Ruthless Trust 

Trust has been something I have to visit most days of my life.  The words, “Do you trust Me, even in this place?” or “Could this be a deeper place of trusting God with this situation?” are two questions that come-sometimes, several times a day!

This week I began reading Ruthless Trust by Brennon Manning.  Just the title of this book stirs something in me.  I have heard many people talk about it over the years but for some reason had never picked it up.  I am so glad I did. Timing was just right in many ways.

In a week I will be hosting a retreat and the topic is “Gratitude”, so when I read this quote in chapter two of the book, I praised God for the timing…

“The foremost quality of a trusting disciple is gratefulness. Gratitude arises from the lived perception, evaluation and acceptance of all of live as grace—as an undeserved and unearned gift from the Father’s hand.”

~What comes to mind when you think of the words: Ruthless Trust?

~What would it look like in any situation to trust God more fully?

~Have you ever thought about the foremost quality of a trusting disciple being gratefulness?

Anticipation

Each year the anticipation, the longing that I get to observe the hummingbirds that come to our house increases.  Last week every time I walked past our back door or a window at the back of our house I would intently look at the clothesline hoping I would see them.

A week ago a friend of mine in Florida had seen them in her yard. Yesterday another friend told me that they were spotted about 40 minutes south of where I live. Now I am really anticipating their arrival!!

Pondering this great anticipation, this longing that seems to increase each year and my conversation with God goes in several directions.

~There is a longing to be in the Garden of Eden with you God where everything was perfect. 

~There is a desire to see You God in everything and everywhere.

~It seems the older I get the more I meet and see You God in nature. I am drawn to it and for just a  

  portion of my day as I walk with you there is an unexplainable connection of who You are.

~There is a hope that if I capture a picture of something in your creation that others might be able to see Your holiness in what otherwise might be considered ordinary. 

What places of anticipation or longings are in your life?  How do they connect you with God?  What would it be like to ask God to connect with you in a deeper way with the longings in your heart?

“When God created a paradise for the first man and woman, was it a resort house? A fancy motel?  An elaborate palace? No, God chose to walk with Adam and Eve in a garden.” Gary Thomas

Even with the cool weather these last few weeks I have been paying attention to the spring happenings around my house. The purple martins have arrived, making homes in their special house.  Yesterday I spied a light blue broken robin’s egg on our deck.  Last week I saw an old time friend that has returned from migration, the Blue Heron, “Rex” (which, as suggested by a friend, I name him!). This all makes me know that my dearly adored hummingbirds will be here soon!

What I have been particularly paying attention to the last few weeks is the development of our blueberry bushes.  When it was much warmer several weeks ago, beautiful purple blooms were forming. In order to capture their beauty and development, I decided to begin taking a series of pictures, with the thought that when the bees arrived I would be able to capture one of God’s intricately designed creatures.  The picture above is one taken in our garden just a few days ago.  

The moment I saw one, a thrill was taking place inside me to actually be able to capture them in a photo.  I found myself hurried and rushed to take the picture. I knew I had to slow down in order to photograph with some sort of accuracy. Once I slowed down, I became surprised.  My senses were heightened. I breathed in the fragrance of the blooms, noticing a hint of cinnamon. My eyes took notice of the golden pollen collecting on their intricate legs. Then I paid attention to the buzz of their wings going from bloom to bloom.   As they stopped to gather the nectar, I heard a type of “drilling”, something I had never noticed before. I marvel to think there is so much to learn about these masterfully designed  pollinating bees.  

Recently I heard this question: When does your soul come to life?  For me, there are several places this happens.  One way is when I go outside and absorb everything in creation, even when it’s been a rough day or I am not happy, or there is just messiness that takes me down.  All I have to do is go outside and my soul comes to life!

What would you say in response to this: When does your soul come to life? Take some time to think about this question and consider journaling about it.

Several months ago during my quiet time as I listened to “O Come Let Us Adore Him” the image of Christ on the cross came to mind.  At the time I thought it strange considering it was Christmas season and that this image would come rather than the image of Jesus as a baby in a manger.

As I pondered  why this image might come I began to ask questions….

