Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Being Kind to His Kids
God has been continuing the analogy, planting the picture of how He feels when I am kind, merciful, or thoughtful to others...going out of my way to help them. He asked me how I feel when other people are kind to my kids. How my heart warms toward them, how grateful I am, and how I pray God will bless them for their thoughtfulness. Hmmmmm....this is how He feels, too...and how He responds? But He doesn't have to pray for a blessing. He is blessed by our loving actions, and He is the One Who Blesses. We aren't kind to receive a blessing; we are kind to please Him and because our hearts are gradually becoming more like His every day, His molten love pouring out from within us. May it be more and more so. May the hard-hearted, selfish part of us be replaced more and more by His sacrificial outpouring, even towards those hardest to love.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
A Good, Good Father
Recently, I was pondering a friends' statement that God doesn't seem to be Good 'all the time, ' the way we often declare that He is. Sometimes He doesn't answer a heartfelt prayer.... Either He's deaf to it or He hears but doesn't choose to fulfill our requests. I knew this wasn't true, but I was asking God for a way to explain it, and He asked me (as He often does to help me see) about my own grown children.
If one of them was to call and ask for my help, what would I do? Would I ponder awhile and consider whether or not I wanted to help him? Would I be too busy with 'greater things' to take time to address her need? Would I decide, perhaps, that he didn't deserve my help? Would I let her flounder? How ridiculous this seems when we think about our love for the children God has given us. And yet we attribute these attitudes to our Heavenly Father, who has no imperfections, as we do, nor any limitations or conditions on His love. We are sometimes still stuck with a very inaccurate vision of God, because of the imperfect human fathers of our experience. Getting that picture of God with His arms folded, waiting for us to either screw up or measure up...out of our heads, can be difficult.
Although we may not understand why we have not been able to receive the answer or help God has sent, we can be sure that He has sent it. We can be certain that the very first moment we prayed to Him (in fact sometimes before we even knew the need existed), He moved to help us. God often sends answers to our prayers by prompting other humans (who don't always respond to that prompting.) Sometimes, He knows what we're asking for isn't best for us. Sometimes He knows that what we want will harm another. However, if we're asking for something He, in His Wisdom, knows is a good thing....He has already quickly responded, as we would, to meet our need...to touch a heart...to heal a body, to relieve suffering, to encourage a soul, to mend a broken spirit, to open the eyes of a deceived heart.
If we, or others, have not been able to receive the help He has sent, then we can know that the problem does not lie with Him. He has acted, but for whatever reason (including things like human will, lack of faith, a lack of understanding how to use the authority He's given us, and the wiles of the Enemy), we haven't seen it come to pass. He is still Good All the Time, loves us All the Time, and, as the Good Shepherd and The Hound of Heaven all rolled into one, He will never stop acting on our behalf. If we, as the imperfect parents we are, would never stand by and refuse to act on behalf of our children to the uttermost extent of our capabilities and to the point of our own even physical sacrifice, how much more will our Perfect Heavenly Father extend Himself for us.
Let us never malign His Character due to our own lack of understanding. Call out to Him..yes. Tell Him we're upset and grieved...yes...Share every heartfelt emotion with Him..yes. Just don't ever consider Him impotent or uncaring or less than the God who cared enough about us to come rescue us in Person.
If one of them was to call and ask for my help, what would I do? Would I ponder awhile and consider whether or not I wanted to help him? Would I be too busy with 'greater things' to take time to address her need? Would I decide, perhaps, that he didn't deserve my help? Would I let her flounder? How ridiculous this seems when we think about our love for the children God has given us. And yet we attribute these attitudes to our Heavenly Father, who has no imperfections, as we do, nor any limitations or conditions on His love. We are sometimes still stuck with a very inaccurate vision of God, because of the imperfect human fathers of our experience. Getting that picture of God with His arms folded, waiting for us to either screw up or measure up...out of our heads, can be difficult.
