Another study on transformation…do you ever get tired of reading and hearing about transformation again and again?! Well here’s another book about an old topic…The Lazarus Life by Stephen W. Smith.
“Now I know, not again, Renee! Can we just leave this alone already!!”
There are times in my life that I have responded this very same way to Jesus. Sometimes I even respond with
“Didn’t we just do this last year?!”
Ever stop and think that there are so many books, talks, and sermons on transformation, sanctification, breaking free, shedding grave clothes because we aren’t getting the message. What’s the old saying for speakers…Tell them what you want to say…Tell them what you just said…tell them again…or something like that. God has been telling His people for thousands of years how He wants to make a difference in our lives and how He has created a plan to make that difference. We see it in parables, biographies, autobiographies and so on. He had a plan, we ruined it and now He wants to fix it and start the plan again. We do this through transformation, sanctification…We can attempt to avoid it but He loves us and knows that His plans are better than ours and He is persistent and creative, hence all the different titles and venues.
Just to take this caterpillar thing all the way, if you look at the life of a caterpillar, it is born and by instinct begins eating as much as it can in preparation for the cocoon/chrysalis phase of its life. Upon entering this phase the caterpillar hangs out and waits for metamorphosis to be completed. When the great transformation is complete the winged insect with great effort pulls itself out of its self made prison. Then hangs on for an interminable amount of time waiting for its wings to unfold and dry, carefully folding and unfolding wings, antennae, and tongue. (Catch youtube for great videos of various moths/butterflies in this transforming process – very cool!)
As humans we don’t live by instinct alone, but are given the gift of free choice, a freedom we take complete advantage of. We are able to therefore, choose the “food” we “eat”; pouring in words of all kinds from many different resources. Does this food really prepare us for the cocoon that will and does come? Most of us have the choice to pour uplifting, encouraging and life-giving words in the way of books, music and teachings but so often we make a diet of desert and fluff that is not lasting or life-giving. Then we find ourselves in the self made cocoon or prison without the strength and wisdom we need to wait out the transformation and be able to find the way out; leaving us trapped in this prison desperate for a way out and finding none. Then through His persistence and creativity Jesus finds a way to get us the much needed strength, encouragement and wisdom to guide us out of the cocoon that seemed to kill us. Then through the miracle of our everlasting Savior the strange creature that went into the cocoon is transformed into something beautiful and awesome. But we cannot move too quickly or have someone remove us from the cocoon. We must come out by ourselves and do it slowly waiting for the process to be complete. We must do these steps to allow our wings to be ready for flight and to have the strength we need to fly. After the difficulty and waiting is finally done, the caterpillar is gone and an awesome moth or beautiful butterfly is here. Amazing!! The miraculous transformation/metamorphosis is complete and very much worth the effort and wait.
Where are you? What are you feeding yourself? How is the wait going? Do you have the strength and wisdom needed for your escape? Are you trying to rush the completing phase? Do you recognize the person in the mirror or are you being mistaken for Jesus or His version of you? Will you follow Him and His ways on this journey to discover the transformation He has planned?
WHAT AN AMAZING PERSON HE ENVISIONS YOU AND ME TO BE.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Random Thought
I have learned from various Bible studies and teachings that the way to recognize/find/hear Jesus’ voice is:
Through those things created – nature
Through people in our lives
Through His Word – the Bible
Through the quiet voice in your head – a.k.a. “your conscious”
Through circumstances in our lives
I have learned over the years to try to tune into these things so I don’t miss anything Jesus may be trying to tell me. His words and thoughts to me/towards me are very important to me and I don’t want to miss them. However, there is also something I have learned to pay attention to that can be very easy to miss – that random word or thought that pops into your mind or ear that you weren’t expecting or even looking for. You know, the one that seems strange or out of place at first but then just might make some sense to you or could be the answer you’ve been looking for…just maybe. This has happened to me a few times over the years, maybe more but I can’t remember too many. These words just pop into my head or I hear them while listening to someone speak to me or a teaching and they just catch my attention. It reminds me of what a dog does. If you don’t have a dog, remember the scene from Up when the dog is talking to the old man and the boy and all of a sudden he stops mid sentence and cocks his head to the side and hears something? That’s what these random words do they catch me off guard so I tune in. Then I usually have to contemplate them for a while and pray about them to see if Jesus was trying to get my attention about something. These occurrences usually relate to the lesson He has for me that takes a whole year of focus (more on that in future blogs). Sometimes these words aren’t so pretty to look at or come with much work and are easily dismissed; for instance – control, anger, surrender, submission, wrath, etc.
