really About Doing Nothing?
So I thought about my ideal vacation or recreational activities. Aren’t any of them “just being”? Well, I could play in the water and swim for hours and just enjoy the sensations of “being” in the water. I could sit in the forest and “just be” by a tree or watching the ants do their jobs for days. I love going for walks.
And yet… when I really examined each of these things, there wasn’t really any “just being” that was totally free from “doing”. Swimming and walking are stress relieving exercise. Walking especially I find enjoyable because of how well it facilitates my prayer time and hearing from the Lord. I have most of my best conversation with Him while walking or driving.
I love to sit in the forest, but again, it’s because I hear from Him — and often I record what I hear in writing or art. I never picture myself in the forest without picturing a notebook or sketchbook in my hand (or lately, a camera).
Then it dawned on me: For me to just “be” is to “be” who I am: an artist, a writer, someone who loves to hear from God and express what I see and hear. I am happiest “just being” when I am doing what I am made to do.
So What’s the Difference?
So then, the difference between the “be” vs. “do” is that to do is so focused on the doing, not enjoying who you are or what you’re doing, but driving and pushing towards some end result as if that is the desired goal. To do places the reward or satisfaction in the realm of the temporal and makes the joy dependent on the performance of the task. That’s the negative of the”do” idea.
To be is to be in the “eternal now”, living the present moment to the fullest and enjoying the being (and doing of being). The reward is immediate and yet never limited to time and space. If your satisfaction is centered in being who you are in Him, then you are ALWAYS satisfied, whatever you’re doing — now and forever. That’s the key to “just being”.
If this is true, then it’s not about doing nothing so much as it is about being who you are and enjoying everything you do by being in the moment. So whatever I do with my husband, be myself and enjoy him being himself. Don’t focus on the TV show or the computer game — or even the good preaching. Be joyous and creative and loving and attentive and curious and eager and enthusiastic in everything.
Don’t “just be” but totally be (who I am in Christ) in whatever I do.
Hmm.
And now I’m only left with one niggling question: is this a cop out, or is this revelation?
April 22, 2009 at 15:55:24 · Filed under Epiphanies, Observations, Walk of Faith
Christianity is an interesting thing. There are those that see it as a religion. Some see it as a set of rules or moral code. Some take it further to be a “way of life”. Then there are those of us that see it primarily as a relationship. An active, living relationship with an intimate, very real deity.
Across all this cross-section of viewpoints, however, there is also a mixed approach to exactly how this Christianity is to be lived out. Whether you look at it as a code, a way, or even a relationship, what EXACTLY you do day to day depends mostly on what you believe about the Word of God, the Bible.
An unremarkable life, a useless religion
You may go all your life and never have a serious crisis that shakes you up and causes you to examine your faith more closely. You may go all your life from crisis to crisis and decide to keep your religion, because it’s comforting to believe that somehow you’ll get through the hard times and somehow it all has greater meaning.
But as far as I’m concerned, that’s a totally USELESS religion.
What’s your breaking point?
I’ve had my share of life turning points. Not as dramatic as some, but enough to place me face to face with this question. What do I believe? And does it even matter?
I faced the allure of suicide. I faced my desire for homosexual relationships. I faced the escape route of divorce. I faced the misery of overwhelmingly negative emotions. I faced the roller coaster of the manic-depressive cycle. I faced the temptation of self-validation through ever-greater achievements. I’m facing health issues that have gone on as long as I can remember. And some that have started more recently. There’s more. Plenty more.
But it’s not the list of problems that matters. They could be ANYTHING.
Anything can be an excuse to quit. Quit your job, quit your schooling, quit a friendship, quit a church, quit a marriage, quit your life. Everybody is different, so everyone has a different natural response to these challenges. Some are naturally resistant to destructive choices. Others naturally tend to spiral downhill fast. Some hang on with great apparent courage and stubbornness while harboring a deep flaw that causes them to snap into utter failure at some undetermined point along the way.
The reasons for failure are endless. And they’re different for each person.
The universal moment of truth
For any problem we face, whether internal or external, there is one universal moment of truth. This applies to EVERYONE in EVERY situation.
The one thing that determines your destiny (immediate and eternal) is your CHOICE of RESPONSE.
Why do some people come through a WWII concentration camp with their faith in God and their joy in life intact? Why do some snap into utter mental and emotional breakdown at a casual comment? Even on a purely human level, this boils down to a choice. What will you believe?
The reason a straw can “break the camel’s back” in a relationship is because of a continued choice to believe the negative. At some point, these accumulated choices have created such a fortress of the negative within the soul of a person that it may be something very small that is “the last straw”. Something that they were able to handle 10 times over in the past, but which is devastating after enough negative choices have established a stronghold inside them.
