Further Thoughts...

I haven't been writing... rather reading. Continuing my third journey through the Bible, it being the only consistent thing happening this year. My recent travels have gone over Galatians and Ephesians, then into Philippians and Colossians. These are often clumped together and I had to take note of the themes that Paul touches on in each of them:

Galatians - Salavation
Ephesians - Unity
Philippians - Joy
Colossians - Consistency

Guess which one REALLY stuck out to me amidst all the bullcrap that's been slung around lately?

Philippians. This book is about JOY. Not so much the feeling, but the choice of it. And why does Paul focus his words on this? Because God knew with the fall of Adam and Eve that no one would be exempt from suffering... pain, loss, depression, violence, fear, anger, self-loathing, NONE of it! Suffering has always spread to all people on the planet in some bitter, teary shape.

We can think easily on our own examples of suffering. And we can easily get tunnel vision about it; convince ourselves that I'm the only one hurting, no one else knows how I'm suffering. If we took off those blinders however, we'd find that it's not true.

Admittedly, some people have been hurt worse then others. I can't say why. But talking about raw pain- where suffering leaves you in shreds- we've all carried such emotion in our hearts, regardless of what circumstances put it there. Should we take the time to realize that, we would find ways to connect and not feel so alone. We'd release our animosities and judgements and find we could fight together against the pain of suffering. All in hopes of healing- if not learning- from our pain.

Philippians and its message of joy was written from prison. It was penned by Paul, a man with deep-seated scars across his back and the memories of threats, angry mobs, and a shipwreck. Yet, he encourages us to choose joy. So that we may triumph over everything else.

JOY. It seems like one of the more important things to seek out right now.

Thoughts Collected

 'Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.'

~Hebrews 10:23~

It has been a long, silent summer. 

Not because I haven't had anything to say, or stories to tell. I haven't stopped writing, as I am likely to stop breathing before that happens. I have just been too busy clinging.

Clinging to the hope that I have professed since kindergarten and carrying the tune of 'Jesus Loves Me' home from Sunday School. Hope that has stemmed from learning and discovering that God IS good.... (Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19)

...that His will is perfect... (Romans 12:2)

...that He never leaves or forsakes... (Deut. 31:6 & 8; Joshua 1:5)

Sooooooo many of the Bible passages' fulfill God's aim to comfort and assure us. Comfort for the weak moments and assurance of the strength He will provide when we need it. Now, try stating such truth day after day as the media blitzes you with one more tragic story of man's sinful desires winning over.

I can attest, IT IS HARD. You pray that your hope stays alive in Christ, then you grit your teeth as you recite the verses that have always backed up your belief in the past.

Then somedays you don't even try to convince yourself. You just ask 'why?'

Yet, in the midst of my desperate clinging, I realize... my grip has become stronger. My convictions have grown deeper. My prayers are becoming slower and more earnest. I am rereading the books of my Bible, giving the words that extra moment to sink in.

Even amongst all the stifling anger, hate, and sickness going around, I find that I am growing. That this year is not wasted time, nor has God's love and care been diminished through any it. So while I may flex my fingers and adjust my grip, I'll continue to cling.

When the waves are taking you under

Hold on just a little bit longer

He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger

~'Stronger' by Mandisa~

Paid in Parables

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? 

He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, 

while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered 

over to the hands of sinners, be crucified 

and on the third day be raised again.’” 

Then they remembered his words.

~Luke 24:5-8~

WAKE UP!

It's time to receive the gift! God's gift of salvation; Jesus' conquer over death. And in mulling it over, I go back to what He not only gave us with His 'death', but what he gave during His life. I'm talking about what Jesus taught us when He spoke parables.

Jesus said a lot in his time. A most famous example is His sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) but He especially spoke to His followers in parables. I don't profess to all of them... many are retold and overlap across the four gospels and there's some debate over where how 'parable' is defined as opposed to (or parallel with) 'allegory'. But I know that only due to last minute research.

I care to focus on what Jesus was giving us when He spoke these:

Messages of redemption and rejoicing (Parable of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son,      Luke 15)

Messages about kindness and compassion (Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37)

Messages about persistence (Parable of the Persistent Widow, Luke 18) and humility (Parable of the    Tax Collector, also Luke 18)

And many with a message about the power of one's faith in God (Parable of the Mustard Seed and Yeast, Matthew 13:31-34 and Mark 4:30-34)

Jesus was good at telling a story; a story with a POINT! He was encompassing how He wished His children to live in the world. Jesus knew that He had only a little time with His disciples and there were many important things He wanted them to remember. And they have surely stood the test of time, nestled in our Bibles to always remind us of God's teachings. And- most importantly- that He is indeed risen!

HAPPY EASTER!