Can I look at this picture of you on the cross and reconcile with my mind how much I should be adoring you for what you did for me?

Do I recognize that you alone are worthy because of the torture and the agony you went through for me?

Will I give You all the glory as I embrace the reality of your sacrifice for me?

As you go through this week leading up to Good Friday what would it be like to think of this picture as you consider the words in this song? 

How will you celebrate what Christ did for you differently this year on Easter as you consider the intense sacrifice of our Lord and Savior?

O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

For You alone are worthy
For You alone are worthy
For You alone are worthy
Christ the Lord

We'll give You all the glory
We'll give You all the glory
We'll give You all the glory
Christ the Lord

Questions

Recently, before the sun peeked above the horizon I headed out for a delightful morning walk.  Just before I approached  the first bend in our driveway, I tripped.  Simultaneously, I tried to recover before I hit the ground and put my hands out to catch myself, just in case.  But down I went.  Within a few seconds I was going into recovery mode.  Quickly I sat up, grabbed my scarred and disassembled cell phone, put it back together, did a quick check of all my extremities and then stood up.  Although I was shaky, I began moving slowly and continued on my walk:)

Interestingly enough, just the day before I had been pondering this question: “What do You want me to see?” So that’s what God and I began talking about.  What do you want me to see in this God?  (That is, besides I need to be a little more careful to watch where I am walking ;-).He began showing me quite a few things about life in this scenario. Things like sometimes we "fall down" and by His strength we can get back up again. Sometimes we have scars from falls but He can use them to help us along the way to be stronger than before.  Other times it's just about the messiness in life that we have to deal with and the reminder to keep moving forward.

God is so faithful to show me much.  For me, it’s when I ask questions to seek to gain some understanding that openness and awareness take place.

When something happens in your life, what is your response?  Is it negative or positive response, maybe it’s neither?  What would it be like to ask God “What do you want me to see in this?” How do You want me to respond to bring you glory?

Spring is in the Air!

Winter has been very mild and I have been able to enjoy walking more than usual.  Breathing in the fresh air, watching the crows in their favorite tree in our hedgerow (I named them the dirty dozen this week when I counted 12 of them) and what delights my heart the most is watching the sky turn from evening to morning as the horizon changes so simply but magnificently. I feel and see holiness in the ordinary during this time.  

I have a desire to capture what I am experiencing and give it to others. I realize I cannot replicate it exactly like I receive it but the best way to try, in my mind, is by taking pictures.  So begins a new thing in my life. Learning a new kind of camera in order to attempt to share with others a piece of what I receive as I absorb what our great and awesome God created for us to enjoy.

About ten days ago it was full moon.  With what I have learned so far I attempted to take a picture of it. So, out I go with the camera on a tripod and all the settings on the camera to where I thought they were supposed to be and …..nothing!  I tried and tried some more and then gave up. I decided to let the picture taking, at least of the moon, up to our friend that has a mega camera, that to me, looks like a telescope!  

However, a few days later when I transferred other pictures on to computer, low and behold there was a decent picture of the moon that I didn’t even think would be there!  It’s the one above.  I was so delighted!! It even has definition.  What a surprise!

As I pondered this it made me think of our journey and how we do not realize what is taking place in most situations.

Over the past two years there have been circumstances in my life where I thought I knew how things would turn out, or for me I put an expectation on what I thought the outcome would be, only to be surprised that it was better than I could have imagined!  I remember one specific instance after sitting in a conversation, I was so surprised at the results, after pondering the joy that was coming from it, God’s still small voice spoke to my heart, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,  neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  Isaiah 55:8

~What places in your life has God surprised you better than you expected?

~How have you celebrated that?

~Think of something that has taken place in your life recently.  What would it be like to move to a deeper place of trust reading the words from Isaiah?

The heavens declare the glory of God; 
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
Day after day they pour forth speech; 
   night after night they reveal knowledge. 
They have no speech, they use no words; 
   no sound is heard from them. 
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, 
   their words to the ends of the world. 
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, 
   like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 
 It rises at one end of the heavens 
   and makes its circuit to the other; 
   nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Psalm 19:1-6

~What do you proclaim about our great and awesome God?

