I often struggle with what to say to people; both believers and unbealievers. When is it best to hold my tongue, when is it my responsibilty to correct, when should I be silent and when should I offer encouragement or consolation.
Several members of my family are going throught some serious health problems right now. When I see them, "it's going to be fine" doesn't seem right, because I don't know that. Neither does, "well if you took care of yourself..." because thats callous. "Life is life and these things happen" isn't right, because thats insensitive. Yet sometimes, being silent doesn't seem like enough.
The same goes when people I love, who know Christ get themselves in trouble with sin. "Snap out of it" is insensitive. "You know better" is high and mighty. Saying nothing isn't Biblical, but saying something can seem unmerciful.
I think of Job and his trouble. Satan was allowed to test him and he lost all his belongings, his wealth, his family, and his health. And he was a righteous man. In Job 2:12-13, we hear about Job friends seeing him for the first time..."When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words."
I've learned that often, when people are enduring suffering that I don't understand, or that I have no answers for, being silent is best. Job's friends did great for a week. Then they got fed up, opened their mouths, and it all went downhill from there.
The first friend blames Job's trouble on some sin Job must have commited. And told him exactly how he felt. The second friend blamed Job's children, saying that their sin caused Job's suffering. And the third friends blammed Job as well. Job's own wife told him to curse God and die.
After going back and forth with his friends, who never had the right thing to say, in Job 19:1-5 Job says, “How long will you torture me? How long will you try to crush me with your words? You have already insulted me ten times. You should be ashamed of treating me so badly. Even if I have sinned,
that is my concern, not yours. You think you’re better than I am, using my humiliation as evidence of my sin."
I grew up with 5 sisters. There was always something to argue about. My parent's (who just celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary!) always said, "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anyhting at all." I don't always do so great with this slice of parental wisdom.
The more I read Job's story the more I think that's it's almost always better to say nothing. If we don't understand suffering, just be with the person. If we don't know what their going through, pray for them. Even if their suffering is a result from sin, who are we to be damning with our words.
Have a great weekend,
Jill
thoughts, stories, and encouragement for women desiring a life filled with MORE of Jesus... a more Beauty-Full life.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Family Love
I had the pleasure this week of being at a family reunion
and memorial time for a much loved cousin who had passed away recently. The
event drew some family members from near and several from afar. Within the mix
were numerous cousins I had not seen in many years. Some I had only met once or
twice as a child and that was long ago. Others who were near my age I met for
the very first time, which means we have lived our whole lifetime with only a slight
knowledge of each other’s existence.
The wonderful part that struck me was the spontaneous,
genuine, love and affection we all had for each other immediately and how
natural it was for each of us to sincerely demonstrate this with one another.
With barely any or no prior personal connections we had the common link of
shared relatives, similar memories of stories we’d all heard, universal
perceptions of long-loved family members, and a shared understanding of the
family line. I believe anyone observing us would have known we were “family”
not just friends.
Just before I actually went to the gathering I had made a
trip to the grocery store for last minute items to bring. While walking down
the store aisles I suddenly had a thought that any one of the people I was
passing could have been one of my cousins also making a stop on their way to
the reunion. I would not have automatically known them as “family” and that
saddened me as I thought about it.
Without a recent picture or an accurate memory or a trusted introduction
I would not recognize them or know for sure that they were “family” and so I
would have just passed them by as strangers. Yet minutes later in the “family”
setting I would be overcome with unbridled joy and love.
This got me thinking that love is often only authentically expressed
in the context of location and association even though love is an ongoing
matter of the heart. It is a remarkable thing when the unique bond of “family”
can be experienced without reservation.
This particular reunion as “family” had been sparked by our
desire to memorialize a lost loved one. It was the common denominator for the
love that flowed that day. And this reminded me of the scripture commands in
which Jesus and His disciples referred to the importance of the visibility of
our love.
John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 15:9
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
John 15:12
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
2 Corinthians 8:24
Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
The world so needs to not only see but experience a genuine
love. Let’s be the spark somewhere today. Hug a neck, plant a kiss, pat a back,
hold a hand. Say the words, “I so love you!” Maybe even at the grocery store!
Gratefully HIS,
Jan
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Wandering
Last week, Jill posted the song Forever Reigns by Hillsong. If it had been my week to share a Monday post, I would have posted the same song. Maybe it's because we both heard it at church that weekend, maybe it's just because it's such a good song.
It's one of those songs that I feel no matter where I'm at.
I bought some new music today, including Forever Reigns. I bought the Shane and Shane version, which I would highly recommend. There's not a song that's been written that Shane and Shane can't make 450% better.
So, on my ride to and from my office, a meeting, and the store, I listened, to basically the same few songs- some Air Supply, some country, and Forever Reigns.
The line that hits me every time is in the second verse:
You are true, You are true, even in my wandering
I am a wanderer.
In every way one can wander, I do.
My mind wanders, almost constantly. I think about tomorrow, and yesterday, and people in my life, and people not in my life. I think about situations that haven't happened yet, and I can replay situations that have happened down to the millisecond. I plan for the future, I regret the past.
My heart wanders, not constantly, but consistently to the wrong things. Contentedness is not a virtue I have even come close to achieving.
The rest of me wanders, as much as it can.
The 2 years I have lived here in the yellow house is the longest I have lived anywhere since high school. I have lived in Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island- 6 different towns, 9 different homes. And I loved it. I loved apartment hunting, and I really loved house hunting, even though we were looking for the most deteriorated house we could find! I love moving, unpacking, starting fresh. I love learning new routes and back roads.
When I can't sleep, I drive. When I wake up early, I drive. When I'm bored, I drive. When I have too much to do, and can't focus on any of it, I drive. When something bad happens, I drive. The singular activity of driving calms me. Wanderer.
There are a lot of things we face in this day and age that are not represented in the Bible. Wandering is not one of those things.
When the Israelites wandered through the wilderness, God was faithful.
When Hosea's wife wandered from her marriage, God was faithful, and so was Hosea.
When Jonah 'wandered' (at high speeds), God gave him a second chance.
While the prodigal son was wandering away from his home, squandering his inheritance, his father was waiting faithfully for his return.
When the disciples wandered after his crucifixion, Jesus gave them opportunities to return to Him.
Some of my other favorite lines:
-You are hope, You are hope, You have covered all my sin
-You are peace, You are peace, when my fear is crippling
-You are here, You are here, in Your presence I'm made whole
I tend to like lyrics that project where I currently am, but this one tells me where I need to go.
- You are God, You are God, of all else I'm letting go
As much as I love wandering, I'm smart enough to know that I'm not just going to wander into that place. I need to purposely put myself there.
Easier said than done for a wanderer like me.
Brooke
It's one of those songs that I feel no matter where I'm at.
I bought some new music today, including Forever Reigns. I bought the Shane and Shane version, which I would highly recommend. There's not a song that's been written that Shane and Shane can't make 450% better.
So, on my ride to and from my office, a meeting, and the store, I listened, to basically the same few songs- some Air Supply, some country, and Forever Reigns.
The line that hits me every time is in the second verse:
You are true, You are true, even in my wandering
I am a wanderer.
In every way one can wander, I do.