Although we may not understand why we have not been able to receive the answer or help God has sent, we can be sure that He has sent it. We can be certain that the very first moment we prayed to Him (in fact sometimes before we even knew the need existed), He moved to help us. God often sends answers to our prayers by prompting other humans (who don't always respond to that prompting.) Sometimes, He knows what we're asking for isn't best for us. Sometimes He knows that what we want will harm another. However, if we're asking for something He, in His Wisdom, knows is a good thing....He has already quickly responded, as we would, to meet our need...to touch a heart...to heal a body, to relieve suffering, to encourage a soul, to mend a broken spirit, to open the eyes of a deceived heart.
If we, or others, have not been able to receive the help He has sent, then we can know that the problem does not lie with Him. He has acted, but for whatever reason (including things like human will, lack of faith, a lack of understanding how to use the authority He's given us, and the wiles of the Enemy), we haven't seen it come to pass. He is still Good All the Time, loves us All the Time, and, as the Good Shepherd and The Hound of Heaven all rolled into one, He will never stop acting on our behalf. If we, as the imperfect parents we are, would never stand by and refuse to act on behalf of our children to the uttermost extent of our capabilities and to the point of our own even physical sacrifice, how much more will our Perfect Heavenly Father extend Himself for us.
Let us never malign His Character due to our own lack of understanding. Call out to Him..yes. Tell Him we're upset and grieved...yes...Share every heartfelt emotion with Him..yes. Just don't ever consider Him impotent or uncaring or less than the God who cared enough about us to come rescue us in Person.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Stop the Spinning, I Want to Get Off
I don't know how many of you are old enough to remember the merry-go-rounds that used to be in the parks. Not the fancy kind with horses (which I still love, by the way), but the old wooden and metal ones where one person would run very fast and push, while the rest of us sat hanging on for dear life. The 'spinner' would run as fast as possible to whirl us around and then jump on at the last second to join us. They removed these from most parks because they considered them unsafe for children, so you seldom, if ever, see them anymore.
This image came to mind this morning as I considered where we are with September 14 just behind us and September 23, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, approaching. So many signs colliding for that day. We may be set spinning and have to hang on for dear life, as the saying goes, but as long as God our Father is the Spinner and His Son, Jesus, is the bar to which we cling, we'll be all right. We may be left dizzy and perhaps disoriented, but we won't fall off, now or for eternity.
This image came to mind this morning as I considered where we are with September 14 just behind us and September 23, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, approaching. So many signs colliding for that day. We may be set spinning and have to hang on for dear life, as the saying goes, but as long as God our Father is the Spinner and His Son, Jesus, is the bar to which we cling, we'll be all right. We may be left dizzy and perhaps disoriented, but we won't fall off, now or for eternity.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Witness For the Prosecution
Recently the Lord asked me: "Are you a witness for the prosecution?"
"What do you mean, Lord?" I asked Him.
A Scripture came to mind: 'Satan is the Accuser of the brethren,'
Instead, we should support Him as Defense Attorney and Mediator.
We are called to build up, edify, encourage, and forgive...to help lead others out of prison; not condemn them to it. There is a manifold difference between standing for the truth, upon which we should never compromise, and judging and condemning individuals. Only The Father reads the heart. Only the Father vindicates. May we never cross the line. Help us, Lord, to recognize when we've taken over Your seat as Judge.
Romans 8:21
Romans 21:1
Rev 12:10
"What do you mean, Lord?" I asked Him.
A Scripture came to mind: 'Satan is the Accuser of the brethren,'
Instead, we should support Him as Defense Attorney and Mediator.
We are called to build up, edify, encourage, and forgive...to help lead others out of prison; not condemn them to it. There is a manifold difference between standing for the truth, upon which we should never compromise, and judging and condemning individuals. Only The Father reads the heart. Only the Father vindicates. May we never cross the line. Help us, Lord, to recognize when we've taken over Your seat as Judge.
Romans 8:21
Romans 21:1
Rev 12:10
Thursday, September 10, 2015
The Cultivator
I've just come in from mowing my lawn at 9 at night. (Yes, it's very dark in FL at this time.) I arrived home at about 8:30 to remember that this was the only day all week that would be dry enough to mow. (NOT complaining, dear NW friends). The neighbors were probably wondering what nut was out there mowing in the dark.