Most recently, the word that got my attention is “wrath”. Pretty ugly word don’t you think. Yeah…I did too. I haven’t really been too excited to explore this one, let me tell you! But… I know that if something like this is a part of my life and hiding in the corners somewhere, I want it flushed out and gone! I don’t want Jesus looking at me and knowing that wrath is lurking in the dark corners of my heart and mind and keeping me from having the abundant life He has for me that He died to give me. So…I am still tuning in so I don’t miss any more information that comes my way from Him.
What does this nasty revelation have to do with hearing Jesus’ voice in your life? Pay attention to those random words/thoughts that come your way, that seem out of place at the moment but just might fit. Pray about them, read books about them, and wait for clarification.
Also, while you are exploring these moments and waiting for clarification, know that Jesus in His mercy is preparing you and your heart for the revelation. The seemingly long time it takes to get the answer from Him maybe the long time that is required for you to be able to look in the dark corners and see the ugliness you didn’t know was there. Mercifully!! Jesus has dealt with me bit by bit on some things because it would have been too hard on me to deal with it all at once. He knows I just want to jump in and get it over with but He also knows this isn’t always the best way for me. Some things have been bigger than I realized and in looking back I was very glad for amount of time it took to deal with it.
Through those things created – nature
Through people in our lives
Through His Word – the Bible
Through the quiet voice in your head – a.k.a. “your conscious”
Through circumstances in our lives
I have learned over the years to try to tune into these things so I don’t miss anything Jesus may be trying to tell me. His words and thoughts to me/towards me are very important to me and I don’t want to miss them. However, there is also something I have learned to pay attention to that can be very easy to miss – that random word or thought that pops into your mind or ear that you weren’t expecting or even looking for. You know, the one that seems strange or out of place at first but then just might make some sense to you or could be the answer you’ve been looking for…just maybe. This has happened to me a few times over the years, maybe more but I can’t remember too many. These words just pop into my head or I hear them while listening to someone speak to me or a teaching and they just catch my attention. It reminds me of what a dog does. If you don’t have a dog, remember the scene from Up when the dog is talking to the old man and the boy and all of a sudden he stops mid sentence and cocks his head to the side and hears something? That’s what these random words do they catch me off guard so I tune in. Then I usually have to contemplate them for a while and pray about them to see if Jesus was trying to get my attention about something. These occurrences usually relate to the lesson He has for me that takes a whole year of focus (more on that in future blogs). Sometimes these words aren’t so pretty to look at or come with much work and are easily dismissed; for instance – control, anger, surrender, submission, wrath, etc.
Most recently, the word that got my attention is “wrath”. Pretty ugly word don’t you think. Yeah…I did too. I haven’t really been too excited to explore this one, let me tell you! But… I know that if something like this is a part of my life and hiding in the corners somewhere, I want it flushed out and gone! I don’t want Jesus looking at me and knowing that wrath is lurking in the dark corners of my heart and mind and keeping me from having the abundant life He has for me that He died to give me. So…I am still tuning in so I don’t miss any more information that comes my way from Him.
What does this nasty revelation have to do with hearing Jesus’ voice in your life? Pay attention to those random words/thoughts that come your way, that seem out of place at the moment but just might fit. Pray about them, read books about them, and wait for clarification.
Also, while you are exploring these moments and waiting for clarification, know that Jesus in His mercy is preparing you and your heart for the revelation. The seemingly long time it takes to get the answer from Him maybe the long time that is required for you to be able to look in the dark corners and see the ugliness you didn’t know was there. Mercifully!! Jesus has dealt with me bit by bit on some things because it would have been too hard on me to deal with it all at once. He knows I just want to jump in and get it over with but He also knows this isn’t always the best way for me. Some things have been bigger than I realized and in looking back I was very glad for amount of time it took to deal with it.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Waiting
W – Walking with You – hand in hand
A – Adoring You – not remaining angry for the wait but praising Your name, Your timing and Your plan. Your ways are greater than my ways, Your thoughts higher than my thoughts (Isa 55:8-9). Great are You Lord and worthy to be praised (1Chron. 16:25).