My mind wanders, almost constantly. I think about tomorrow, and yesterday, and people in my life, and people not in my life. I think about situations that haven't happened yet, and I can replay situations that have happened down to the millisecond. I plan for the future, I regret the past.
My heart wanders, not constantly, but consistently to the wrong things. Contentedness is not a virtue I have even come close to achieving.
The rest of me wanders, as much as it can.
The 2 years I have lived here in the yellow house is the longest I have lived anywhere since high school. I have lived in Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island- 6 different towns, 9 different homes. And I loved it. I loved apartment hunting, and I really loved house hunting, even though we were looking for the most deteriorated house we could find! I love moving, unpacking, starting fresh. I love learning new routes and back roads.
When I can't sleep, I drive. When I wake up early, I drive. When I'm bored, I drive. When I have too much to do, and can't focus on any of it, I drive. When something bad happens, I drive. The singular activity of driving calms me. Wanderer.
There are a lot of things we face in this day and age that are not represented in the Bible. Wandering is not one of those things.
When the Israelites wandered through the wilderness, God was faithful.
When Hosea's wife wandered from her marriage, God was faithful, and so was Hosea.
When Jonah 'wandered' (at high speeds), God gave him a second chance.
While the prodigal son was wandering away from his home, squandering his inheritance, his father was waiting faithfully for his return.
When the disciples wandered after his crucifixion, Jesus gave them opportunities to return to Him.
Some of my other favorite lines:
-You are hope, You are hope, You have covered all my sin
-You are peace, You are peace, when my fear is crippling
-You are here, You are here, in Your presence I'm made whole
I tend to like lyrics that project where I currently am, but this one tells me where I need to go.
- You are God, You are God, of all else I'm letting go
As much as I love wandering, I'm smart enough to know that I'm not just going to wander into that place. I need to purposely put myself there.
Easier said than done for a wanderer like me.
Brooke
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Divine Pedicure
I have only had one pedicure in my lifetime.
When my cousin Lisa was married the women in the wedding party were invited for a spa day and I had my first pedicure. I must admit that after my initial awkwardness it felt wonderful and my feet looked fabulous.That was more than ten years ago.
Since then I do it myself at home with a pumice stone and nail polish. The whole ordeal is usually a giant fiasco with my bad eyesight and perception problems. So I sigh and wipe up the misplaced and spilled polish and slip into my flip flops and go on my way.
Most of the time I don't give my toes a second thought (except for scrubbing with a pumice stone everyday). I do admire the fancy pedicures on others toes as they peek out from adorable sandals and contemplate going to have mine professionally done. But I never do.
I have had other women say "You need a pedicure." However,when I look down I see clean and well groomed feet although they are a little bit rugged as I love to be bear foot. SO what's the big deal? Why do I "need" to get a pedicure?
My hands are the same; I keep them clean and well groomed. I moisturize and
every once in awhile I will actually get a professional manicure. (Don't you just love the fun names they come up with for all the various hues of color?)
But mostly these are just plain unadorned working hands. They cook and clean, wash and fold clothes. They peck away at the keyboard e-mailing and blogging. And more importantly they provide a gentle touch. It may not be the prettiest hand or be adorned with the trendiest nail polish but I hope that the love and mercy of Christ are experienced through it's touch.
The world would tell us that unless we have a perfect pedicure and manicure that we just don't measure up as a woman. By the world's standards then I am a failure.
When my cousin Lisa was married the women in the wedding party were invited for a spa day and I had my first pedicure. I must admit that after my initial awkwardness it felt wonderful and my feet looked fabulous.That was more than ten years ago.
Since then I do it myself at home with a pumice stone and nail polish. The whole ordeal is usually a giant fiasco with my bad eyesight and perception problems. So I sigh and wipe up the misplaced and spilled polish and slip into my flip flops and go on my way.
Most of the time I don't give my toes a second thought (except for scrubbing with a pumice stone everyday). I do admire the fancy pedicures on others toes as they peek out from adorable sandals and contemplate going to have mine professionally done. But I never do.
I have had other women say "You need a pedicure." However,when I look down I see clean and well groomed feet although they are a little bit rugged as I love to be bear foot. SO what's the big deal? Why do I "need" to get a pedicure?
My hands are the same; I keep them clean and well groomed. I moisturize and
every once in awhile I will actually get a professional manicure. (Don't you just love the fun names they come up with for all the various hues of color?)
But mostly these are just plain unadorned working hands. They cook and clean, wash and fold clothes. They peck away at the keyboard e-mailing and blogging. And more importantly they provide a gentle touch. It may not be the prettiest hand or be adorned with the trendiest nail polish but I hope that the love and mercy of Christ are experienced through it's touch.
The world would tell us that unless we have a perfect pedicure and manicure that we just don't measure up as a woman. By the world's standards then I am a failure.
BUT (remember that negates everything said before it) God's Word says:
What matters is not your outer appearance-the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes-but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty; the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.
1 Peter 3-4 The Message
AND
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger bringing good news, breaking the news that all is well, proclaiming good times and announcing salvation, telling Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isiah 52:7 The Message
Since I am God's girl first and foremost I am going to continue to listen to HIS beauty advice, not my friends or a magazine but the Truth from God's Word.
This summer:
I will spend more time in HIS Presence than in a salon.
I will let HIM speak to me and give me a divine pedicure of sorts.I will sport the color "For HIS Glory" on my feet as HE sends me out to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to feed the hungry and clothe the poor.
I will be satisfied that my God thinks my feet are beautiful and that HE delights in the gentleness of my non-manicured fingers as I lift them up in praise to HIS Greatness, singing "Our God Reigns".
How about you? What color will you be wearing this summer?
With all that said I am slipping my toes into my flip flops and heading out for a walk with my Father.
Keep on living beauty-full for HIS glory!!
ruthann
Friday, June 22, 2012
Tomorrow?
I don't have Internet at my house. So, when I go to Brooke's house I catch up on reading my blogs, Facebook, browsing for shopping deals, and my favorite...Pinterest. Pinterist is on online pin board where you can pin images from all over the web and get GREAT ideas!. I have a "pin board" for home decor, party planning, outfits, future baby things, and more. I absolutely love that I can have all these great, creative ideas in one place.
Last night, as I spent hours "pinning" I had this inner dialogue of "when I have a different apartment I'll to this" and "when I have a house I'll do this" and "when I finish school I'll do this" and "when I have a baby I'll do this"....and then all the sudden I remembered, James 4:13-14 which says, "Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" and Proverbs 27:1 which says, "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring."
I spent all that time planning out what I would do or buy or create....when I'm not promised tomorrow even!
I think we often do the same this when it comes to God. "God, I'll start giving when I make more" or "God, I'll start serving when I have more time." or "God, I'll start leading when I'm better"... Listen friends, we don't have time to wait until we make more, or have more, or get better. We need to just discern God's calling for our lives and do it now!
If he says "give" and we say "not yet" and then we lose our tomorrow, what do we say as we're standing before Him? If He says "lead" and we say "not yet" and then the person He intended us to lead loses their tomorrow, what shall we say?
We shouldn't be living on our timing, but God's. Follow the words about in James, verse 15 says, "Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." We ought to stop "planning" and start "doing"...because we are promised many things in the Bible, "tomorrow" is not one of them.
