LOOK AGAIN AND THINK
Take no thought for your life. Matthew 6:25
A warning which needs to be reiterated is that the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in, will choke all that God puts in. We are never free from the recurring tides of this encroachment. If it does not come on the line of clothes and food, it will come on the line of money or lack of money; of friends or lack of friends; or on the line of difficult circumstances. It is one steady encroachment all the time, and unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the standard against it, these things will come in like a flood.
"Take no thought for your life." "Be careful about one thing only,"says our Lord - "your relationship to Me." Common sense shouts loud and says - "That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, I must consider what I am going to eat and drink." Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing the thought that this statement is made by One Who does not understand our particular circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things so as to make them the one concern of our life. Whenever there is competition, be sure that you put yourr elationship to God first. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." How much evil has begun to threaten you to-day? What kind of mean little imps have been looking in and saying - Now what are you going to do next month -this summer? "Be anxious for nothing," Jesus says. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the "much more" of your heavenly Father.
~Oswald Chambers
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
On Giving...
I have not posted on this blog in over five months. I recently wrote something on the blog I guest write on, If Life is a Highway and I thought I would also share it here too.
I was reading a blog by a very dear friend Diana. She has a lovely, thought provoking blog called extra grace required, and by all means go and check it out. Recently she was able to hear Shane Claiborne speak. If you don't know who that is, I would highly recommend you check him and his ministry out. He wrote a book called The Irresistible Revolution : Living as an Ordinary Radical. This book will really make you think about serving, giving and living radically.
Diana said that one thing that stood out to her was something Shane said:
"The best thing to do with the best things in life is to give them away."
That also resonated with me for a number of reasons. Lately I have been thinking about giving,
Does giving just mean tithing? Or can we give in other ways too?
Tithing is a touchy subject because there are so many different view on tithing. But I was just thinking about tithing and what that really means.
Generally if you belong to a specific church you tithe to that church. But what if, like me, you do not belong to a church? What if you don't know to who or what you should give to.
And can you tithe in other ways besides giving money?
What if you give money but you can only tithe five percent or what if you can only tithe one percent of your income?
Okay so we do know this:
2 Corinthians 9:7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. NIV
First of all, it should be from your heart, and with a joyful willingness.
Luke 21:2-4 NIV
2He [Jesus] also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
Then we see God honors those who give even when they have nothing to give. Ten percent or not. Give what you got.
Micah 6:6 & 8 NIV
6 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
I am a firm believer that the Lord always looks at the heart and motives of people. I suppose I could give all the money in the world to God, but if i was just doing it to receive praise from others, I really don't think the Lord would be impressed.
I guess what I am trying to get at is this:
Give what you can, with a cheerful heart, and with a willingness to give even when it's tough.
It may not always be with money.
I don't have a lot of money to give but these are things I do have:
hands to make a meal for someone who is hungry
time to visit someone who is lonely
clothes that I rarely wear that someone else may need
a house to open its doors to someone who needs shelter
a car to drive someone who needs to go somewhere important
Yes, I will still give money when I can. But I also have a lot of other ways to give as well. Give my best away by giving the best of me.
I was reading a blog by a very dear friend Diana. She has a lovely, thought provoking blog called extra grace required, and by all means go and check it out. Recently she was able to hear Shane Claiborne speak. If you don't know who that is, I would highly recommend you check him and his ministry out. He wrote a book called The Irresistible Revolution : Living as an Ordinary Radical. This book will really make you think about serving, giving and living radically.
Diana said that one thing that stood out to her was something Shane said:
"The best thing to do with the best things in life is to give them away."
That also resonated with me for a number of reasons. Lately I have been thinking about giving,
Does giving just mean tithing? Or can we give in other ways too?
Tithing is a touchy subject because there are so many different view on tithing. But I was just thinking about tithing and what that really means.
Generally if you belong to a specific church you tithe to that church. But what if, like me, you do not belong to a church? What if you don't know to who or what you should give to.
And can you tithe in other ways besides giving money?
