From the Pulpit--1 Peter 4

Read 1 Peter 4

Ever watched American Pickers? Then you know how they dig through a big pile of junk and find treasures there. Ever notice how God can do the same thing?

The End of the Beginning

Genesis 45-47

Genesis is the "origin of something", the beginning.  Today, we look at the ending of our beginning book of the Bible.

Do you believe that we all have a purpose, something God has created us to do?  Joseph did.  In 45:5-8, he confirms and explains this.  He gives us insight into how he survived his hardships.  He always kept in mind God's will above his own.  He always left himself open to be part of a bigger plan.  It also helped him to forgive his brothers for some very unthinkable wrongs.  He just went beyond the actions of the humans and put the purpose of it all on God's bigger plan.  If you think about how your life affects others and might be used to help others, it often helps to chase away to depression and disappointment of what may be happening now.  It can also help to prevent bitterness and hatred from growing.  Joseph is a great example of forgiveness and constant hope for better things.

So much of the Jewish history is grounded in these final books.  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is established.  The 12 tribes of Judah are given their back story, which will continue through the next 4 books completing The Pentetauch or the first 5 books of Moses.  The setting for Moses' story in Exodus is described.  And a beautiful story of a family's relationship and growth is told full-fold. 

Don't you love a story with a good ending?  And don't you enjoy a sequel in a series.  We've enjoyed starting this series together.  Hope you keep reading!

May God bless our beginnings, our middles, and our endings!!

The Turning of the Tide

Genesis 41-44

Did you notice the 7's and the 3's!  Constant numbers in the Bible--7 is said to be the number of completeness, 3 is the number of balance. Seven years of feast, 7 years of famine.  Three days of jail time, on the third day release.  More foreshadowing?  or just good story telling?  Remember, these stories were verbally passed down through the generations as part of the Jewish education at the knee of their mothers.  Just as Stephen retold the complete story in synopsis form in Acts 6, most Jewish people could explain and summarize their faith well.  Are we as versed?  Can we tell our beliefs as clearly?  Might be something to work on so that you can witness clearly if given the opportunity at a moment's notice.

I am so impressed with Joseph at the beginning of this story.  I so love the way God directed his life and pulled him out of the despair in such a dramatic way and in such grand extreme.  Joseph's life could not have taken a clearer "180"--from the bottom of the heap to the top of the world.  I hope that gives you as much encouragement as is does me when we feel like we are living at the bottom of a heap.  Your life too can take a dramatic turn, if you continue to keep your eyes on God.

I love watching Joseph's approach to the opportunity for change.  First, he gave the credit to God as his talents were recognized.  Second, he followed his explanation of the situation with a plan of action that was well received.  Third, he followed through with the plan by getting right to work.  He stuck to the plan and became very successful.

I think we often get stuck in one of these stages.  We may have a good idea, but we take all the credit instead of recognizing how the plan came about.  Or we don't know what to do with the plan to move it into concrete stages so we give up easily thinking it is a "pipedream" and can't be done.  Or we get stuck tweaking the plan and never put our "feet to the ground" to get the plan in motion.  I encourage you to keep in mind all the steps and let God guide you through them.  Joseph didn't do it alone---God put people around him to move things along.  God will do the same for you if you are acting in His will.

I can't leave today without recognizing the old Joseph.  As soon as you put on fancy clothes, people seem to change.  Joseph got a new "coat of colors" and it went right to his head again, didn't it.  Truly "lording" his power over his brothers for 3 chapters.  And it never mentions that this was God's idea to handle it this way.  Leaves me very curious about his motives--was it payback time?  Was he trying to teach them a lesson?  Did God guide this part of the story because many hearts did need changing and many lives were involved?  I guess that's one of those questions for our days in heaven when all things will be revealed.

God bless us now to complete our past.  

Interwoven Lives

Genesis 37-40

The story of Joseph's bad luck!  His whole life was like a Friday the 13th!!

I note today Reuben and Judah--2 older brothers that pretend not to care but actually try to do what is right or actually have feelings about what is wrong!  It gives me hope for all fighting brothers--I guess you have known some--I certainly have.

