3 words till Christmas... mystery...

3 days till Christmas... the word... mystery...

But as the word comes... I wonder...
Is this the right word... is there synonym...?
one which better describes what I feel He's saying...?

So... off to Webster's...

mystery... a religious truth that one can know only by revelation and cannot fully understand... any of the 15 events (as Nativity, the Crucifixion, or the Assumption) serving as a subject for meditation during the saying of the rosary... something not understood or beyond understanding: enigma...

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Ed.

Hmm... it's surely the right word...

You see... I have a mystery or two in my life right now...
they cause me to wonder...

I believe... He's told me some things to come...
dare I say... promised... to move in the lives of loved ones...
but from where they are now... and what I see...
it's a complete mystery... as to how what He's revealed will come about...

Mary surely felt the same way...
How does a virgin get pregnant...?

And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child

to be born will be called holy --- the Son of God. ..."

Luke 1:34-35 ESV

If I were Mary... I think I would've followed up with another question...

OK... sure... but HOW...?

Mystery...

And the greeting Mary received from Elizabeth... when she heard hers...

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry,

"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?..."

Luke 1:41-42 ESV

Mary... faced with another mystery...

How in the world...?! did Elizabeth know...?!

Surely Mary could hardly wrap her mind around what happened...

and probably wondered the whole trip...

How will I explain this to Liz...? will she believe...?

will she ask me to leave...?

But she shows up with a timid... Shalom...

and her blessed cousin... bursts forth with wonder...!

Mystery...

After giving birth in a barn...

Mary and Joseph tuck the Babe in a manger...

and unexpected visitors arrive...

When the angels went away from them, the shepherds said to one another,

"Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,

which the Lord made known to us." And they went with haste

and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them

concerning the child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

Luke 2:15-19 ESV

Can you imagine the surprise on Mary and Joseph's faces... when they realized the shepherds weren't there to bed down sheep... but to see the Babe...?

Another... How in the world...?! moment...

And the message the shepherds brought from the angel...

"... I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord. ..."

Luke 2:10-11 ESV

Mary's baby... the Babe...

was to be good news for ALL people...

the Babe born unto you... plural...

a Savior... to you ALL...

Mary treasured up all these things... pondered them in her heart...

How in the world...? will this tiny Babe born in a barn...

grow up to be Savior of the world...?

He's good news to me... but how will He become good news to ALL...?

Mystery...

That's where I find myself today... pondering...

treasuring what I believe He's revealed...

wondering... How in the world...? will it come about...?

Mystery...

I notice as I write... all these mysteries... revolve around Mary...

and a truth about belief comes to light...

Mystery surrounds God... and in our relationship with Him...

we must accept the mystery... to walk by faith...

What exactly happened on the cross...?

Why did He have to die...?

How do I have a relationship with One I can't see...? hear...? touch...?

When do I know it's Him speaking...?

How does He bring good...? out of evil...?

When we say... Yes... to Him...

and He's born anew in our hearts...

life becomes a mystery worth pondering...

Amen...

lean on Him... Isaiah 26:3...

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,

because he trusts in you. 

Isaiah 26:3 ESV

The one who trusts Him...

has a mind stayed on Him...

The Hebrew translated... stayed... means... "to lean upon"... (Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament)

What does it look like to have a mind... leaned upon Him...?

Thoughts always leaning toward Him...

not toward worry...

not toward fear...

but to the One who is Sovereign...

the One who is Good...

the One who loves you...

"...For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,

but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,

and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,"

says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:10 ESV

Those who trust Him...

lean their thoughts toward Him...

and reap the benefit of peace...

Not just any peace...

but perfect peace...

The Hebrew reads...

shalom shalom...

double peace...

wholeness of your wholeness...

all things set right...

all things secure and sound...

peace...

Where are your thoughts stayed...? leaning...?

What results from your thoughts...?

Trust Him...

lean your thoughts... mind... imagination...

toward Him...

and know... peace... peace...

Amen...

thoughts on service...

At the shop... we try to make service... and excellence... our goal...
keeping margin in our work... so we can serve those... who need it same day...
and we try... to do things well... really excellent...

But service... is something I don't always do well at home...
those I care for most... are at times... hardest to serve...

So I think on what the Word says about serving...

... through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13 ESV

Through love... His love... we serve...