So if you want to make a change, or fix a relationship, or if you feel called by God to do something and you're hesitating.... keep in mind that you're not promised tomorrow. See if it changes how you approach life.
Be Blessed,
Jill
Last night, as I spent hours "pinning" I had this inner dialogue of "when I have a different apartment I'll to this" and "when I have a house I'll do this" and "when I finish school I'll do this" and "when I have a baby I'll do this"....and then all the sudden I remembered, James 4:13-14 which says, "Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" and Proverbs 27:1 which says, "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring."
I spent all that time planning out what I would do or buy or create....when I'm not promised tomorrow even!
I think we often do the same this when it comes to God. "God, I'll start giving when I make more" or "God, I'll start serving when I have more time." or "God, I'll start leading when I'm better"... Listen friends, we don't have time to wait until we make more, or have more, or get better. We need to just discern God's calling for our lives and do it now!
If he says "give" and we say "not yet" and then we lose our tomorrow, what do we say as we're standing before Him? If He says "lead" and we say "not yet" and then the person He intended us to lead loses their tomorrow, what shall we say?
We shouldn't be living on our timing, but God's. Follow the words about in James, verse 15 says, "Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." We ought to stop "planning" and start "doing"...because we are promised many things in the Bible, "tomorrow" is not one of them.
So if you want to make a change, or fix a relationship, or if you feel called by God to do something and you're hesitating.... keep in mind that you're not promised tomorrow. See if it changes how you approach life.
Be Blessed,
Jill
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Use Your Words, Or HIS
{The post below was fully titled and drafted
before I ever read Brooke’s post for yesterday, Shutting
Up. So it seems an irony that today’s post would be called “Use Your
Words, or HIS”. Interesting though that her last line reads “I'm
grateful that God can shut me up when I need to be shut up, and I pray that
I'll let Him make me speak when I need to speak.” I am right there with you Brooke!}
In many of the professional and
parental roles that I’ve been blessed in with children the phrase “Use your
words” has been an appropriate one. Of course the words I wanted them to use
were ones I modeled for them, be it labels for people or things, greetings, actions,
manners or requests. Some of these kids needed to start by using signs,
specific movements with their hands and fingers that represented the word they
were trying to express. In the beginning even an imitation of animal noises or other
silly sounds was a step of progress for them. At times I would duly reward any
of the attempts they used to declare or ask, even if they were incomplete or
unintelligible. If I felt they could be more precise I encouraged and sometimes
insisted that they do so. Ultimately when the expression was sufficient to get
the desired result, we were both happy.
Imagine how God feels when we “use our
words”. When God first placed Adam with
the animals, it says in Genesis 2:19 that God gave Adam free reign to name them
whatever he wanted to, and that’s what they were then called. Wow! What
expressive authority God issued to Adam right away.
I speculate that God is pleased when
the sounds, signs and words we speak are actually what He has modeled for us. But
I am certain He wants them to be meaningful to us. Some of the early imitative
sounds that kids make have no meaning to them or for them. They don’t yet have
an understanding, just an ability to repeat.
For example, Jesus left us a modeled
prayer. We call it the Lord’s Prayer. It is a definitive example of expressing
ourselves to God. But without a conscious understanding or attention to its
words it would surely be nothing more than a repetitive bunch of sounds. But
when declared personally, faithfully, committed and enhanced with Spirit-led
inclusions of people and issues, it can be the most holy “declaration of
dependence” we could ever utter.
I was moved by the incident that
Ruthann described in Tuesday’s post, Walking the Tightrope in which Nik Wallenda’s prayers and
praise were audible as he endured a courageous challenge. May the Lord bless
him richly for lifting up the name of Jesus publicly. We can “use our words” by
contacting ABC News and thanking them for including Nik’s audible prayers in
the ABC reports. Just go to: http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346&cat=ABCNews.com%20comments
Yesterday while out for my morning
prayer walk, my friend and I were in deep, though quiet, audible prayer when we
came upon a house where two large chalkboards had been erected, one on the porch,
and the other in the side yard. On both of these signs were words that lifted
Jesus up publicly. On one was scripture. On the other was a challenge to choose
Jesus on this side of the grave because it’s the only chance we get. My friend
and I were very moved seeing this bold demonstration of “using their words” to
proclaim Jesus publicly in their neighborhood. My friend and I were seriously humbled
and spoke words of prayer and blessing over the people who lived within.
Little more than a half hour later, I unexpectedly
met up with another friend and we decided to visit at an outside café nearby.
By God-incidence, while we were chatting together about the Lord two women
strode by and my friend called out to one of them enthusiastically by name.
They greeted with a hug and my friend introduced her to me using the
description, “This is the lady who puts signs out about Jesus!” I was overjoyed
to meet this gutsy soul who I had just prayed for. And yet another opportunity
arose for us to all speak publicly about the Lord. In the discussion that
followed I recognized that the woman’s motivation for putting out her signs was
compassion for the lost.
Isn’t
that just what Jesus’ Words were inspired by? His compassion.
Oh that we would continually “use our
words” and HIS words to boldly proclaim Jesus and His great compassion.
Gratefully HIS,
Jan
Shutting Up
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I pretty much stink at extending grace and mercy. I'm great at expecting and accepting it, but not so good at doling it out.
Last night, Ruthann and I met with some people and we read from Colossians in The Message. Verse 21 begins "you yourselves are a case study to what He does."
This morning, I walked into what was pretty sure to be a fairly awkward and uncomfortable meeting. Awkward and uncomfortable are not really strengths of mine. I tend to try and avoid them as much as possible.
Technically, I had the upper hand in this meeting- in this particular situation, my wrongs are less than the other persons, and my rights are more. The speck in my eye compared to the plank in theirs.
But I knew that there was one thing- one tiny thing, that I would be called out for.
Knowing this, I spent a few minutes (and by minutes I mean hours/days/way longer than I should have) dwelling on things and coming up with the perfect, biting, in-your-face comeback that was sure to clear my name, and get us all back to talking and working on the real issues. None of which were mine, of course.
I was ready, steeled for the dirty look and emotions sure to follow my comment, and the 'talking to' that I might get from the facilitators of the meeting.
I sat in the meeting, anxiously waiting to get to the part where this other person brought up my miniscule crime. And I listened to her talk about her own crimes. I listened to her talk about what she had done, and how she was working on things, and why she was working on things, and her goals, and hopes. I listened to her talk about her daughter, and the kind of life she wanted for her. I watched her try and fail not to cry.
Some of you know this about me, some of you don't- but I'm a crier. When I see someone cry, I'm done for. I can't handle it. One of my sisters sheds half a tear, and suddenly I'm a sobbing wreck. An ounce of sadness in someone I know, or even someone I don't, and I'm fighting tears that I can't even explain. I went to a wake last week for someone that I'd never laid eyes on in my life, and spent the entire time I was there biting my cheeks and pinching myself so that I wouldn't cry. I cry at commercials, and I can make myself cry just thinking about something bad happening to people I love. I've begun to think of it as a skill!
Anyways, I'm sitting there, watching this person cry, and open up about her situation and how she ended up there. Amidst all her crimes and planks, I can feel her guilt and shame. And biting my cheeks and pinching myself, I manage not to cry along with her.
