James 1

The Letter of James is nothing if not direct.  And good at it.  And spot on.  A few practical ways in the first chapter of this letter:

• Consider it nothing but JOY.
• Let endurance have its full effect
• Ask God for wisdom
• Ask in faith, and DON'T DOUBT.
• Boast in God's raising up from my lowliness. 
• Don't be deceived. God is not tempting me.
• Be quick to listen.
• Be slow to speak.
• Be slow to anger.
• Rid self of all sordidness.
• Welcome the Word.
• Be Doer of the Word.
• Care for orphans and widows.
• Keep unstained by the world.

These are the priorities he outlines for his listeners.  He addresses their circumstances and how to react to them.  He addresses the Source from which they get understanding about their circumstances.  He addresses practical ways of living in order to survive in their circumstances.  That is chapter one.

It's Simple

In  trying to live a simpler life in many areas, and right now when it seems impossible, I was encouraged by this quote from Winston Churchill...

All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.

And I will add to this, the fruit that living a Spirit-filled life brings ~ and the only way that living out the 'great things' of which Mr. Churchill spoke ~ as the Apostle Paul outlined in his letter to the Church of Galatia:

"But when the Holy Spirit controls our life, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience (longsuffering), kindness (compassion), goodness (generosity), faith (in relationships and beliefs), gentleness and self-control."  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Lenten Readings for Evening

Psalm 103

I love, love, love this Psalm.  The rhythm of the words when read aloud...the lyrical nature of the verse structure.  It always amazes me to read passages like this in Scripture, mostly because I know that I'm not reading in the original language, in the way it was intended to be read, but rather, a lesser translation.  And still, the beauty of God's hand on the scribe shines through. 

And in reading, there is worship by stating fully what God is done and being grateful... forgives my iniquities...heals my diseases...redeems my life from the depths...crowns me with mercy and steadfast love...who gives good life and renewed strength.

Thank you God!  Thank you for your mercy and grace showered upon me.  My soul is blessed by all that you have done for me and I am grateful!

You are a God who doesn't get angry easily, and oh, am I ever grateful for that. 
You are a God who shows mercy, who doesn't treat me how I really ought to be treated, and oh, and I grateful for that.
You are a God who has compassion on your children.
You are a God whose love goes on and one, whose will love my children and their children as much as you love me.  And oh, I am grateful for that!

Bless you, O LORD!


Hebrews 2: 10-18

I took a semester long class on Hebrews while in Seminary.  And I tell you, I'm not sure I understand it any better than I did then!  This is one complex letter (and always led my professor to say that because it is so complex and hard to understand, and the author is not named, he was certain it must have been written by a woman!  He named Priscilla.  I like his way of thinking!) But I digress...

Is this passage about the change that can come through suffering?  Jesus lowered Himself to be like us, and even though He didn't need to suffer for His own salvation, He also knew there was nothing that we ~ his brother and sisters ~ could do to save ourselves. 

Does suffering and pain "perfect" us? Does it save us?  Jesus had to suffer for us.  Does our pain and suffering make us more perfect followers of Christ, more perfect leaders of His people in the church?

It was only in His dying that Jesus was able to break the power of evil in the lives of humans.  And since He suffered this way, He knows.  He knows what we are going through and is able to pray to the Father to protect us from temptation, and to perfect us to be servants in His church.

Lenten Readings for Evening

Psalm 42, 43

I read two Psalms like this and wonder, truly wonder, if the Psalmist lives in my head!!! And I suppose that is most probably the glory of the Scripture God has left for us.  It is FOR US.  He wrote it to reveal WHO HE IS to us for our benefit of learning to live in relationship with God and others, for the possibility of being able to know God as well as our little minds allow, in order to love Him as fully as our little hearts will let us.

This Psalm.. the waffling between mourning and hope is truly where I live...

My tears have been my food day and night (42:3)... where is your God? (42:10)... my soul is cast down (42:5)... why must I walk around mournfully? (43:2)

against

HOPE IN GOD! (42:5, 11; 43:5)

Back and forth and then, the pinnacle... Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? HOPE IN GOD!  For I shall praise him, my help and my God. (42: 11; 43:5)

Sometime we have to remember there is hope even when our spirit is unsettled.  Don't argue with the hope.  It will always...always be there, somewhere. 

Philippians 4: 10-20

Paul really knows how to go to the heart of things, doesn't he?  One of the most famous verses and oft-quoted verses in the Bible is in this passage:

"I can do all things through him ~ Christ ~ who strengthens me". (13)

People love to say this to other people to encourage them to keep going, or to try something new that might seem impossible, or just because they don't know what else to say.  But I wonder how many people in quoting this actually have read the verses surrounding it. 

"For I have learned to be content with whatever I have.  I know what it is to have plenty.  I know what it is to have little. In ANY AND ALL circumstances, I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need." (11-12)

The "can do" attitude Paul describes in verse 13 has little to do with doing the impossible, but more to do with living in your circumstances and being content where you are.  Hey, it might mean doing more, but for me at least, I haven't LEARNED (and Paul uses that word twice to describe the process of being content) what it truly means to be content with little or much. 