What if you give money but you can only tithe five percent or what if you can only tithe one percent of your income?
Okay so we do know this:
2 Corinthians 9:7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. NIV
First of all, it should be from your heart, and with a joyful willingness.
Luke 21:2-4 NIV
2He [Jesus] also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
Then we see God honors those who give even when they have nothing to give. Ten percent or not. Give what you got.
Micah 6:6 & 8 NIV
6 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
I am a firm believer that the Lord always looks at the heart and motives of people. I suppose I could give all the money in the world to God, but if i was just doing it to receive praise from others, I really don't think the Lord would be impressed.
I guess what I am trying to get at is this:
Give what you can, with a cheerful heart, and with a willingness to give even when it's tough.
It may not always be with money.
I don't have a lot of money to give but these are things I do have:
hands to make a meal for someone who is hungry
time to visit someone who is lonely
clothes that I rarely wear that someone else may need
a house to open its doors to someone who needs shelter
a car to drive someone who needs to go somewhere important
Yes, I will still give money when I can. But I also have a lot of other ways to give as well. Give my best away by giving the best of me.
The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Monday, July 21, 2008
to the very day...
There are certain verses in the Bible that strike me more than others. Some are just the way they are worded and some hold deeper meaning for me. Five people can read the same passage and get five different meanings from what is being written.
Sometimes there are verses that are a bit obscure, unless it speaks to you in a moment, you will probably read over it and miss it. I love finding verses like that. There is one particular verse that is small, but holds great depths of meaning to me: Exodus 12:40-41 NIV
"Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord's divisions left Egypt."
To the very day. I take that very literally. I'm guessing to the day Joseph arrived in Egypt then 430 years later to the day God Exodused them out. Not 430 years and a handful of months, but to the very day.
The reason i find that to be so profound, is that it just shows how perfectly God moves in orchestrating his plans. He is always at work, always working behind the scenes. Even when you think he is far away, he is still at work. And he cares about the details. All those little details that had to happen in order for it to be 430 years to the very day. Joseph's arrival, his brothers and father's arrival, the growing of the Israeli population, Moses's birth, being saved on the Nile River, fleeing Egypt, living in the dessert, burning bushes, bad Pharaoh, plagues, passover... all leading up to an exodus that took ALL of the Lord's people out of Egypt 430 years later to the very day.
The New King James version says, even the selfsame day it came to pass. Since i am not always up on my King James language, I didn't know what "selfsame" meant, so i looked it up:
"being the very same; identical."
So basically on the identical day he brought the Israelites to Egypt, he brought them out.
And its funny that I worry that he isn't always able to work those seemingly minor details out in my own life.
God is not one to be trifled with... when he says to the very day, he means, to the very day.
I'm glad God doesn't forget to add those little details to the Bible. But then again, God is always in the details, big or small, he is there. Even in my details.
Sometimes there are verses that are a bit obscure, unless it speaks to you in a moment, you will probably read over it and miss it. I love finding verses like that. There is one particular verse that is small, but holds great depths of meaning to me: Exodus 12:40-41 NIV
"Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord's divisions left Egypt."
To the very day. I take that very literally. I'm guessing to the day Joseph arrived in Egypt then 430 years later to the day God Exodused them out. Not 430 years and a handful of months, but to the very day.
The reason i find that to be so profound, is that it just shows how perfectly God moves in orchestrating his plans. He is always at work, always working behind the scenes. Even when you think he is far away, he is still at work. And he cares about the details. All those little details that had to happen in order for it to be 430 years to the very day. Joseph's arrival, his brothers and father's arrival, the growing of the Israeli population, Moses's birth, being saved on the Nile River, fleeing Egypt, living in the dessert, burning bushes, bad Pharaoh, plagues, passover... all leading up to an exodus that took ALL of the Lord's people out of Egypt 430 years later to the very day.
The New King James version says, even the selfsame day it came to pass. Since i am not always up on my King James language, I didn't know what "selfsame" meant, so i looked it up:
"being the very same; identical."