And out of nowhere, she mentions my tiny crime. And biting remark on the tip of my tongue, I nodded and said that I would make sure I stayed on top of the situation in the future.
The rest of the meeting continued, and we talked about moving forward, and goals, and what happens next. I sat, barely listening, wishing that I had held my ground, and defended myself. Wishing that my well thought out biting remark was not still sitting on the tip of my tongue.
But at the same time, I was so grateful that I hadn't. For not the first time, I was grateful that my emotions got in my way, and held me back from saying something that would have hurt someone else, and not helped the situation at all.
I'm grateful that although I didn't feel it, or want to do it, I couldn't help but extend a little bit of grace and mercy to someone who needed it.
I'm grateful that the case study of me, my life, is constantly changing, growing. I'm grateful that God can shut me up when I need to be shut up, and I pray that I'll let Him make me speak when I need to speak.
Brooke
Last night, Ruthann and I met with some people and we read from Colossians in The Message. Verse 21 begins "you yourselves are a case study to what He does."
This morning, I walked into what was pretty sure to be a fairly awkward and uncomfortable meeting. Awkward and uncomfortable are not really strengths of mine. I tend to try and avoid them as much as possible.
Technically, I had the upper hand in this meeting- in this particular situation, my wrongs are less than the other persons, and my rights are more. The speck in my eye compared to the plank in theirs.
But I knew that there was one thing- one tiny thing, that I would be called out for.
Knowing this, I spent a few minutes (and by minutes I mean hours/days/way longer than I should have) dwelling on things and coming up with the perfect, biting, in-your-face comeback that was sure to clear my name, and get us all back to talking and working on the real issues. None of which were mine, of course.
I was ready, steeled for the dirty look and emotions sure to follow my comment, and the 'talking to' that I might get from the facilitators of the meeting.
I sat in the meeting, anxiously waiting to get to the part where this other person brought up my miniscule crime. And I listened to her talk about her own crimes. I listened to her talk about what she had done, and how she was working on things, and why she was working on things, and her goals, and hopes. I listened to her talk about her daughter, and the kind of life she wanted for her. I watched her try and fail not to cry.
Some of you know this about me, some of you don't- but I'm a crier. When I see someone cry, I'm done for. I can't handle it. One of my sisters sheds half a tear, and suddenly I'm a sobbing wreck. An ounce of sadness in someone I know, or even someone I don't, and I'm fighting tears that I can't even explain. I went to a wake last week for someone that I'd never laid eyes on in my life, and spent the entire time I was there biting my cheeks and pinching myself so that I wouldn't cry. I cry at commercials, and I can make myself cry just thinking about something bad happening to people I love. I've begun to think of it as a skill!
Anyways, I'm sitting there, watching this person cry, and open up about her situation and how she ended up there. Amidst all her crimes and planks, I can feel her guilt and shame. And biting my cheeks and pinching myself, I manage not to cry along with her.
And out of nowhere, she mentions my tiny crime. And biting remark on the tip of my tongue, I nodded and said that I would make sure I stayed on top of the situation in the future.
The rest of the meeting continued, and we talked about moving forward, and goals, and what happens next. I sat, barely listening, wishing that I had held my ground, and defended myself. Wishing that my well thought out biting remark was not still sitting on the tip of my tongue.
But at the same time, I was so grateful that I hadn't. For not the first time, I was grateful that my emotions got in my way, and held me back from saying something that would have hurt someone else, and not helped the situation at all.
I'm grateful that although I didn't feel it, or want to do it, I couldn't help but extend a little bit of grace and mercy to someone who needed it.
I'm grateful that the case study of me, my life, is constantly changing, growing. I'm grateful that God can shut me up when I need to be shut up, and I pray that I'll let Him make me speak when I need to speak.
Brooke
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Walking the Tightrope
Last Friday night Nik Wallenda made history by completing a daring walk on a tightrope over Niagara Falls. Moments before he stepped on the 2 inch cable he drew his family close and they prayed.
He stepped out onto the 1,800 foot steel cable and began his 26 minute journey across the Falls from America into Canada. As TV camera's rolled for millions of viewers his mic picked up his voice saying"Thank You, Lord God.Thank You, Jesus" with each step.
As he neared the middle of The Falls where the mist blurred his vision and the roar of the water was almost deafening he paused again to express how blessed he was for the opportunity to be the first person to be in that spot and take in the breathtaking view.
In the middle of The Falls, teetering on a small wire he chose to stop and give thanks.
Every day we are faced with situations where we may feel like we are walking a tightrope through life. The roar of the world makes it difficult to hear the Voice of Truth. The influence of the media is like a mist that blurs our vision of what is right.
We walk a tightrope. We teeter this way and that way trying to maintain our balance and keep from falling.
There IS good news - we have a merciful God that supplies ALL our needs. HE has made the provision to keep us walking steady. Prayer and Praise. Time spent in the presence of God and in HIS Word. These are some of the things that will keep us in balance.
When we spend time with God , HE puts everything into proper perspective for us. HE can help us to see through the blurriness. He silences the deafening roar and gives us peace in scariest of times.
If we walk with God choosing to say "Thank You , Lord God" we will be able to look over any situation and see His Majesty. HIS breathtaking, awesome nature will be revealed in the midst of our lives.
We can choose to pause and see HIM and give thanks that HE is Creator, Sovereign, Faithful, Merciful, Supreme, Good Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Immutable, Holy, Just, Wise, Eternal and so much more.
If you are walking on a tightrope called your life. Stop and Pray. Then with each step you take say "Thank You Lord God, Thank You Jesus" and just see how breathtaking your walk with Jesus becomes as you make it safely to the other side.
Humbly,
ruthann
He stepped out onto the 1,800 foot steel cable and began his 26 minute journey across the Falls from America into Canada. As TV camera's rolled for millions of viewers his mic picked up his voice saying"Thank You, Lord God.Thank You, Jesus" with each step.
As he neared the middle of The Falls where the mist blurred his vision and the roar of the water was almost deafening he paused again to express how blessed he was for the opportunity to be the first person to be in that spot and take in the breathtaking view.
In the middle of The Falls, teetering on a small wire he chose to stop and give thanks.
Every day we are faced with situations where we may feel like we are walking a tightrope through life. The roar of the world makes it difficult to hear the Voice of Truth. The influence of the media is like a mist that blurs our vision of what is right.
We walk a tightrope. We teeter this way and that way trying to maintain our balance and keep from falling.
There IS good news - we have a merciful God that supplies ALL our needs. HE has made the provision to keep us walking steady. Prayer and Praise. Time spent in the presence of God and in HIS Word. These are some of the things that will keep us in balance.
When we spend time with God , HE puts everything into proper perspective for us. HE can help us to see through the blurriness. He silences the deafening roar and gives us peace in scariest of times.
If we walk with God choosing to say "Thank You , Lord God" we will be able to look over any situation and see His Majesty. HIS breathtaking, awesome nature will be revealed in the midst of our lives.
We can choose to pause and see HIM and give thanks that HE is Creator, Sovereign, Faithful, Merciful, Supreme, Good Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Immutable, Holy, Just, Wise, Eternal and so much more.