The words gum, balm, and myrrh caught my eye today.  Those were the 3 things that the camels were loaded with; the camels of the traders that bought Joseph for 20 shekels of silver.  It brought to mind Jesus' story. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh--3 gifts to him as a baby.  Being sold by Judas for 30 pieces of silver. (Somehow it is good to know that Jesus was worth more)

I know that there is much foreshadowing in the Bible and this seems like it might be one of those cases.  Gum, balm, and myrrh could all be used to repair and fix things, heal, and honor death.  I know Joseph's life was used to fix, heal, and honor many people and their relationships. Look ahead then to Jesus, the King and Master of fixing, healing and relationships.

Again, we see the people of God not acting in a very Godly way.  And yet, God uses those events to move his plan along.  And we can step back and see His hand in it.  I think that is the hard part in my life sometimes.  The stepping back to see how many lives are affected by what is going on.  As I have grown older and had more experiences, this has become easier.  I am able to think past myself and see what others are going through and how my story weaves through theirs.  Just as Joseph's story is weaving through different cultures and worlds--from top of the heap to bottom.  Amazing that Joseph seems to just "plug" along.  He does not seem changed by the events of his life.  There seems to be a confidence and a peace that he is in the right place at the right time and things are as they should be.

God, I pray that today, for all those that my life intertwines, there will be a sense that the world is working as it should.  Amen.

Wrestling with Angels

Genesis 32-36

There's a little devious behavior in every family, isn't there?  And none of us are perfectly wonderful all the time.  So, I guess I can't judge these characters too harshly.  But boy, did they have some character flaws!  Jacob began it all with stealing the birthright and such.  But God blessed him with all those sheep!  And women and babies and cattle and donkeys and......more!  Yet, He still didn't trust God.  He worried about leaving to go home, so he slunk away like a thief in the night.  He didn't realize that there really was a thief with him!

And what about Rachel?  I think she must have been the best "grudge-holder" in the whole world.  First, fighting with her sister over Jacob's love and then holding it against her dad that he married Leah to Jacob in the first place.  At least, I guess that's why she stole his alter pieces.

And what about those brothers?  Killing a whole city of men to "defend the purity of their sister" even after their father had worked things out for the benefit of the family.  Doesn't say much for Jacob and Leah's parenting skills.

And yet the Lord kept leading.  And I guess after wrestling with that angel, Jacob had finally learned that he could trust God so he did moved his family one more time.  I noticed that Jacob talked to them about God the most just before this move, showing that he had matured in his faith enough to spread it to his family.

Maybe that is what today's reading is really all about---maturing in faith.  God comes to us time and time again. Letting us make our mistakes, but staying by our side.  Explaining things and letting us "wrestle" with the new ideas.  Loving us enough to help us pick up the pieces and try again.  Thanks, God.

God is Large and In Charge

Genesis 27-31

Pretty little liars!!

And yet God still was large and in charge.  So many of today's characters thought they were in charge, but I have to believe that God still was in control.  I'm not that impressed with Isaac--after being saved from being sacrificed, He didn't seem to be that close to God.  And Rebekkah didn't turn out to be such a God-follower either.  But I don't think any of her plans would have worked if God hadn't have let them.

So Jacob left the fold.  Reminds me of children leaving home today--for college, for marriage, to be "grown-ups".  It's when we really wonder if all that we have been trying to model and teach them, will soak in and be used.  It's when we really turn them over to God's Holy Spirit.

It seems to have been that way for Jacob.  Once he got out on his own and got quiet and didn't have his mother leading him into deception--he could dream and hear God's voice.  That dream seems to confirm that God was in charge all along.  And Jacob ended up being very loyal and having a great work-ethic.  He also seemed very smart with those sheep and goats.  So, it gives me faith and hope that my children will be in God's hands long after they are out of mine.

As for Jacob's wives--well, we discussed them greatly at Women's Bible Study (Wednesdays--6:00 pm-everyone welcome)--and I guess God can work through conniving women as well.  He worked through Rebekkah and all her schemes and he worked through Leah and Rachel.  The 12 tribes that grew through all of these women will play a big part in the rest of the story--even through to Revelation.  But that is all for another day---God's timing!!  God's plan!  God's hand in it all!

I trust Your hand, oh God!!

God is with us....anyway

Genesis 25-26

Impressed by Esua? Naaah!  Me, neither.  Red, hairy guy. Gives away birthright for some food.  Marries two women (nobody has done that before).  But hey--he's being raised by a Mom who prefers his brother and a dad who lies about his mom to save his own skin.  Things are really getting to be a mess.  But God is with them and Isaac and Rebekkah do seem to consult with God about things (some things anyway).

