Welcome: An Introduction

Sharing the insights I discover as I explore and experience the mystery that is our reality. Join me in my journey and share yours.




Monday, June 27, 2011

Who is Your Delilah? (Guest Post!)

Being away on vacation has left me short on time when it comes to my blogging pursuits and I was very fortunate when blogger,  William Meli, agreed to write a guest post. I encourage you to visit his blog, "A Kingdom Reflection", here:  http://akingdomreflection.blogspot.com/    His posts are full of insights and reflections that are thought provoking and inspire those who read them to develop a deeper walk with God.



Today's post carries an important message and leaves us with some reflective questions to ask ourselves when it comes to the people we allow in our lives to influence us.



Enjoy! Please feel free to leave leave your comments and thoughts in the comments section!




Who is your Delilah?
Who is your Delilah?

After feeling prompted to read the story of Samson from the Bible recently, "Lord, you mean the guy with really long hair?" I was surprised how much I received from the short story after reading it a couple of times.

The story of Samson and Delilah
   Samson dates a girl named Delilah whose name means feeble. Anytime a name is mentioned in the Bible, its meaning relates to the person's character. In this instance, Delilah means feeble which means someone who is morally weak. We could probably stop here, "Don't date or associate with anyone who is morally weak" but we would miss a great story.
   So, everyone knows that Samson is the strongest man around, probably had to do with the fact that he killed a thousand men with a donkey's jawbone earlier in the story. So, a group of men bribe Delilah with lots of cash to find out where Samson's strength comes from so she keeps pestering and pestering Samson to tell her his secret; and so the term "Gold Digger" is created for the first time. The first time, Samson tells Delilah that if he is tied up with fresh bowstrings he will lost his strength. So, Delilah waits for Samson to fall asleep, ties him up, allows the Philistines, Samson's enemies, into her house, wakes Samson up and discovers that Samson is lying to her, after Samson easily breaks the bowstrings. This goes on two more times. What is Samson thinking? He wakes up on three separate occasions to realize that his girlfriend wants him dragged off to jail. I think Samson would be a good candidate for The Bachelor.
   Finally, in Judges 15 - 16 Then she (Delilah) said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies." She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it.
   Samson finally tells her the truth, he gets his strength from his hair which has never been cut, so Delilah cuts his hair when he falls asleep, he loses his strength, and he is dragged away by his enemies to be tortured and imprisoned; what a caring and thoughtful girlfriend. Samson is eventually imprisoned, his eyes gouged out, and is made fun of of in front of his enemies.

So, "Who or what is your Delilah?" What, or who, in your life, is…
• Taking away your strength little by little?
• Holding you back from your destiny and life's vision?
• What are you allowing in your life that you are sick to death of that you are refusing to let go of?
• What are you putting up with today that one or two years ago you would have dismissed in your life?

What are the consequences of putting up with a Delilah in your life…

• The eventual loss of your vision and life's calling (Samson was called from birth to a particular task but Delilah derailed his life's vision and he paid for it with his eyesight and his life).
• You will eventually be worn down to the point of putting up with things you would normally not put up with (Samson allowed Delilah to try to tie him up three times before he told her his secret).
o Toxic friendships and relationships will do that to you.

What to do, what to do…Get rid of those things in your life, those habits, or those toxic relationships that are wearing you down little by little. You know you need to and your life will be so much better once you do!
After feeling prompted to read the story of Samson from the Bible recently, "Lord, you mean the guy with really long hair?" I was surprised how much I received from the short story after reading it a couple of times.

The story of Samson and Delilah

Samson dates a girl named Delilah whose name means feeble. Anytime a name is mentioned
in the Bible, its meaning relates to the person's character. In this instance, Delilah means feeble which means someone who is morally weak. We could probably stop here, "Don't date or associate with anyone who is morally weak" but we would miss a great story.

So, everyone knows that Samson is the strongest man around, probably had to do with the fact that he killed a thousand men with a donkey's jawbone earlier in the story. So, a group of men bribe Delilah with lots of cash to find out where Samson's strength comes from so she keeps pestering and pestering Samson to tell her his secret; and so the term "Gold Digger" is created for the first time.