~How will you proclaim it throughout the week?

^“….so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Eph 3:18

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. – 1 John 4:19-20

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. - 1 John 4:16

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God,but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:9-11

This past week as I was reminded of the incredible love of God, this thought came to me:

If our God asks us to love Him with all our heart, mind, and soul, wouldn’t it be because that is how He loves us?  With all of who He is?  I cannot fathom this love.  The God I have come to know intimately would not require something of us that He has not done or would not do.  Christ is our example as we read and embrace the scriptures.

When was the last time you thought of the love that is described in scripture?

What would it look like to embrace His incredible love for you?

As you go throughout the week think about God’s love for you. Be aware and pray that you will see it in ways that you have not before.

The Life We Live

Last week we received unexpected sad news that our good friend of over thirty years had passed away. For my husband this man was a very close and special friend. It has been a tough week emotionally, dealing with the loss, as well as a week to remember what he brought to the lives of people he loved.

As family and friends came together to comfort each other, there were many joyful and touching stories shared to remember how he lived his life while suffering with Muscular Dystrophy.

During the service for our friend, several people shared what a difference he made in their lives by the way he loved them and the way they saw him love others. He journeyed through life not asking “Why me?” but living and striving to make the most of what he did have. His keen mind was his strength regardless of the physical limitations he had to deal with.

Several weeks ago I read this prayer by Frederick Lewis from “Prayers That Are Different.” While I listened to what others shared about this unique man, I thought of this prayer and how our friend lived his life in a very similar way:

It is a sobering thought that what I say or do touches the deepest part of other’s lives and even the atmosphere I carry with me betokens the inner reality of my own life. Help me to stand in awe of this spiritual energy, so silent and invisible and yet so powerful. May I realize that there is something subtle and magnetic emanating from me, and that its impact upon others will be either helpful or hurtful, whether I will it or not. May I employ this way to help society fundamentally and lastingly by the silent powerful contagion of a thoroughly good life.

I hope that our friend realized to some degree that he lived much of his life in this way. The pastor leading the service said something like this: “As we continue on our journey, how will you live out some of the examples of what Jeff brought to your life?“ 

What comes to your mind when you think about the reality of “what I say or do touches the deepest part of other’s lives, even the atmosphere I carry with me?” 

How will you live differently as you represent Christ’s spiritual energy to others?

We have been given the gift of life.  What strength will you live out of?

Suffering

Several years ago my husband, son and his (at the time future) wife and I went to the Holocaust museum in Washington DC.  It was very difficult to look at the extreme suffering because of the evil that surrounded them.  Grasping the reality of it is even harder.

Suffering is not something that people care to think about.  In the past resistance would be a good word to describe how I associated with suffering or even trying to understand suffering. Some things have taken place in my life that has changed the way I look at suffering.

A few weeks ago someone shared this prayer that  was found in the pocket of a child who had died in a concentration camp.

                “O Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill will.  But, do not remember all of the suffering they have inflicted upon us.  Instead remember the fruits we have borne because of this suffering- our fellowship, our loyalty to one another, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown from this trouble. When our persecutors come to be judged by you, let all of these fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness.”

For me, this shows the depth of heart transformation in the purest form. It also shows a commitment and surrender to the Lord in the midst of pure evil.  As well it shows a picture of the magnitude of discipleship. 

Can you imagine this scenario?  How do you handle suffering? How do the words above impact the way you will look at suffering in the future?

If you find yourself in a place of suffering, what if it was actually an opportunity to look more like Jesus in the way that you love others?

The Holy Scriptures

When you think about the Scriptures what is the first thing that comes to your mind?  

Over the years my connection with them has changed.  Recently I heard a good friend say, “Many people think they should master the scriptures but really the scriptures should master us.” For me, that is a beautiful statement.  As I think about being a disciple of Christ, developing a relationship with the Father and allowing the Holy Spirit to be in control rather than our humanness, this statement could become one’s prayer.