I guess it just goes to show you that God is with us, even when we aren't exactly living right.  And I know we shouldn't judge, but after reading today's passage, it's hard not to.  I hope the writer of this book was showing the mistakes clearly on purpose so that we understand how fallible humans are.  Surely the mistakes were not as blatant as they seem.

God, thanks for loving us even when we repeat the sins of our fathers, even when we get our priorities totally wrong.  And thanks for blessing us through others as Abraham and Isaac were blessed by Abimelech.

Laughing with God

 Read Genesis 21-24

I love this story for so many reasons.  Let me share a few with you....

I love why they named the child Isaac, meaning "Laughter".  I love that Sarah laughed to herself in surprise when she heard the Lord tell Abraham that she would have a child within the year. (Genesis 18:10-15) I love that God KNEW she had laughed (showing His omniscience) and reported it to Abraham (just like a best friends teasing and harassing the wife). I even love that Sarah lied and said, "I didn't laugh" showing her respect and awe for the Lord.

Have you ever laughed with God? I remember a time that I did because of this actual Bible story. You see,  we have a son who took a test drug for leukemia. We were asked to be part of testing that new drug and we prayed over the decision fiercely, knowing what was at stake.  This disease or this drug could kill him. But, the decision was easily made once I remembered Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son and trust God.  It was made even easier when I prayed to God, "Would you put your son through that?" and I remember laughing out loud as I realized what I had just asked God and realizing that I clearly knew that answer because He HAD put His son through a challenge, and one even worse.  When I realized that I had laughed outloud while talking to God, it put me right back to Sarah who laughed at the miracle God worked in her life. And I trusted Him to work a miracle in mine, as well.  I still laugh with my God whenever His Holy Spirit helps me think of connections like this while I read, study and pray!

I love the other parts of the reading, too.  I love how God followed up on His promise to Abraham and Sarah.  I love how God took care of Hagar, following up on His promises to her.  I love how God provided the real sacrifice for Abraham, so he wouldn't have to sacrifice his only son. Another reminder of what He would do in the world's future when He would sacrifice His one and only son for us.  It seems almost like a practice for that future event doesn't it.  Do you think the power He felt watching Abraham trust Him helped Jesus have the power to follow through when He had to be the sacrifice?  Do you think it was all the more difficult to watch knowing what would happen in this world later when He would be watching His own son going through it?  Do you think these things come to mind as He watches us go through our trials?  I do.  He know how it feels from every angle and He wants us to know---it is worth it.  When we see it from His angle, we will understand.

God, Thanks for providing laughter when there could be tears.  Thanks for providing hope when we don't understand.  Thanks for providing purpose when things look senseless.  We trust You, we believe You because You first loved us and You promised to always love us.  And we know You keep Your promises!

There's a "Lot" To Look Forward To

Read Genesis 18-20

They say birds of a feather, flock together.  My mom always told me I would be judged by those I hung out with.  And we all know that you can't hang out in the swamp without getting a little muddy. Well, these folks were down-right nasty!

Lot's reaction to the 2 men is appalling--who would offer their daughters over 2 strangers to a raging crowd?  Just goes to show that if you surround yourself with bad, it's gonna rub off.  And yet, God rescued Lot and his family.  Remember why God did that? Abraham had discussed it with God--prayed a prayer of protection around Lot, so to speak. It's good to have prayer warriors surrounding you! And it didn't hurt that Lot had the presence of mind to guard the angels.  Maybe, when he was suggesting throwing out his daughters, all he was doing was putting God before family.  Still, I think you have to be very clear about these things, especially with children.  It seems those same girls learned a very disturbing lesson from the actions that they saw every day in that city and even the actions of their own father.  And those lessons led to even more disturbing actions from the girls themselves!

• It reminds me of a story, that I saw on facebook (not always a good source of information, but this one is good)...
• "Yesterday when I was picking my daughter up from school I witnessed two moms "gossiping" about another mom. Two minutes before the gossip started, the two gossiping moms were acting like the person whom they were talking about's best friend. When she walked away the gossip and mean faces and laughs started. The saddest part? Both of their daughters saw, witnessed and heard the whole thing and then proceeded to chime in the same negative sarcastic way.  Our children hear everything we say and they see everything that we do. They are smart and intuitive and learn what is ok and not ok by us. Mean children and bully's typically learn that from us- their parents." Natalie Jill Fits

We all see it, judge it, and comment on it almost every day.  And yet it's hard not to slip up.  I think that is when we have to learn the next lesson from Lot's dilemma-- Lot's wife turning to salt--coining the phrase "There's no looking back!"  That was another situation that had a huge impact on those girls.  Their mother did not have the faith to look forward and not desire the past. She did not trust God and look to the future.  If you spend your time looking back, you will never be able to move forward.

