“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls” (I Pet 1:6-9).
Marital conflict. Job loss. Cancer diagnosis. Defiant children. Car accident. These and many other trials fill our weeks, months, and sometimes, years. And as they beat down upon us, they test not only our character, but our faith. Will we keep trusting God? Can we believe He will see us through? Will we dare to keep hoping?
Peter, like to the men and women he wrote, was separated from friends and family, enduring harsh persecution (v.1). And yet he describes the possibility of joy inexpressible in the midst of such suffering. How, I wonder?
Peter directs our attention to God's salvation. It seems he longed for those scattered abroad, and for us, to so prize God’s grace, to look beyond what is seen and temporal to Christ's final return, that we not only endure life's trials, but that we do so with joy that abounds.
But we often mistake happiness for joy. While happiness comes from the feeling we have when life is good, joy remains in the shifting of circumstances, even in the presence of pain.
It’s difficult, though, if not impossible, to feel joy when we feel anxious. Joy results from trust and confidence; anxiety, contrarily, often results from insecurity and uncertainty. Peter, and all believers, can express inexpressible joy because of Christ. No matter the circumstance, He remains faithful and our salvation secure.
Many days, however, my hope is not fixed completely on the grace to be brought to me at the return of Christ (I Pet 1:13). In difficult times, I often place my hope in improved circumstances. I begin to demand too much from this world, to set my heart on secure employment, enjoyment of friends and family, a rich church community.
It's not wrong to long for these good gifts. But to have a life of worry, stress and even despair reveals a heart that is not consumed with the love and grace of God. It exposes a heart that needs adjusting.
So what do you feel stressed and anxious about? Can you identify a current trial that may be challenging your faith?
Let us, as Peter exhorts, cast our worries upon Christ knowing He cares for us (I Pet 5:7) as proven at the cross. And let us yearn for His return more than we long for the comfort and riches of this world. May we enter into His joy by clinging to His enduring love and abiding presence that sustains us on this often rocky journey home.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
I Wear Dirty Clothes
“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel” (Zech 3:1-3).
Picture the scene. Satan strides up to the throne of God. Full of confidence, cocky, smug. He comes ready to gloat. He comes to accuse. This time he’s got his guilty man. This time he will win.
See, unlike Job, who Satan also accused, and who God describes as blameless and upright (Job 1:8), Joshua doesn’t fare so well in God’s assessment. Nor do the people of God, for in this text Joshua, as a high priest, stands representing the nation of Judah.
Did you notice the description of Joshua’s clothing? Filthy garments. These symbolized a sinful heart marred by transgressions. Of the people of Judah God says, “The LORD was very angry with your fathers” (Zech 1:2); hence their persecution and invasion by other nations for over 70 years (Zech 1:12). So surely Satan had his man this time.
The Adversary would accuse, and God would have to concede. His people had abandoned Him. They had worshiped another. They would have to die.
So Satan sneers, ready to lash out the first accusation. But he isn’t even given a chance to speak.
For Joshua is to be a recipient of mercy. He is a brand, or branch, plucked from the fire. Rescued. Saved. Redeemed.
The reality is that Satan is right. Joshua, representative of all of us ultimately, is dirty with sin. We are stained. None righteous. So Satan comes to accuse us. He hates mercy, but God delights in it. And God loves giving guilty people grace. He loves pulling us from the fire.
Joshua did nothing to get rescued. A dry branch cannot avoid destruction in the midst of flames. Not even a branch drenched in water can escape a blazing fire, which is what many of us try, thinking our good works will cleanse and cover up our broken, marred hearts.
I often struggle with feeling condemned, with being bombarded of thoughts of being less, or of not living up to some standard. The truth is I am. I stand guilty. I have not lived up to God’s standards. I have failed Him. I have dirtied myself with rebellion and sin. Pop culture and many counselors might tell me to combat these thoughts and perhaps reframe them in a positive light somehow.
But I wonder if it wouldn’t be better to say, Amen. I stand helpless before God the Creator. And as Satan and his cohort come to accuse me, God steps in. “She’s mine, and there’s nothing you can do. Dare you condemn whom I have chosen!” Mercy.
Seeing how God defends us makes Paul’s words sink in deeper, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). No, I suppose not. When the only One who can legitimately sentence us decides to pardon us and gift us with the death and resurrection of His Son (plucking us from the fires of hell), who else can stand against us? When God silences the Accuser, who else stands to speak?
So I’m learning to discern the voice of the enemy and the voice of my Advocate. I’m first learning to accept as true my guilt. Many of the thoughts that come against me are in fact accurate. But instead of a period following the accusation there is a comma followed by the words but God-“but God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Eph 2:4, 5).
Do you feel condemned? Perhaps instead of fighting the thoughts, the first step is to acknowledge them. To come before God ,helpless and dirty. We have an enemy who knows we are dirty. But God is stronger. He silences him. Let the words of God shut him up on your behalf, “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us” (Rom 8:33, 34).
Rather than convince ourselves we aren’t good enough, let God quiet those thoughts with grace. We do deserve death. We are wrong. But we are loved. Undeserving of the grace we have been given. But as we humble ourselves in the presence of His love we will be continually changed by His mercy.
Picture the scene. Satan strides up to the throne of God. Full of confidence, cocky, smug. He comes ready to gloat. He comes to accuse. This time he’s got his guilty man. This time he will win.