We have an an enemy
You may never have thought much about it, but we have a real, living enemy. The devil is called the adversary or “Satan”, because he is the enemy. Jesus called him a thief (John 10:10) and said that his ONLY purpose in life is to steal, kill and destroy. He never stops looking for someone he can devour (1 Peter 5:8).
There are spirits all around us that are constantly trying to influence us toward the negative. And what is this negative? The primary message is, “God is a liar.” First they try to keep people in ignorance. Best if folks never even know the truth. But once we’ve found the truth, there’s only one way they can snare us.
They try to convince Christians to believe that whatever God said isn’t true. They do this best when circumstances seem difficult, when our defenses are down, when we’re already questioning what God said. Then they swoop in with, “Believe THIS instead…”
We have a Savior and King
But before you start freaking out that there’s this evil force against you, let’s make something clear.
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
May the eyes of your mind be opened so you can see the exceeding greatness of His power towards us — the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (Ephesians 1:18-21) Doesn’t that sound like it pretty much covers it ALL?
And where are we in all this?
“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23)
We are IN HIM, we are His body, and therefore all things that are under HIS feet are under OUR feet! Praise God!
We have effective weapons for both attack and defense
There are a lot of places we can look for encouragement in facing our challenges. Every person’s personality is different. Some are best encouraged by warm and fuzzy assurances of God’s love. Others like to hear that God is always with them. That’s all good stuff, I agree. I’ve always been motivated by a good military analogy, though.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)
What God gives us is enough. It is MORE than enough.
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long;We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”(Psalm 44:22) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)
We have, ultimately, a choice
Circumstances and emotions and pressures and conflicting thoughts can flood into our lives and overwhelm us. It can seem confusing and difficult to see the way through.
Allow this thought to penetrate your mind, and it will help: There is only ONE question.
Who … will … you … believe?
Will you believe the recorded Word of God, the Bible? The Holy Spirit will help you understand what it is saying to you for your specific situation. God never leaves us without the answers we need, if we just ask Him in faith (see James 1).
Or, will you believe what the world tells you? Will you soften the instructions of God’s Word? Yield to the pressure of the pain, or the pull of the temptation? There is an infinite list of things you could do besides believe and walk in the way God tells you. But none of those other options will take you on that straight, narrow, upward path of heavenly, eternal life.
You get the choice. It really is that black and white. Believe God, and choose life. Believe anything else, and you are choosing death. It might be a small step in that direction, or the final leap that ends your life on this earth.
Change your breaking point
There’s one thing that stands in the way of every attack of the enemy, every pull of temptation, every pressure of my life’s circumstances. That one thing is the Word of God.
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
How awesome is that? Jesus is the Word made flesh. Not just the living example of God’s Word and ways, but truly somehow everything in the Word of God was and is in Jesus Himself. When I call on Jesus, I am calling on God’s Word. When I say the Word of God and stand on its truth, I am trusting in Jesus. When I read the Word of God and gain wisdom or understanding, I am communicating with Jesus! Too cool!
“As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” (Psalm 18:30)
“Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection.” (Isaiah 30:5 NLT)
The whole of Psalm 119 is like a love song to God’s Word and all the truth of His ways. It’s full of inspiration about how the Word of God teaches, helps, strengthens and makes better the human soul and condition. For further inspiration, open the Book itself!
When I’m tempted to lose patience with my children, it is the word of God that reminds me, “she opens her mouth with wisdom and the law of kindness is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:26)
When I’m in emotional pain and tired of being neglected or stomped on or unappreciated, I declare the Word of God in prayer, “YOU are my shield and my exceeding great reward. I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living!” (Genesis 15:1, Psalm 27:13)
Either this God is real and He’s awesome and He’s MORE THAN ENOUGH for me — or He’s worth nothing at all and no God of mine.
And to put it more respectfully and orthodoxically (is that a word?), either I am fully committed and totally surrendered, or I am a hypocrite, a lawless liar, and no child of His.
Choose to trust!
I choose to believe God. He is awesome. I am His and He is mine. No circumstance — whether pain or pleasure — will move me away from my CHOICE to follow 100% of what He’s shown me in His Word.
It’s not always easy. Sometimes it’s downright impossible. But my God does the impossible, and with Him I can do the impossible, too (Matthew 17:20, 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37, 18:27). I choose to trust His work in me, to yield to His direction and trust that the reward is as good as He says it is.
Like Horton the elephant, our God meant what He said and said what He meant — and He is faithful one hundred percent. (Yes, I was watching “Horton Hears a Who” the other day, sorry…)
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14)
May you be encouraged and blessed — and give God your ALL!