The first time, Samson tells Delilah that if he is tied up with fresh bowstrings he will lost his strength. So, Delilah waits for Samson to fall asleep, ties him up, allows the Philistines, Samson's enemies, into her house, wakes Samson up and discovers that Samson is lying to her, after Samson easily breaks the bowstrings. This goes on two more times. What is Samson thinking? He wakes up on three separate occasions to realize that his girlfriend wants him dragged off to jail. I think Samson would be a good candidate for The Bachelor.
Finally, in Judges 15 - 16 Then she (Delilah) said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and have not told me where your great strength lies." She tormented him with her nagging day after day until he was sick to death of it.
Samson finally tells her the truth, he gets his strength from his hair which has never been cut, so Delilah cuts his hair when he falls asleep, he loses his strength, and he is dragged away by his enemies to be tortured and imprisoned; what a caring and thoughtful girlfriend. Samson is eventually imprisoned, his eyes gouged out, and is made fun of of in front of his enemies.

So, "Who or what is your Delilah?" What, or who, in your life, is…
• Taking away your strength little by little?
• Holding you back from your destiny and life's vision?
• What are you allowing in your life that you are sick to death of that you are refusing to let go of?
• What are you putting up with today that one or two years ago you would have dismissed in your life?

What are the consequences of putting up with a Delilah in your life…

• The eventual loss of your vision and life's calling (Samson was called from birth to a particular task but Delilah derailed his life's vision and he paid for it with his eyesight and his life).
• You will eventually be worn down to the point of putting up with things you would normally not put up with (Samson allowed Delilah to try to tie him up three times before he told her his secret).
o Toxic friendships and relationships will do that to you.

What to do, what to do…Get rid of those things in your life, those habits, or those toxic relationships that are wearing you down little by little. You know you need to and your life will be so much better once you do!

Friday, June 24, 2011

Moment in Time: A Friday Tradition

This Moment
"A single photo – no words – capturing a simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."
“This Moment” is a ritual found on Life inspired by theWee Man adopted from SouleMama which was introduced to me by Sarah-Jane. If you find yourself touched by a Moment and would like to participate, post your picture on a Friday and leave your link in the comments section.
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

A Glimpse inside The Simple Way: Be Inspired!

The video below is a short series of interviews with a number of individuals who experienced some time living and volunteering at The Simple Way in Philadelphia, PA. The Simple Way is small monastic community that was started by Shane Claiborne and conspires to " ... spread the vision of 'Loving God, Loving People, and Following Jesus' in our neighborhoods and in our world."~ www.thesimpleway.org

I first became aware of Shane Claiborne when his book,"Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical", was referred to me by a friend.  It is the kind of book that, upon reading it, you find yourself completely changed. Personally after I was done reading it I was no longer satisfied with merely knowing about Jesus, I wanted to live like him. I wanted to experience reaching out to others with the radical love and compassion that our Savior demonstrated and that the Bible calls us to live out in our own lives.


Please enjoy the video and be inspired! I highly recommend his book and would love your thoughts and comments! Thank you!





Tuesday, June 21, 2011

One Thousand Gifts: Book Review

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are [Book]




Ann Voskamp, in her book One Thousand Gifts, takes us through her personal voyage into discovering the path to experiencing the fullness of joy and peace that only God can bring us in our lives.  Having experienced a tragic childhood event that carved grooves of pain deep within her subconscious, it's aftershocks manifesting itself in adolescence and adulthood through the form of nearly deabhilitatiing anxiety and panic attacks, she decides to accept a dare from a friend that would cause her life to change forever. The dare? To write a list of one thousand blessings. One thousand gifts that she discovered through her ordinary moments of life that reveal the love of God and His glory. 

She experiences the power and transformation that goes along with the process of identifying the presence and manifestation of God's glory in the details of life that are often overlooked.