Just A Smile

I began my Good Friday with seeing snow stuck to mulch and the roof of my car. Thus, I began this day with a smile. A wide and giddy grin that wouldn't let my teeth stay hidden at the joy of spying the powdery white.

Jesus' single command at the Last Supper was 'Do this in remembrance of me...' (Luke 22:19). He was specifically speaking of the bread and wine of the covenant, but we do many things in remembrance, recognition, or reverence of Christ. I believe such a list includes a smile. God never creates something without a purpose. Scientists are finding that when someone smiles, a powerful chemical reaction occurs in the brain. It improves their mood, boosts their immune system, and lowers their stress. As 1 Corinthians 12 states 'Even so the body is not made up of one part, but of many' (verse 14). Everything is interconnected... our smile, our tears, heck even our sneezes!

What is making you smile today? Share that smile with whomever you can.

I smile for the subtle ways that families will be celebrating this Easter Sunday. We may be lacking in many things, but really a smile is all it takes- because Christ is still risen! 

'You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, 

Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, 

though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.'

~Romans 5:6-8~

A Long Way Off

'"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. 

"Plans that will prosper you and not harm you. 

Plans to give you hope and a future."'

~ Jeremiah 29:11~

The human eye allows us to see up to 3 miles away toward the horizon; where the sun meets the sea, if you will.

Long-range binoculars allow us to see up to 17 miles away... past the horizon to where you can spot the shoreline. Lower the binoculars however, and you stop seeing the destination and are left to dwell on the journey. You huff and puff perhaps, agonizing over how much longer... or worrying that the hardships may never end.

But, even with no binoculars to see the shoreline, does that mean that it's not there?

Jeremiah 29:11 is a well-used verse (overused at times), but an important one nonetheless. God is ALWAYS in the know. He knew, when he sent His son to earth that pain and humiliation awaited, along with love and reverence and miracles. He knew the hard journey ahead... but He also knew the destination. Knowing the reconciliation that would take place between Him and His children (US), He endured the journey... and celebrated at the end of it, along with Jesus' disciples and followers.

'For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us 

an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes 

not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, 

but what is unseen is eternal.'

~2 Corinthians 4:17-18~

This journey is unique in that the world is taking it together. It seems like such a gentle word for all the sadness and uncertainly that's circling us. But there IS an end to it. God knows it and He sees it. We just have to trust what He sees... even without binoculars.

Where's the Focus?

It's not always about you.

A common saying and theme in where a person wakes up and realizes that there is more to this life then their own needs and desires. A justifiable one, as we are very self-serving creatures! 

In the midst of this quarantine however, maybe it IS about you. Maybe this is more of a forced internal reflection rather then an outward focus on spiritual efforts.

There is certainly strength in numbers and that goes for God's people as well; helping when no one else will, prayer groups, worshiping in unison. But God looks after the individual strength as much as He does the collective. And at time that means stepping away from the crowd.... to where it's just you and Him... where you can finally hear what God's been wanting to say to you.

What is important to me? 
How do I spend my time? 
What do I put my mental energy towards?
Do I let my family and friends know that I love them?
When was the last time I sat and did... nothing?
Have I been the better version of myself?
Where do I want to be while the world's going crazy?

There are plenty renditions of 'why' going around right now. Maybe the answer lies in asking yourself other questions. Questions, ironically, about yourself. There are always parts of our personalities that need work... do, WHY not start now?

“Yet you, Lord, are our Father. 

We are the clay, you are the potter; 

we are all the work of your hand.”

Isaiah 64:8

And So I Read

So... I've had a lot to think about in the last few days. To the point where my sleep is inadequate, my chest is in a constant tightened position, and my brain has begun to smoke... in that my thoughts are literally starting to fry and burn my neurons! Attempting to organize- or rather subdue them- I turned to my Bible. And I went right to the passage that I've been meditating on throughout the Lent season...

'...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know 

that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, 

character; and character hope. And hope DOES NOT disappoint us, 

because God has poured out his love into our hearts...'

'You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.'

~Romans 5:3-6~

'The right time'. It never occurred to me before that God PICKED 30 A.D. as the year of Jesus' persecution, death, and resurrection. Not the year before, the decade prior, or within the decade following it. But that specific long 'weekend' to have the people witness His miracle and act of love.

This precision is echoed through the gospels; Jesus telling his disciples multiple times that it 'must happen this way' (Matthew 26:54). A way that involved humiliation and mocking, brutal beatings and floggings. It was also one that Jesus did not turn from. Like God, He knew the end goal.

This is the time of year that we reflect on His choice. Maybe we can't answer the 'when' (Many of us are no doubt asking WHY NOW?) but we know the 'why'. The reason He pained, and allowed rejection and slaughter.

Because He would bear that before bearing our eternal separation from Him.

My take away from that is how God took a moment... and He made a decision...

My chest is still tight. But not as tight as it has been. I trust that it will be less tight tomorrow.