See, unlike Job, who Satan also accused, and who God describes as blameless and upright (Job 1:8), Joshua doesn’t fare so well in God’s assessment. Nor do the people of God, for in this text Joshua, as a high priest, stands representing the nation of Judah.
Did you notice the description of Joshua’s clothing? Filthy garments. These symbolized a sinful heart marred by transgressions. Of the people of Judah God says, “The LORD was very angry with your fathers” (Zech 1:2); hence their persecution and invasion by other nations for over 70 years (Zech 1:12). So surely Satan had his man this time.
The Adversary would accuse, and God would have to concede. His people had abandoned Him. They had worshiped another. They would have to die.
So Satan sneers, ready to lash out the first accusation. But he isn’t even given a chance to speak.
For Joshua is to be a recipient of mercy. He is a brand, or branch, plucked from the fire. Rescued. Saved. Redeemed.
The reality is that Satan is right. Joshua, representative of all of us ultimately, is dirty with sin. We are stained. None righteous. So Satan comes to accuse us. He hates mercy, but God delights in it. And God loves giving guilty people grace. He loves pulling us from the fire.
Joshua did nothing to get rescued. A dry branch cannot avoid destruction in the midst of flames. Not even a branch drenched in water can escape a blazing fire, which is what many of us try, thinking our good works will cleanse and cover up our broken, marred hearts.
I often struggle with feeling condemned, with being bombarded of thoughts of being less, or of not living up to some standard. The truth is I am. I stand guilty. I have not lived up to God’s standards. I have failed Him. I have dirtied myself with rebellion and sin. Pop culture and many counselors might tell me to combat these thoughts and perhaps reframe them in a positive light somehow.
But I wonder if it wouldn’t be better to say, Amen. I stand helpless before God the Creator. And as Satan and his cohort come to accuse me, God steps in. “She’s mine, and there’s nothing you can do. Dare you condemn whom I have chosen!” Mercy.
Seeing how God defends us makes Paul’s words sink in deeper, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). No, I suppose not. When the only One who can legitimately sentence us decides to pardon us and gift us with the death and resurrection of His Son (plucking us from the fires of hell), who else can stand against us? When God silences the Accuser, who else stands to speak?
So I’m learning to discern the voice of the enemy and the voice of my Advocate. I’m first learning to accept as true my guilt. Many of the thoughts that come against me are in fact accurate. But instead of a period following the accusation there is a comma followed by the words but God-“but God being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Eph 2:4, 5).
Do you feel condemned? Perhaps instead of fighting the thoughts, the first step is to acknowledge them. To come before God ,helpless and dirty. We have an enemy who knows we are dirty. But God is stronger. He silences him. Let the words of God shut him up on your behalf, “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us” (Rom 8:33, 34).
Rather than convince ourselves we aren’t good enough, let God quiet those thoughts with grace. We do deserve death. We are wrong. But we are loved. Undeserving of the grace we have been given. But as we humble ourselves in the presence of His love we will be continually changed by His mercy.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Call Me Gomer
I’m an adulterer. My heart bleeds lust. I pay a lot to get quick and momentary pleasure. Many days I struggle to stay away from brothels. And I’m not alone.
Throughout Scripture God’s people continue to prostitute themselves. Instead of the true God, they prefer to serve trendy gods they can see and touch.
Perhaps most vividly in the story of Hosea God gives us a living picture of how He experiences His relationship with Israel. God tells Hosea, a righteous man to marry Gomer, a prostitute. Though he pursues and cares for her, she refuses to rest in his love. Instead she leaves the safety, comfort and provision of her husband to pursue lovers who abuse. She exchanges love for lust, met needs for insatiable desire, union for loneliness.
I see myself in Gomer. I see my friends and fellow churchgoers too. The human heart seems to beat in accord with Gomer the whore. While most of us don’t literally sell our bodies in return for money, we give our hearts to lovers who end up taking all we have, leaving us empty. Desperate and foolish we keep returning thinking this time it will be different. It seems God’s people have not changed much over the centuries.
But why? Why do we stray? Perhaps one reason is because at our core we hate faith. We prefer something tactile. Something our five senses can perceive. Something we can manipulate to do our bidding.
Like the people of old we make our own golden calf. Our calves just look different. Perhaps like a spouse we beg to give us our identity; we speak words that will elicit a desired response. Or alcohol we down to drown out a painful existence; we decide when and how much to drink to numb our emotions. Or a country-club membership to make us feel valuable; we name-drop to friends and co-workers, feeling alive and desired as their eyes respond with envy.
When we look to created objects, however, to bring us hope, healing and salvation we abandon Christ, and He becomes of no value to us. (No wonder Sunday morning worship seems so quiet, so tame. We have lifted our hands and voices to countless others throughout the week.)
In this world, though, we must hope for some sort of salvation to continue on. It could be salvation from pain, loneliness, meaningless, insecurity, monotony. If we are honest not many of us actually long to be rescued from sin. The effects of sin done to us, yes. But to admit we have contributed to the ravages of sin and affronted God with our dirty infidelity is another matter. We expect God to fix our pain, make our lives work, bless us with good things. But to suggest that in our confusion and longing what we may need most is repentance seems offensive.
But what Gomer needed was not to find a lover who paid her enough, or excited her pleasure to another level, or soothed her insecurity with vain words about her beauty. What she needed was the presence of her husband. She needed to repent of her harlotry.