I – Inquiringly – looking for Jesus’ hand, listening for His voice of guidance and love. Don’t miss Him along the way or the opportunity for the wait to be over.
T – Thanksgiving – give Him thanks for who He is. I may not be able to thank Jesus for the wait all the time but He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! (Heb 13:8) Be thankful for Him as you were prior to the wait. He has not changed.
Journal entry 6/29/09
Tonight I made a fire. The wood had “cured” so long that it was gray and somewhat light. Most likely it was oak. I chose small pieces so it would burn fast. This wood looked like everything had been sucked out of it – color, sap and life. Yet here I lay on the floor of my son’s room looking out the back door watching my fire as it rained.
Prior to the rain, while I sat outside, it was an amazing fire. It kicked off so much heat I had to take off my robe and move my chair back to escape some of the heat. When it started to rain most of the kindling had burned away and the three pieces of wood were maybe half gone. I spread the wood out because they had been piled in a fallen tepee. I put the lid on the pit and lay on the floor looking out the door. The fire continued to burn with pretty good flames. These pieces of wood were extremely weathered and appeared pretty lame for my fire. But it has been way past 30 minutes and the fire continues.
Can we be the same? We have sat around on a pile, scorched by the sun, drained of our presumed life, soaked in the rain, frozen by winter, neglected…yet when Jesus takes us and adds His flame…His light…His Spirit…we burn bright and strong. There is life in us – His life, kindled by His Spirit bringing heat, light, hope and attraction for others.
Even now the flames are finally gone but the embers are not, if I rearranged the wood maybe added some more logs the fire would begin again. Who really knows God’s ways and purposes? I don’t. I do know this…He is faithful and true. He has not forgotten me. I am used by Him and will be used by Him to fulfill His plans/purposes in His time. In Him I can burn bright and long for Him, even after what seems a much too long wait.
Where are you today? Do you feel like you have been left on the pile? Are you W.A.I.Ting or hung up with anger and frustration? Waiting can be very hard but don’t get caught up in anger and frustration and miss the blessings Jesus has for you as you wait.
A – Adoring You – not remaining angry for the wait but praising Your name, Your timing and Your plan. Your ways are greater than my ways, Your thoughts higher than my thoughts (Isa 55:8-9). Great are You Lord and worthy to be praised (1Chron. 16:25).
I – Inquiringly – looking for Jesus’ hand, listening for His voice of guidance and love. Don’t miss Him along the way or the opportunity for the wait to be over.
T – Thanksgiving – give Him thanks for who He is. I may not be able to thank Jesus for the wait all the time but He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! (Heb 13:8) Be thankful for Him as you were prior to the wait. He has not changed.
Journal entry 6/29/09
Tonight I made a fire. The wood had “cured” so long that it was gray and somewhat light. Most likely it was oak. I chose small pieces so it would burn fast. This wood looked like everything had been sucked out of it – color, sap and life. Yet here I lay on the floor of my son’s room looking out the back door watching my fire as it rained.
Prior to the rain, while I sat outside, it was an amazing fire. It kicked off so much heat I had to take off my robe and move my chair back to escape some of the heat. When it started to rain most of the kindling had burned away and the three pieces of wood were maybe half gone. I spread the wood out because they had been piled in a fallen tepee. I put the lid on the pit and lay on the floor looking out the door. The fire continued to burn with pretty good flames. These pieces of wood were extremely weathered and appeared pretty lame for my fire. But it has been way past 30 minutes and the fire continues.
Can we be the same? We have sat around on a pile, scorched by the sun, drained of our presumed life, soaked in the rain, frozen by winter, neglected…yet when Jesus takes us and adds His flame…His light…His Spirit…we burn bright and strong. There is life in us – His life, kindled by His Spirit bringing heat, light, hope and attraction for others.
Even now the flames are finally gone but the embers are not, if I rearranged the wood maybe added some more logs the fire would begin again. Who really knows God’s ways and purposes? I don’t. I do know this…He is faithful and true. He has not forgotten me. I am used by Him and will be used by Him to fulfill His plans/purposes in His time. In Him I can burn bright and long for Him, even after what seems a much too long wait.
Where are you today? Do you feel like you have been left on the pile? Are you W.A.I.Ting or hung up with anger and frustration? Waiting can be very hard but don’t get caught up in anger and frustration and miss the blessings Jesus has for you as you wait.
