Day Twenty-Eight -
Have you ever seen a mustard seed? Today I was planting mustard seeds in the garden, and I was amazed at how tiny they are. I couldn't help but wonder, if faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain, what has my faith been doing? Is my faith moving mountains? Is it doing anything to further the kingdom of God? Do I really believe that faith - my faith - can do this?
On some level, I understand how the disciples were feeling in Matthew 17. They were confused. They came to Jesus and quietly asked him why they had not been able to drive the demon out of the boy. Knowing and believing are two different things. Knowing they were in the presence of the Messiah - God's son - and believing it were obviously not quite clicking. Believing that they, as Christ's disciples, had authority to drive out the demon in this boy in the name of Jesus was a thought that was likely still beyond their faith.
My faith may not be moving physical mountains...yet...but it is doing something. It is growing and changing every moment. It is knowing and believing that God has a plan, and that somehow he has made me a part of this plan. Like any seed that has been planted, it has to be nurtured so it can grow into something useful and beautiful.
For me, faith is believing that "unreasonable" things are possible, and knowing that I serve a God who is faithful to his word and can make the ordinary extraordinary.
"He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." - Matthew 17:20
Blessings!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
God's Word Never Fails
Day Twenty-Four -
There is something unique about studying God's Word. It is something that I have not experienced in studying any other book. God's Word is straightforward, yet mysterious - ever-changing, yet faithfully constant. There is something incredibly beautiful about it. It is the one book that I can open, and even if I have read it's verses countless times, I will truly learn something new. Something new about God's ways. Something new about myself. It grows and matures as we grow and mature in our faith. I may start one place while studying, but it never fails that I will end up in a completely different place in the Bible. Completely different, but totally connected. That is the beauty of the scriptures. They are timeless, as God himself is timeless. They are a tapestry, woven together, pointing to the one true thing - Christ, the glory of God, living in us. The Word of God is a mirror to our souls, a refuge in the storms of our life, and our sword as we face the battle that rages around us. It is a true picture of our Creator.
"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." - Colossians 1:27
Blessings!
There is something unique about studying God's Word. It is something that I have not experienced in studying any other book. God's Word is straightforward, yet mysterious - ever-changing, yet faithfully constant. There is something incredibly beautiful about it. It is the one book that I can open, and even if I have read it's verses countless times, I will truly learn something new. Something new about God's ways. Something new about myself. It grows and matures as we grow and mature in our faith. I may start one place while studying, but it never fails that I will end up in a completely different place in the Bible. Completely different, but totally connected. That is the beauty of the scriptures. They are timeless, as God himself is timeless. They are a tapestry, woven together, pointing to the one true thing - Christ, the glory of God, living in us. The Word of God is a mirror to our souls, a refuge in the storms of our life, and our sword as we face the battle that rages around us. It is a true picture of our Creator.
"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." - Colossians 1:27
Blessings!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Stepping Out of God's Way
Days Nineteen and Twenty -
The hardest part of stepping out of the way and truly trusting the Lord to do his will is taking the first step. It means being mindful and actually giving thought to what you are doing and saying. And it definitely means not living life on auto pilot. For me, it feels like a whole new way of living. It's not about just go-go-going and doing everything that comes my way - assuming that everything I come across is because God put it there for me to do. Sometimes I think he puts things in my path to see if I am really hearing him, not necessarily setting me up to fail, but just making sure I'm paying attention. I've found that I can do all sorts of "godly" things, but if those things are distracting me from his presence are they really all that important?
Don't get me wrong. It isn't the easiest thing in the world for me to turn the constant go-go-go of my brain off, especially when it comes to things that I know I could very easily do. A lot of times I know it's my pride or my desire to be in control to jump at the chance to do something. Perhaps it's even a chance to avoid trusting the Lord. Yeah, I said it. Because if I'm busy doing "godly" things, too busy to do much more than go through the routine of the Christian life, then maybe I don't have to worry about getting out of my comfort zone. If I'm so busy doing the "God" stuff, then I definitely don't have time to worry about getting out of the mediocre and follow God right into the extraordinary- not that my mediocre is all that boring.
Thankfully, I have a Savior who is patient with me and loves me even when I'm not being the best version of myself. When I've been ready to jump in and do something, he gives me that little spiritual tap on the shoulder - "Nope. Not yet.". Sure it takes some adjustment, but truthfully I want to be doing what he wants me to do. He's the Creator of the world, how could a life following him not be amazing? I want peace and to be joyful in what I'm doing - not to be so busy and stressed that I miss the blessings the Lord puts in my path. Lately, I've been realizing that I've missed some of the greatest blessings that were right in front of my face just by being so busy.
Time to take that first step...
Blessings!