If you are walking on a tightrope called your life. Stop and Pray. Then with each step you take say "Thank You Lord God, Thank You Jesus" and just see how breathtaking your walk with Jesus becomes as you make it safely to the other side.
We give thanks to Thee,O God, we give thanks,For Ty name is near; Men declare Thy wondrous works. (Psalm 75:1 NASB)
Humbly,
ruthann
Monday, June 18, 2012
Forever Reign
The following link is to an excellent worship song done by Hillsong. One if my favorites, be blessed!
Jill
Jill
Friday, June 15, 2012
Our Father
We often pray, “Heavenly Father.” In Sunday school I was told that we pray Heavenly Father because God created us. But if that’s the case then why don’t be pray “Dear Heavenly Creator” ? The term Father encompasses so much more than just Creator. Think about your own father and all the things that make him your Father besides him helping to create you? And if you have or had a Father that wasn’t all you expected or hoped for, think about all the reasons you were disappointed. Who did you want him to be?
Without getting too psychological about the Father/Daughter relationship, I think we can all agree that we each have this image, this embedded desire about who we want our Fathers to be.
Think back to when you were little and what you needed/wanted from your Father. What comes to my mind is that I wanted to be loved, cherished, cared for, and protected. I wanted my Father to be interested in my life. I wanted him to participate in things I enjoyed, and I wanted to know about what He enjoyed. I wanted to spend time with him, to have his attention, and I wanted him to know I loved him.
Each year at Father’s Day, I think about this; the relationship that daughters have with both their earthly Father, and their Heavenly Father. I am one of the most blessed people on the planet for having the Dad that God gave me to. I know many people can’t say that and I often think about how challenging it must be to relate to God as a Father when the only Father someone may have known was less than caring.
Back in the Garden of Eden, The Heavenly Father did Create Adam. But he didn’t just create and leave. He stayed with Adam. He walked with Adam in the garden, He gave Adam tasks and oversaw their completion, he spent time with Adam, He loved Adam, provided for Adam, and protected Adam. And Even when Adam disobeyed Him, He didn’t just kick Him out of the Garden and leave him be. Yes, there were consequences for Adam actions, but God continued to care for him, give him children, and cultivate an entire world of people from him and Eve. God was there for Adam even after Adam disappointed God.
Our Heavenly Father is so much more than just our Creator. As we celebrate Father’s day this weekend I pray that it is a joyful time for each of us. Even if your earthly Father wasn’t everything you expected, you have a Heavenly Father who cherishes you and loves you more than I could tell you. Let God be more than your Creator, but your Father, whose unfailing love and unending mercy will never leave you disappointed.
In Christ,
Jill
This week I’m praying for:
Saturday: those persecuted in other countries
Sunday: my Dad
Monday: my job/co-workers
Tuesday: missionaries
Wednesday: those who do not yet know Christ
Thursday: my state/nation
Thursday, June 14, 2012
An Allegory on Fruit
Picture a large bowl heaped with a variety of fruit, in varying colors, shades, shapes,and sizes. Some have sheen, others fuzz or dents, stems or a bumpy texture. You consider which one is most appealing to your senses or appetite at the moment and you reach for it as your mouth begins to water.
Galatians 5:22-23
Then a sudden shift happens before your very eyes, and the desired fruit is replaced by your least preferred fruit in the bowl. Once past the shock of this odd occurrence, you again plunge your hand into the bowl to retrieve your chosen favorite which peeks at you from beneath the pile.
Again your favored choice slips out of reach, your cheeks stirring with unrequited anticipation.
You wonder what is happening. What world are you living within that withholds from you that which you most desire?
You try yet one more time. But now, amidst all the pieces of fruit, the one you are attempting to select is not even in sight. It is buried from your view. There are others staring up at you to pick from, but now you are even more eager to grasp your most wanted one with two hands, two lips and a good set of teeth.
You start to move the other fruit around in the bowl, certain your beloved piece must be there somewhere, but it appears to have disappeared from the bowl totally. It must have fallen to the lowest hollow of the bowl, which means that all the other pieces must first be moved to a location elsewhere.
As you begin to take each piece out of the bowl, you are prompted to appreciate the quality and uniqueness of each one. You find yourself wishing that there were other people there with you to admire and enjoy the fruit too.
You realize that the first fruit you handle is the very kind that most people love.Touching the second one reminds you of its citrus fragrance which always brings you a feeling of joy. Grasping the soft fuzz of the third fruit brings a sensation of peace.
Stil lno sign of the fruit you most want to enjoy. This waiting to find and recover what you want the most is getting tiresome. You wonder if it is worth spending all this time and effort. Maybe you would do well to just give up. After all,this whole scenario has been rather odd and more than a bit disturbing. What if your adored fruit is not to be revealed?
Youreach for the fourth piece and remember the kindness that yourneighbor shows to everyone each time she shares her bumper crop of this kindof fruit.
The fifth fruit to be seized for removal from the bowl is the one everyone knows that when eaten once a day it has all the goodness of preventative medicine.
The sixth fruit is a cluster of purple that exemplifies the faithfulness of a fruit at its very best in all of its many different forms, whether enjoyed fresh or dried, juiced, fermented or cooked down to a delightfully spreadable form.
Still no single sign of your cherished choicest fruit. (Try saying that three times fast.) Makes you want to just give up trying or maybe rush through this process of fruit moving, doesn’t it?
However the seventh fruit is one that bruises very easily and so you lift and move it with a gentleness that belies your desire to just get this effort over with. In fact by now you have worked up a major appetite and thirst.
The eighth and hopefully last piece is before you. It seemingly fills the bowl with its size, and will take two hands to lift it. It feels chilled to the touch making you long for its refreshment. In its customary wedge-cut, it would be so welcomed by your mouth and throat, that you would have to exert major self-control to keep from cutting into it, and thereby giving up your quest for the long awaited fruit of your preference.
Your eyes sweep across the fruit that now lay in random array around the bowl. You are moved again to want to share it with others; to give it all away for their happiness. You recognize the wealth before you and are gladdened that they all exist as blessings to behold and partake of. You are more acquainted with the worth of each one and want to offer them to whoever you can.
But now it is time to peer into the depth of the bowl to find the illusive sweet gem of a fruit that has been the object of your desire, perseverance and delight.
Before you lean in to see and take hold of the missing piece you have hungered for, you take a purifying breath in, and let out a deliberate, unhurried sigh of relief – even before you are certain if your piece is there. For you are now more aware than ever that regardless if it is there or not, it has all been worth the waiting and wondering. For there has been virtue in the grasping and transferring of all the other honorable fruit.
Before ever being seen, touched, tasted, and enjoyed the missing piece has achieved its purpose; for the missing piece is patience.
James1:4
Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Gratefully HIS,
Jan
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Holding It All Together
My life is fairly calm and for the most part predictable. I can usually give you a fairly accurate prediction of what any given week would be like with a glance at my calendar.
I am an organized person and I like to have a plan. I admit that I like to have some control over how my days are spent. (I have written about this before; remember my "to-do lists"?) Even though I like to have some control I have learned the hard way to abandon my agenda and follow God's instead.
This past week was one of those that I had to be willing to delete my schedule and go with God's. He put me smack dab into an environment and circumstance that was way out of my comfort zone and WAY out of my control.