"All I can see, think, is that my whim writing of one thousand gratitudes, the naming of the moments-this is a holy work...Naming is to know a thing's function in the cosmos-to name is to solve mystery. In naming that which is right before me, that which I'd otherwise miss, the invisible becomes visible. The space that spans my inner emptiness fills in the naming. I name. And I know the face I face. God's! God is in the details; God is in the moment. God is in all that blurs by in a life-even hurts in a life."        p. 54


The greatest lesson that Voskamp learns in developing an  awareness of the blessings that abound in life is that of thankfulness-eucharisteo. She comes to the conclusion that the dare of listing one thousand blessings is "language lessons in eucharisteo". "Thanks is what multiplies the joy and makes any life large", Voskamp writes, " Learn how to be thankful-whether empty or full."  Throughout the book she is reminded of a revelation she learns early on, that "eucharisteo precedes the miracle". When we thank God for the things in our life, no matter how antithetical they may seem to be to peace and joy, an amazing thing happens; a miracle. The fruit of peace and joy are born amidst situations and circumstances where it would seem initially impossible to feel anything but darkness.  We can choose joy by first becoming thankful, which in turn, conceives joy.

" While I may not always feel joy, God asks me to give thanks in all things, because He knows that the feeling of joy begins in the action of thanksgiving."
           p. 176

Voskamp is not afraid to tackle the deep theological questions that believers can oftentimes wrestle with: the existence of pain and suffering that is so prevalent in the world.  She probes such areas with a delicate grace as she draws out the positive from the pain and misery. She finds the taste of honey that is God's glory amidst the bitterness of life.


Voskamp, being a homeschooling mother of six, certainly appeals to readers who are mothers themselves and seek to find God's voice within the pandemonium and chaos of little feet and hands continually stirring about. Her book, though, is applicable to any reader who has sought to discover the presence and reality of God through life's ordinary moments.


She displays a writing style of her own that is unique and intriguing and often flows in a stream-of-consciousness-type format.  This book is a refreshing read and even if you don't decide to make your own list of "one thousand gifts" you will no doubt finish this book with a greater awareness of the blessings that surround you and a new sense of gratitude for the great love of God.


Any thoughts? I'd love to hear them! Please leave them in the comments section! 

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Memories for Sale

My husband and I have need of a new lawn mower so, having read in the paper that there was a town-wide tag sale today, we decided to drive down a few streets and see if anybody happened to be selling one. Most places we drove by seemed to have nothing we were interested in. We decided to try one last stop, a house that was having an estate sale. I had never really walked into another person's house before for such a purpose but I have to say it was an odd feeling.






The woman's mother had passed away and I couldn't help but think of how it must feel to see people tritely handling articles of clothing and furniture that were once touched by the loving hands that you could no longer hold again. Mirrors that once reflected a face that smiled down at you since childhood  being examined critically by passersby.  Wallpaper that had been adored by the woman who spent time admiring their designs, scrutinized. The fabric on clothing and furniture, bearing imperfect scars, the wood on shelves and tables with their deep grooves, all telling of a time when life pulsated through this house with its own energy, creating memories in the hearts of those who trod barefoot down its halls. 

I walked along the hallway passing rooms on either side and was drawn deeper into the heart of the house ending up in the bedroom. I could sense that this was a place the woman's mother spent most of her time towards the end. Scattered on the bed were old Catholic daily devotional publications and papers. One paper, small and folded, laying in a heap of many others, had happened to catch my eye. I picked it up and was only able to read a few lines before my husband came in and reminded me we were short on time. It was said that anything in the room was free so I hastily tucked the single piece of paper in my pocket and left.

I just opened it a moment ago and finally had the opportunity to read it in its entirety. It is a poem which some of you might recognize, though I was unfamiliar with until just a few minutes ago. I wonder how often this woman had read it, for the edges are tattered and there have been many folds impressed in its yellowing paper, as if she had folded it different ways on different occasions.


Here it is:


The Difference


I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish, I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me and grew heavier with each task;
Why doesn't God help me, I wondered; He answered, "You didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty, but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn't show me - He said, "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence; I used all my keys at the lock;
God gently and lovingly chided, "My child, you didn't knock."