Friday, March 12, 2010
God's mercy and love
Well, I have been told that blogging is just sharing what's on your mind and here for me what's on my heart. Today I was reading through past journal entries and came across something I wrote after having read in Jeremiah (an Old Testament book).
Just some back story here. Jeremiah, at a young age, is asked by God to be His prophet to Israel and Judah. The people have for years rejected Him, worshipped many idols, sacrificed their children to these idols, killed prophets that have tried to speak the words of God to them. Time and time again the children of God have rejected God and His messges to them. Now it is time for punishment/discipline for the wayward children but before this is doled out on them, God pleads with them to turn away from their sin through Jeremiah.
Journal entry 3/4/10
Jeremiah 3:7 "And I thought (says the Lord), 'After she (Israel) has done all this, she will return to Me...'"
Jeremiah 3: 12-14 "...return faithless Israel...for I am merciful...I am your husband and I have chosen you..."
Jeremiah 4:18 "Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you. This is your doom and it is bitter; it has reached your very heart."
Jeremiah 5:18 "'But even in those days,' declares the Lord, 'I will not make a full end of you.'"
There is hope here, not rejection! God is hoping that once Israel is done with her sinful ways, she will come to her senses and come back to Him! Amazing! He isn't seeking revenge in this passage or punishment but He is sharing the hope of His heart - that His wayward children would turn back to Him and come "home".
Even as He is describing the impending judgement, after being refused and blatantly disobeyed; God is MERCIFUL! (Jer 5:18)
Notice too, that He is not merciful because anyone (at least not mentioned in this particular part of Jeremiah) prayed for it. He is merciful because this is His character. Some would say "God is ______" (here merciful) because someone prayed this character trait out of Him or changed His wrath/anger into mercy. NO! God is merciful because this is who He is.
The hope I found for myself in these verses is that God has not changed. His mercy is not just for Israel or Judah but for us all. Even as I sin over and over again and ignore Christ and His attempts to seek relationship with me, there is mercy for me! He will not abandon me or stop loving me. And when discipline/judgement comes my way there will still be mercy and love during that time and especially afterwards when I come to my senses. Friends, do you find hope for yourself here? Is there a time in your life when you came face to face with the hope and love of Jesus even when you were rejecting Him?
Just some back story here. Jeremiah, at a young age, is asked by God to be His prophet to Israel and Judah. The people have for years rejected Him, worshipped many idols, sacrificed their children to these idols, killed prophets that have tried to speak the words of God to them. Time and time again the children of God have rejected God and His messges to them. Now it is time for punishment/discipline for the wayward children but before this is doled out on them, God pleads with them to turn away from their sin through Jeremiah.
Journal entry 3/4/10
Jeremiah 3:7 "And I thought (says the Lord), 'After she (Israel) has done all this, she will return to Me...'"
Jeremiah 3: 12-14 "...return faithless Israel...for I am merciful...I am your husband and I have chosen you..."
Jeremiah 4:18 "Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you. This is your doom and it is bitter; it has reached your very heart."
Jeremiah 5:18 "'But even in those days,' declares the Lord, 'I will not make a full end of you.'"
There is hope here, not rejection! God is hoping that once Israel is done with her sinful ways, she will come to her senses and come back to Him! Amazing! He isn't seeking revenge in this passage or punishment but He is sharing the hope of His heart - that His wayward children would turn back to Him and come "home".
Even as He is describing the impending judgement, after being refused and blatantly disobeyed; God is MERCIFUL! (Jer 5:18)
Notice too, that He is not merciful because anyone (at least not mentioned in this particular part of Jeremiah) prayed for it. He is merciful because this is His character. Some would say "God is ______" (here merciful) because someone prayed this character trait out of Him or changed His wrath/anger into mercy. NO! God is merciful because this is who He is.
The hope I found for myself in these verses is that God has not changed. His mercy is not just for Israel or Judah but for us all. Even as I sin over and over again and ignore Christ and His attempts to seek relationship with me, there is mercy for me! He will not abandon me or stop loving me. And when discipline/judgement comes my way there will still be mercy and love during that time and especially afterwards when I come to my senses. Friends, do you find hope for yourself here? Is there a time in your life when you came face to face with the hope and love of Jesus even when you were rejecting Him?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
where to we choose to be?