So what do we think we need to have peace? To have value? To feel secure? Perhaps freedom from pain. Or close and fulfilling relationships. A steady income. Meaningful work. Verbal validation. While all these things are good, they will never fulfill. And when we demand that they do, we commit adultery.
So if we answer the question with any other answer besides Christ we are sleeping around. Instead of placing our hope and trust (our faith) in what is seen, we must look to the God we cannot see. Even now He invites us, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heave-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:28).
So let’s leave the brothels. Let's abandon our current lovers who promise healing but leave us wounded (Jer 2:13). Let’s come home to the one true Savior. Let us rest in His grace, in His sacrificial provision, and in the promise of paradise to come. And in doing discover in Him our heart's exceeding joy.
Throughout Scripture God’s people continue to prostitute themselves. Instead of the true God, they prefer to serve trendy gods they can see and touch.
Perhaps most vividly in the story of Hosea God gives us a living picture of how He experiences His relationship with Israel. God tells Hosea, a righteous man to marry Gomer, a prostitute. Though he pursues and cares for her, she refuses to rest in his love. Instead she leaves the safety, comfort and provision of her husband to pursue lovers who abuse. She exchanges love for lust, met needs for insatiable desire, union for loneliness.
I see myself in Gomer. I see my friends and fellow churchgoers too. The human heart seems to beat in accord with Gomer the whore. While most of us don’t literally sell our bodies in return for money, we give our hearts to lovers who end up taking all we have, leaving us empty. Desperate and foolish we keep returning thinking this time it will be different. It seems God’s people have not changed much over the centuries.
But why? Why do we stray? Perhaps one reason is because at our core we hate faith. We prefer something tactile. Something our five senses can perceive. Something we can manipulate to do our bidding.
Like the people of old we make our own golden calf. Our calves just look different. Perhaps like a spouse we beg to give us our identity; we speak words that will elicit a desired response. Or alcohol we down to drown out a painful existence; we decide when and how much to drink to numb our emotions. Or a country-club membership to make us feel valuable; we name-drop to friends and co-workers, feeling alive and desired as their eyes respond with envy.
When we look to created objects, however, to bring us hope, healing and salvation we abandon Christ, and He becomes of no value to us. (No wonder Sunday morning worship seems so quiet, so tame. We have lifted our hands and voices to countless others throughout the week.)
In this world, though, we must hope for some sort of salvation to continue on. It could be salvation from pain, loneliness, meaningless, insecurity, monotony. If we are honest not many of us actually long to be rescued from sin. The effects of sin done to us, yes. But to admit we have contributed to the ravages of sin and affronted God with our dirty infidelity is another matter. We expect God to fix our pain, make our lives work, bless us with good things. But to suggest that in our confusion and longing what we may need most is repentance seems offensive.
But what Gomer needed was not to find a lover who paid her enough, or excited her pleasure to another level, or soothed her insecurity with vain words about her beauty. What she needed was the presence of her husband. She needed to repent of her harlotry.
So what do we think we need to have peace? To have value? To feel secure? Perhaps freedom from pain. Or close and fulfilling relationships. A steady income. Meaningful work. Verbal validation. While all these things are good, they will never fulfill. And when we demand that they do, we commit adultery.
So if we answer the question with any other answer besides Christ we are sleeping around. Instead of placing our hope and trust (our faith) in what is seen, we must look to the God we cannot see. Even now He invites us, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heave-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:28).
So let’s leave the brothels. Let's abandon our current lovers who promise healing but leave us wounded (Jer 2:13). Let’s come home to the one true Savior. Let us rest in His grace, in His sacrificial provision, and in the promise of paradise to come. And in doing discover in Him our heart's exceeding joy.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Percy Jackson's Lotus Cookie Slumber
I recently saw Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. It’s the story of Percy, a demi-god whose father is Posiedon, the god of water. Posiedon’s brothers (Zeus and Hades) believe that Percy has stolen Zeus’ lightning bolt, and now Percy must find the true culprit and rescue his mother from Hades’ prison in Hell before the deadline is up. So he and his two friends set out on a journey that leads them through encounters with dangers, excitement and evil gods.
In one particular adventure they must visit a casino in Las Vegas to recover a pearl that will help them out of Hell once they get there. As soon as they enter the casino, they are bombarded with waitresses offering them pink, flower-shaped Lotus cookies. They hesitate at first but eventually succumb to the scrumptious treat.
As they bite into the cookie they discover it is the most delicious treat they have ever tasted. At once they forget their original purpose. They forget about the pearl. They forget about Percy’s mom. They lose track of time. Instead they believe their sole purpose is to have fun. So they set out on evening of gambling, laughing, playing games. All the while consuming more of the special pink cookies.
After awhile Percy hears his father’s voice, “Percy, you must wake up. Don’t eat another cookie.” Percy slowly wakes from his slumber to realize the delicious treats had lulled him and his friends to sleep, away from reality, away from their mission. Though it only seemed like an hour to them they wake to realize they had “slept” for days and now they were upon their deadline. The gods had deceived them.
As I watched this scene I thought of how too the enemy of our souls lulls us to sleep. How many things in our lives serve as Lotus cookies? How often, for example, television invites us to sit down, take a rest from our busy days, only to find we’ve spent our whole evenings lost in a world of fiction. Or, how often does alcohol beckon just one drink and then just one more. An hour of relaxing becomes another night of partying in which we’ve shirked responsibility. Lotus cookies can come in many forms—romance, fit bodies, sex, wealth, living the American dream, comfort, happiness. Like Percy and his friends, when we consume too much of these pleasantries, they can take control of our hearts, singing our minds to sleep.