God, I pray that talking to you will become so natural that I turn to you first.  That I pray as much for others as I do for myself.  And that I keep my eyes on your plan for my life and keep moving forward.  I also hope I always recognize the angels in my midst!  Amen.

Run, Hagar, Run

Read Genesis 12-14

So, here's my main thought and it has cycled through my mind over and over as I think about Hagar--you can't run away.  When there is a problem you have to see it through.  I think that is what God was telling Hagar.  Go back, see it through, I'm working through your life too. Yes, the main story is about Abram and Sarai, but Hagar has a story, too.  Sometimes, it seems as if everyone else is taking center stage and the situations around you are all about someone else.  But even if that is true to the world---to God, your part of the plan is important, too.  Keep praying and focusing on God, he hears you in the midst of it all.

Which leads me to another thought.  A crazy analogy---in the cold weather, my radio station gets interrupted by another station.  I guess the radio waves of the second station can travel further in the cold, crisp air.  Anyway, my Christian, family-friendly station suddenly will have an outburst of another voice or song right in the middle of a train-of-thought or a chorus that I was already "into".  Sometimes, it can make a crazy statement out of a perfectly normal one (try switching your radio stations quickly and see what it ends up saying to you!!) This is very reflective of my real life sometimes! When I'm trying to concentrate on something, maybe a thought or a prayer, THAT is often when bells, voices, or other people's actions interrupt what I'm doing!  Especially when I'm trying to pray---even my own thoughts get so jumbled that it is hard to focus. I think it is so important to lean on God at those times; to try to maintain that focus; talk out loud or just invite God into the chaotic thought-stream.  Sometimes, the Holy Spirit can guide you back to what God would have you to hear, think, and know.

Lord, help me focus today and hear your voice.  And if I get off track, please call me back like you did for Hagar!  Thanks!

Abram as a follower of God

Genesis 12-14 left me with some thoughts about Abram.  He definitely was willing to follow God if He took up his family and left.  He didn't have any children so I guess he considered Lot, his nephew, more of a son.  He was rich.  I wonder how he got that way.  He was powerful, basically in charge of his own city with an trained battery of soldiers and everything.  He was recognized by pharaohs and kings. I guess when you live long enough (100s of years) those blessings add up!

And yet, there were times that he wasn't perfect.  Think about that part where he lied about his wife--just in case someone might want to kill him.  Wasn't exactly trusting God there, was he?  But God worked it out anyway!  Shows that God loved her too.  Even in that society that doesn't mention women much!  It also shows that God loves us, as ordinary, mistake-making people.

As a teacher, these chapters seem like a good introduction to more of the story.  We have some background on a fellow who is 11 generations from Noah; with hundreds of years between generations. 

God has been around an awfully long time hasn't he.  And I thought God had said  people would only live 120 years after the flood.  (Might go back and look that one up)

Seems like more questions than answers today, God.  But some days are like that until you hang in there to see the bigger picture.  Thanks for being in it with me even when I have questions---no, change that to---especially when I have questions.

Who begat you?

Genesis 10-11

So.....who begat you?  It occurs to me that we all claim to be sons of Adam and yet we are also sons of Noah!  And some of those names are familiar, aren't they?  Amazing that cities and places can really mark a life lived--a real person going through all the same things we do.  These people set down their families and cities grew around them.  Communities developed as each need was met.

I've always marveled at how so many people in the world could have started from just one family.  But then, I look at how fast our family reunion has grown over the years.  At one part of the reading, I had to draw a family tree just to get it straight and sure enough, I realized that someone had to marry a close relative to keep it all going.  The famous Abram's brother married his own niece.  And as we read the Bible, I know that kind of thing will continue; just not as big of a deal back then as in our society.  Even today, they say we are all only separated by 7 generations before we find someone that is related to ourselves and each person we meet.