Looking at the early years of my journey I read the scriptures for information and for head knowledge.  I did this for a long time.  It made sense to me because the culture I live in (we live in) “knowing more” lets you climb the ladder of importance.

Now, I engage the scriptures differently.  I read it with several things in mind:

~I embrace that it is truly a love letter from my Father to me and all His dearly loved children.

~I don’t read it for information but to ask God, “How are you speaking to me in these words, how are you showing me where I need to look more like Christ in this?

~I read it with the perspective of looking for God’s “more than I can fathom great love” for all humanity.

~That through this gift of the written living word I might come to get a grip on God’s character and relentless plan to redeem His beloved children.

~Because I am a child of God, it shows me the history of my family. 

When you read the scriptures, what perspective do you read from?  Have you ever thought of the “scriptures mastering you”? What would it be like move in the direction?

*With the technology available to us, I have an app called YouVersion on my cell phone that allows me to listen to a dramatization of God’s word. Check it out if you have that capability!

Here is yet another spectacular presentation.  Click above and take time to absorb.

In December a theme was taking place in my life.  I shared “seeing the holy in the ordinary!” as I gazed at the two birds in my back yard.  The “Wings of Life” presentation brings that back to my full attention. (Of course the hummingbirds just thrilled my heart and I have a new appreciation for bats!).  The videographer and the equipment used, captured holy in the ordinary. My heart races even now as I reflect on the spectacular feats of these intricately designed creatures and progression of plant life.

The more I am in nature the more I see the elaborate details of our loving God.  I am continually reminded that these things are here for our good pleasure.

What new appreciation do you have after watching “Wings of Life”?  As you sit with God in this moment, consider being silent for a few minutes and pay attention to what comes to mind, then consider journaling about what that experience was like.

Watch the video above and take time to absorb.  

A good friend of mine shared this with me. I have viewed it numerous times and there is so much God has in it for me.  

~How did God speak to your heart as you listened and observed?

~How will you live your day differently because of what touched you?

~What would it take to let gratefulness and blessings flow through you?  

My prayer for you is that “everyone whom you will meet on this day will be blessed by you.  Just by your eyes… by your smile…by your touch… just by your presence.  Let the gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you and then it will really be a good day.”

“Do you love each other?” Conclusion

As I continued to understand the types of love in the scriptures, storge love was another to understand…. 

Storge (storgē), also called familial love, is the Greek word for natural affection—such as the love of a parent toward a child, "cherishing one's kindred, especially parents or children". In social psychology, storge is the form of love between friends. Storge may be used as a general term to describe the love between exceptional friends, and the desire for them to care compassionately for one another.

God’s love letter to us directs us in Romans 12 toward this loving kindness to each other. 

^9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. The Message

⁹ Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. ¹⁰ Love each other with genuine affection,^[e] and take delight in honoring each other. NLT

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. NIV

Life is all about relationship (s) with God and others. To have meaningful and beautiful ones it requires something of us. Looking at the human condition the types of love, agape, phileo or storge, can be a struggle or even something that one could refuse to do.  This scripture clearly states how to love each other.  As you read them where in your life does this type of love take place? If you do have this type of love with others, consider journaling your thankfulness in a letter to God.

If it is not taking place considering these scriptures. What would it take to embrace what God is asking of you in them? What would you need to surrender in order to live this out?

Do you love me? Part 2

A clearer picture of phileo love….

Phileo: to have a special interest in someone or something, frequently with focus on close association; have affection for, like, consider someone a friend.

As I read on about this type of love the text suggested it would probably be helpful if phileo were never translated “love” in the New Testament, because it refers to a strong liking or a strong friendship. Of course, we see how phileo gets translated “love,” because in modern culture we say we “love” things that we strongly like: “I love ice cream,” “I love my car,” “I love the way your hair looks,” etc. The word phileo implies a strong emotional connection, and thus is used of the “love,” or deep friendship, between friends. 