The hardest part of stepping out of the way and truly trusting the Lord to do his will is taking the first step. It means being mindful and actually giving thought to what you are doing and saying. And it definitely means not living life on auto pilot. For me, it feels like a whole new way of living. It's not about just go-go-going and doing everything that comes my way - assuming that everything I come across is because God put it there for me to do. Sometimes I think he puts things in my path to see if I am really hearing him, not necessarily setting me up to fail, but just making sure I'm paying attention. I've found that I can do all sorts of "godly" things, but if those things are distracting me from his presence are they really all that important?
Don't get me wrong. It isn't the easiest thing in the world for me to turn the constant go-go-go of my brain off, especially when it comes to things that I know I could very easily do. A lot of times I know it's my pride or my desire to be in control to jump at the chance to do something. Perhaps it's even a chance to avoid trusting the Lord. Yeah, I said it. Because if I'm busy doing "godly" things, too busy to do much more than go through the routine of the Christian life, then maybe I don't have to worry about getting out of my comfort zone. If I'm so busy doing the "God" stuff, then I definitely don't have time to worry about getting out of the mediocre and follow God right into the extraordinary- not that my mediocre is all that boring.
Thankfully, I have a Savior who is patient with me and loves me even when I'm not being the best version of myself. When I've been ready to jump in and do something, he gives me that little spiritual tap on the shoulder - "Nope. Not yet.". Sure it takes some adjustment, but truthfully I want to be doing what he wants me to do. He's the Creator of the world, how could a life following him not be amazing? I want peace and to be joyful in what I'm doing - not to be so busy and stressed that I miss the blessings the Lord puts in my path. Lately, I've been realizing that I've missed some of the greatest blessings that were right in front of my face just by being so busy.
Time to take that first step...
Blessings!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Only God Can Work That Way
Day Eighteen -
I have found myself saying, "Only God can work that way" a lot lately. It's so true. The things that he does to turn people's lives around or how he uses the last person you could possibly imagine to do the most extraordinary things is something that only he could do. I think that gets forgotten in modern Christianity sometimes. We don't talk enough about what God is doing in the lives of the average person. Even we chalk things up to coincidence. The power of our witness and testimony gets lost in the shuffle of church life. Is it because we're afraid of how God works or that we don't believe God works that way anymore? Does it not fit into the traditional or contemporary worship model? Is testimony of the people too unscripted, something clergy can't control? Would we rather hear the testimony of a famous person than the person sitting next to us in the pews? Is that all that rates as an extraordinary move of God?
I'm not trying to be cynical. I've just been thinking about how much I enjoy hearing people's testimonies. I find it encouraging to hear how God is/has moved in their lives. It gets me thinking about my own life and how God has brought me to the point that I am in my life. I sure know I couldn't have gotten here without his help and the prayers of some very faithful people. I'm thankful he answered those prayers...because only God can work that way.
"And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." Mark 5:19 (ESV)
Blessings!
I have found myself saying, "Only God can work that way" a lot lately. It's so true. The things that he does to turn people's lives around or how he uses the last person you could possibly imagine to do the most extraordinary things is something that only he could do. I think that gets forgotten in modern Christianity sometimes. We don't talk enough about what God is doing in the lives of the average person. Even we chalk things up to coincidence. The power of our witness and testimony gets lost in the shuffle of church life. Is it because we're afraid of how God works or that we don't believe God works that way anymore? Does it not fit into the traditional or contemporary worship model? Is testimony of the people too unscripted, something clergy can't control? Would we rather hear the testimony of a famous person than the person sitting next to us in the pews? Is that all that rates as an extraordinary move of God?
I'm not trying to be cynical. I've just been thinking about how much I enjoy hearing people's testimonies. I find it encouraging to hear how God is/has moved in their lives. It gets me thinking about my own life and how God has brought me to the point that I am in my life. I sure know I couldn't have gotten here without his help and the prayers of some very faithful people. I'm thankful he answered those prayers...because only God can work that way.
"And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." Mark 5:19 (ESV)
Blessings!
Signs of Life
Day Seventeen -
A few days ago, I posted a picture of a peach tree blooming in the community garden. On the other side of the garden is another peach tree. This one was in terrible shape. It, too, had been a victim of last year's brutal summer heat - possibly even more so than the tree that has already bloomed. There seemed to be no hope for this little peach tree, and would have most likely been dug up at our next garden work day.
Today, as I was walking through the garden during a break from a hectic day of work, I simply prayed, 'Please Lord, show me some sign that this tree is still alive'. Now, I know some people might think it's a little bizarre to pray for a tree. But just like the blooms on the other tree gave me some hope, I was really in need of some hope - a visible, tangible sign of God's enduring hope. I looked at the tree closely - the bark was dry and some of the tiny branches had broken from wind - but then I saw the most miraculous thing. I saw tiny green shoots coming through the dry branches of the tree. These shoots were so tiny, I could barely see them. I tried to take a picture, but they weren't visible. Those tiny green shoots were a beautiful sight. They were a sign of life.