So basically on the identical day he brought the Israelites to Egypt, he brought them out.
And its funny that I worry that he isn't always able to work those seemingly minor details out in my own life.
God is not one to be trifled with... when he says to the very day, he means, to the very day.
I'm glad God doesn't forget to add those little details to the Bible. But then again, God is always in the details, big or small, he is there. Even in my details.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Remember Surrender
There is a Sara Groves song called Remember Surrender:
"Remember surrender Remember relief
Remember how tears rolled down both of your cheeks
As the warmth of a heavenly father came closing in."
I have lived in that moment of surrender and I have promised to remember it, but I forget it too. When there is happiness and joy, the moments that were bad slip away. Which is a good thing... But its good to look back and remember. Remember the pain of deep heartbreak, then being pummeled like a wave crashing down on me with fear and sadness. I want to forget, but I also think it's good to remember too. I don't think God wants us to live in our past, but I don't think he wants us to forget those moments of his care, provision and healing.
Haggai 2:15-19
15 " 'Now give careful thought to this from this day on —consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the LORD's temple. 16 When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. 17 I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,' declares the LORD. 18 'From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.
" 'From this day on I will bless you.' "
I have lived in that moment of surrender and I have promised to remember it, but I forget it too. When there is happiness and joy, the moments that were bad slip away. Which is a good thing... But its good to look back and remember. Remember the pain of deep heartbreak, then being pummeled like a wave crashing down on me with fear and sadness. I want to forget, but I also think it's good to remember too. I don't think God wants us to live in our past, but I don't think he wants us to forget those moments of his care, provision and healing.
Haggai 2:15-19
15 " 'Now give careful thought to this from this day on —consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the LORD's temple. 16 When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. 17 I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,' declares the LORD. 18 'From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.
" 'From this day on I will bless you.' "
This is a remembrance, remember when things really sucked, remember how horrible life was, how painful every breath was, remember how you went for this much and only got that much. Then God says, from this point on, I am going to bless you. You remember those painful moments, you remember when I came through. You keep going on, and remember how I brought you through before and therefore I am going to bless you by bringing you through again and again. Even if it gets really bad, even if it rains pain over your head again, you remember, remember surrender, don't forget... and I will still be there. Jehovah-Shammah.
Friday, June 6, 2008
The Proverbial Anvil
You know that one cartoon with the coyote and the road runner? And right when things are going well for the coyote a big anvil falls on his head... I often feel that way, especially when things are going well. Typically when things are going horribly wrong in life, I'm "in it" and so bad things are apart of everyday life, you learn to deal. But what happens when things are actually going right for a change? Sometimes I feel like God is up there, just letting me get a taste of something good, but then he is going to drop a bomb on me. Where do i get that thinking? I try to believe that I worship a God who is loving and compassionate and although just, he is also full of mercy. So where do i get this idea that he is just waiting to do mean and horrible things to me? Unfortunately, I have been stuck in this kind of thinking for awhile. I do know that sometimes bad things happen, sometimes they even happen to people who are good. Sometimes bad things happen, just because and sometimes bad things happen to serve a purpose. But who says that God is a cruel tyrant just waiting to crush his next victim? I don't know that I've ever read that in the Bible, but yet that is often what I believe. It almost makes me feel better when something does go wrong, that way i can say, ok, bad thing #42 happened, cross that off my list, no more punishments for the day. Why do i always think I'm about to be punished for something? Or is it the natural consequences for making bad choices that one feels a punishment is in order? Good grief, its all so mind boggling.
I really do relish the moments when i can sit back and say, God, I know you love me. Period. No rationalizing, no trying to figure it all out, or make sense of it. Just plain ol' I accept your love in this moment.
I wonder if I will ever really reach a place when i can live my life not in fear of God's wrath but complete in his love?
Bad things will happen, but that doesn't mean that every moment of the day God is waiting for the perfect opportunity to put me in my place. That is not love. And God is love.