These potential idols have the power to distract us, to pull us away from our true purpose. We don’t exist to have fun. Our purpose is not to find the one true love. Meaning does not result from having purchased a flat screen T.V. over which we can spend all evening watching sports or sitcoms or so-called reality shows.
So like Poseidon’s father, the Holy Spirit whispers to us, “Awake sleeper, and arise from the dead and Christ will shine on you” (Eph 5:14). Many of us have fallen asleep. We have lost sight of our purpose. The things of the world, the things of comfort and ease, the pursuit of the American dream has cast a drowsy spell on us. Paul reminds us that our purpose is to “be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph 5:1, 2).
We are on a mission to live for the glory of God, to reveal His love, mercy, justice and hope to the people in our world. Paul warns us to “be careful how [we] walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of [our] time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:15, 16). How often, I wonder, do I live as an unwise person because I waste my life on things that don’t ultimately matter? Watching a T.V. show in and of itself is not evil, though it can be. Drinking a glass of wine is not a sin and seeking to be physically is not mere vanity.
I just wonder, however, as I examine my own life and the culture of the American church if many of us have fallen asleep. Are we making the most of our time? Instead of investing our hours in TNT dramas or late nights at the office, should we perhaps spend our time in pursuits such as, serving the homeless, mentoring a college student, mowing a neighbor’s yard, conversing with our family at dinner, coaching a basketball team in the inner-city?
As those on a mission to reveal Christ to the world, we ought to live as He would live. Would Jesus spend most of His evenings watching sitcoms or reviewing reports at the office or spending hours playing the Wii?* I just can’t imagine the answer is yes. With Christ as our Teacher, then, why should we live any differently?
So let us not slumber. Let us give heed to the Spirit’s whisper. Let us wake. And let us continue on this adventure of living for the glory of God, of seeking His kingdom, of fighting the good fight of faith. For we know that “all that is the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever” (I John 2:17).
*I do believe that if Jesus were in human form today He might very well play video games, especially with a group of people. Christ focused on building relationships, and I think He could enjoy playing Super Mario Bros with some buddies. But I don’t think He would continually spend hours lost in the world of fantasy to the exclusion of present-day realities, like caring for the poor, helping the needy, and developing the spiritual growth of others.
In one particular adventure they must visit a casino in Las Vegas to recover a pearl that will help them out of Hell once they get there. As soon as they enter the casino, they are bombarded with waitresses offering them pink, flower-shaped Lotus cookies. They hesitate at first but eventually succumb to the scrumptious treat.
As they bite into the cookie they discover it is the most delicious treat they have ever tasted. At once they forget their original purpose. They forget about the pearl. They forget about Percy’s mom. They lose track of time. Instead they believe their sole purpose is to have fun. So they set out on evening of gambling, laughing, playing games. All the while consuming more of the special pink cookies.
After awhile Percy hears his father’s voice, “Percy, you must wake up. Don’t eat another cookie.” Percy slowly wakes from his slumber to realize the delicious treats had lulled him and his friends to sleep, away from reality, away from their mission. Though it only seemed like an hour to them they wake to realize they had “slept” for days and now they were upon their deadline. The gods had deceived them.
As I watched this scene I thought of how too the enemy of our souls lulls us to sleep. How many things in our lives serve as Lotus cookies? How often, for example, television invites us to sit down, take a rest from our busy days, only to find we’ve spent our whole evenings lost in a world of fiction. Or, how often does alcohol beckon just one drink and then just one more. An hour of relaxing becomes another night of partying in which we’ve shirked responsibility. Lotus cookies can come in many forms—romance, fit bodies, sex, wealth, living the American dream, comfort, happiness. Like Percy and his friends, when we consume too much of these pleasantries, they can take control of our hearts, singing our minds to sleep.
These potential idols have the power to distract us, to pull us away from our true purpose. We don’t exist to have fun. Our purpose is not to find the one true love. Meaning does not result from having purchased a flat screen T.V. over which we can spend all evening watching sports or sitcoms or so-called reality shows.
So like Poseidon’s father, the Holy Spirit whispers to us, “Awake sleeper, and arise from the dead and Christ will shine on you” (Eph 5:14). Many of us have fallen asleep. We have lost sight of our purpose. The things of the world, the things of comfort and ease, the pursuit of the American dream has cast a drowsy spell on us. Paul reminds us that our purpose is to “be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph 5:1, 2).
We are on a mission to live for the glory of God, to reveal His love, mercy, justice and hope to the people in our world. Paul warns us to “be careful how [we] walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of [our] time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:15, 16). How often, I wonder, do I live as an unwise person because I waste my life on things that don’t ultimately matter? Watching a T.V. show in and of itself is not evil, though it can be. Drinking a glass of wine is not a sin and seeking to be physically is not mere vanity.
I just wonder, however, as I examine my own life and the culture of the American church if many of us have fallen asleep. Are we making the most of our time? Instead of investing our hours in TNT dramas or late nights at the office, should we perhaps spend our time in pursuits such as, serving the homeless, mentoring a college student, mowing a neighbor’s yard, conversing with our family at dinner, coaching a basketball team in the inner-city?