But I knew I was not alone. God, El Roi, sees ME. God knows MY situations and is there in the midst of it with ME.
One night when I was exhausted and stressed out He revealed Himself to me. I was preparing for an upcoming bible study in the book of Colossians when He reminded me of who He is.
Our God is Supreme and He holds everything together in His Son, Jesus Christ. He always has and always will and He IS right now.
What a relief to know that God sees our situations and is there holding it all together. He even was there holding me together this week.
If you fee like you are all alone or in a situation that you can't control, take heart that God is Supreme. He wants to be supreme in your life as you have a relationship with His Son, Jesus.
I am an organized person and I like to have a plan. I admit that I like to have some control over how my days are spent. (I have written about this before; remember my "to-do lists"?) Even though I like to have some control I have learned the hard way to abandon my agenda and follow God's instead.
This past week was one of those that I had to be willing to delete my schedule and go with God's. He put me smack dab into an environment and circumstance that was way out of my comfort zone and WAY out of my control.
But I knew I was not alone. God, El Roi, sees ME. God knows MY situations and is there in the midst of it with ME.
One night when I was exhausted and stressed out He revealed Himself to me. I was preparing for an upcoming bible study in the book of Colossians when He reminded me of who He is.
"-everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment." Colossians 1:6-7 The Message
He was supreme in the beginning and-leading the resurrection parade-he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything,everyone." Colssians 1:18b The Message
Our God is Supreme and He holds everything together in His Son, Jesus Christ. He always has and always will and He IS right now.
What a relief to know that God sees our situations and is there holding it all together. He even was there holding me together this week.
If you fee like you are all alone or in a situation that you can't control, take heart that God is Supreme. He wants to be supreme in your life as you have a relationship with His Son, Jesus.
..."but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe- people and things, animals and atoms- get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross."
Colossians 1:20
Held by Him,
ruthann
Friday, June 8, 2012
The Hope in Disappointment
Unfortunately, life post-Eden comes with disappointment. I’ve spent the last few weeks wrestling with disappointment; with how to handle it, with where to go from here. Many people and circumstances will disappoint us. The trick is to not have all our hope tied up into people and things, but an almighty God who never disappoints.
We talked about prayer last Friday and I’m so thankful that God hears us. I’m thankful that He can bear the disappointment that I can’t. I’m thankful that He is stronger, that His words are wiser, and that his heart is bigger.
I’m sure that Abraham was disappointed when he hadn’t had any of the children God promised. I’m sure Joseph was disappointed when his own brothers sold him into slavery. I’m sure Job was disappointed when Satan was allowed to rip everything away from him. I’m sure Joshua was disappointed when he got to Jericho to find impenetrable walls. I’m sure Daniel was disappointed when he was tossed into a lion’s den. I’m sure David was disappointed when he wasn’t allowed into battle. I’m sure the disciples were disappointed when their Christ was murdered and died on a cross...I’m sure all these people were disappointed because the Bible tells their stories so vividly. These were real people with real emotions.
The wonderful thing about disappointment is that faith in God will always lead to redemption. Abraham’s disappointment was redeemed with a son in his old age. Joseph ended up saving an entire population. Job’s faithfulness during time of great disappointment resulted in God restoring his life with added blessings. Joshua was able to see a huge display of God’s faithfulness when the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. Daniel saw God’s faithfulness when he was rescued miraculously from the lion’s den and a heathen king came to know God. David killed a giant, became king who lead a great nation and became the man after God’s own heart. The disciple’s disappointment was short lived when they realized that their Christ had not died on that cross at all, but rose to live and reign forever after paying the price for all human sin...
You see, God redeems disappointment. Maybe not in the way we would always expect, but I can tell you this, you should definitely expect something. Our God always shows up. Yesterday, Jan talked about wanting closure, about wanting to see something all the way through. When we have faith and hope and expectancy in God, disappointment is never the end. There’s always hope for something better....
Psalm 31:24- Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
Jeremiah 17:7- Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.
My current favorite worship song is called “Hope Anthem” by William Matthew read some of the words below:
My hope is in You, God
I’m steadfast, I will not be moved
I’m anchored, never shaken
All my hope is in You
He’s bringing hope to the hopeless
And giving His heart to the broken
And sharing His home with the orphan
He is the joy, He is my joy
He is the hope of the nations
The Father’s heart we’re embracing
He is the song we’re declaring
He is the joy, He is my joy
If you’re disappointed by someone or some circumstance, have hope. The story is not over. People will always disappoint us and life will always have its days. But God continues to consume us with love and grace and faithfulness. Let’s cast our disappointment aside, and hope in Him alone.
Be blessed this weekend.
Jill
This week I’ll be praying:
Sat: for all the recent graduates
Sun: for my church
Mon: for my job/co-workers
Tue: for my spouse (or significant other, future/unknown spouse...)
Wed: for those in my life who need healing
Thurs: for my family and friends who do not yet know God
Thursday, June 7, 2012
It’s A Beauty-Full Life
Have you ever been watching a movie or television show that
had an interesting, maybe even an intriguing plot and suddenly something
happened to interrupt it? Maybe it was cut short by a phone call, a power
outage, an appointment to keep, an injured child, a pet with a bladder
emergency, an oven timer. Remember how you felt?
It could even have been a foolish sitcom that has little
worth in the grand scope of things, but still if you’re anything like me, you
might get slightly bothered by your inability to know how it turns out. Sad to
say that even cheap entertainment can motivate our attention more than things
of eternal value.
Or how about the incredibly woven novel, that has more
twists and turns than a creeping grapevine. If you’re an avid reader you could
find yourself being drawn back to the pages at all hours of the day and night
just to get to the end. Or like a few people I know, you might even read the
end first to save yourself the suspense!
Well how about if I take it a step further. Have you ever
watched re-runs of previously aired TV shows that you’ve already seen? Or read
a favorite book over again even though you already know how it ends? What about
some classic films that are shown every year, like the “Wizard of Oz”, “A
Christmas Carol” or one of my favorites “It’s A Wonderful Life”? Do you still
stay tuned until the very end? Are you still sometimes amazed at how they can
make you laugh or cry or even surprise you again and again?
We are all designed to want closure, the whole picture, the
final outcome, the rest of the story. But then that makes sense because we were
designed in the image of the one true and eternal God who IS the beginning and
the end. He wants us to have a yearning for completeness. In fact, as Brooke so
aptly stated in yesterday’s post… (and by the way I continue to be thrilled to
see how God weaves a continuum right here on this blog site) … God chose to
compile 66 books within the Bible to tell us the whole story.
It would be truly remarkable if we could know everything God
wants us to know by just reading through the Bible once. Of course that’s not
the case. The tremendous wonder of it though is that we have the freedom, the
privilege, the gift of it at our fingertips, to pluck and pull its many threads
and weave them into our lives.
The very best story lines that keep us coming back for more
are valued because of what’s shared within them. They impact our life, our
being, our thinking, feeling, choosing, and doing. They provide hope, joy, contentment,
soul-searching and heart-changing motivation, amidst tension and mystery.
So it is with God and His Story. He gave us a grand
overview, true accounts, believable yet extraordinary characters, lots of
details, the best of instructions, and astounding truths and promises. He
shared more than enough to impact our lives forever. He did all that so we
could know the beginning and the end. He did it so we could be woven into the completed
story of how His grace and mercy carries us safely to the conclusion.