Sitting at Jesus' feet...is this where I choose to be? It is the desire of my heart but I don't always choose to be still at His feet and listen as Mary of Bethany did. I recently completed Jennifer Kennedy Dean's Secrets Jesus Shared and one of the many things I learned follows.
Rabbis such as Jesus had crowds of people that would come and listen to them speak. Some in this crowd would travel with the rabbi from home to home and even city to city. But the individuals in the large crowd did not commit their lives to the rabbi. They filtered in and out of the crowd following the rabbi as it was suitable or convenient to their lives. There were, however, a smaller number of men that stayed close to the rabbi. These men devoted their lives to their rabbi. They never left him. He became more important than family. He was first. The Talmud taught that if you have to choose between father and rabbi - rabbi is first. The smaller group heard his inner most thoughts and ideas, learned his mannerisms and way of life. They memorized his words. They wanted to be like him, so they remained close to him.
What do I want from my life with Jesus? What do you want? Do we move in and out of our time with Him as it fits our schedules or do we want to be there when He confides His inner thoughts (Psalm 25:14) and reveals the deep and hidden things (Daniel 2:22)? It's all good. The larger group heard Jesus, learned from Him, were healed by Him and some (many even) had lives that were forever changed by His love and the truth He taught but does it compare to the intimacy the twelve had? Is filtering in and out really the best He has for us? Are we settling for something less than what He wants for us?
I want intimacy. When I am seeking the intimacy and making time for Him, I feel complete. When I am drifting in and out, something is missing. Life isn't necessarily bad but fulfillment and satisfaction aren't lasting. This is why I say something is missing. At the end of the day, I'm not entirely pleased with the day. Intimacy with Jesus and a rightness in our relationship brings true and lasting fulfillment and peace.
So friend, where do you want to be, the crowd or the inner circle?
Rabbis such as Jesus had crowds of people that would come and listen to them speak. Some in this crowd would travel with the rabbi from home to home and even city to city. But the individuals in the large crowd did not commit their lives to the rabbi. They filtered in and out of the crowd following the rabbi as it was suitable or convenient to their lives. There were, however, a smaller number of men that stayed close to the rabbi. These men devoted their lives to their rabbi. They never left him. He became more important than family. He was first. The Talmud taught that if you have to choose between father and rabbi - rabbi is first. The smaller group heard his inner most thoughts and ideas, learned his mannerisms and way of life. They memorized his words. They wanted to be like him, so they remained close to him.
What do I want from my life with Jesus? What do you want? Do we move in and out of our time with Him as it fits our schedules or do we want to be there when He confides His inner thoughts (Psalm 25:14) and reveals the deep and hidden things (Daniel 2:22)? It's all good. The larger group heard Jesus, learned from Him, were healed by Him and some (many even) had lives that were forever changed by His love and the truth He taught but does it compare to the intimacy the twelve had? Is filtering in and out really the best He has for us? Are we settling for something less than what He wants for us?
I want intimacy. When I am seeking the intimacy and making time for Him, I feel complete. When I am drifting in and out, something is missing. Life isn't necessarily bad but fulfillment and satisfaction aren't lasting. This is why I say something is missing. At the end of the day, I'm not entirely pleased with the day. Intimacy with Jesus and a rightness in our relationship brings true and lasting fulfillment and peace.
So friend, where do you want to be, the crowd or the inner circle?
Monday, March 8, 2010
Desperate cries leading to joy
Psalm 28
(go to http://www.biblegateway.com)
• Desperate cry for help
• Making his requests known to God
• Relief/peace
• Praising God
• Joy
Nine verses of prayer in a song to God during a difficult time for David. We are not told what time of life or what the specific circumstances in this psalm are and I’m not sure it’s necessary. This is a short and to the point way to pray to God and find peace and joy in the midst of terrible circumstances.
Notice that there is no resolution of David’s problems in this psalm but there is definitely a connecting with the character of God and who He is and that alone is what brought David the peace, hope and joy he needed in this situation.
We too can find the same thing in the midst of our difficult and sometimes horrible circumstances. We cry out to God believing that He is listening; we lay out our requests or laments out to Him and find relief and peace. From here we can then let our soul sing praise or speak praise to Him who has listened, met us in our time of need and brought relief and peace. Here we find joy in the love that our Lord Jesus has for us, right now, right here in this moment.
