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The Eternal Blessing

Posted in GOD, life, Walking with God, WONDER, tagged #godblesseshispeople, #theeternalblessing, #thelordblessyou, #thepriestlyblessing on March 15, 2018| Leave a Comment »

“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”

I hadn’t read, heard of thought of those words in months … months.

A common benediction, a blessing that hubby would frequently give at the end of a Sunday sermon, a church service.

Here it was, on a Monday morning, in a classroom devotion.

The blessing is not owned, not possessed by my hubby alone. It is known as the Aaronic or Priestly blessing, given, by God, to Moses, to instruct Aaron and his sons on how to bless the Israelites.

This was a great honour, for the Priests words were viewed as God’s message to them.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says “though the priests could do no more than beg a blessing, yet being an intercessor by office, and doing that in his name who commands the blessing, the prayer carried with it a promise, and he pronounced it as one having authority with his hands lifted up and his face towards the people.”

You see, the blessing was not one from the Priests, but through them, from God himself, for the Israelite people … in a sense skipping the Priests completely, as if they were just the vessel through which God lay his hand of blessing, on his chosen people.

But it was not necessarily a group or community blessing, but one through the lips of the priests, directly to each individual, from God. It was a personal and individual blessing … a whisper of the personal and individual Blessing (Blesser) to come.

The Lord bless you

Three times the Lord is mentioned. Representing God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Likened to 2 Corinthians 13:14:

“The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.”

This blessing is also an endless, eternal blessing. It is not solely present tense, but also future, as if it were to say: the Lord will bless you.

What a good reminder of the story and blessing of God on and for his people, available now for all people (Jews and Gentiles).

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Because She is Loved

Posted in Faith, GOD, Walking with God, WONDER, tagged #becausesheisloved, #godsgotyou, #inthepalmofhishand, #purposefulpositivity, #youareloved on March 13, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Screen Shot 2018-02-18 at 9.07.24 PM As I reflected on the tough season a friend is currently going through, I was amazed … because, in spite of how tough things were, she was looking at the tough things with thankfulness, hope and a faith that it would all work out.

Me of littler faith …

I kept considering her positivity, that was beyond just posturing, it was purposeful positioning of her thoughts. In a sense it was purposeful, planned prophesying. She choose to believe that the future, no matter what direction it went, was controlled by her creator, who cared far more about her eternal heart than her physical position … and he would work it all out …

simply because,

she knows that she is loved.

Amen.

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Boring Consistency

Posted in life, WONDER, tagged #boringconsistency, #hardwork, #rolemodelsworkhard, #whoisyourrolemodel on March 11, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Screen Shot 2018-03-11 at 8.36.00 AM “Just one of those boring, quiet, faithful men” was the line I heard, last week, that kept ringing in my head … for days.

No one would ever imagine such a boring individual as a life mate, or accomplishing much, exciting the masses or changing the world.

We humans want thrills, charm and excitement from one who is well-spoken, smiling and effervescent. We want people who can inspire us with their philosophies, motivational techniques, books, quotes, podcasts and blogs.

Yet …

” … it is a sign of marked political weakness in any commonwealth
if the people tend to be carried away by mere oratory,
if they tend to value words in and for themselves,
as divorced from the deeds for which they are supposed to stand.”
It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles,
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better …

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly;
who errs,
who comes short again and again,
because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;
but who does actually strive to do the deeds;
who knows great enthusiasms,
the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who at the worst,
if he fails,
at least fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls
who neither know victory
nor defeat.”
-Theodore Roosevelt (from Citizen in a Republic, 04-23-10)

We listen to the voices of musicians, reality-TV stars and politicians for stability, while ignoring the wealth of experience and expertise in our grandparents, that ethical business owner, that woman who raised her children on her own after her husband left, never to return.

Our philosophers today are people famous for athletic accomplishments, films and Ted talks, rather than from well-read, hard-working, well-lived individuals who understand the value in doing what they do best, and doing it with consistency … even, no especially, when it is hard, boring and provides no praise.