This one's tough... when we look at His definition of love...

it's patient... kind...

not envious... boastful... arrogant... rude...

it does not insist on its own way...

not irritable... resentful...

doesn't rejoice in wrong...

rejoices in truth...

it bears all things... believes all things...

hopes... and endures...

Love... it's hard to give...

when it's something I want... feel lacking in...

Of course I only feel lacking... because I'm seeking love from the wrong ones...

The ones I'm called to serve in love... my family...

are the ones I want to love me... serve me...

Yes... it's ugly... I know... but it's true...

I can't serve at home as well... because I want to be served...

As I serve at the shop... I'm learning to serve better at home...

He reveals how I fail... to lay down my life for those I love...

lay down my wants and desires... for theirs...

and how I fail so often... to be satisfied... by His love...

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90:14 ESV

and so I can serve... freely...

For you were called to freedom, brothers.

Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh,

but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13 ESV

Amen...

thoughts... on righteousness...

Do not present your members to sin 

as instruments of unrighteousness,

but present yourselves to God

as those who have been brought from death to life,

and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Romans 6:13 ESV

This verse... has formed the basis of a daily prayer... over the last couple of weeks...

Lord... I present the members of my body... to You today...

as instruments of righteousness... 

From head to toe... use me for Your purpose...

I've been thinking about righteousness... asking... What is it...? as I go about my days... Am I fulfilling it...?

I assume... bearing the fruit of the Spirit... is an expression of righteousness...

...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;

against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

See...? Against such things there is no law... fruit of the Spirit... righteous...

This evening... I looked up the definition...

RIGHTEOUSNESS The establishment of a right relationship --- primarily between God and people, secondarily between people themselves. Righteousness is the fulfillment of just expectations in any relationship, whether with God or other people. It is applicable at all levels of society and is relevant in every area of life. Therefore, righteousness denotes the fulfilled expectations in relationships between man and wife, parents and children, fellow citizens, and God and people. Depending on the fulfillment of one's expectations, an individual could be called righteous and his or her acts and speech could be designated as righteous. The opposite of righteous is "evil," "wicked," or "wrong".

---Tyndale Bible Dictionary

I'm surprised...

I sort of expected the definition to be more about following rules... not be centered on relationships...

But thinking about it... even for a moment... I see how relationships... right relationships... are at the center of all God's commands...

"You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul

and with all your strength and with all your mind,

and your neighbor as yourself."

Luke 10:27 ESV

There you have it... the law... summed up... Love God... Love others...

"...All the Law and the Prophets

hang on these two commandments." ---Jesus

Matthew 22:40

This is the law we are to follow to be righteous... love God... love others...

So what does it look like... when I fail others... fail Him...? Can this somehow... be used for righteousness?

How do I make dinner... serve my family... work at the shop... and be His instrument of righteousness...?

I see in the definition... Righteousness is the fulfillment of just expectations... in any relationship...

Through Jesus alone... am I just... and only through Him... can I expect justice...

The foundation of His justice... love... and... grace...

Righteousness begins... when I begin to see who I am before Him... when I rely on His love for me... when I understand my need... for His grace...

Righteousness... the fulfillment... of just expectations...

Grace... a key to righteousness...

By His grace... we receive justice...

and in turn... offer grace to others...

In Him...

the only... just expectation... 

in our relationship with others...

is the giving of grace...

So when I fail... I lean on His grace...

seek forgiveness... repent...

Righteousness...

When serving my family... customers... friends... strangers...

I need to err on the side of grace...

Righteousness...

Now the law came to increase the trespass,

but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

so that, as sin reigned in death,

grace also might reign through righteousness

leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:20-21 ESV

Lord... grow me as an instrument of righteousness...

grow me in grace...

thoughts on... anger...

Anger... I dealt with some this week...

I try to check the source of my anger... because so often... it's self-righteous... and not righteous...

All that self-righteous anger simply feeds the flesh... and not the spirit...

We are called to walk in the Spirit... but when we feed our flesh with anger... we simply give birth to more flesh...

"...Flesh gives birth to flesh,

but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ..." ---Jesus

John 3:6

The Spirit gives life... the flesh counts for nothing...

"...It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. ..." 

---Jesus

John 6:63 ESV

Speaking to a friend this morning... regarding her struggle with anger... this idea of Spirit... and flesh... came up in the conversation...

With a smile... I said... I don't think anger is a fruit of the Spirit... 