I, too, have experienced this same peace and joy in Christ in the moment. I have cried out to Him with shouts and tears at times seeking answers to questions and hope in what seemed like hopeless circumstances or unknown times of resolution of the current difficulties. What I discovered was Jesus was listening, He did care! Sometimes words of comfort from the Bible would come to mind or remembrances of His past help or songs that I had heard and song would filter through my mind or sometimes just a peace/relief would come over me and I too ended with praise and joy that I was heard. The problem had not gone away. The circumstances had not changed in those moments but Jesus heard me and He offered Himself to bring me comfort.
Tell me, have you experienced this same joy and peace and comfort in your times of need? Think back, sometimes we are so focused on what we want to happen that we miss the love that is coming our way. Know and believe that He is listening and He does care.
I would love to hear from you concerning your stories of how Jesus met you!
(go to http://www.biblegateway.com)
• Desperate cry for help
• Making his requests known to God
• Relief/peace
• Praising God
• Joy
Nine verses of prayer in a song to God during a difficult time for David. We are not told what time of life or what the specific circumstances in this psalm are and I’m not sure it’s necessary. This is a short and to the point way to pray to God and find peace and joy in the midst of terrible circumstances.
Notice that there is no resolution of David’s problems in this psalm but there is definitely a connecting with the character of God and who He is and that alone is what brought David the peace, hope and joy he needed in this situation.
We too can find the same thing in the midst of our difficult and sometimes horrible circumstances. We cry out to God believing that He is listening; we lay out our requests or laments out to Him and find relief and peace. From here we can then let our soul sing praise or speak praise to Him who has listened, met us in our time of need and brought relief and peace. Here we find joy in the love that our Lord Jesus has for us, right now, right here in this moment.
I, too, have experienced this same peace and joy in Christ in the moment. I have cried out to Him with shouts and tears at times seeking answers to questions and hope in what seemed like hopeless circumstances or unknown times of resolution of the current difficulties. What I discovered was Jesus was listening, He did care! Sometimes words of comfort from the Bible would come to mind or remembrances of His past help or songs that I had heard and song would filter through my mind or sometimes just a peace/relief would come over me and I too ended with praise and joy that I was heard. The problem had not gone away. The circumstances had not changed in those moments but Jesus heard me and He offered Himself to bring me comfort.
Tell me, have you experienced this same joy and peace and comfort in your times of need? Think back, sometimes we are so focused on what we want to happen that we miss the love that is coming our way. Know and believe that He is listening and He does care.
I would love to hear from you concerning your stories of how Jesus met you!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
celebrating with friends
A friend of mine mentioned that I needed to share with everyone again the hope of this blog. There was a time when I was a part of a weekly Bible study and even a small group, along with involvement with a group of women that served in our church. These groups allowed me the opportunity to share with others what the Lord was doing in my life and what I was learning in the Bible or ask questions about what I was learning. It worked both ways. These people also shared things with me. It was amazing to me to share with people in this way; to praise God together, to explore His Word and explore questions together; and then get excited when an answer arrived. For various reasons I no longer have these groups of people to share with.
I miss this exchange and celebration greatly. This is one of the reasons why I have started this blog. I want to celebrate Jesus with YOU! I am blessed and excited if you read this blog and it gives you something to think about or praise God for but I would be doubly blessed if we could celebrate together through your posts.
I miss this exchange and celebration greatly. This is one of the reasons why I have started this blog. I want to celebrate Jesus with YOU! I am blessed and excited if you read this blog and it gives you something to think about or praise God for but I would be doubly blessed if we could celebrate together through your posts.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
wrapped in His robe
There was a day not too long ago where I was so weary in my heart and body. My heart was heavy with recent events in my family. I was trying to unload it all on Jesus, like you would vent to a best friend. I just wanted to get it out, but I was too tired and overwhelmed to even talk. I needed rest mentally and physically.
I remembered that Jesus had promised me rest in Psalm 23 and that was exactly what I was seeking. In my mind's eye I had curled up on the floor at the throne of God. I just wanted to lie at His feet. Another passage I had read - Isaiah 6:1 - spoke of God seated on His throne and the train of His robe filled the temple. I wanted to lie at His feet and be wrapped in His robe like a blanket. I sat quietly in my chair resting at His feet.
After some time, in mind's eye, I looked around the throne room and saw wall to wall people lying down as I was, covered in His robe finding comfort at His feet; comfort and rest for our weary souls and bodies. Each of us feeling as if we were right at His feet.