As those on a mission to reveal Christ to the world, we ought to live as He would live. Would Jesus spend most of His evenings watching sitcoms or reviewing reports at the office or spending hours playing the Wii?* I just can’t imagine the answer is yes. With Christ as our Teacher, then, why should we live any differently?
So let us not slumber. Let us give heed to the Spirit’s whisper. Let us wake. And let us continue on this adventure of living for the glory of God, of seeking His kingdom, of fighting the good fight of faith. For we know that “all that is the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever” (I John 2:17).
*I do believe that if Jesus were in human form today He might very well play video games, especially with a group of people. Christ focused on building relationships, and I think He could enjoy playing Super Mario Bros with some buddies. But I don’t think He would continually spend hours lost in the world of fantasy to the exclusion of present-day realities, like caring for the poor, helping the needy, and developing the spiritual growth of others.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
A Refuge For Our Hearts
“Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us (Ps 62:8).”
I find it difficult to trust God. I find faith challenging. I wonder at David’s charge to trust God at all times. Trust God in the midst of the divorce. Trust God in the midst of financial ruin. Trust God in the midst of the job loss. Trust God in the midst of natural disaster. Trust God in the midst of physical, emotional or sexual abuse. How is that possible?
David, who exhorts us, did not lead an enchanted life. He knew well suffering, fear, grief, angst, trauma. For years David lived and served King Saul who repeatedly abused him with his words and actions. Saul not only threatened David’s life but attempted to murder him, to destroy him. David eventually fled for his life and lived on the run for many years. He hid in caves. He feared for his life. And yet in the midst of all this he had the courage to believe. He hoped for deliverance. He trusted God. He rested in His salvation and loyal love.
I wonder how. But his faith didn't mean he never struggled to understand God in the midst of the strife. His psalms of lament capture his frustration, dread and concern. Maybe that is where I err. Maybe I confuse my questions for a lack of faith. Perhaps then what separates those with faith and those with unbelief is not confusion, struggles or doubts but rather where we take these frustrations and sorrows. David exhorts us to pour our hearts—with all their anger, sorrow, fear—before God. To himself he writes, “My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him” (Ps 62:5). For God only. When he felt overwhelmed he ran to God. How often I tend to run to other people and things.
So where do we find our refuge? Television? Alcohol? Food? A busy schedule? A person? David found hope in God. He took shelter in Him. We must remember, however, that a refuge doesn’t make the storm stop; rather, it provides shelter as the storm rages. Shelter as you clean out your desk at work. Shelter as you sign the papers. Shelter as the bruises surface.
In the midst of whatever we may be facing, let us found the courage to bear our hearts before God. Let us dare to hope in His unfailing love. Despite the confusion we may feel or the anger we may have towards Him, let us pour these out at into His arms of grace. May we have assurance knowing that David, a man after God’s own heart, also struggled with God. Yet he still came to Him. And that made all the difference. In coming he received peace, love, hope.
I find it difficult to trust God. I find faith challenging. I wonder at David’s charge to trust God at all times. Trust God in the midst of the divorce. Trust God in the midst of financial ruin. Trust God in the midst of the job loss. Trust God in the midst of natural disaster. Trust God in the midst of physical, emotional or sexual abuse. How is that possible?
David, who exhorts us, did not lead an enchanted life. He knew well suffering, fear, grief, angst, trauma. For years David lived and served King Saul who repeatedly abused him with his words and actions. Saul not only threatened David’s life but attempted to murder him, to destroy him. David eventually fled for his life and lived on the run for many years. He hid in caves. He feared for his life. And yet in the midst of all this he had the courage to believe. He hoped for deliverance. He trusted God. He rested in His salvation and loyal love.
I wonder how. But his faith didn't mean he never struggled to understand God in the midst of the strife. His psalms of lament capture his frustration, dread and concern. Maybe that is where I err. Maybe I confuse my questions for a lack of faith. Perhaps then what separates those with faith and those with unbelief is not confusion, struggles or doubts but rather where we take these frustrations and sorrows. David exhorts us to pour our hearts—with all their anger, sorrow, fear—before God. To himself he writes, “My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him” (Ps 62:5). For God only. When he felt overwhelmed he ran to God. How often I tend to run to other people and things.
So where do we find our refuge? Television? Alcohol? Food? A busy schedule? A person? David found hope in God. He took shelter in Him. We must remember, however, that a refuge doesn’t make the storm stop; rather, it provides shelter as the storm rages. Shelter as you clean out your desk at work. Shelter as you sign the papers. Shelter as the bruises surface.
In the midst of whatever we may be facing, let us found the courage to bear our hearts before God. Let us dare to hope in His unfailing love. Despite the confusion we may feel or the anger we may have towards Him, let us pour these out at into His arms of grace. May we have assurance knowing that David, a man after God’s own heart, also struggled with God. Yet he still came to Him. And that made all the difference. In coming he received peace, love, hope.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Digging Up Buried Treasure
Growing up, my best friend and I would dig up our backyards in hope of discovering buried treasure. We dreamt about unearthing bones, gold, treasure maps. With our hands and sticks, we eagerly dug, convinced we would happen upon an artifact no one had ever seen. Though we never found Native American paraphernalia or Black Beard’s gold, we reveled in the hope of uncovering a mystery.