However, as I was approaching each cultivated plant, trying to be careful not to demolish it, I remembered the book The Secret Life of Plants, in which botanical research demonstrated that plants do respond to human emotion. (All right, now I promise I'm still not crazy. Every good physicist worth his salt now knows that the building blocks of matter are 'spiritual,' not physical. They just don't know their Source. A discussion for another day.) Anyway, I wanted to reassure my plants that they didn't have to worry. No matter how closely I approached them with the mower, I would never harm them.
God spoke to me then...that it is often like that with us and our unfounded fears. He is the Master Gardener. No matter how close danger comes, He will always care for us. He would never run us over in the execution of his Landscaping plans. He has nurtured us all our lives. Why would we ever think He would suddenly abandon us to destruction? Instead, He tenderly cultivates* us with attention to the tiniest details of our lives, even when the storm comes to batter us and bend us down. Though the grass of the earth may need to be mown down to bring to light what is a deceptively beautiful weed vs a true fruit-bearing plant...and where true beauty and nourishment can be found, yet the Gardener is to be trusted.
"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts" this night...
******************
*cultivate: "to promote or nurture the growth of by labor and attention; to devote oneself to..."
He is passionately devoted to us, as a father to his children. Are we so to Him in return?
However, as I was approaching each cultivated plant, trying to be careful not to demolish it, I remembered the book The Secret Life of Plants, in which botanical research demonstrated that plants do respond to human emotion. (All right, now I promise I'm still not crazy. Every good physicist worth his salt now knows that the building blocks of matter are 'spiritual,' not physical. They just don't know their Source. A discussion for another day.) Anyway, I wanted to reassure my plants that they didn't have to worry. No matter how closely I approached them with the mower, I would never harm them.
God spoke to me then...that it is often like that with us and our unfounded fears. He is the Master Gardener. No matter how close danger comes, He will always care for us. He would never run us over in the execution of his Landscaping plans. He has nurtured us all our lives. Why would we ever think He would suddenly abandon us to destruction? Instead, He tenderly cultivates* us with attention to the tiniest details of our lives, even when the storm comes to batter us and bend us down. Though the grass of the earth may need to be mown down to bring to light what is a deceptively beautiful weed vs a true fruit-bearing plant...and where true beauty and nourishment can be found, yet the Gardener is to be trusted.
"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts" this night...
******************
*cultivate: "to promote or nurture the growth of by labor and attention; to devote oneself to..."
He is passionately devoted to us, as a father to his children. Are we so to Him in return?
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Shofar?
This morning I was sure I heard a shofar and couldn't figure out from where the sound was coming. Later a friend told me that people all over the world have been hearing what sounded like a shofar and wondering....For me it was as from a great distance..I was straining to hear it. My husband tells me that, with friends in prayer, they sensed a great movement in heavenly places today. In the midst of this awesome awareness, I hear the simple, quiet tune in my mind of the hymn I posted on this blog on August 31. For those interested, here it is: the tune to O Love That Casts Out Fear.
Going Deeper with Ancient Hymns
C.S. Lewis, in The Last Battle, talks about going 'farther up and further in.' I am finding depth, as well as inspiration, in these centuries-old hymns, which I've recently begun using for prayer and praise, in addition to the contemporary praise music I love. I am also reminded of the saints who have gone before us....as I ponder the fact that people sang these same words for hundreds of years before me through times of great difficulty and tribulation. Here's one from 1729. I have added an a Capella recording of one verse, just so you can hear the melody which accompanies each of these hauntingly beautiful hymns. Just reading the lyrics leaves half the story untold. (I'm trying to check the lyrics and hold the IPad at the same time while recording, so you'll get a good laugh at my videography, along with morning 'frog'. Humility is good for the soul.)
God Himself is with us; let us all adore Him and with awe appear before Him.
God is here within us; soul, in silence fear* Him; humbly, fervently draw near Him.
Now His own who have known God, in worship lowly, yield their spirits wholly.
Thou pervadest all things; let Thy radiant beauty light mine eyes to see my duty.
As the tender flowers eagerly unfold them, to the sunlight calmly hold them,
So let me, quietly, in Thy rays imbue me; let Thy light shine through me.