I always try to keep their society and culture in mind as I read.  It was very different from ours.  Did you notice that daughters were not mentioned by name?  But as a sideline at the end of each of the genealogies.  Interesting. Other things throughout the Bible will reflect this different society and culture as well and it is important as you glean the message from the Word that you analyze it with the correct mindset.  It still always amazes me that it applies to us today.  I guess because even though culture may change, human nature doesn't and God really doesn't change.  His truths are the same now as they were then and always will be.

So today we connect one main character--Noah--to our next main the next main character in the Bible--Abram. But stuck in the middle of all these "bagats" there was this story of the tower of Babel.  This story shows how quickly mankind can become "full of himself."  The world was just destroyed 4 generations previous if we are to read the Bible straight through.  Perhaps it was longer from the flood than that, but you know the people knew the story of the flood.  And you might think that it was a good thing for man to be working together on a great project.  Many times, a mutual project can pull a group together for good. But God didn't see it that way.  He does know our hearts after all, and He was thinking about how man getting together was a bad thing.  Probably because they were getting together to glorify themselves.  Never a good thing--for we are to live for the glory of God.  But, just think what we could do if we WERE trying to glorify God and all of us got on board!!  Now that's my idea of heaven!  All God's children on the same page working for His glory!
It's definitely something to consider as you look at your own family along with your church family!
Don't have much of that?  It might be time to look for some.  Most would welcome you with open arms.  God can lead you there.  

Lord, help us see the trends in our families that can tie us together and glorify you!

Perfect Timing

To read the full story of Noah, one must read Genesis 6-9.  It makes me wonder about God's timing and His perspective over mine. 

For instance, taking time to read all of that....
Wow! It's a long story!  It was a long time in the ark! Especially when you consider that Noah was 6 hundred years old!  That's a long time in itself!  And that was repeated many times, too, wasn't it?  I wonder at the importance, but it made it stand out to me.  Maybe it was to put things into perspective like this--when you've lived 600 years and your sons have lived 100 years--40 days doesn't seem that long! 

And did you notice how long they were actually on the boat!  It was over a year, I think, by the time the water receded enough to get off with all those animals.  So, when I'm waiting for "God's timing" on my next prayer, I'm going to have to consider the length of time Noah waited and how long he lived. And in all those years, there is only one portion of his life that was important enough for us all to know about it.

After Noah led such a long life, I noticed that God decided that man should only live 120 years.  I guess He knew that was long enough for us to do something of significance.  Yet, I still don't know anyone who has lived THAT long or taken that long to make an impact on others.

I also noticed that they began tilling the earth and planted the first vineyard.  And they didn't know the power of that yet.  The comparisons that would be made of God and the vine-keeper, the lessons of the fruit and the vine.  And yet it was immediately misused--I laugh to think that we are told that Noah got drunk after that voyage.  I didn't really blame him that that it was surely an ordeal to live through!  But then I realized, it was only after the vineyard had grown, the fruit had fermented, and the wine had been made.  So, we're looking at years again, instead of the days that it seems like when you read it all at once.

I guess that's how we look at others, when passing judgment on their actions.  We see the actions and connect them to past events that may not really have anything to do with the actions.  Or we skip from one event to another and forget that there are many things about the person that we do not know about them.  We are only allowed to see part of their lives. 

It's nice to know that God sees us from the beginning events, through the middle events, and past the ending events that tell our true life stories.  I pray that I may remember that the next time I am wishing, questioning, or hoping for a change---just as Noah must have while building, riding, and landing that ark. 

An amazing story that teaches us that good things come to those who wait.  May I always trust in your planning and your timing, dear Lord.

Fixing Problems Out-Loud!

As I read Genesis 3-5, I thought about how wise you get when you are old.  Read it yourself and see where you think wisdom comes from.

And now we understand the phrase "as old as Methuselah"!  It amazes me how long everyone lived!!  Were the years measured the same?  Was the world turning faster?  Slower?  Someone once told me that because of the mist instead of rain that bodies did not age. The sun was blocked and that had an effect as well.  I’m just not sure. But can you imagine how wise they must have been.  How much life had taught them?  What they shared with others?

God certainly shared some things with man as well, didn't He? 

Meeting Goals, A Little at a Time

Genesis 1 and 2


When I read Genesis 1 and 2, I think "Wow--there's alot in these two little chapters!"  Read it for yourself and you'll see what I mean.  