If you could be an extra on a movie set, just waiting to be
called in to play a part, maybe even the understudy for the lead role, you’d
want to study the script well to remember all your lines. You’d want your appearance
to resemble the part you are to play. You’d want to be alert and eager, always
ready to hear and respond to the director’s next words. You might just live and
breathe the best parts even in your “off” time.
In the fictional movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” a likeable,
though not authentic angel helps a kindhearted but utterly despondent
businessman by showing him what life would have been
like if he had never existed. It changed the man’s whole perspective to see
that the value of his life was in what he had done for others. With a fresh
taste of gratitude in his mouth he could declare “It’s A Wonderful Life”!
The goodness of God toward us and others lives in the pages
of the Bible. Our faith is built through reading, hearing, learning, and
believing it. The very Word of God was made flesh and dwelt among us in the
form of Jesus. His life, death and resurrection fulfilled His vital parts here.
He left the script behind for us. He wants us to be His
understudies.
In John 14:12 He said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has
faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the
Father.”
He loves us, all of us, so much, that he wants to make His
Story part of our story. He wants it to be one that people will want to see not
just for the first time but gladly experience over and over again.
Let’s live and breathe His master screenplay every chance we
get. I’m thinking He might even approve of a name for this epic. ~ “It’s A
Beauty-Full Life” ~
Gratefully HIS,
Jan
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Understanding
Bad things happen.
Family gets sick. Jobs get terminated. Tests are failed. Money runs out. Trust is broken. People we love die.
One of the biggest questions I hear, and have, about God is why He lets these things happen.
Once upon a time, Heather was having a little bit of a bad day, and she was sorta beating me up on the couch. Someone else stepped in to help, and they both turned at the same time, and Heather got an elbow in the face. It was not intentional, and it was not a form of retaliation or punishment for her behavior. But, Heather didn't know that. And no matter how hard we tried, we could not explain that to her. The look of horror and shame in her eyes was heartbreaking, and I don't think my cohort has ever felt worse about anything.
We spent a good long while discussing how terrible it was that we couldn't explain to Heather that it was an accident.
We don't know what Heather was thinking during the incident, but I'd guess she was wondering why she got hurt, and why I didn't stop it.
Sometimes bad things happen, and we just can't do anything about it. Contrary to some beliefs, God does not hold the strings to the puppet people of the world, making them do whatever He wants. He gave us free will, and with that also comes the freedom to experience bad things. But I’d guarantee that His hearts breaks along with ours, and He wishes He could simply force on us the peace that He offers.
Because we are human and He is God, we don't have the ability to comprehend the how’s and why’s of the bad things that happen in life and He does. But that doesn't mean that He has purposely done or allowed these things to hurt us. And it doesn't mean He can't use these things to work out good things in our lives or character.
Yesterday, I took Heather to the Dr, and she had to get 2 shots. When the nurse came in with the needles and began looking at her arm, she freaked out, and we had to hold her down. Again, the look in her eyes was heartbreaking. It was an abused, "why-won't-you-help-me, please-make-them-stop" look.
And once again, I couldn't explain to her what was going on, and why I was allowing her to feel pain. This time, it was on purpose, and it was for her benefit. But there was no way to could make her understand that.
There are times when God allows bad things to happen, but because they will be good for us in the end. The end of a relationship we never should have started. The termination of the job that's taking more and more time away from our families. The consequence of a sin that we willfully took part in. Bad things, that we need, for our benefit.
There's one bad thing that God allowed, for our benefit, that we didn't have to suffer for.
Redemption.
Forgiveness.
The Cross.
And He spent 66 books trying to explain it to us.
Brooke
Family gets sick. Jobs get terminated. Tests are failed. Money runs out. Trust is broken. People we love die.
One of the biggest questions I hear, and have, about God is why He lets these things happen.
Once upon a time, Heather was having a little bit of a bad day, and she was sorta beating me up on the couch. Someone else stepped in to help, and they both turned at the same time, and Heather got an elbow in the face. It was not intentional, and it was not a form of retaliation or punishment for her behavior. But, Heather didn't know that. And no matter how hard we tried, we could not explain that to her. The look of horror and shame in her eyes was heartbreaking, and I don't think my cohort has ever felt worse about anything.
We spent a good long while discussing how terrible it was that we couldn't explain to Heather that it was an accident.
We don't know what Heather was thinking during the incident, but I'd guess she was wondering why she got hurt, and why I didn't stop it.
Sometimes bad things happen, and we just can't do anything about it. Contrary to some beliefs, God does not hold the strings to the puppet people of the world, making them do whatever He wants. He gave us free will, and with that also comes the freedom to experience bad things. But I’d guarantee that His hearts breaks along with ours, and He wishes He could simply force on us the peace that He offers.
Because we are human and He is God, we don't have the ability to comprehend the how’s and why’s of the bad things that happen in life and He does. But that doesn't mean that He has purposely done or allowed these things to hurt us. And it doesn't mean He can't use these things to work out good things in our lives or character.
Yesterday, I took Heather to the Dr, and she had to get 2 shots. When the nurse came in with the needles and began looking at her arm, she freaked out, and we had to hold her down. Again, the look in her eyes was heartbreaking. It was an abused, "why-won't-you-help-me, please-make-them-stop" look.
And once again, I couldn't explain to her what was going on, and why I was allowing her to feel pain. This time, it was on purpose, and it was for her benefit. But there was no way to could make her understand that.
There are times when God allows bad things to happen, but because they will be good for us in the end. The end of a relationship we never should have started. The termination of the job that's taking more and more time away from our families. The consequence of a sin that we willfully took part in. Bad things, that we need, for our benefit.
There's one bad thing that God allowed, for our benefit, that we didn't have to suffer for.
Redemption.
Forgiveness.
The Cross.
And He spent 66 books trying to explain it to us.
Brooke
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Drawing In The Sand
The first Monday of every month is my turn to post something for our "living beauty-full moment". So I had been thinking and listening for just the right something to post for the first Monday of June.
One morning as I was driving my son to school I heard Casting Crowns song "Jesus Friend of Sinners" on K-Love radio and I was particularly struck by it's words. I have the CD that this song is on and had listened to it numerous times but for some reason this day, it hit me in a different way.
The next day I heard it again and this time with a commentary from Mark Hall of Casting Crowns talking about why they wrote this song. The Holy Spirit nudged again. I came home and printed out the lyrics to the song and placed them on my desk as a reminder that I wanted to post THAT song on the first Monday of June.
When Brooke posted "The Problem with Grace and Mercy" last Wednesday I chuckled to myself and thought of how we were on the same page with this topic. On Thursday, Jan made a mention of it on her past and it caused me to smile.
Friday brought the comment to a post from my dear friend, Eva, regarding Mark Hall's comments on this song. She wrote how Mark had spoken about the fact that we look at people through the eyes of the law but we want Jesus to look on us with the eyes of grace and mercy. When I first saw this comment I thought to myself, "oh well, I better find another song for Monday", because it has already been discussed.
It wasn't long before the still voice of God, whispered to my spirit that the topic of mercy and grace has been coming up over the past week because it is important to HIM, It was no accident that we all have been awakened to our sin in this area.