Come, abide within me; let my soul like Mary, be Thine earthly sanctuary.
Come, indwelling Spirit, with transfigured splendor, love and honor will I render.
Where I go, here below, let me bow before Thee, know Thee and adore Thee.
Gladly we surrender Earth's deceitful treasures, pride of life and sinful pleasures.
Gladly, Lord, we offer Thine to be forever, soul and life and each endeavor.
Thine alone shalt be known, Lord of all our being, life's true way decreeing.
--Gerhardt Tersteegen, 1729
*The Amplified Bible defines this word translated in English as fear as 'affectionate reverence'
God Himself is with us; let us all adore Him and with awe appear before Him.
God is here within us; soul, in silence fear* Him; humbly, fervently draw near Him.
Now His own who have known God, in worship lowly, yield their spirits wholly.
Thou pervadest all things; let Thy radiant beauty light mine eyes to see my duty.
As the tender flowers eagerly unfold them, to the sunlight calmly hold them,
So let me, quietly, in Thy rays imbue me; let Thy light shine through me.
Come, abide within me; let my soul like Mary, be Thine earthly sanctuary.
Come, indwelling Spirit, with transfigured splendor, love and honor will I render.
Where I go, here below, let me bow before Thee, know Thee and adore Thee.
Gladly we surrender Earth's deceitful treasures, pride of life and sinful pleasures.
Gladly, Lord, we offer Thine to be forever, soul and life and each endeavor.
Thine alone shalt be known, Lord of all our being, life's true way decreeing.
--Gerhardt Tersteegen, 1729
*The Amplified Bible defines this word translated in English as fear as 'affectionate reverence'
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Trinity of Kisses
So...I am confessing to being a closet Mister Rogers watcher. My youngest child is 24, so it's difficult to find an excuse at 61 to be sitting in my family room watching a show designed for little children. Unfortunately, it's no longer 'relevant' to the child of today. However, I believe we'd all be better off and more at peace if we included him in our TV diet. The peace of God seems to flow through this man (originally a pastor), and my blood pressure goes down several notches. I experience God's unconditional love, and I am blessed. (I even enjoy the very unsophisticated puppet characters who don't even have moving mouths! And I love to go on trips to factories to see how things are made, as well as visiting artists, dancers, and musicians. I am thrilled to find that Amazon Prime has added multiple years of his shows to their offerings, where it previously only carried a handful.
On one show I was watching, Mister Rogers sang a song about times when we 'want an extra kiss'. (I remember all the song lyrics from when Joshua was tiny.) In my prayer time, I was thanking God for having created the person Fred Rogers, and He asked me if I 'wanted an extra kiss.' I replied, 'absolutely!' He then gave me an image of three extra kisses: one kiss on my cheek from Yeshua, one kiss on the other cheek from Ruach Hakodesh, and a kiss on my forehead from Adonai Father. They kissed me simultaneously and made me laugh. He makes me laugh a lot.*
(*See Group Hug! back in May)
FYI: Ok, so I went to check the date for that May post and couldn't find it. Evidently I never shared it. So 'Group Hug' is to come....Although the blog only shows one month of posts at a time, you can click the month on the right to see more. I made a large group of posts in May when I began the blog.
Julie
On one show I was watching, Mister Rogers sang a song about times when we 'want an extra kiss'. (I remember all the song lyrics from when Joshua was tiny.) In my prayer time, I was thanking God for having created the person Fred Rogers, and He asked me if I 'wanted an extra kiss.' I replied, 'absolutely!' He then gave me an image of three extra kisses: one kiss on my cheek from Yeshua, one kiss on the other cheek from Ruach Hakodesh, and a kiss on my forehead from Adonai Father. They kissed me simultaneously and made me laugh. He makes me laugh a lot.*
(*See Group Hug! back in May)
FYI: Ok, so I went to check the date for that May post and couldn't find it. Evidently I never shared it. So 'Group Hug' is to come....Although the blog only shows one month of posts at a time, you can click the month on the right to see more. I made a large group of posts in May when I began the blog.
Julie
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