As adults not many of us still look for buried treasure. But this is exactly what Solomon invites us to do when he writes of wisdom, “If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God” (Prov 2:4, 5 NASB). Seek for wisdom as financial gain. Pan for her like gold. Dig for her like dinosaur bones. God desires that we answer His call to come seek for wisdom, and in so doing discover Him.
So what if we began to view the book of Proverbs, Wisdom literature, and Scripture itself as one big backyard full of possibilities? What if we grabbed our friends and with open hearts and minds began to unearth the hidden treasures God breathed? In so doing we can happen upon the very knowledge of God.
Let us then say our amen to Paul’s prayer for each other and for ourselves, we "pray for you and ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:9, 10). Grab your Bible. Get some friends together. It's time to go treasure hunting.
As adults not many of us still look for buried treasure. But this is exactly what Solomon invites us to do when he writes of wisdom, “If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God” (Prov 2:4, 5 NASB). Seek for wisdom as financial gain. Pan for her like gold. Dig for her like dinosaur bones. God desires that we answer His call to come seek for wisdom, and in so doing discover Him.
So what if we began to view the book of Proverbs, Wisdom literature, and Scripture itself as one big backyard full of possibilities? What if we grabbed our friends and with open hearts and minds began to unearth the hidden treasures God breathed? In so doing we can happen upon the very knowledge of God.
Let us then say our amen to Paul’s prayer for each other and for ourselves, we "pray for you and ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:9, 10). Grab your Bible. Get some friends together. It's time to go treasure hunting.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Finding Meaning
I long for my life to have impact. I want to touch people’s souls, helping fuel a passion, a longing for God, and to bring hope in the midst of this cold world. But so often I hide behind a desk, a computer, a T.V. screen. I seek for purpose in career pursuits, in a relationship, in outward appearances. In fairness, I also seek meaning in drawing close to God (the reason for my, along with all of creation, existence). But I lose focus in the solitary moments of Bible study and prayer. God didn’t create me to live with just Him. God had dreams of a huge family. In fact, He ordered Adam and Eve to fill the earth with people. People who work together, eat together, serve together, hang out with God together.
We exist in relationships. From the very beginning God, who exists eternally in relationship (Father, Son, Spirit), created us in a similar state. He said, “Let us make man in Our image,” so “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them” (Gen 1:26, 27). He didn’t make just Adam or just Eve. He made them both and told them to make more people. They were created to live and to love together and to do so with God. And in this—eating, working, laughing—they imaged their Maker. That is, they lived out their purpose.
To live, it seems, is to relate. But true relating isn’t merely about doing things with others (though this is a big part of life), but about being with others. It’s about letting our lives—the good, the bad, the joys, the sorrows, the fears, the hopes, the confusion, the peace—come in contact with the messy yet redeemed lives of others. God did not make us to exist on our own. We need both Him and His people. If we aren’t engaging with others we aren’t living.
As such my quest for meaning leads me to examine my relationships. To have impact, I must relate. I must bare my soul and risk being known. In so doing, I have the hope of others seeing the grace of God as He restores my fallen heart. I also have the hope of another soul bared open to me. And these exchanges come with power. They spur on fellow image-bearers to love and to worship. Meaningful lives form as we give ourselves to others in love, sacrifice and hope.
Paul writes, “If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing” (I Cor 13:2, 3). If we give our money and time without giving our hearts, it’s in vain. Gifts, talents and resources may provide temporary purpose, but ultimately our lives are only as meaningful as the relationships we have and the impact we make on other people's lives.
We exist in relationships. From the very beginning God, who exists eternally in relationship (Father, Son, Spirit), created us in a similar state. He said, “Let us make man in Our image,” so “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them” (Gen 1:26, 27). He didn’t make just Adam or just Eve. He made them both and told them to make more people. They were created to live and to love together and to do so with God. And in this—eating, working, laughing—they imaged their Maker. That is, they lived out their purpose.
To live, it seems, is to relate. But true relating isn’t merely about doing things with others (though this is a big part of life), but about being with others. It’s about letting our lives—the good, the bad, the joys, the sorrows, the fears, the hopes, the confusion, the peace—come in contact with the messy yet redeemed lives of others. God did not make us to exist on our own. We need both Him and His people. If we aren’t engaging with others we aren’t living.
As such my quest for meaning leads me to examine my relationships. To have impact, I must relate. I must bare my soul and risk being known. In so doing, I have the hope of others seeing the grace of God as He restores my fallen heart. I also have the hope of another soul bared open to me. And these exchanges come with power. They spur on fellow image-bearers to love and to worship. Meaningful lives form as we give ourselves to others in love, sacrifice and hope.
Paul writes, “If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing” (I Cor 13:2, 3). If we give our money and time without giving our hearts, it’s in vain. Gifts, talents and resources may provide temporary purpose, but ultimately our lives are only as meaningful as the relationships we have and the impact we make on other people's lives.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
A Transforming Gaze
She had run out of options. She had gone everywhere for help and found none. She had spent all her money and received nothing. No answers, no healing, no hope. Empty-handed, hurting, and desperate for help. That is how she came, the woman with a hemorrhage that would not stop (Mark 5:24-34).
In what may have been her last attempt for a cure, this nameless woman came to Jesus. And that’s exactly what she hoped to remain: nameless, unseen, in and out without hassle. As the crowd pressed in and Jesus passed by, she silently reached out. She hoped any contact with Him would bring healing. So with ferocity of faith she extended her hand.