Yesterday, Monday, June 4th I posted the YouTube version of the song for our living beauty-full moment. ( if you haven't heard it take a moment to go there now and listen)
SO here we are again with the topic of grace and mercy before us. In our humanness we will judge with a cold and deceitful heart. It is only by the power of HIS Holy Spirit that we can respond from a place of deep compassion.
In John chapter 8 we are told the account of a woman who was caught in the act of adultery and brought before Jesus in the Temple. The scholars of the Law and the Pharisees planted her in the center of attention to heighten her humiliation and shame ( as well as trying to trap Jesus) as they sought judgment on her.
Jesus responded by bending down and writing something in the sand as the leaders continued to accuse and badger HIM to make a judgement against the woman. After a few minutes Jesus "straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." ". ( John 8:7 The Message)
Those are very powerful words! "The sinless one among you go first". It is no wonder that in moments all the crowd that had surrounded the woman ready to stone her to death had retreated.
What if we could hear those words ringing through our minds the next time we were ready to throw the stone of condemnation against another?
As the days grow warmer and we spend more time at the beach I hope that the feel of sand against our fingertips will cause this verse to penetrate our hearts.
My prayer is that this summer we will allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and transform us more and more into the likeness of Jesus and with compassion that we will stop and draw in the sand before we even think about picking up that first stone.
Humbly ,
ruthann
One morning as I was driving my son to school I heard Casting Crowns song "Jesus Friend of Sinners" on K-Love radio and I was particularly struck by it's words. I have the CD that this song is on and had listened to it numerous times but for some reason this day, it hit me in a different way.
The next day I heard it again and this time with a commentary from Mark Hall of Casting Crowns talking about why they wrote this song. The Holy Spirit nudged again. I came home and printed out the lyrics to the song and placed them on my desk as a reminder that I wanted to post THAT song on the first Monday of June.
When Brooke posted "The Problem with Grace and Mercy" last Wednesday I chuckled to myself and thought of how we were on the same page with this topic. On Thursday, Jan made a mention of it on her past and it caused me to smile.
Friday brought the comment to a post from my dear friend, Eva, regarding Mark Hall's comments on this song. She wrote how Mark had spoken about the fact that we look at people through the eyes of the law but we want Jesus to look on us with the eyes of grace and mercy. When I first saw this comment I thought to myself, "oh well, I better find another song for Monday", because it has already been discussed.
It wasn't long before the still voice of God, whispered to my spirit that the topic of mercy and grace has been coming up over the past week because it is important to HIM, It was no accident that we all have been awakened to our sin in this area.
Yesterday, Monday, June 4th I posted the YouTube version of the song for our living beauty-full moment. ( if you haven't heard it take a moment to go there now and listen)
SO here we are again with the topic of grace and mercy before us. In our humanness we will judge with a cold and deceitful heart. It is only by the power of HIS Holy Spirit that we can respond from a place of deep compassion.
In John chapter 8 we are told the account of a woman who was caught in the act of adultery and brought before Jesus in the Temple. The scholars of the Law and the Pharisees planted her in the center of attention to heighten her humiliation and shame ( as well as trying to trap Jesus) as they sought judgment on her.
Jesus responded by bending down and writing something in the sand as the leaders continued to accuse and badger HIM to make a judgement against the woman. After a few minutes Jesus "straightened up and said, "The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone." ". ( John 8:7 The Message)
Those are very powerful words! "The sinless one among you go first". It is no wonder that in moments all the crowd that had surrounded the woman ready to stone her to death had retreated.
What if we could hear those words ringing through our minds the next time we were ready to throw the stone of condemnation against another?
As the days grow warmer and we spend more time at the beach I hope that the feel of sand against our fingertips will cause this verse to penetrate our hearts.
My prayer is that this summer we will allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and transform us more and more into the likeness of Jesus and with compassion that we will stop and draw in the sand before we even think about picking up that first stone.
Humbly ,
ruthann
Monday, June 4, 2012
Jesus, Beauty-Full Jesus
Humbly,
ruthann
Friday, June 1, 2012
Prayer...it's not always easy
Praying
is not always easy for me. I’m very easily distracted. Sometimes it’s hard to focus,
my mind wanders, and I’m tired...sometimes I wonder if my prayers are being
heard. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed by the amount of
things/people/circumstances I want to pray for that I literally cannot make a
coherent sentence to the Lord.
I’m
thankful that the Lord hears our thoughts before we even utter a Word to him
(Isaiah 65:2), but I can’t use that as an excuse to fall back on when I don’t
have the discipline to focus and just pray. Imagine if our spouse or kids could
read our minds and we could read theirs. What kind of relationship would it be
without words? No intimacy, no community...no relationship.
John 17
is a passage of one of Jesus’ prayers to the Father. First of all, how amazing
that God saw fit to include us in such an intimate moment between him and
Christ. Oh if I could have heard all of Christ’s prayers...
In this
praying, Jesus didn’t spend his prayer begging God for the comforts of this
world, He didn’t orate a wordy mess of jumbled words that didn’t actually mean
anything, he didn’t recite a pre-written prayer that has lost any and all
meaning through the years, he didn’t pray a blanket prayer over every aspect of
his life without personalizing it, and he didn’t have to pray for hours on end.
There’s
nothing wrong with praying a pre-written prayer (like the “Our Father”) if
you’re actually praying it with meaning in each and every word. But simply
reciting words is no more effective than reading God a passage from your
favorite book. And there’s nothing wrong with a lengthy, eloquent prayer...if
you’re motives are pure. At times we can pray for hours and God will hear every
word; but if you whip out your best vocabulary and all your skills from Public
Speaking 101 only when you’re praying in front of people-where does your heart
truly lie?
In John
17 Christ prays simply and meaningfully for himself, for his disciples (the
church), and for those who did not yet believe. Now, I’m a woman who needs
structure. It helps me become more organized and less easily destracted. I’d like to
invite you to start praying for specific things each day of the week with me.
I
thought we could start this week by praying for the following each day:
Friday:
ourselves
Saturday:
our family
Sunday:
our church
Monday:
those in our lives who do not yet know God
Tuesday:
our nation
Wednesday:
those in other countries who are oppressed in some way
Thursday:
missionaries around the world
A few
more things, I don’t intend for this to be a replacement for regular and daily
prayer and communication with God, simply a way to organize and be united as
believers by praying together for specific things.
I would
also add that we need to be cautious not to simply ask God for the things we think that we or this world or unbelievers
need, but to pray His will for all of
the above. In addition, we should be mindful to never neglect thankfulness and
praise for all we’ve been given.
If prayer is a struggle for you, or you don’t
pray at all right now, let this be a first step towards open communication
between you and God. The more we pray, the more comfortable we become.
Lastly,
I’d love to hear about your prayers in the comments section. Feel free to share
what you’re praying for specifically, and feel free to pray for others who
comment as we journey together.
Today,
I will be asking God for direction in my life. I will be praying for strength
and disciple to be the woman He created me to be. I will be praying for mercy
and grace to be ever present in my life. I will be praying for forgiveness and
for peace that passes all understanding. I will be praying for joy that
abounds.
In Him,
Jill
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