We reviewed... love... joy... peace... patience... kindness... goodness... faithfulness... gentleness... self-control... no anger... when it comes to the fruit of the Spirit...

This evening on the ride home... I wonder about this...

I know we are not to sin in our anger... and it's not a sin to experience anger...

The question comes...

As fruit-bearers of the Spirit... is there no anger because He says... Vengeance is Mine...?

Are we to trust God with injustice... and its outcome...?

The Beatitudes tell us of those who are blessed...
the poor in spirit...
those who mourn...
the meek...
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...
the merciful...
the pure in heart...
the peacemakers...
those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake...

But not those angered by injustice... even when it's righteous...

Not those who seek justice... they aren't listed... (unless they come under those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake... suffering trying to help others...)

Jesus... He's the One... who will bring about justice...

He's the only One... who can experience truly righteous anger...

But in the mean time... I'm thinking our role is to trust Him... wait on Him... until He brings justice...

"Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him

and he will bring justice to the nations.

He will not shout or cry out,

 or raise his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;

he will not falter or be discouraged

till he establishes justice on earth. ..."

Isaiah 42:1-4

Even Jesus... until the time He fixes all things... is gentle... with those who are lost... patient... kind... self-controlled... when it comes to those... who are unrighteous...

However... the time will come... when He brings... establishes... justice on the earth...

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse!

The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, 

and in righteousness he judges and makes war.

Revelation 19:11 ESV

And that is what... we are to wait on... and trust in... as we walk in the Spirit... bearing His fruit... which does not include... anger...

Just some thoughts on... anger...

too much... of me...

Lately... I feel like there's too much... of me...

Trying to listen for Him... but I keep interrupting...

My thoughts... crowding out His quiet voice... the One that won't break a bruised reed... or snuff out the last spark...

But me... I just barrel through... finishing His thoughts... with my own words...

And I realize... hear... feel... the difference... and I have to stop...
confess...
repent...
apologize...

I long to hear Him... not me...

There's just too much... of me... still... in thought... word... deed...

He must increase,

but I must decrease.

John 3:30 ESV

Lord... help me to hear You... 

Help me... to stop... listen... wait...

I long for more of You... and less... of... me...

thoughts spurred by finishing...

Today... the reading through... finished for the year...

Ending with Revelation... led to thoughts of... suffering... endurance...

This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently and remain faithful.

Revelation 13:10 NLT

This means that God's holy people must endure 

persecution patiently, obeying his commands 

and maintaining their faith in Jesus.

Revelation 14:12 NLT

Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!

Revelation 14:13 NLT

Suffering... endurance... it's required... in these end times...

Thoughts turned to a startling passage heard recently in an audio-book...

A man I know was one of the few doctors who specialized in his area in Ethiopia at a time when Christians were often persecuted there. Because of his medical specialty, he was well-known and carefully watched and sometimes privileged. Because of his faith, he was in prison several times. The small church he was part of was vibrant. They shared everything. When they gathered for worship, with shades drawn, their joy was intense. Their knowledge of the details of each others' lives was far deeper than I have seen in any churches I know of in the United States. They lived in constant danger of arrest. There was no such thing in their world as a nominal Christian; that would be like becoming a nominal chain saw juggler. ...

I talked with this doctor about the government. I said that he must pray often for the persecution and suffering to stop. He asked me with no apparent irony, "Why should I pray to be relieved of suffering?" I could not think of a good answer.

--- John Ortberg, Who Is This Man?  (emphasis added)

Suffering... endurance... is it to be... embraced... welcomed...?

The Greek... hupomone... translated... endure persecution patiently... means... steadfastness... constancy... in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings...

This word (hupomone) also found in... 

And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent the honest, good-hearted people who hear God's word, cling to it, and patiently (hupomone) produce a huge harvest.

Luke 8:15 NLT

By standing firm (hupomone), you will win your souls.

Luke 21:19 NLT

He will give eternal life to those who keep on (hupomone) 

doing good, seeking after the glory and honor 

and immortality that God offers.

Romans 2:7 NLT

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance (hupomone).

Romans 5:3 NLT

Endurance... suffering... produces a huge harvest... wins your soul... gains eternal life... enables us to receive trials with joy...

Endurance... suffering... it is necessary... to spiritual growth... but to receive it... embrace it... with joy... that is a world-view shift... counter to culture... upside down... from the way of the world...

