Sunday, November 29, 2015

“Shame derives its power from being unspeakable.” ~ Brene Brown 

EZEKIEL 41-41

 20So he measured the area on all four sides. It had a wall around it, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to separate the holy from the common.

2 PETER 1

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.



JOURNAL

Shame is such a powerful enemy and one that will rob me of power if I give in to it's claws of doubt, insecurity and fear. There is a difference between the divine and the ordinary. It is the power and love of God. Embracing that means actually believing it. It is easy at times to just go through the motions of life, do what comes natural, but that often means allowing the past and shame to take over. It is hard to fight the past to put a separation between the old and the new, I think this is why there was an actual division in the temple. There often needs to be a visual and physical reference to the old nature vs. the holy. 

I know this is true in my own life as well, things tend to have more permanence when I mentally physically and emotionally create a separation between the old shame and the new freedom and love. Family holidays often have a way of reeling you back into old wounds...hilarious clip from "Four Christmases"...

Saturday, November 28, 2015

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” ~ C.S. Lewis

EZEKIEL 40

3He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze; he was standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand. 4The man said to me, “Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.”

1 PETER 5

2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.



JOURNAL

More often than not it is my experience that the message of God is quite different that what is often portrayed in my own actions and those of the church. Too often I do not truly reflect God's heart and his intention. What a tragedy! God is the only God and truth, while it can be seen and experienced through another, is only purely found in God and his word. 

It is also a reminder to not expect too much of any individual or the church itself. All are flawed in human failure, yet if I look closely I can see and find the heartbeat of God. This is my task, to look for God in his creation, rather than judging creation and indicting God. And ultimately to seek God and God alone when I am lonely and afraid. 

Friday, November 27, 2015

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ~ Lao Tzu 

EZEKIEL 38-39

 28Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind.

1 PETER 4

 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.



JOURNAL

In almost every chapter in every book of the bible the ultimate theme and command is to love.  It covers over sins and is the overriding characteristic of God. It is the reason Christ died and is driving force behind creation. Love is what ultimately drives the world. It is the source of our passion and our deepest longings. The absence of it creates a multitude of tragedies and horrors and yet it's presence can cover and heal the most horrible wrongs.

THANKSGIVING; Thursday, November 26, 2015

“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” ~ H.A. Ironside 

EZEKIEL 36-37

26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

1 PETER 3

8Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,

“Whoever would love life

and see good days

must keep their tongue from evil

and their lips from deceitful speech.

11They must turn from evil and do good;

they must seek peace and pursue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”^a

JOURNAL

Thanksgiving Day...so many great memories for me. Family and football and eating way too much. All in all it reminds me of the preciousness of life and that it is a gift no matter the circumstances. Every morning there is opportunity for connection and love and to build bridges of hope with other people. More than anything the gift of life and this very moment is truly a gift. This day is for me that reminder that having air in my lungs, the sun rising, my heart beating are truly miracles that I did not have to arrange for.  Friends and family...it's all a gift even the negative.  I love this clip...reminder that life in all it's complexity is a wonderful gift. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” 
~ Elbert Hubbard 

EZEKIEL 34-35

‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

1 PETER 2

23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25For “you were like sheep going astray,”^f but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.



JOURNAL

These verses speak of the responsibility we have as believers in both positions of power and in positions of weakness. For when we are in positions of power we are to look after and care for those under us, those who are in need. Likewise when we are in positions of weakness we are to serve with gratitude and realize that we have a shepherd who does not abandon us and will strengthen our hearts.

It is in this trust and the realization that most days I experience both positions in one way or another. If I trust God I will lean further into him and his word for direction and wisdom so that I will respond in ways that heal, honor and bring glory to the goodness of God and the reflection of that goodness in his creation.