I really do relish the moments when i can sit back and say, God, I know you love me. Period. No rationalizing, no trying to figure it all out, or make sense of it. Just plain ol' I accept your love in this moment.
I wonder if I will ever really reach a place when i can live my life not in fear of God's wrath but complete in his love?
Bad things will happen, but that doesn't mean that every moment of the day God is waiting for the perfect opportunity to put me in my place. That is not love. And God is love.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Yielding and Heeding
Sometimes I take my time making the big decisions and that can be good and bad, depending on the situations. And then there are times I plow full speed ahead without pausing and end up doing and saying things I shouldn't. I have the hardest time waiting for things to happen, especially when i think i can control the outcome. What usually happens is I try too hard, or say something I shouldn't. But typically, I do it all wrong and I have to intercede to the Lord for some damage control. They don't even have to be "bad" things i do, not sins, but just the way I want to make things happen, not yielding and definitely not heeding. I'm not sure how many verses there are in the Bible that say, 'wait on the Lord', but i know that there are more than one, so that probably means waiting is imperative. I do not believe that the Lord wants us to wait on him for every little thing. Sometimes I feel like Christians fall into this trap that every single decision has to be run by the Lord for a yes or no. Dear Lord, should I wear black or white socks today? Does God care about your socks? Probably not, in all honesty I'm sure there are many little decisions we make everyday in our life that God doesn't give one iota about. I believe that is called free will. But I do think there are things God does care about, like the things we do that affect our relationship with Him and with others. What does God say is the most important highest calling? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Simple, yet so not easy to follow. Truthfully, I kinda love myself sometimes way more than i love God or others. And even my "best" intentions of "loving" my neighbor have my own personal agenda stamped all over them. I don't know exactly what i am trying to say, except that i think there are moments i need to yield and think, "do i really need to say or do this?" And then maybe I need to heed the the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit telling me, just chill for a bit. It would probably save me a lot of grief down the road and a lot less damage control pleading.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Are We Known?
There is a book called “Why Am I Afraid to Tell You Who I Am?” by John Powell. And here is a quote that stands out:
“But…if I tell you who I am, you may not like who I am, and it’s all that I have.”
So I have been thinking about that. How real are we? Will anyone like me if I am me being me? Isn't that truly one of our biggest fears? Wanting to be liked\loved for who we are, but what if what we are isn't likeable? We want to be completely known, but then again do we? The band Waterdeep has lyrics that say, "I don’t think I’ve ever wanted as much To be free as I’ve longed to be known. And of the things that I hate As I look at my life, The worst is my being alone.”
Here lies the conundrum: To truly be known by someone else is a scary process... but if we aren't known, is it more scary to be alone? Hmmm.... Well hopefully I am as real as I can be even if it's scary... because who knows, maybe me being real is just what someone else needs.
“But…if I tell you who I am, you may not like who I am, and it’s all that I have.”
So I have been thinking about that. How real are we? Will anyone like me if I am me being me? Isn't that truly one of our biggest fears? Wanting to be liked\loved for who we are, but what if what we are isn't likeable? We want to be completely known, but then again do we? The band Waterdeep has lyrics that say, "I don’t think I’ve ever wanted as much To be free as I’ve longed to be known. And of the things that I hate As I look at my life, The worst is my being alone.”
Here lies the conundrum: To truly be known by someone else is a scary process... but if we aren't known, is it more scary to be alone? Hmmm.... Well hopefully I am as real as I can be even if it's scary... because who knows, maybe me being real is just what someone else needs.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Crux of the Matter
"You can in no manner be satisfied with temporal goods, for you were not created to find your rest in them." ~ Thomas à Kempis
"Our work here is brief but its reward is eternal. Do not be disturbed by the clamor of the world, which passes away like a shadow." ~Clare of Assisi
Sometimes I wish I realized these simple things a long time ago. But they really aren't so simple are they? I love the temporal, i lust for the things of the earth. I want, I need, I find comfort in what i can grasp. The fact of the matter is, is that i spend way too much time not just in the world, but of the world. I often lack the faith to believe that someday there will be an eternity waiting for me that is better than this earth. But then again, I often loathe this life. The sadness, sorrow, pain, death, hurt, and all the other evils. Sometimes when i talk with God, I say, Why do you play so many cruel jokes? As if there is the proverbial carrot dangling in front of my face, almost mine, but always just out of my grasp. I live with disappointment, my heart has been broken one too many times and I sometimes don't have a lot of hope. And yet, I still go back for more. Why? because i love the things of the earth.