As I anticipate the journey... into the next year... with a heart to keep the Babe in the manger at the center... I see where the revelation of His vulnerability... leads to the acceptance... of suffering... and... endurance...

A son asked me today... about a physical state... one I've suffered with for three years now... and most likely will endure as long as I inhabit this earthly tent...

Is it easier... than it was...?

Honestly... I had to reply... No... it's harder... it's wearing...

And I see where I need to change my thoughts about this physical challenge... as minimal as it is compared to the challenges of so many of others... I still whine... on occasion... 

So endurance... suffering... of any kind... should be seen as a gift... and reminders set in place... in order to remember... for those who endure... it all leads to good... and His glory...

A world-view shift... for the new year... Why should I pray to be relieved of suffering?

For even Christ didn't live to please himself. 

...

And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement 

as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled.

Romans 15:3-4 NLT

blanks filled...

Any thoughts on what went in the blanks of yesterday...?

Well... here they are... filled...

There is a word that comes to my mind when I think about our company and our people. That word is "love." I love Starbucks because everything we've tried to do is steeped in humanity.
Respect and dignity.
Passion and laughter.
Compassion, community, and responsibility.
Authenticity.
These are Starbucks' touchstones, the source of our pride.

--- Howard Schulz, ceo of Starbucks, Onward (emphasis on the words added, they fill in the blanks)

 Yes... a company... centered on coffee...

Howard Schulz... his book filled with passion and sacrifice... for coffee and people... along with the desire to create and maintain... the Starbucks Experience... in each of his stores... thousands nationwide... and around the world...

A man whose efforts... has drawn millions... to his stores daily... through the promise of coffee... and community...

As I've read Onward... and just a first few chapters so far... I think...

What if... the Church... God's people... were as passionate about Him... as this man is about espresso...?

What if... the Church... had even half the belief in the power of the Holy Spirit... as Howard Schultz does in coffee... and the ability to foster an experience... for each visitor to one of his stores...?

Aren't we called to a singular... passionate... relationship... with our Creator...?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 6:5

What could His people accomplish...? how many could be drawn...? if we believed... and pursued the experience of the Spirit... He promises...?

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47

What if... what we loved... most... and... best... was Him... His Word... and His Way...?

What do you love most...? to what are you truly devoted...?

lay it down...

Too often... after an act of obedience... following through on the call... to speak... act... offer... I critique... analyze... think about way too much... what I've done... how I've done it...

Too often... I go back... consider... pick it up... pick at it... mentally... emotionally... and wonder if it was right... self-consciousness taking over... after the fact...

This thought pattern... an off-shoot of the critical spirit... needs to go...

The words that came to mind this morning... in the gray dawn... between wake... and sleep... as I currently wrestle with an offering... of obedience... from last night...

Lay... it... down...

When we act in obedience... by faith... to the call of that Still Small Voice... we need to trust... trust Him with the outcome... with the gift... because it's not about us... it's about Him...

Obedience is a love-offering... placed on His altar...

Once placed... leave it... allow Him to consume it... use it... how He sees fit... trust... His purpose... and... lay... it... down... 

A thought... that helps... in considering the opportunity given yesterday... words that will... release this heart... from self-torment... through self-analyzation... self-criticism... in something that wasn't even my idea to begin with...

In reality... the act of obedience... cannot be recovered... it is poured out... like water on the ground... a lamb slain on the altar...

To lay it down... is far preferable... than to find yourself standing in regret... holding the jar still filled... the bleating lamb still at your heels... facing opportunities missed... hesitation... doubt... stealing obedience...

Great Words... to help move forward... cleanse a thought life... and embolden... radical... obedience...

Lay... It... Down...

Fire came out from the presence of the Lord

and consumed the burnt offering 

and the fat portions on the altar.

And when all the people saw it,

 they shouted for joy

and fell facedown.

Leviticus 9:24

(my emphasis)

Father God... fill me with the awe... wonder... and joy... of offering acts of obedience on Your altar... help me to lay them down... for You to consume... according to Your will... and purpose... by faith...

seeing the glass half-empty...

Somewhere in my early teens... I became very critical... not only readily seeing faults around me... but in myself...

I'm quick to note what's wrong... whether I vocalize it or not... and have a knack for imagining the worst case scenario... given any situation...

I'm not sure what lies at the root of this oblique perspective... attitude... and need to seek His insight... and knowledge on this issue... but what has become clear... it's time for it to change...