And in an instant it happened. Years of misery ended. It seemed she had gotten what she came for and escaped unnoticed. Jesus, however, wanted to know who He had healed. He didn't want to provide an impersonal miracle. He wanted to see her face. Or maybe He wanted her to see His face looking at hers, His eyes penetrating into her broken heart, “You are loved. You are whole.”
I wonder if this is what He wants for you and me to experience as well. We too have a rupture, a spiritual tear. We bleed sin inside with nothing to stop its flow. This same sin has eroded our clotting devices. And often we spend our time, money, and energy looking to the physicians of comfort and security (money, relationships, sex, food, career, the "good life") and come away empty-handed and unchanged. We feel desperate for hope, for a cure for our empty and longing hearts, for a remedy for our self-centered and self-seeking ways. We have but one option left, Jesus.
Much like this woman reached out for His cloak, we only have to gaze upon Christ’s sacrifice in faith and be healed. In Him, God delivered us from our sin disease. Our penalty paid in full. The hemorrhage of sin ceased. But just like Jesus didn’t let this woman slip away unnoticed, He calls out to us. He beckons us to look up and see His merciful and compassionate eyes staring back, “You are clean. You are forgiven. You are loved.”
And it is this knowledge that sets free, that transforms. Paul writes, “But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (II Cor 3:18). By looking into the mirror-image of God in Christ, His love changes us. We know we are known and still desired.
If you, like me, find yourself yearning for heart change, perhaps we need to spend more time gazing into the eyes of Christ. Let us, like this woman, find the courage to come despite our shame, discomfort and fear. May we echo with the psalmist, “When you said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, O LORD, I shall seek’” (Ps 27:8).
In what may have been her last attempt for a cure, this nameless woman came to Jesus. And that’s exactly what she hoped to remain: nameless, unseen, in and out without hassle. As the crowd pressed in and Jesus passed by, she silently reached out. She hoped any contact with Him would bring healing. So with ferocity of faith she extended her hand.
And in an instant it happened. Years of misery ended. It seemed she had gotten what she came for and escaped unnoticed. Jesus, however, wanted to know who He had healed. He didn't want to provide an impersonal miracle. He wanted to see her face. Or maybe He wanted her to see His face looking at hers, His eyes penetrating into her broken heart, “You are loved. You are whole.”
I wonder if this is what He wants for you and me to experience as well. We too have a rupture, a spiritual tear. We bleed sin inside with nothing to stop its flow. This same sin has eroded our clotting devices. And often we spend our time, money, and energy looking to the physicians of comfort and security (money, relationships, sex, food, career, the "good life") and come away empty-handed and unchanged. We feel desperate for hope, for a cure for our empty and longing hearts, for a remedy for our self-centered and self-seeking ways. We have but one option left, Jesus.
Much like this woman reached out for His cloak, we only have to gaze upon Christ’s sacrifice in faith and be healed. In Him, God delivered us from our sin disease. Our penalty paid in full. The hemorrhage of sin ceased. But just like Jesus didn’t let this woman slip away unnoticed, He calls out to us. He beckons us to look up and see His merciful and compassionate eyes staring back, “You are clean. You are forgiven. You are loved.”
And it is this knowledge that sets free, that transforms. Paul writes, “But we all with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit” (II Cor 3:18). By looking into the mirror-image of God in Christ, His love changes us. We know we are known and still desired.
If you, like me, find yourself yearning for heart change, perhaps we need to spend more time gazing into the eyes of Christ. Let us, like this woman, find the courage to come despite our shame, discomfort and fear. May we echo with the psalmist, “When you said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, O LORD, I shall seek’” (Ps 27:8).
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Simple Joy :: YouPublish
Check out my article on the art of journaling on the online magazine for women, "Simple Joy".
Simple Joy :: YouPublish
Simple Joy :: YouPublish
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Friends, Food and Pharisees
Think of the last time you had dinner with friends. You probably enjoyed good conversation, good laughs and hopefully good food. So too Jesus found Himself dining with some friends one evening. I envision Him sitting back, sipping on wine, soaking in the laughter from jokes exchanged. That is, until the scribes showed up.
According to them Jesus made a poor choice in dinner companions. Shocked they ask His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners” (Mark 2:16)? Consumed with self-righteousness, they couldn’t understand why Jesus ate with these people. Why would He associate with such lowly-men, such dirty people? Why not keep Himself clean?
Jesus overhears their question, and answers “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). I can’t help but wonder what His dinner guests thought as He said this, especially His disciples.
Were they surprised that Jesus called them sinners? Confused that He said they were in fact not righteous? Offended He thought of them as ill patients in need of a doctor? Hadn’t He called them because He had seen potential in them?
Perhaps Simon thought Jesus chose him because of his fisherman qualities. Jesus said He would make him into a fisherman of people (Mark 1:17). Maybe he thought his skills transferred over to the bigger fish of humans and Jesus chose him for these abilities.
I don’t know what Simon felt, but I know I would have lifted a confused eyebrow. Maybe that’s because I want to think Jesus chose me because of something unique in me, something good.
Listening in on this dinner-table conversation has humbled my heart. I’m reminded that there is nothing in me that makes God want me. He chose me because I’m sick, because I’m in need, because my heart is weak, dark and twisted. He came to me, to all of us, because of one reason— His love. Paul says it this way, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).