I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.

by Grace L. Naessens

This woman whose name I will never know blessed me with a poem that declares a message of tremendous significance. To start the new day with prayer and to continue my waking hours conversing with God. To ask, to seek and to knock at the door of His throne room. That's the formula to gain entrance into the heart of God and to open up to greater depths of His love and reality- to maintain an active and experiential relationship with our holy and compassionate God, who loves us and gives us His all.


I'd love to know your thoughts. Please share them in the comments section! Thank you!

Friday, June 17, 2011

This Moment: A Friday Tradition

This Moment
"A single photo – no words – capturing a simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."
“This Moment” is a ritual found on Life inspired by theWee Man adopted from SouleMama which was introduced to me by Sarah-Jane. If you find yourself touched by a Moment and would like to participate, post your picture on a Friday and leave your link in the comments section.
 
 
 
 

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Faith's Journey Into Experience


"No matter how much you know the Bible, no matter how much you discipline yourself, no matter how hard you try to serve and please God, if you are not properly related to the Spirit of God, the Christian life will not work for you. That's because the Christian life is not a ritual or a set of teachings but a relationship-a relationship with God through His Holy Spirit."
                                ~ Robert Heidler








Those words resonated within me as I can relate to them from an experiential perspective. They came from a book I recently started, Experiencing the Spirit, by Robert Heidler. In his book, Heidler, using Scripture as his guide, shows reasons why there is an absolute necessity for every believer to have an active and personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, the often overlooked third person of the Trinity. To experience the fullness of God's presence we must discover God within us, Who has dwelt within hearts since the moment we first believed.

When I first came to Christ it was a time of great joy and peace in my life.  Many fears I had experienced dissolved as I clung to the cross in trust and obedience, laying everything down and fixing my eyes on Jesus. I was taught the historical perspective of what Jesus came to do, and what he still does, in our lives. How he ministered to people, showing us the path to love, compassion and redemption. I accepted all of this with great fervor and faith. It seemed as if I ended up, over time, knowing much about Jesus and the Father, but very little about the Spirit other then what was mentioned in Scripture. And though the Spirit is mentioned in abundance within God's Word, I never drew a parallel between the Spirit of God being applicable in a tangible way in my faith or life, nor was taught any such notions. Never emphasized was the amazing source of peace and communion with God the Spirit offers us to be, if only we awaken to the reality of His presence. Practicing the presence of God within was something hardly mentioned, if it was mentioned even at all I cannot recall.

A little over a year ago I began to wrestle mightily with a sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction in my faith and walk with God. Theological questions began to consume my thoughts and a deep desire of peace that I couldn't find haunted me.  How could I feel so alone and yet be a child of God? Where was God and why couldn't I hear or sense Him in my time of need? Doubt began to infect my faith and I started reaching out to other philosophies to see if I could find peace by other means, so desperate I was to cling to something for comfort. God just wasn't cutting it.

This is why I could relate to the above passage from Heidler. There was a time when the Christian life was just not "working out" for me and I wasn't sure why. It was a dark time in my faith. A time when I felt tested and I felt like I was failing the test. It wasn't until, through a process of grappling at all the resources I could find, reading from various sources coming from a plethora of perspectives, that I came across the concept of practicing the presence of God. I came across the concept of finding Him in the present moment, of  contemplative prayer and this opened my heart and senses to the internal awareness of His presence.

When I felt the deep peace that surpasses all understanding that God offers all of us everything changed. My angst over theological questions was immediately lifted. A love poured through my heart that sparked an intense desire and thirst for His Word, which in turn, led to more amazing experiences of His infinite and compassionate presence. I came to know why Scripture refers to God's love as being better than life, a concept that used to baffle, even disturb my past cynical mind. When before, trials having made me bitter, separation from God having numbed me, I had read the Bible as more of a skeptic then a believer.  Now I read it as if they were the very words written by the lover of my soul. For they truly are!

Heidler's book introduces some concepts that are entirely new to me in what a believer in Christ is capable of doing through the power of God's Spirit within.  Perhaps some of you are a lot more knowledgeable about some of the topics the book presents than someone like me, who comes almost exclusively from an evangelical protestant perspective with the exception of what I've studied on my own over the past year, which has been primarily contemplative prayer.