We are called to "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen" but how do you do that? Faith? Trust? But i like what i see! I like things, and I take comfort in human relationships that may or may not fulfill me.
But is it enough? No. That is the crux of the matter. The things of this earth are never enough, never quite fulfilling. I get my fix, but i am never full.
The beauty of this mess is that the Lord is still faithful to me, when i am not always faithful to him. His mercies really are new every morning. His love endures forever.
I don't know if I will ever reach a place in my life where i will be completely selfless, with no agendas of my own? I wish i knew for certain that everyday I would bear the fruit of the spirit, only say and do kind deeds for others, love wholeheartedly with no reservations. But reality is there will be times when I will want more than i am ready to give and all the pretty little things that entice me will continue to do just that... entice. And I will fail at times... but Thankfully(!) God will never fail me.
"Our work here is brief but its reward is eternal. Do not be disturbed by the clamor of the world, which passes away like a shadow." ~Clare of Assisi
Sometimes I wish I realized these simple things a long time ago. But they really aren't so simple are they? I love the temporal, i lust for the things of the earth. I want, I need, I find comfort in what i can grasp. The fact of the matter is, is that i spend way too much time not just in the world, but of the world. I often lack the faith to believe that someday there will be an eternity waiting for me that is better than this earth. But then again, I often loathe this life. The sadness, sorrow, pain, death, hurt, and all the other evils. Sometimes when i talk with God, I say, Why do you play so many cruel jokes? As if there is the proverbial carrot dangling in front of my face, almost mine, but always just out of my grasp. I live with disappointment, my heart has been broken one too many times and I sometimes don't have a lot of hope. And yet, I still go back for more. Why? because i love the things of the earth.
We are called to "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen" but how do you do that? Faith? Trust? But i like what i see! I like things, and I take comfort in human relationships that may or may not fulfill me.
But is it enough? No. That is the crux of the matter. The things of this earth are never enough, never quite fulfilling. I get my fix, but i am never full.
The beauty of this mess is that the Lord is still faithful to me, when i am not always faithful to him. His mercies really are new every morning. His love endures forever.
I don't know if I will ever reach a place in my life where i will be completely selfless, with no agendas of my own? I wish i knew for certain that everyday I would bear the fruit of the spirit, only say and do kind deeds for others, love wholeheartedly with no reservations. But reality is there will be times when I will want more than i am ready to give and all the pretty little things that entice me will continue to do just that... entice. And I will fail at times... but Thankfully(!) God will never fail me.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
give it a go
A year ago, a new friend sent me this quote, "There's nothing on my horizon except everything. Everything is on my horizon." ~Dwight Schrute.
And at the time, I thought it was very apropos to what was taking place in my life. Everything really was on my horizon. I just don't always realize it. I'm not sure what direction I want this blog to take. I do know that it will be an outlet to write more in depth about life and faith and possibly give my theological musings a shot. I don't want to preach or teach, I just want to share some things from my heart and a few things tucked in my soul. So there really is nothing on my horizon, except everything. everything is on my horizon...
And at the time, I thought it was very apropos to what was taking place in my life. Everything really was on my horizon. I just don't always realize it. I'm not sure what direction I want this blog to take. I do know that it will be an outlet to write more in depth about life and faith and possibly give my theological musings a shot. I don't want to preach or teach, I just want to share some things from my heart and a few things tucked in my soul. So there really is nothing on my horizon, except everything. everything is on my horizon...
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