It is a thought-pattern that continues to recur... one that colors my view of everything... and overshadows... hope... which naturally causes me to lose trust... in God's goodness... if all I see is what's off...

This world is broken... we all fall short of the glory... but to focus on the faults... reveals an expectation... of perfection... here... now... in this realm... which will not happen... until Christ returns...

I should expect things to be wrong... off... and know it's OK... because all this is temporary...

For what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18

It takes me back to Dallas Willard's "golden triangle" of spiritual transformation... which includes... these three processes needed... in "putting on" the Lord Jesus Christ... becoming like Him...

• Interaction with God's Spirit in and around us.
• Spiritual disciplines.
• Faithful acceptance of everyday problems.

My emphasis of the third item on the list... is where I continue to struggle... faithful acceptance of everyday problems...

To focus on the negative... omits the possibility... probability... absolute truth... of God's sovereignty... and purpose... in allowing everyday problems... for our good... and His glory...

So the challenge... (which goes hand-in-hand with the previous challenge... receiving whatever presents itself... as a present...)... is to stop... derail... take captive... negative... critical... thoughts... and begin to see the positive... in people... places... things... situations...

A further exercise in influencing... and correcting... strengthening... thought-life...

Above all else, guard your heart,

for it is the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 4:23

(emphasis mine)

The biblical heart... conveys the idea of our inner being... and consists of... mind + will + emotion... so when we consider what it takes to guard our heart... it begins with how we think... what we let into our minds... expose ourselves to... intentionally and unintentionally... and how we process it emotionally...

The ESV translation... reads... Keep your heart with all vigilance... 

keep... comes from the Hebrew...natsar... meaning... to watch, guard, keep... preserve, guard from dangers...

This is the same word used in Genesis... where God put man in the garden... and told him to work it... and keep it... You see the problems that arise... when one does not keep things well...?

vigilance... seen in the ESV... is the Hebrew... mishmar... defined... place of confinement, prison, guard, jail, guard post, watch...

A highly attentive word... 

From the heart... mind... will... emotion... spring life... our life... the quality of life... a good reason to keep watch... guard... be attentive... to what goes in... and comes out...

With His help... I'm choosing... to think... differently... 

I want life... abundant... filled with hope... light... not shadows... of darkness...

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

1 John 1:5-7

Father God... change my thinking... help me to guard my heart... 

Reveal the root of my critical spirit... and bring healing...

the key...

The key to doing for Him...
is to look to Him...

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus

the author and perfecter of our faith...

Hebrews 12:2

(emphasis added)

fix... to make firm, stable, or stationary

...fix our eyes on... translated from the Greek... aphorao... to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something...

Fixing eyes on Jesus... means seeing only Him... being mind-full... of Him... His Word... when doing what He has put on our heart...

The more we look at... to... self... (feelings... strengths... weaknesses...) the more prone we are to question... doubt... fear... fail to be obedient... in serving...

Reminded... recently... experienced... recently... the ease with which serving... in obedience... comes... when I refuse... to think about me... and look to Him...

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

easter... thoughts...

This morning... a sunrise service... at a lookout...
but no sunrise... the morning too gray... the clouds too dense...

Later... at church... for Sunday school...
no lights... in the sanctuary...
electricity... but no lights...
and only in the place we gather... for worship...

As I left... after Sunday school...
going upstream... from all streaming in...
surrounded by familiar faces...
but many not seen on Sundays...
I passed the dark sanctuary...
as people filed in...
an odd sight on Sunday morning...
a place... filled with light... every other Sunday...
now dark... no one able to figure out...
how... to bring light in...

Same at the sunrise service...
no one could make the sun shine through...

On the way home...
a storm stirred up...
about the time  worship services would be starting...
thunder... rain... dark clouds closed in...
my daughter... she noted...
It will really be dark in the sanctuary now...
no sunlight to illumine the stained glass...

This afternoon... cleaning up from lunch...
the thought... it came...
one that had been in my mind... most of the day...
Easter... is everyday...
We are to live Easter everyday...
celebrate it every Sunday...
gathering with other Believers...
living... serving... struggling...
as Jesus did... the week before the first Easter...
every week... then gather for Easter... each Sunday...

I thought of the gray...
the absence of light... on a Sunday... when the religious...
they come... dressed in new clothes...
bring their children for an egg hunt...
but only this one time each year...
and how do they live between...?