I found rest in those moments and restoration for my soul, now able to face another day. The struggles and problems had not gone away but I was refreshed and renewed to live out the day He had chosen for me.
We serve a great and glorious God! HALLELUJAH!!
I remembered that Jesus had promised me rest in Psalm 23 and that was exactly what I was seeking. In my mind's eye I had curled up on the floor at the throne of God. I just wanted to lie at His feet. Another passage I had read - Isaiah 6:1 - spoke of God seated on His throne and the train of His robe filled the temple. I wanted to lie at His feet and be wrapped in His robe like a blanket. I sat quietly in my chair resting at His feet.
After some time, in mind's eye, I looked around the throne room and saw wall to wall people lying down as I was, covered in His robe finding comfort at His feet; comfort and rest for our weary souls and bodies. Each of us feeling as if we were right at His feet.
I found rest in those moments and restoration for my soul, now able to face another day. The struggles and problems had not gone away but I was refreshed and renewed to live out the day He had chosen for me.
We serve a great and glorious God! HALLELUJAH!!
Monday, March 1, 2010
lenten fast
I have spoken with some you regarding the lenten fast and what you have decided to sacrifice for God. Some wondered why it hasn't shown up on the blog. I guess now I realize I needed to be into this for a time before I had something to share. I have practiced a lenten fast for at least five years now. It was never a part of my upbringing to fast during lent but as fasting became a part of my worship and relationship with Jesus, it made sense to fast at this time.
I have fasted for lent and I think benefited in some way during that time but I have been wondering if I was missing something in my fasting. I didn't always use the time to spend more time with Jesus in prayer or meditation during a fast. I was more focused on Him and during some fasts have needed Him and His strength greatly to maintain the fast. Could I really say I pressed in more? I wasn't sure. There was one 40 day fast that was specifically prayer related, that definitely had more time spent with Jesus but not my other fasts.
This year I wanted to make the fast more about spending time with Jesus not just for Jesus. I have been able to do this to a degree as my fast was TV. Now just to keep it honest and clear, I haven't given up TV entirely, we spend time as a family watching TV but for myself and my free time, I have been abstaining. This has allowed me to have more time in prayer and in reading the Bible or books relating to my life with Jesus.
I have read two things that have helped me on this fast - Practicing Lent: Cleaning Our Messy House by Ruth Haley Barton and The Lazarus Life by Stephen W. Smith. My life does have mess that needs to be cleaned up and I have to say that TV is part of the mess. So reading that article was timely. But in reading The Lazarus Life today I realized that TV does not bring me life and is therefore too small for me (as quoted from St. John of the Cross The Dark Night of the Soul).
Even now I have to ponder these things...
Please let me know how your fast is going or maybe if you aren't doing the lenten fast what you have learned or what was changed in your life as a result of a fast. Remember we are here to sharpen, love, and encourage each other.
I have fasted for lent and I think benefited in some way during that time but I have been wondering if I was missing something in my fasting. I didn't always use the time to spend more time with Jesus in prayer or meditation during a fast. I was more focused on Him and during some fasts have needed Him and His strength greatly to maintain the fast. Could I really say I pressed in more? I wasn't sure. There was one 40 day fast that was specifically prayer related, that definitely had more time spent with Jesus but not my other fasts.
This year I wanted to make the fast more about spending time with Jesus not just for Jesus. I have been able to do this to a degree as my fast was TV. Now just to keep it honest and clear, I haven't given up TV entirely, we spend time as a family watching TV but for myself and my free time, I have been abstaining. This has allowed me to have more time in prayer and in reading the Bible or books relating to my life with Jesus.
I have read two things that have helped me on this fast - Practicing Lent: Cleaning Our Messy House by Ruth Haley Barton and The Lazarus Life by Stephen W. Smith. My life does have mess that needs to be cleaned up and I have to say that TV is part of the mess. So reading that article was timely. But in reading The Lazarus Life today I realized that TV does not bring me life and is therefore too small for me (as quoted from St. John of the Cross The Dark Night of the Soul).
Even now I have to ponder these things...
Please let me know how your fast is going or maybe if you aren't doing the lenten fast what you have learned or what was changed in your life as a result of a fast. Remember we are here to sharpen, love, and encourage each other.
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