The next part of the explanation was insightful to me as it shared that you can agape your enemies, but you cannot phileo them.  For me, I knew that God calls us to love our enemies and because I desire to do as He asks, this was very helpful as I think through "loving my enemies."
A bit further I read this: Why did Jesus use agape and Peter use phileo? Jesus was asking Peter if he loved him with the love of God, a love that may require sacrifice. Jesus twice asked Peter, “Do you agapeme? [That is, are you willing to do things for my sake that you do not want to do?]” Peter, on the other hand, still felt the sting of having denied Jesus, and was hopeful that their friendship was intact. Did Jesus hold Peter’s denial against him? Would he still treat Peter as a close associate and companion? Peter was not sure where he stood with Jesus, so he was trying to let Jesus know that he was still a true friend, and had phileo love for Jesus.

The third time Jesus spoke to Peter, he came to Peter’s level and asked if Peter were indeed a true friend (phileo), which grieved Peter. Nevertheless, it was important, because Jesus knew what Peter did not know—that Jesus would ascend into heaven, and Peter and the others would be left to carry out his work on earth, which would require that they all be his good friends and do his will even when it meant hardship.

As I process through this information, I can understand the depth of Jesus is asking Peter the question and at the same time I can relate to Peter in the midst of his denial.  Would Jesus reciprocate the deep friendship that had before he had denied him?

Concerning Jesus' and Peter's relationship, as I take a step back and look at the whole picture this is what I see…Jesus is on the shore cooking breakfast for Peter and the others, he tells them what to do to catch the fish and begins a profound conversation with Peter. Jesus what a Savior!!  For me, this is a clear picture that Jesus still loved Peter and wanted a relationship with him, i.e. his loving GRACE.

Not too long ago I began thinking more about living in grace.  God has given me the realization that moment by moment I live in His grace.  I am ever so thankful.

What relationships do you have that are phileo love?  How do you relate to Peter in this passage? If you look intently at this amazing gift of grace that we live in, what stirs in your heart?

“Do you love me?” Part 1

When I was a child and even into my adulthood I thought I knew what love was.  I had attached many worldly ideas, explanations and examples to it.  As I have experienced life and come to an intimate relationship with God, He has opened my eyes to His love that is quite different than what I thought.

Recently John 21:15-17 came to mind as I was thinking about love.  A good friend of mine had recently referred to this scripture sharing what the original language says.  Since he knows how to read Greek, I tune in closely when he says, “In the original language…” I also did a Google search which mirrored what he had previously shared with me.

In this scripture Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him.  The first two times in the original language Jesus asks Peter if he agape loves him.  Peter responds with, “Yes Lord, you know that I phileo love you.” As I read on about agape love, this is what it said: The Greek word that refers to the love of God, one of the kinds of love we are to have for people, is agape.Agape is the very nature of God, for God is love (1 John 4:7-12, 16b). The big key to understanding agape is to realize that it can be known from the action it prompts. In fact, we sometimes speak of the “action model” of agape love. People today are accustomed to thinking of love as a feeling, but that is not necessarily the case with agape love. Agape is love because of what it does, not because of how it feels. (ref:truthortradition.com).

For the action it prompts….Agape is love because of what it does….

Reading further: Jesus was asking Peter if he loved him with the love of God, a love that may require sacrifice. These statements stirred me and immediately I began to have a conversation with God about my love for Him. I began looking at my life and places of sacrifice as well as places that I resist sacrifice. Then I thought of Peter recognizing just days before he had not sacrificed his own self when he denied Christ. This moves me to a clearer understanding of why Peter would not tell Jesus he agape loved him.  For me, part of what I see is that he recognized and was admitting that he hadn’t and didn’t want to say that he could/would.   It was a place of humility and honesty as he stood with the risen Christ~ his dear friend and savior.  

When you read for the action it prompts and agape is love because of what it does….what or who comes to mind? What does your love for God look like? 

New beginnings!  Although I do not gravitate to “New Year’s resolutions”, I am so glad that our great and awesome God is a God of new beginnings.  As you move into this New Year, what do you desire in your love relationship with Him?

As you can see, there is a new look to the website! The song of the week is in a new place so it should not take as long to load.  There are new links too , so check them out! Thanks so much to three people that could make this happen.  They are each gifted in beautifully unique ways! Thank you Joe, Kevin and Michelle for sharing your talents:)