Practicing Nothing

"A Quaker woman inquired of a young man, 'Hast thou heard God speak lately?' 'No,' said the young man. 'Then thou hast forgotten to be still,' said the woman. 'Stop... and know...' says the Scripture (Psalm 46:10)" - Selwyn Hughes

It's amazing just how hard this is to do. In today's fast pace, microwave society we have lost the art of being still and listening to God. 

I've felt a bit lost recently as to the direction I should be heading toward. I'm very much a planner and goal setter, so this season of my life has been difficult for me. I am doing what I know I should, but I almost need something to look forward to - besides for eternity. Yes, I'm looking forward to being finally perfected on day, but I'd like a little more vision of the journey there.

I then realized that I haven't been taking the time to really stop and listen to God. My prayer times are full of requests for others and guidance, but as soon as I stop and try to listen, my mind starts "planning". Now, this would be great if it were from God, but I know it's not. It's me wishing and scheming. 

While trying desperately to listen and be still today... and admittedly planning and scheming how to do just that.... God gave me a bit of a mental picture: Have you ever had coffee with someone where you couldn't get a word in edgewise? It actually gets funny after a while as they continue on...and on. Then, when there is a brief silence, they start back up again- like they just can't take it. (Yes, I've found myself on both sides of that coffee table in the past.) That's just what I felt God was saying it was like with me. As soon as I actually tried to listen to Him, and as He was preparing to day just the right thing, I start back up chattering again, uncomfortable with the silence.

So I'm going to be practicing saying nothing. I'm going to try just listening. That's not to say I'm not praying for others - I am - but I plan on spending much more time in silence.

...

Stepping On Up

I'm excited to be doing something about myself today!

There is a ledge I've always wanted to cross, yet never really have before. See, God's promised to provide for us in everything if I love and give with a grateful and compassionate heart. He promises all kinds of abundance!

Abundant...
Joy: Psalm 16:11
Love and Truth: Psalm 86:15
Mercy: Ephesians 2:4
and most excitedly... the Spirit: Titus 3:6

Believe it or not, I've always been some what of a recluse. People, in general, scare me, and because of this I've often not stepped up and developed many close friendships. So God's been doing some open-heart surgery on me recently and I'm stepping out on a limb. There are several people who have come into my path that He has placed there and is teaching me how to be "a friend" since I'm already their sister...

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.
Proverbs 17:17

Real

Being REAL.

This topic has come up in several conversations in the past week- and each time was mentioned first by the other person. (Looks like God may be trying to tell me something.) Yes, I know "Real" is much of the subtitle of this blog, but one person earlier today didn't even know my name, let alone about this site.

So here's the million dollar question:
Why is being real as a Christian so difficult and radical?

Well, our sin nature likes to hide for starters. Remember the first thing Adam and Eve did after they sinned? The covered up their bodies. And when they later heard God walking in the cool of the day, they hid amongst the trees. Genesis 3:7-8. Sin likes us to hide who we were created by God to be. Now don't get me wrong- we still live in a sin filled world, and keeping plenty of clothing is a must! But as humans we have taken this hiding to a whole new - unhealthy - level.

We hide the way we think and feel, what's right and wrong, not only from others but often from ourselves. Have you ever been brutally honest with yourself asking God to reveal to you your own heart? Psalm 139:23 You might be surprised.

This is an excellent time, however, to make a very important point: Being real does not mean being rude. Rude is just another way to hide the insecurities of real. Besides, Jesus told us that we would be proven His disciples by the love we have for one another, not the harshness. John 13:35 In fact, I tend to think that being real does not create an empowering feeling, but one of humility, for one must be honest with self and God just as much if not more than with others.

So how do we be real?

Where does the fine line of tough love and merciful truth take us? This is what we are discovering day by day. How about you?

As I ask myself these questions, there is an image that come to mind. It's not one of a pristine church... clean, smiling people... or a well ordered worship guide...
After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

    Salvation belongs to our God,

    who is seated on the throne,

    and to the Lamb!

Revelation 7:9-10

After all, that's what counts.

Reshaping

My daughter got her first set of braces today. They're actually just partials designed to widen the top of her mouth in order to make more room for her permanent teeth to come in. As loud as she is, they say she needs a bigger mouth...

I was the same way as a child. Too many teeth and not enough room. I'll never forget the day I had to get that horrid contraption in the top of my mouth at age 13. Back then, they put a W-shaped wire in the roof of my mouth that pushed out with all it's strength from the get go. My mouth was so sore I lost 15 lbs in about 3 weeks. It was quite painful.

Lauren will have a much easier time of it. The bar in her mouth is to be tightened twice a day over the next 10 days in order to slowly reach the desired size. It will still be painful, but not so bad as the whole dose at once. Then they will leave it in for 6 months to make sure it doesn't return to the former shape.

When I was sitting there listening to the hygienist describe how we are to turn it each time, I started thinking how grateful I was that God uses this method on me. Let me explain...

Before I came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ I was messed up. There was just not enough room in my sinful flesh for the person God created me from antiquity to be. I was crooked and out of shape.

Then Jesus came into my life.
(That gives the WWJD acronym a whole new meaning to me!)

What if He had expected me to follow all the "rules" right away? What if He had put the pressure and demand of living a pure and holy life on me immediately? All I can say is that I would have lost a lot more than weight! But because He loves me so much and knows what is best, He is changing me day by day. 


Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. 
2 Corinthians 4:16


Day by day He is reshaping me to be holy and beautiful for eternity, and has given the Holy Spirit to guide me in all truth. My responsibility is to make sure I don't just let Him sit there- Waiting for me to allow Him to make room in my life for His blessing and glory. I must tighten it day by day by the reading of the Word, and the bending of self and knees to Him in prayer. I must allow Him to do His work:


...assuming you heard Him and were taught by Him, because the truth is in Jesus: you took off your former way of life, the old man that is corrupted by deceitful desires; you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; you put on the new man, the one created according to God's [likeness] in righteousness and purity of the truth. 
Ephesians 4:21-24

And you want to know the best part?
There is no monthly payment plan: Jesus paid it all in full at the cross.

The Bombs Bursting In Air

There is a line in the Star Spangled Banner that has always stood out to me:

And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Francis Scott Key, the composer of this hymn, wrote these lines in the poem "Defence of Fort McHenry" after watching the battle in the War of 1812. How interesting that it was the destructive bombs and killing rockets that helped to give them hope. The lights from these shone down on their flag, proving it was still flying high. If they had been defeated, the flag would have been first to go. It was a symbol of not only what they stood and were fighting for in general, but also gave them encouragement through a specific battle.

Christians are living on the battle field today.
For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. Ephesians 6:12

What do we do when the bombs of the enemy tear families and friends apart? How do we cope when the rockets of condemnation, hatred, lust, and greed pierce our minds and those around us?

First, their trails of light remind us that we are at war, so hit your knees in prayer. We were told this would happen. Jesus says in John 16:33, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world."


Jesus is our flag. We see Him support us through these hurts and are reminded that we will win the war. The battles may be intense, but the outcome is assured. Even in all the enemy's schemes, Jesus will shine bright. We only need to have our eyes focused in the right direction.