Heidler's book doesn't really go into contemplative prayer but more into revealing through New Testament accounts of what the Spirit was capable of doing through believers-healing, impartation, deliverance, speaking in tongues and showing that these same manifestations of God's power are done today and  can be experienced and are applicable to any believer in Christ.

If any of you have ever wrestled with your faith and came out stronger at the end, I'd love to hear your experience and what helped you get through the dark period of your faith. If you are presently struggling with your faith it would be my honor and pleasure to pray for you. I've been there, it's not fun! Also, if any of you have any opinions/experiences on some of the topics that Hediler presents in his book, I'd love to know your thoughts. 

Comments are always appreciated! Thank you :)



Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Serving the Stranger Among Us

In his Rule for monastic community, Benedict of Nursia wrote, "Any guest who happens to arrive at the monastery should be recieved just as we would recieve Christ himself, because he promised that on the last day he will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Proper respect should be shown to everyone while a special welcome is reserved for those who are the household of our Christian faith and for pilgrims. As soon as the arrival of a guest is announced, the superior and members of the community should hurry to offer a welcome with warm-hearted courtesy. First of all, they should pray together so as to seal their encounter in  the peace of Christ. Prayer should come first and then the kiss of peace, so to evade any delusions which the devil may contrive."
              
 ~ Book of Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, Shane Claiborne






Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the stories of hospitilality that I read on the travel blogs I frequent. My fellow bloggers who have backpacked across the terrains of distant shores are welcomed with open arms into the homes of strangers. Oftentimes, those who welcome them into their homes have very little material belongings themselves and it is truly a sacrifice to invite their foreign guests into their humble abodes, sharing the little resources they have. Yet, they do it with joy and see it as an honor, offering them the choice portions of food and even in some cases shelter for a night or two.

It seems that, at least here where I live in New England, if a stranger knocks on one's door for help or provisions, they are more likely to be met with a response of having the door remain closed and locked while the police are hastily called! There are some very valid reasons for people to distrust those that come knocking at their doors unannounced. For sure, there are criminals out there ready to take advantage of the gullible and unsuspecting, ready to spread their malice and darkness in an already dark world.

The fact is, most of us don't have backpackers from distant lands wandering through our neighborhoods. But we certainly see strangers among us that are in need of help, of charity, of hope. They are on our streets holding signs, huddled under bridges, lined up outside soup kitchens. Sometimes they are even our own neighbors, those we avoid getting to know, that have needs, that have broken homes and broken lives and so desperately need the light and love of Christ to shatter the chains that bind them to misery.

Perhaps we aren't always given the opportunity to be hospitable in the form of welcoming foreign travellers into our homes, but just as important, we are called to welcome the strangers that dwell among us into our hearts and respond towards them with love, compassion and hospitality. God's love is infinite and unconditional and as we conform more and more into the likeness of Jesus, our capacity of compassion increases, and the Spirit provides us with the confidence to break out of our comfort zones and live out the attributes of Christ. Compassion and love are not just abstract terms, but they are indeed verbs, action words to be lived out, not just believed in or discussed.

Whenever I think of serving others I am reminded of these verses in Matthew, which many of you will recognize. These are the very verses that Benedict of Nursia is referring to in the above passage and they relate to us very clearly who we serve when we serve strangers. :



Matthew 25:34-40

 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
   37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
   40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.


Whatever material blessings we have are not our own, but God's. Through Him and in Him we are given all things. Gifts are meant to be passed on. We are blessed so that we may bless others in return. When God allows us to bless those among us through the blessings He's given us it brings glory to Him and shines light into the hearts of others.

 Am I shining the light of hope and love that God has planted within my heart through the workings of His Spirit to others? Am I serving the strangers that I encounter in my life? Am I walking like Jesus did...with mindful compassion and empathy? Are you?  


I confess that these are questions and reflections I haven't had in my Christian walk until recently.  Many churches, including some of the ones I've gone to in the past, seem to hardly address this aspect of our faith, of the necessity to actively serve others.  I find this strange considering the emphasis that Scripture puts towards conforming ourselves into the image of Christ. Jesus was the purest example of a servant. Mark 10:45 describes Jesus' role this way: 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."  