I want to know contentment and I hazard a guess to say that some of the trying circumstances I have experienced in my life have been the process for me of learning contentment.  Granted, I am a slow learner.  But maybe, just maybe, there is a purpose to the hard things.  Paul certainly experienced his share of tough stuff... jail, beatings, hunger, homelessness, a thorn in the flesh, and on and on... and here he says "I have learned the secret"...

Oh God I pray someday I will be able to say that!

Lenten Readings for Evening

Psalm 35

David sure had alot of enemies.  Or maybe, if I think about it more, maybe he was more willing to name something or someone for what it was and then, and only then, pray for deliverance from what those who opposed his purpose in life threw at him. 

I think too many times we don't know what we're asking God to do. We're not "naming names" of the things that bind us.  We're not admitting that we really need to be delivered at all.  We just want God to make it easy and not really overcome the stuff that confronts us. 

David had real physical, in person, enemies.  His position ~ calling ~ in life made it so.  But the obstacles they put in front of him parallel what we face.  We need to call it what it is and do the work of trusting God to work with us to overcome. 

I used to read these prayers for deliverance and think "oh, I'm not in a battle so this doesn't apply to me".  As far from the truth as anything I've thought that is for sure.  God wants us to name our trials, our obstacles, our enemies (whether they be true human opposition or the things we do to ourselves) and then allow him to do His job of finding a way through, of delivering us. 

David cries (17) out to God "How long?"   I've been there.  Am there.  Sometimes it feels like the hard things just go on and on, and sometimes stuff happens, or is said in anger by someone else, and it feels like so much piling on... what's the use?  Why won't God take care of this for me?  But really... have I named it for what it is?  Am I ready for true justice?  Am I ready for how it might change me?  Or how I might need to be changed for it to happen? 

O LORD, how long?  I am sure I won't like the answer.  He's probably saying to me, "long enough for you to get it". 

Philippians 4:1-9

Rejoice in the Lord always.  Again, I say rejoice.
Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
Don't worry about ANYTHING.
In everything, give thanks.
Let your requests be known to God.

Whatever is true...and honorable...and pure...and pleasing...commendable... if there's anything excellent or worthy of praise, THINK on that.

Do what you've learned. And heard and seen. 

And God's peace which cannot be understood by my wee brain, will guard my heart and mind in Christ.

Is there anything else to say?  THIS is, in a nutshell, how I want to live.

Lent Readings for the Evening

Psalm 37: 19-40

Once again, the contrast of the future of those who do evil as opposed to those "blessed by the LORD", those who are righteous is quite stark.  The Wicked perish...vanish.  The Righteous inherit the land and are kept safe forever. But that's not all.

"Those who are blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land. Our steps are made firm by the LORD, when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the LORD holds us by the hand."

These words are such a comfort!  First, the psalmist speaks of how our steps aren't like walking on an icy path if we walk with the LORD (v. 23) , but rather, we walk firmly, holding his hand.  And even further, when we stumble ~ when things don't go exactly as they are intended ~ we don't fall flat on our faces (24) ...no...we can rest assured that His Hands are strong enough to hold us up when the path seems slippery. 

I needed to hear that today, as we face yet again, decisions regarding our future.  I desire so much to for God to delight in my ways.  I desire so much to be a blessing wherever I am.  And I fear the stumbling that has happened, and yes, will happen.  But God's Word makes it clear that there is no reason to fear. 

He holds my hand.  (24)
He will not forsake the faithful ones. (28)
He will keep the righteous safe. (29)
Our future is secure. (29)
Our steps do not slip. (31)
He is the salvation of the righteous. (39)
He is our refuge in times of trouble (39)
The LORD helps. (40)

I can handle those promises.

Philippians 3: 12-21

This letter was written by Paul to the Church in Philippi.  I have thought in the dozens of times that I have read Philippians, that I am certain I was sitting on the front row.  It's like this letter speaks to me in ways that alot of other parts of Scripture do not at this point in my life.  And this very passage is so timely as we seem to be in yet another decision making process about our future in ministry.  And couple that with my continued time of physical healing the words of verse 12 are so timely:

Not that I have already obtained this ~ 'this' being knowing Christ (v. 11) ~ or have already reached the goal, but I PRESS ON to make it my own, because Jesus Christ has made me his own.

This is a firm and timely reminder that life is a journey. And as cliche as that sounds, there is no other way to speak of it.  We never reach the goal until God says we do.  And the joy in this journey, and purpose as well, is in the 'pressing on' toward it.  What a great way to live!  There is a goal, and we get to do the work of moving toward it! 

We strain toward the prize (v. 13) , leaving all the past stuff in our wake, and look forward to what lies ahead, in the end, finally, the prize... being a citizen of Heaven (v. 20), and there, being transformed from this humiliatingly frail and fragile shell of a human into the Children of God we are created to be.

O Come.

This week is traditionally the time of Advent when we consider Joy.