We cannot heal ourselves. We’re too broken, too marred, too full of sin. Our hearts are void of righteousness. We need the scarred hands of a Physician who can cleanse and mend what no other doctor can. He calls us to Himself and heals our mortal wound, wipes away the effects of the disease and restores our life to Him.
With humble hearts, weak and needy, let us find ourselves feasting at His table. He invites us to dine on His healing love free of charge (Is 55:1), His grace curing our hearts.
According to them Jesus made a poor choice in dinner companions. Shocked they ask His disciples, “Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners” (Mark 2:16)? Consumed with self-righteousness, they couldn’t understand why Jesus ate with these people. Why would He associate with such lowly-men, such dirty people? Why not keep Himself clean?
Jesus overhears their question, and answers “It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). I can’t help but wonder what His dinner guests thought as He said this, especially His disciples.
Were they surprised that Jesus called them sinners? Confused that He said they were in fact not righteous? Offended He thought of them as ill patients in need of a doctor? Hadn’t He called them because He had seen potential in them?
Perhaps Simon thought Jesus chose him because of his fisherman qualities. Jesus said He would make him into a fisherman of people (Mark 1:17). Maybe he thought his skills transferred over to the bigger fish of humans and Jesus chose him for these abilities.
I don’t know what Simon felt, but I know I would have lifted a confused eyebrow. Maybe that’s because I want to think Jesus chose me because of something unique in me, something good.
Listening in on this dinner-table conversation has humbled my heart. I’m reminded that there is nothing in me that makes God want me. He chose me because I’m sick, because I’m in need, because my heart is weak, dark and twisted. He came to me, to all of us, because of one reason— His love. Paul says it this way, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).
We cannot heal ourselves. We’re too broken, too marred, too full of sin. Our hearts are void of righteousness. We need the scarred hands of a Physician who can cleanse and mend what no other doctor can. He calls us to Himself and heals our mortal wound, wipes away the effects of the disease and restores our life to Him.
With humble hearts, weak and needy, let us find ourselves feasting at His table. He invites us to dine on His healing love free of charge (Is 55:1), His grace curing our hearts.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Storehouses of Snow
Currently snow blankets more than half the continental U.S. An arctic blast has crept down from Canada, and found its way even into Florida. Residents of Tampa may soon see flurries and folks in Miami must bundle up with high temperatures only in the 50’s.
In North Carolina we soon hope to see some white flakes, perhaps even this evening. With excitement at the prospect, I find my thoughts recalling God’s words to Job, “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, of have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of war and battle” (38:22, 23)? I confess, I have prayed this morning for God to open His storehouse of snow and let it mount up! Now I don’t want the time of distress of which He speaks. Instead, when I think of snow, I picture building snowmen, making snow angels, and sledding down white hills. A fun day complete with hot chocolate and marshmallows.
As I hope for snow, though, I can’t help but think of the implications of God storing up snow. He says He has put them away for a reason, for the day of war and battle. The point of this blog isn’t to discuss what the day of distress entails, but rather to highlight the fact that God has a plan for snow. Snow. Those flakes that fall from the sky, cover cars, and get kids out of school for a day or two. God has something in mind for these ice crystals.
And if He has a goal in mind for snow, then surely He has plans for us. If He cares about the use of tiny flakes, imagine then His concern for human beings, for those He made in His image and redeemed by the sacrificial death of His Son.
Today as I read the Winter Weather Advisories posted by The Weather Channel, I think of the plans God wrote down for me before I breathed my first breath (Ps 139:16). The Spirit too reminds me of Jesus’ words to His disciples, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, now reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they" (Matt 6:26)? If God cares so much for birds and snow, how much more will He care and plan each of our lives?
So if you find yourself wondering if God cares about you or is working out His plans for your life, this winter take courage. As God has created each flurry and has plans for it, He has created you and has plans for you. As Paul says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10).
In North Carolina we soon hope to see some white flakes, perhaps even this evening. With excitement at the prospect, I find my thoughts recalling God’s words to Job, “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, of have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of war and battle” (38:22, 23)? I confess, I have prayed this morning for God to open His storehouse of snow and let it mount up! Now I don’t want the time of distress of which He speaks. Instead, when I think of snow, I picture building snowmen, making snow angels, and sledding down white hills. A fun day complete with hot chocolate and marshmallows.
As I hope for snow, though, I can’t help but think of the implications of God storing up snow. He says He has put them away for a reason, for the day of war and battle. The point of this blog isn’t to discuss what the day of distress entails, but rather to highlight the fact that God has a plan for snow. Snow. Those flakes that fall from the sky, cover cars, and get kids out of school for a day or two. God has something in mind for these ice crystals.
And if He has a goal in mind for snow, then surely He has plans for us. If He cares about the use of tiny flakes, imagine then His concern for human beings, for those He made in His image and redeemed by the sacrificial death of His Son.
Today as I read the Winter Weather Advisories posted by The Weather Channel, I think of the plans God wrote down for me before I breathed my first breath (Ps 139:16). The Spirit too reminds me of Jesus’ words to His disciples, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, now reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they" (Matt 6:26)? If God cares so much for birds and snow, how much more will He care and plan each of our lives?
So if you find yourself wondering if God cares about you or is working out His plans for your life, this winter take courage. As God has created each flurry and has plans for it, He has created you and has plans for you. As Paul says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10).
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