Did you set a goal at new year's?  How's that going for you?  Have you set a new goal recently? The hardest part for me when I set a goal is getting started.  I'm looking at this hard task and wondering if I'm going to be able to really do it.  So, I think....just do it today.

Visions of Peace--Final Session--Week 7, Day 7

Quiet listening as you read

Closing—Peacemaking

Interesting that the number 7 is the number of completeness in the Bible.  I taught this as an eight-week study, but as I put it on-line, it seems more appropriate to label this session as Week 7, Day 7! 

So, in this session we try to put it all together.  This is the session in which we discover how to be a peacemaker.  Do you know the secret yet?  How do you bring peace into this world?

Visions of Peace--Week 7--Day 6

Quiet listening as you pray

Pray—

“Dear God, who is over all time, help me to take time. Help me to put time on my side. Help me to value the time that I should be spending with You.  Time to think, time to reflect, time to respond in the way You would have me respond to all things.  Time to find the good in the bad, the lesson in the situation.  Thank you for desiring time with me, for that time is my saving grace.  Amen.”

Visions of Peace--Week 7--Day 5

quiet listening as you read and think

God’s Help is Near

Max Lucado

The Lord is close to everyone who prays to him, to all who truly pray to him.  Psalm 145:18

Healing begins when we do something…when we take that first step.  God’s help is near and always available, but it is only given to those who seek it.  Nothing results from apathy….

God honors radical, risk-taking faith.  But it takes someone doing something in order to see results.

What is God revealing to you?  What is something you need to act on in order to have the Lord stop and respond?  It’s never too late to seek him—no matter what the need or request is.

God’s help is near and always available, but it is only given to those who seek it. 

                                             --Hope, Pure & Simple

What is your response?

Visions of Peace--Week 7--Day 4

quiet listening as you ponder

Untitled

Attributed to Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;

It was never between you and them anyway.

What is your response?

Visions of Peace--Week 7--Day 3

quiet listen as you respond

Highways of the Heart

Author Unknown

”Blessed are the men whose strength is in thee,

In whose heart are the highways to Zion.”                       
  Psalms 84:5

 My RSV Bible has a note that the Hebrew does not include the words “to Zion”. Looking further it really means the raised pathways….His Ways…. or the pathways to God’s house.

How wonderful to contemplate having such a closeness to God from many visits seeking His Heart that you would have such tremendous strength of faith and purpose because Your strength is only found in His….And to have traveled those roads of questioning and listening and doubting and following back and forth and back and forth so many times that the spiritual highways in your heart are so beautifully well-worn. And that possibly others by knowing you and praying and searching with you are able to step onto those highways and follow them until their own paths are clearer.

The image comes of all these winding and rolling little roads and paths and highways creating a web-like grid in your heart…ever seeking ever drawn further…and when the energy occasionally ebbs and the heaviness of the world makes the path a bit too dark too see clearly, we need only to slow down, tune our hearts, cast our burdens, be still and plug in to the Holy Spirit…and the grid gets brighter and we can once again see the next step on the path.   

What is your response?

Visions of Peace--Week 7--Day 2

quiet listening as you consider

Gracious Uncertainty

. . . it has not yet been revealed what we shall be . . . —1 John 3:2

Our natural inclination is to be so precise— trying always to forecast accurately what will happen next— that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal, but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down roots. Our common sense says, "Well, what if I were in that circumstance?" 

We cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never been.

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life— gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within us dies. That is not believing God — it is only believing our belief about Him. Jesus said, ". . . unless you . . . become as little children . . ." (Matthew 18:3 ). The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness, become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, ". . . believe also in Me" (John 14:1  ), not, "Believe certain things about Me". Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and graciously uncertain how He will come in— but you can be certain that He will come. Remain faithful to Him.

Oswald Chambers from My Utmost for His Highest

What is your response?

Visions of Peace--Week 7-Day 1

quiet listening as you respond to readings today

Peacemakers

Memory verses 

Psalm 139

23Search me, O God, and know my heart;
  Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

24And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
  And lead me in the everlasting way.

Thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11

Without faith it is impossible to please God.  Hebrew 11:6

This week, we will be working to think further by reading passages and responding with our own thoughts guided by the Holy Spirit and all we have been reading, listening to, and thinking about over the last weeks and months.

Our first reading is....