I thought... perhaps the darkness...
and gray... was His message...
to help us realize... we... don't live...
Holy Week... every week...

Perhaps He was saying...

You think you are following...

you think you have the Light... but you don't...

You... are... in... the... dark...

I don't know... but what I thought...

reflecting on suns that don't rise...

sanctuaries without light...

"...when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Luke 18:4

Father God... help me to remember... 

to live each week... as Holy Week...

remembering the struggle of Your Son... 

the Way... I'm supposed to follow...

gathering... each Sunday... as Easter... 

to joyfully remember... and celebrate... 

His resurrection... and the new life... 

and power... I have... because of all He did...

To use this life... to draw others to Him...

to bring His light... to a dark world...

I do not want to be... one... 

who Easters... just... once... a... year...

thoughts on crucifixion...

The spiritual discipline... of writing a spiritual discipline... keeps my thoughts turned toward Jesus... His final days... His crucifixion...

Recently... spending a day in the woods... with family... where thorned trees grew... a thought occurred... gather branches... make a crown of thorns...

You know... you really have to want to hurt someone to make such a crown... it cannot be made without hurting yourself...

But as I thought of Jesus... forced to wear the thorns... it dawned on me...

Mankind (how kind are we really...? as a whole...?)... murdered the Son of God... forcing His sinless creation to participate in the process... the creation affected by sin... yet had no sin of its own... all creation afflicted...

Trees with thorns... did they even have thorns before the Fall...? ...used to humiliate... torture... their Creator... trunks... of trees... set up... crossed... used to lift Him up with nails...

No wonder creation groans in anticipation of redemption...

For we know the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Romans 8:19-21

These trees... who long to clap... and sing... at the coming of the King... were used to crown... and hang...

We can only use... what He gives us... to do... whatever... we do...

good... bad...

holy... evil...

Not only did He allow us to rebel... beat... crucify...

He gave us the materials... with which we abuse...

No wonder... creation groans... while waiting... for His return...

more on... no...

As thoughts on God's No... jelled... it occurred to me...

Wherever... whenever... He says... No... 

He is saying... I have something better...

A better way...
A better place...
A better time...

The rules God gives... too often we receive them as barriers... restrictions... that steal freedom...

But in reality... they are a better way...

Boundaries... that keep us safe... that set up... wide... open... spaces... that ensure freedom...

A No... from Him... is always... a message of love...

I have something better for you... really... it's the best...

Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;

you have made my lot secure.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

surely I have a delightful inheritance.

Psalm 16:5-6

(my emphasis)

Father God... help me to receive... Your No...

by faith... as a message of love...

learning respect... part 4...

God... in His faithfulness... continues to teach... lessons... from struggles... in the dark...

R... revere...
E... engage...
S... stand at the crossroads and look...
P... pure
E
C
T

The second E... it came this morning...

Earnest...

Another trip... to the dictionary... (I have a friend who says... it's a holy book... the Merriam-Webster's... the way a simple definition... when we take the time to look... adds depth and increases understanding... of the Word... divinely inspires...)

earnest -- characterized by or proceeding from an intense and serious state of mind; grave, important

Respect... is not just outward... it begins with a thought process... an intense... serious... state of mind...

We often minimize the influence of our thoughts... I was just thinking... some not even realizing... that thought leads to action... or that we can control our thoughts... what we think...

Respect... is forged... by the renewing... of the mind... intentionally... changing the way... I think... about my spouse...

We demolish arguments and every pretension

 that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,

and we take every thought captive 

and make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Thoughts run amok... in need of destruction...

My husband needs to EARN my respect...

I will NOT respect a man who...

Thought... taken captive... made obedient to Christ...

I WILL respect my husband...

Sin... it begins in the mind...

God warns us...

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2

Be careful what you think...!

Set your minds on things above,

not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:2

What we think is serious business...

God's Light... in the midst of my run to the dark... revealed a pattern of thought that had taken root in my heart... regarding my husband... 

Thought patterns that have created a deep-seated habit of disrespect... highly polished... but disrespect nonetheless...

By His grace... I have begun to take those thoughts captive... making them obedient to Christ... remembering Jesus alone... is my source of joy... peace... security...

The old thoughts... send me careening down the path of Eve... and my previous attempts to respect were polluted with motive...

Changing my thoughts... begins with the work of breaking up a hard heart... and leads to changing habits... new rows plowed... taking all to Christ... He can transform...