May we be consistent in love, work and life … even when it is hard and boring.

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Woman Power

Posted in Faith, life, Walking with God, women, WONDER, tagged #Iamnotavictom, #ichoose, #internationalwomensday, #jesusforequality, #jesusforwomen, #womancaughtinadultry, #womanpower, equality on March 8, 2018| 1 Comment »

194510_10150155497290789_6484144_o Happy belated International Women’s Day.

I admit, I only knew that because the Google search bar told me. When I read that it was, sarcasm and cynicism crept into my mind.

“If we need an International day to celebrate it, to make us ‘special’, then we haven’t accepted equality in our own hearts, minds and souls.” (me)

Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that both genders are equal, should be paid equally for equal work, should be treated equally in society, should have opportunities equally, should be valued equally in terms of rights, in terms of value.

I just struggle when any group of individuals wants to be the headline of the day. Even if it is a group I belong to.

I believe that equality was modelled for us by Jesus himself (John 8:1-11), when a woman caught in the act of adultery (presumably with a man … but he wasn’t brought to Jesus).

The Pharisees, who brought her to him, said, “hey Jesus” (I hear baiting in their voices). Then they proceed to remind Jesus that the Law of Moses (their law, his Law) says that such ‘persons’ should be stoned, and ask him what he says (they were trying to incriminate him in disobeying the Law).

Then Jesus goes all … silent, and writes in the sand … (AND NO ONE THOUGHT TO TAKE NOTE OF WHAT HE WROTE!) He stood up and said, “whoever here has never sinned, take the first shot at her.”

And they scatter, like all of them.

So, it’s just the woman caught in adultery and Jesus left.

He says to her, “where are they? Is there no one ready to throw stones at you?”

And she says, “no one, Master” (you could say this was her conversion experience).

So Jesus (probably shrugging) says, “neither do I. Go on your way.” (ahh, love it).

Now the modern version might end there, but the story is incomplete with what he said after that …

” From now on, don’t sin.”

He didn’t patronize her with “poor you” talk. He didn’t bring up her tough upbringing, or difficult economic situation. What he did do was he called a spade a spade, to the ill-intended religious leaders, and to the woman before him. He treated them equally.

Actually, he didn’t. What Jesus did for this woman was more. He gave her a new and improved trajectory for her life. He led her to acknowledge that she had to accept responsibility for her own actions (something he didn’t bother doing with the son of a guns who used her … in more ways than one).

What Jesus did for this woman was to empower her to not be a victim of her circumstances. His attention and care for her empowered her right to freedom. He acknowledged her ability to choose a better future than her past.

To move away from the circumstances we are dealt with, to choose to live differently, to accept responsibility for the wrongs we, ourselves, have done … that is woman power!

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What is Love?

Posted in FAMILY, life, WONDER, tagged #1corinthians13, #loveis, #loveishard, #loveisntaboutme, #loveneverdies, #whatislove on March 6, 2018| 1 Comment »

Cookie decorating with the fam and friends recently had me thinking, what is love?

Media, entertainment and even some of our philosophers of the day (aka Therapists, Life Coaches, celebrities, etc) would have us believe that it is warm and fuzzy feelings that make us ‘glow’ with good feelings and only experience agreement, affirmation and acceptance all of the time. You know, basically whatever feels good for you, for me.

I say love is so far from self.

Anyone who has pursued life-long love with other human beings (from spouses to parents, to kids, to neighbours, to friends) knows that love is far more complex, diverse and dirty than all that ~~fluff~~ stuff.

I think most of us pursue love to not be alone.

This is unfortunate for the parents who pour all of themselves into their children (and, lets face it, this is what most of us do) and then, when their children have grown and get their own lives (you know, what we bring them up to do) our nest is empty and we are lonelier than before.

Many of us pursue love for how it makes us feel … those warm and fuzzy feelings that are so sweet to lull us to sleep, but no one on this Earth can make us feel like that day in and day out … nor can any of us make another feel that way in the long term.