A Zen Lesson

"Life always gives us exactly the teacher we need at every moment. This includes every traffic jam, loss, moment of joy or depression, addiction, every breath. Every Moment is the Guru"

                                                JoKo Beck, American Author and Zen Teacher

Response--

How wonderfully true and how wonderfully amazing, and Christians would say the Lord gives us exactly what we need at every moment, not just the unnamed and vague concept of "life". The Creator of life gives us all things and all situations, to help us and teach us. The sometimes difficult, but exciting part is learning how to realize the lessons, and even better, to enjoy them.

(How can a vague idea of “life” give us anything?)

                                                an anonymous friend

What is your response?

Visions of Peace--Session 7--Inner Conflict

Visions of Peace--Session 7--Inner Conflict

“Pasco, the smaller the space between your desire and what is right, the happier you will be.”  Pasquale’s mother, Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

What exactly causes inner conflict?

Deciding what to do

Guilt

Temptation

 “When you can’t stand yourself” Marie Carson

Not being able to think straight

So, sometimes we have to stop and think and make decisions.  And we CAN think.  Melodie Beattie wants to assure all people of this in her book Codependent No More.  She has a whole chapter about thinking. Here is a sample: 

“As codependents, many of us don’t trust our minds.  We truly understand the horror of indecision.  The smallest choices, such as what to order at the restaurant or which bottle of bleach to purchase, paralyze us.  The larger significant decisions we face, such as how to solve our problems, what to do with our lives, and who to live with, can overwhelm us.  Many of us simply give up and refuse to think about these things.  Some of us allow other people or circumstances to make these choices for us.” (p. 163)

Deciding not to decide is still making a decision.  And it can be a good one, as long as you are aware that someone else may make that decision for you or circumstances may change so that you don't have an opportunity to make that decision later.  

Saying yes to one thing means saying no to another.  And that is a fine thing as long as you are aware of it as you are making that decision.

 

Beattie also reminds us—

         “Overreacting may impair our mental functioning.  Decisiveness is hindered by worrying about what other people think, telling ourselves we have to be perfect, and telling ourselves to hurry.  We falsely believe we can’t make the “wrong” choice, we’ll never have another chance, and the whole world waits and rises on this particular decision.  We don’t have to do these things to ourselves. [Remember what we have that keeps us from worrying like this?  Our faith statements from Beth Moore.]

         Hating ourselves, telling ourselves we won’t make good decisions, and then throwing a batch of “shoulds” every time we try to make decisions, doesn’t help our thinking process, either.

         Not listening to our needs and wants, and telling ourselves that what we desire is wrong, cheats us out of the information we need to make good choices.  Second-guessing and “what ifs” don’t help either.  We’re learning to love, trust, and listen to ourselves. [Because who lives within us that keeps us straight?]

         Maybe we’ve been using our minds inappropriately, to worry and obsess, and our minds are tired, abused, and filled with anxious thoughts.  We’re learning to stop these patterns also.

         Perhaps we lost faith in our ability to think because people have told us we can’t think and make good decisions.” (p. 164)

        

"People may have put down the intelligence of women, but that’s nonsense.  We’re not stupid.  Women can think.  Men can think.  Children can think.

         We may be living with people now who are telling us directly or indirectly that we can’t think.  Some of them may even be telling us we’re crazy,…..Maybe we’ve started wondering if we are crazy! But don’t believe any of it for one moment.

         We can think.  Our minds work well.  We can figure things out.  We can make decisions.  We can figure out what we want and need to do and when it is time to do that.  And we can make choices that enhance our self-esteem.

         We’re even entitled to opinions!  And yes, we do have some of those.  We can think appropriately and rationally. ….

         Remember, decisions don’t have to be made perfectly.  We don’t have to be perfect.  We don’t even have to be nearly perfect.  We can just be who we are.  We can make mistakes in our choices.  We’re not so fragile we can’t handle making a mistake.  It’s no big deal!  It’s part of living.  We can learn from our mistakes, or we can simply make another decision.  (p. 165)"

And consider this---to let your emotions take over and disable you is selfish.  It takes your eyes off of Christ and pulls yourself away from the plan that God has for you.  The situations that God puts you in are meant to build your character and your strength and your belief in the Holy Spirit living within you. 