Sow for yourselves righteousness,

reap the fruit of unfailing love,

and break up your unplowed ground;

for it is time to seek the Lord,

until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

Hosea 10:12

Respect... for a husband... is serious...  and cultivated from the proper state of mind...

What is your state of mind... ladies... when it comes to your husband...? or other men... in your life...?

sons... sons-in-law...?

brothers...?

co-workers...?

bosses...?

Remember... we Eves... have a job... to encourage the men God has placed in our lives... to be who they were created to be... and our primary tool... is... R-E-S-P-E-C-T...

Father God... thank You... for Your Word... Your teaching... Your willingness to help us demolish wayward thoughts... please continue... to reveal... what's next... in Jesus's name...

James... a new perspective...

The reading through... and what I know of James... gave me perspective... on his perspective...

In the study with sisters... I learned that James is considered the earliest of the New Testament writings... the first book written...

James himself... the half-brother of Jesus... gathered with the disciples... waiting... in the upper room after Jesus's ascension...

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Acts 1:12-14

ESV

(my emphasis)

A member of the early... early... church...

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. ...

Acts 2:42-47

ESV

(emphasis mine)

James... a member of this church... the one with all things held in common... possessions and belongings sold to fulfill any need that arose for any body...

Here is where James became intolerant of favoritism... 

witnessed the deadly effects of hypocrisy... 

and saw the trials... and ...persecution that lead to maturity...

A brother of Jesus... one with the apostles... the sight of flames of fire... the power of transformation... the church... truly being... the Body... James saw it all... and from this perspective he says...

James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ...

And he teaches us what is good...

words... handle with care...

Thoughts from yesterday... linger today... echoing in my heart...

...careless words... those that bring judgment... what exactly are those words... what do they look like...?

First to Merriam-Webster... careless... free from care... indifferent, unconcerned... negligent, slovenly... unstudied, spontaneous...

The care... the careless are free of... a disquieted state of mixed uncertainty, apprehension, and responsibility... painstaking or watchful attention...

The Greek... argos... translated as... careless... according to Enhanced Strong's Lexicon... lazy, shunning the labor which one ought to perform... Dictionary of Biblical Languages says... idle, not working... without thought, careless in consideration...

Careless... thoughtless... words... words that don't work... words we use... not making any effort to consider before we speak... lazy words... dangerous words...

Reckless words pierce like a sword...

Proverbs 12:18

What happens... to those careless with sharp objects... knives... swords...? They hurt themselves... and others...

Watching someone wielding a blade carelessly... what do you do...? Retreat... back away... careful not to turn your back on the one with the blade...

The same is true of those with careless... reckless... words... Have you been stabbed in the back...? Have your own words... returned... to pierce your own heart?

Being created... in the image of the One who created by His Word... our words... have power... to heal...

and to destroy...

Reckless words pierce like a sword,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 12:18

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Proverbs 10:11

ESV

A gentle tongue is a tree of life,

but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4

ESV

Words... like power tools... must be used with care... work with your words... care-fully... labor over every word... that it might build up... and not tear down...

How do you handle your words...?

Consider... who receives your most careless words...? ...your most thoughtful words...?

thoughts...

Looking forward to the hoped-to-be trip began thoughts regarding what to do about the spiritual practice of Jeremiah's Menu... the six-day-a-week daily posting...

My thought: no posts...

Leave with an explanatory-post for the lack of posts over the next few days... after all I didn't even know if the hoped-to-be would be...

New thoughts entered my mind... thoughts that certainly couldn't have been my thoughts... thoughts for posts written in advance... posts centered on the study-with-sisters... James... thoughts stirred by the practice of memorizing... an exercise turning my thoughts to Him...

The thoughts of posts became an assurance that the hoped-to-be would be... even when doubts entered in...

Writings began to take shape for the days away... even before destination and reservations became fixed...

After the hoped-to-be became a plan... James seemed the logical selection for the next set of entrees to be served on Jeremiah's Menu... even though abc's had been on my mind...

But... thoughts from James... are really more like hors d'ouvres... appetizers... little bites from a book full of spiritual nutrition... So with each thought offered, take time to read the whole chapter... before tasting a bite... an exercise to stir your thoughts...

The first four parts are set to post automatically... an ingenuous tool on blogger... so while I'm gone Jeremiah's Menu will continue... the beginning servings of thoughts... James chapter one...

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

Psalm 139:17