How many of us have heard people say that they love someone because they share so much in common? If commonalities are the only foundation of our love for another, it will implode when, inevitability, divergent views emerge.

Love is that which we have to work for, with and in spite of. Love trumps disagreement over politics, religion, philosophy or behaviour. Love is hard to maintain, a struggle of constant personal effort, and, sometimes, doesn’t even get reciprocated. Love is not dependent on what another does for us, it is only dependent on our own will and commitment.

“Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
(The Message)

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Just as I am

Posted in Faith, GOD, life, WONDER, tagged #beliefnotperfection, #believeandbesaved, #billygraham, #charlotteelliot, #ibelieve, #jesusislord, #justasiam, #justasyouare, #justbelieve, #romans10:9, baptism on March 4, 2018| Leave a Comment »

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With the passing of Billy Graham, from Earth to eternity, I keep hearing, in my mind, those familiar lyrics …

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

This hymn, written in 1835 by Charlotte Elliot, who referred to Just as I am as her spiritual autobiography. It is a song of coming to Christ, of acceptance. Really, it is a song of forfeit to some greater force, and with the greatest of humility.

My own personal connection to it was that it was used when I was baptized, at the age of sixteen. A verse was sung after each person was baptized.

I remember that day so well, and the pondering that led to my decision to be baptized. I had been told by a friend that without baptism I would not enter heaven when I died. I did not agree.

That disagreement sent me right where, I believe, God wanted me to go … to the Bible. I read every verse and book chapter, that I could find, that spoke of baptism. I learned what a commentary was, and I poured over their understanding of biblical texts on the subject.

Finally, I came to my own conclusion, that baptism was simply the outward expression to the world, of the acceptance I had made, of the redemption availed to me through Jesus. I also came to the conclusion that it was what I would choose to do, because I wanted the world to know that I was associating with Jesus, for the rest of my life. Not because I had it all together, not because I was perfect, but because I was renewed, redeemed.

And that is the appeal of the hymn, Just as I am. It is not a song about how we have it all together. As a matter of fact, it is quite the opposite:

without one plea
rid my soul of one dark blot
many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without
poor, wretched, blind

It is a song of self-realization of the lacking, the negativity, the sin in our lives. And it is in acknowledging where we lack that openness to what Christ has for us, is birthed. Even in the negatives, each verse ends with “O Lamb of God, I come!”

My favourite verse is the fifth (I believe the last in the hymnal I grew up with),

“Just as I am – Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe

That is it, belief.

Not vast amounts of tithing, piety or perfection, but because I believe.

Romans 10:9 tells us, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Though my baptism was not some magical event, it is one of the most special events of my life, because it was the first time that I declared with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord … it was the public expression of the change in my heart.

Is Jesus your Lord? Do you believe it, in your heart, that he was raised from the dead? for you?

Believe, and be saved … just as you are.

Just as I am – without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – though toss’d about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am – of that free love
The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
-O Lamb of God, I come

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Spring always Follows Winter

Posted in Faith, GOD, life, Nature/Creation, WONDER, tagged #dawnchorus, #springalwaysfollowswinter, #springbirds, #springishope, Spring on March 1, 2018| Leave a Comment »

What was that?

I stilled my breathing, listening beyond the thunder of the furnace.

There it was, again. It’s the sound of birds singing the dawn chorus.

I opened the window to hear more clearly.

This was the first morning I have heard it, and though it was just one bird, it’s morning return lifted my face, my heart.

I awoke with nothing, the well was empty of words of hope and life, and here it was … music to my ears, theology for my soul.

” the time of the singing [of birds] is come …”
Song of Solomon 2:12

Spring is coming,

and spring always follows the winter.

The winter may be cold, and snow-filled, and dark.

Your winter may be heavy with burden, heart-ache, and despair, with little light to shine the way through.

But spring always follows the winter.