Compare that to Beth Moore's question in Believing God,  page 7- “Have you too quickly decided that what you have done or what you are doing is all you’ll ever do? Ah, God’s far too creative for that... Just when we decide our lives are all about figs, God starts mixing up the soil underneath our feet to bring forth some pomegranates…John 15:8 “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Not some fruit. Much fruit.”   

So, when God puts us in troubling situations, He may just be stirring up the soil to produce a different type of fruit.

She goes further on page 8 to say  “According to Acts 17:26, God even determined the times and places set for us to live on planet Earth most conducive to our personalized harvests.  Too much predestination for you?  Here’s the catch:  we don’t have to cooperate.  We can live our entire lives as Christians and never fulfill the glorious plan God tailored for us in advance.”

So—we have permission from God to think, we have the Holy Spirit to help us think, we have the example of Jesus Christ to guide our thinking and this is what the Bible calls discernment. Many verses point to this type of wisdom. One important one is the one we had in our study during the past week.

Let’s review it:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Think about this--What do you think is the purpose for the times in our lives when we have to make decisions or practice discernment? Which stories did you read this week that back that up?

So, we want to make good decisions to keep us in God’s will.

We want to have experiences that will make us wise so that we can help others.  I found some great help on discernment on the internet website of Spirit Home. Some things like these hints that help you know that you are on the right track: 

--- a chance encounter with just the right person;
--- a thought or conviction that keeps growing;
--- something from the Bible which comes to mind;
--- something said in conversation which keeps coming to mind;
--- an opportunity which suddenly opens up.
--- it 'bites back', becoming harder to stop the more you or anyone else tries to hold back.

These hints mean nothing by themselves, but can mean a lot when taken together.

One statement summarizes nicely:

When discerning, the Christian must keep in mind why he/she is doing it. Ask yourself, "If I raise this issue, how am I pointing people to Christ? How am I helping them grow in the Spirit? In what way am I loving them?" If there's no answer to those questions, or if you have to stretch far and wide to come up with a complicated or weak answer, then it's best not to speak. Indeed, it's time to focus on listening, because it may be your time to learn.

I have often told my young students—“Those who can control themselves will grow into those who can control others.”  If you can calm your inner conflict, you will be able to discern what God would have you do in any situation.  Discernment takes time.  One of the best things I have learned to say when I feel overwhelmed or rushed is “Let me take time to pray about that.”  And then I really do. 

So, let us pray.
"Dear God, help the reader of these words to calm that inner conflict in such a way that they can hear your voice.  In such a way, that all that they know of you can come into their mind and clear the thinking process.  Calm the inner conflict with your Holy Spirit that lives in each one of us, Lord, and help the reader to clear their hearts so that they may act on Your behalf and trust that in doing so, their decisions and actions will be on their own behalf as well.  Thank you, God, for your love and power that blesses us at all times, but especially in the times in which we are quiet and calm.  Amen." 

Resources:

 Beattie, Melody.  Codependent No Moore.: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself.  Hazelden Foundeation, 1986

 

Longman, Robert. “Discernment.” Spirit Home. February 2, 2012. retrieved on January 11, 2014 from www.spirithome.com/discernment.html

Moore, Beth. Believing God.  Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2004. 

Online Parallel Bible. http://biblehub.com, retrieved on January 11, 2014.  

Walters, Jess.  Beautiful Ruins. HarperCollins Publishers, 2012.

Visions of Peace--Week 6--Day 6

Click here to listen as you study.

Practice this week's bible verses.  Click here for help.

Review all the verses here.

Read Luke 4: 1-13 (Temptation of Christ)

1.     What inner conflict did Jesus face?  

2.    How was He able to make good decisions?  

3.    What was the result?  

4.    Was He ever tempted again? If so, when? 

Get Personal

How do you go about making big decisions? 

What are some of your worst temptations? 

What was the hardest decision you ever made? 

What made it so difficult? 

Think of a time when you made a decision and then had to rethink it.  What kinds of emotions did that bring up?

Pray--

“Dear God, Thank you for being the ultimate Counselor.  Thank you for being so close to us that you know our every thought and feeling before we even recognize it.  Thank you for loving us enough to give us a choice but also loving us enough to lead us through those choices.  Help us to remember that every temptation is a choice and that we can be mighty in choosing Your will.  Help us to hear you, God, as you speak to us through Your word and Your world, Your people and Your Son’s example.  Lead us, O God, on Your path of righteousness. Amen.”