Re-focused

Re-focused

"I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:38 NIV

"I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said." These words sound strong, heroic and faithful, especially when you consider that they came from a teenage girl. I wonder if Mary knew about the impending ridicule and the danger that lie ahead. Or, had she merely spoken out of naive youth? Either way, Mary's trust for God would lead her on an incomparable adventure that would pierce her own heart (Luke 2:35).

On the surface trust for God might seem noble, but it can be a dangerous thing too. Or in other words, when we trust God, we place our selves in harms way. I read that Mother Teresa said, "God, you would have more friends if you treated the ones you have a little better." On the surface of faith, we might utter pretty prayers and expect God to be kind in return. Little do we realize that for some, God might require a time of imprisonment or to suffer an indignity or illness. And when we are in discomfort or in the grip of pain we may have to twist our lips to say that, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

I think we experience disappointment with God because of false expectations. We go to Him hoping for riches and the removal of life’s difficulties. Truth is; we have forgotten that God’s primary mission is not our comfort, but to save the lost. And He will go to outlandish lengths to accomplish His task, even to a cross! When we have remembered the mission of God, though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, whether in sorrow or in peace, we will gracefully say that, “I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said, for this is well with my soul.”

Looking For God

Looking For God

If you seek him, he will be found by you. 1 Chronicles 28:9b NIV

I know a person that has been regularly going to church for about sixty years. When asked about Jesus her prompt reply is that, "God and I are okay, but I have a problem with the son." In her opinion, the New Testament writers cannot be trusted. It isn't possible for Jesus to have been... well, Jesus. Apparently, the Christ in scripture is just too hard to take. He makes too many wild claims of himself to be considered trustworthy.

Through my friend, I now see that one can know and do religious things without ever having encountered Christ. Even more so, in the absence of a real encounter, most people will play dress up on Christ to make him more pliable; that is to dial him down to something more accommodating. It seems to me that in order to find Christ, one has to have their own Damascus Road experience. Like Paul, we need to be illuminated by Christ. We need him to heal our spiritual ears so we can hear him speak to us. And we need him to injure us in some way to make us more amenable to godly truth.

I had hoped that seeking God would be less troublesome, sort of like a stroll through the tulips. But I have observed in my own walk that I am always in need of illumination, always in need of his words and unfortunately, always in need of godly induced injuries that ultimately push me along as I seek Him out. I need the flowers and the thorns to help me as I rummage around, looking for God.

My search hasn’t been what I expected. But I believe the end result will be the realization that while I have searched high and low for God, He has always held me safely in His hands.

One Minute

One Minute

Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and
song. Psalm 95:2NIV

I don’t know about you, but this month has been stressful. And as we
head into December I only expect the pressure to increase. More tasks
have to be completed at breakneck speed while at work. There are tasks
around the house that need to be completed in preparation for visiting
family and friends. There is shopping, cooking and whatever it is we do
to prepare for family that we have not seen since last year.
With all of this stuff happening, is there room for God?

I know people that think we should get up at 4:00 AM to have prayer
with God, and if that is your thing, please continue. But if I am up at
4:00 AM, it means my Lunesta is no longer working. Some people think
you need no less than an hour to commune with God. Again,
if that is your thing, please keep going and remember me in your
prayers. I find it difficult to stay mentally centered on anything for
more than twenty minutes, so an hour prayer is probably not going to
happen. I’ll probably be sleep before the timer strikes ten minutes...

I have a weird sort of suggestion in these troubled and busy times;
give God sixty seconds. Forget about the stuff you need because our
Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask. Forget about the
bills, the problems, and that pile of work for sixty seconds. Don’t
worry; they will still be there when you are done. Go to God with
THANKSGIVING and a heart that is singing his praise for a mere sixty
seconds. I think that praising God, especially during difficult times,
is what shows God that we really love him for who he is, and not for
what he supplies. I think worshiping God even during inopportune times
centers our being on what is important. I think the paramount thing is
that Jesus died for us and we get to commune with God, even if it is for
only sixty seconds. Praise God! Praise God and thank you Father. Amen.