” the time of the singing [of birds] is come …”

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Now I Know in Part

Posted in Faith, GOD, life, Walking with God, WONDER, tagged #deathhasnovictory, #igoandprepareaplace, #jesuswillcomeagain, #nowiknowinpart, #thebible, #theword, #wordofgodspeak on February 27, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Screen Shot 2018-02-26 at 6.13.43 PM Within the Bible is the record of creation, the fall of humanity, the great successes and failures of people of faith, the prophesy of redemption through the Christ, the fulfillment of it in the life of Jesus, the history of the early church, and the future that awaits all of humanity when Christ returns for the grandest of grand finales.

The Bible is the source of truth, for those who choose to accept and follow the message held within it’s pages. Although my understanding of the Bible is incomplete, I believe that it is where the answers for all of life are to be found.

Recently I came across what I thought were conflicting messages, all within the same setting, spoken by Jesus himself. Then I looked more closely, and understood that I had only known what was being said, in part.

It is the Passover feast.

The disciples have been cleaned up (foot washing), fed up and soon to be split up.

Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” (John 13:36)

Then, in the next chapter (still around the table, in the upper room), and seemingly just moments later, Jesus says,

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1-3)

So … you can follow … but not now.

Jesus had to die. He had to suffer and experience separation from his Father, to complete his purpose for coming to Earth. This was something that only Jesus could do, a voyage only he could take, so he told them, you cannot follow now.

He had to go and prepare a place for them, for us. But he didn’t just leave them/us here, with no hope, for he promised to come back and take you to be with me.

These verses have even more meaning when you read 1 Corinthians 15:50-54:

“I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the deadwill be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true:

“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

I will never fully understand all that Bible teaches, but it does not negate the fact that it is truth, and that it is applicable yesterday, today and tomorrow.

“Now I know in part;
then I shall know fully,
even as I am fully known.”
1 Corinthians 13:12

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Kings, Kerfuffles and Christians

Posted in canada, GOD, life, Walking with God, WONDER, tagged #itsabiblicalinstruction, #kingskerfufflesandchristians, #prayerchangesme, #prayerchangesthings, #prayforyourleaders, obey on February 25, 2018| Leave a Comment »

(obviously I love alliteration …)

Sometimes we forget what we know in exchange for what we feel.

I had that happen when I read a news article about Canada’s Prime Minister, rolled my eyes and thought … well, not nice thoughts. That was the feel part.

In the midst of my negativity, another thought, one might even say a still, small voice quieted my negativity …

pray for your leaders

I knew I had heard it before, and I was pretty certain that it was from (what I declare, over and over as the source of truth) …

the Bible.

That still, small voice followed me, for days and weeks. It haunted every social media feed, every radio and television newscast. Finally, I did what I knew it was whispering in my ear to do … see what the Bible does say.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 reminds, instructs us:

I urge, then, first of all,
that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving
be made for all people—
for kings and all those in authority,
that we may live peaceful and quiet lives
in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
who wants all people to be saved
and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Well now … that’s a bit of a spanking of biblical proportions!

And so, I (and maybe we) do a bit of a readjustment.

Timothy (that younger, right-hand-man of Paul), tells the Christians of the day (and every day after) to:

make petitions/requests of God for all people— for kings and all those in authority.
pray for all people— for kings and all those in authority.
interceed/speak for all people— for kings and all those in authority.
give thanks for all people— for kings and all those in authority.

Our leaders, whether we voted for them … or not, whether we agree with them … or not, whether we like them … or not, live in a fish bowl of pressure, responsibility and with divergent voices all around (kinda like that of a pastor … but I digress), need our prayers … even if our leader does not acknowledge to whom we are praying. It is our responsibility, straight from the Bible, to pray for our leaders … and it “pleases God our Saviour.”

Do you ever wonder might be the fruit for our countries, if Christ-followers, committed our leaders in prayer?

“It is a great privilege
as well as our responsibility
to pray for our government leaders”
Billy Graham

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