I truly needed that. I needed something positive - something hopeful. Last week was tough. I felt like I had been through the ringer, so to speak, but something about this little peach tree's tiny blooms resonated with me. No matter how weary or confused I may have been feeling, I needed to have faith and trust the Lord to carry me through the desert places. It also taught me not to discount things before truly giving them a chance - be that my own gifts and talents or those of others. Most of the gardeners were ready to remove that tree from the garden two weeks ago. If we had, we would removed a living tree. Don't give up! God can do mighty things with a tiny spark of life. He knows the perfect timing for things. No matter how hard I may try to "make things happen", the truth is, they can only happen in his perfect time.
"And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground - trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food." - Genesis 2:9a
Blessings!
A few days ago, I posted a picture of a peach tree blooming in the community garden. On the other side of the garden is another peach tree. This one was in terrible shape. It, too, had been a victim of last year's brutal summer heat - possibly even more so than the tree that has already bloomed. There seemed to be no hope for this little peach tree, and would have most likely been dug up at our next garden work day.
Today, as I was walking through the garden during a break from a hectic day of work, I simply prayed, 'Please Lord, show me some sign that this tree is still alive'. Now, I know some people might think it's a little bizarre to pray for a tree. But just like the blooms on the other tree gave me some hope, I was really in need of some hope - a visible, tangible sign of God's enduring hope. I looked at the tree closely - the bark was dry and some of the tiny branches had broken from wind - but then I saw the most miraculous thing. I saw tiny green shoots coming through the dry branches of the tree. These shoots were so tiny, I could barely see them. I tried to take a picture, but they weren't visible. Those tiny green shoots were a beautiful sight. They were a sign of life.
I truly needed that. I needed something positive - something hopeful. Last week was tough. I felt like I had been through the ringer, so to speak, but something about this little peach tree's tiny blooms resonated with me. No matter how weary or confused I may have been feeling, I needed to have faith and trust the Lord to carry me through the desert places. It also taught me not to discount things before truly giving them a chance - be that my own gifts and talents or those of others. Most of the gardeners were ready to remove that tree from the garden two weeks ago. If we had, we would removed a living tree. Don't give up! God can do mighty things with a tiny spark of life. He knows the perfect timing for things. No matter how hard I may try to "make things happen", the truth is, they can only happen in his perfect time.
"And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground - trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food." - Genesis 2:9a
Blessings!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Coming Into the Light
Celebration Sunday -
You can't know light until you've known darkness. One without the other makes no sense. You can't know what Christ in your life means until you realize how much you truly need him. Sure, you can follow his teachings; which would make you a "good" person, but until you let him change your heart and fully believe that you cannot live without him in your life, you won't know anything more than what a good person he was.
I feel this struggle going on within me. I'm feeling like an exile - traveling through and realizing that everything is not as it seems. I want to press in to the Lord, to feel his presence so deeply in my life. I want to worship him with every ounce of my being. I want to lay myself bare before him, and know that he will still love me. I don't have time to go through the motions anymore. I don't want the facade. I want the depth. So for now I feel like a wanderer, coming out of the darkness into the light. When light overcomes the darkness, you see things from a new perspective. Life takes a new shape.
This week, prayer has been more real to me. Being able to tell God, "I don't know how to this. I need you direct me," is so freeing. And knowing that he will be faithful is even more liberating.
"Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God." - Isaiah 50:10
Blessings!
Feeding the Machine?
Day Fifteen/Sixteen -
It's been a hectic weekend full of concerts.
As we were driving to a concert on Friday evening, something kind of popped into my head; I wondered if "Christianity" as an establishment has become lazy. I live within 20 miles of probably 10 of the largest churches in the state, if not the country. Each of them have these massive buildings. My thought is: are they necessary? Are we more concerned with drawing people into buildings than preparing them to be sent out into the world? Have we gotten stuck in the proverbial rut of being church-centric - going to church on Sundays to be entertained by the hottest worship team and hearing the 'it' pastor with the latest book? Are we being the church from the safety of our trendy four walls? Sure we're sharing Jesus. Sure we're all about social justice somewhere else - half way around the world. But what about ten feet out of our parking lot? Are we being Jesus to the people we pass on our way to church, or are we so concerned with getting there - like a moth attracted to a flame?
Don't get me wrong. I'm really not trying to hate on large churches - or "organized" religion. I think that they do very positive work, and if they are doing the work the Lord has called them to do, that is all that counts. Lately, I've just been wondering where I fit in this "establishment". It feels almost oppressive - lacking Spirit to me. Maybe it's my rebellious nature. Maybe it's something else. I don't know. I don't feel like I fit. I get tired of the "3 songs - 3 points and a story/joke - a prayer or two - and reciting the same things" model. It makes me think of the song - Feed the Machine by Red. While I'm sure it's not the meaning intended behind the lyrics, it keeps coming to mind when I hear the song. Am I just feeding the machine?
It's what I've been wondering...
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." - Colossians 2:8
Feed the Machine by Red
Blessings!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)