I've practically been lost in The Magnificat, the song of praise Mary, the expecting mother of Jesus. This passage of Scripture found in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke moves me every time I read it (which frankly is not often enough).

Luke 1:45 are the words of her older cousing Elizabeth who is also, hope against hope, for she was barren, and miracle of miracles, for she was getting up there in years, was finally pregnant. Mary came to visit her and Elizabeth, upon Mary's arrival, felt her own child leap in her womb. She longed for a child and her prayers were answered.

And Elizabeth knew. She knew about Mary because the Holy Spirit live in her. Elizabeth, who is described as a woman who lived blameless, knew. And she said, "Mary, you are blessed ~ or maybe, will be blessed ~ because you believed that the words of the LORD would be fulfilled".

And in response, Mary's words, a beautiful hymn of praise to God found in Luke 1...

My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed
for the Mighty One has done great things for me.
His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham
and to his descendants forever.

There are so many reasons why Mary's words mean so much to me, reasons that have formed over the years. First, Mary praises so innocently and simply, basking in the promises of her Lord. I don't know if she's endured any hard thing before this major turn of events ~ getting pregnant out of wedlock a big deal here. She is very young by our standards.

Her words are innocent and simple but are fully loaded with understanding. She's not blind to what is happening to her, although I can't imagine that she understands it all. She longs for things to be made right in the world, just like everyone else does, and sees herself, finally, as a possible conduit for bringing justice to the world. That is something to rejoice! To know you lived blessed because God has asked for your help to bring about his plan of deliverance... that blessing is not something we all covet, as I imagine it for her, and I know it for me, to be not entirely free of struggle. But she is living in hope, and joyful that this day is come. I don't believe that she could know all that would happen to her, to her Son, but she was trusting here, that God would do His thing, that God would keep His promises. So she praised!

Not only are her words simple and innocent, the are prophetic. A woman prophet... gasp! For all those who think that God does not and will not use women in speaking His Words to His people, they better consider how Mary's praise is prophecy. She is telling all of us what Jesus, even as he is still a tiny babe nesting in her womb, was about to do. Again, did she completely understand it all? Probably not. I'm not sure any prophet understands every word he or she is asked to bring, but she spoke them with boldness and joy. She is a prophet, and she speaks about justice more than anything. And I firmly believe that only through justice, and knowing we are working to bring God's Kingdom to this world, and therefore, a more just world to this earth, only through justice can we truly find JOY.

And Mary's audience is not lost on me either. She is singing to her barren cousin and confidant. Yeah, Elizabeth may be "with child" but she is barren. Elizabeth I am certain knows longing and it is this exact longing, that of a child to hold and to love, to nurture and to cherish, that makes me feel this all so very much. There is nothing just about barrenness, about who gets to be a parent and who doesn't, but GOD IS JUST. And that has taught me, even though I rarely am able to express this yet, that joy comes in the realizing that God's justice does and will bring what we need in our lives, but more importantly, through us He will bring what the world ~ the bigger picture, the stuff bigger than my own barrenness ~ needs. He has chosen us, just like He chose Mary, to bring His love and life to the world. Therein lies the joy.

There is joy even in the longing. Mary says it in her words. She's not saying "this has happened" but "look at what God has put into motion! The possibilities are His and endless because He keeps His Promises and He promised to deliver us from the injustice in the world."

And that makes me cry even louder as I long for His birth to happen in my life yet again... O COME! And Let Us Rejoice!

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel...Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyrannyF
rom depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel... Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel...Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel...Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel...Shall come to thee, O Israel.
~ Latin hymn, 12th century

O Come!

Our God Comes

The virgin will be with child
and will give birth to a son,

And they will call him Immanuel ~
which means, "God with us."

You who brings good tidings to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.

You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout,

Lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,

"Here is your God!"

~ Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 40:9

O come, O come, Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lowly exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

"In Everything, Give Thanks"

I've taken some time today to think about this.... "in everything, give thanks" (1 Thess. 5:18).

in... this little word doesn't mean "after" or "when it all makes sense"... it means while it is happening. I am so not good at this. THat means when my foot hurts and the kids are screaming and Hubby isn't home yet, and I'm exhausted and it's three hours til... give thanks? Really??? In the middle of everything, whatever is happening, I should be willing to give thanks.

everything... does this mean what I think it does? How is this possible? In everything? Even when... my baby has an unknown future because of things that happened before I ever met him. Or when my sweet niece or the son of a friend aren't here with us when they should be. Or when a little guy has cancer. Or, or, or... how does it look and feel to be thankful in every situation?

give... this one I get, maybe. God doesn't beg us to give him glory for anything. It is our response to his goodness, in spite of what we see as tough circumstances in which we find ourselves. Giving happens when there's no expectation that you'll get, and no, absolutely no expectation that in the gift, you'll get something in return.

thanks... what is it, really? This is what I want to find out. We talk about giving thanks, showing gratitude, but really, what does it mean to live with an underlying gratitude for all that we have...

In Everything Give Thanks... this is how I want to live. But how?