It took reading the gospels again, with a renewed Spirit, to have the eyes of my heart truly opened and inspired by these truths. I am not walking perfectly in them yet, but pray to live them out more and more as I grow in Christ. I think we all have precious gifts that we can share with others, the strangers among us and those familiar and intimate in our lives. May we all strive to do so.

Any thoughts? Comments? I would love to hear them! Please leave them in the comments section. Thank you :)

Saturday, June 11, 2011

When Fire Came Down

Churches all across the globe will be celebrating Pentecost today. Pentecost marks the time after Jesus' ascension when the Holy Spirit came down from heaven and filled the hearts of Jesus' apostles and followers. Many call it the Church's birthday. It was an amazing event and demonstrated the great love and faithfulness of our Father. 



Acts 2:1-4

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.



 



When  Jesus ascended he had physically left those he walked with on earth but when the Spirit descended, there was no longer a separation between man and God. God's Spirit came to dwell in the center of our souls and is continually welcoming us to awaken a relationship with Him Who dwells within.


The story of Pentecost can be found in chapter two of the book of Acts. It's a touching account that shows the power of the presence of God. I invite all of you to read it here:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%202&version=NIV


After reading chapter two today, to reflect on the significance of Pentecost, something struck me. It was the response to Peter's commands of those who received Christ that first day of Pentecost.   After instructing them to repent and be baptized he told them to “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”


What was the response to those who wished to receive the Holy Spirit?


42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.



The first thing that I found significant is the theme of community. They broke bread and prayed together.  Not only were they in fellowship with one another but they seemed to be in pure unity.  (44) All the believers were together and had everything in common.  

Wow! Can you imagine what the Church would look like today if we could say that of her? That we "had everything in common"? Something tells me if that were the case today we would be doing a great many more acts of charity, spreading more peace and love in this world. There would be a lot more glimpses of heaven on earth.

Their second response was (45) They sold their possessions to give to anyone that had need.  This was a sure sign of influence of the Spirit in their hearts. God calls us continually throughout the Old and the New Testament to have compassion for those suffering and in need. Not only does it show that the love of God, pouring through their hearts is manifesting Himself in their deeds but it also is a sign of them denying their own selves, their attachments, the "stuff" of this world and to cling to the promises and the presence of God first and foremost.


So that makes me wonder....what is my response to God's call for me? What is your response? Are we, in gratitude for the gifts of the Spirit and the Spirit himself dwelling in our hearts, letting God's love manifest in our lives, in our actions?  Are we denying the transient and fleeting things that are culture has to offer to pursue those blessings that are eternal? Are we stepping past our comfort zones to help the poor and the suffering?

I know I could be doing more. Perhaps most of us could be. It's a process...conforming less to this world and more into Christ's image.  I do know the Spirit, that dwells within our hearts, is their to guide us, to teach us.  Jesus himself told us that, "26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. "


Each of us has the discernment and power to help change this world and bring hope to the hopeless, good news to the poor and to bind the brokenhearted. (Isaiah 61:1) We have a way of becoming light in this world and also to experience a peace that surpasses all understanding.  We have the divine presence of God within us. He's just waiting for our minds to sweep the clutter from it's corridors and leave them bare so that He can fill every passageway. When we empty ourselves He fills us- with His promises of peace, instructions, love and discernment. 

Let's observe this day in gratitude as we celebrate the Church's first birthday. May the Spirit act in amazing ways throughout the Body this day, spurring the hearts of all towards reconciliation with each other and a zealous fervor to demonstrate Christ's love and compassion throughout our world.

Thoughts? I'd love to hear them! Please leave them in the Comments section.

Friday, June 10, 2011

This Moment: A Friday Tradition


This Moment
"A single photo – no words – capturing a simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."
“This Moment” is a ritual found on Life inspired by theWee Man adopted from SouleMama which was introduced to me by Sarah-Jane. If you find yourself touched by a Moment and would like to participate, post your picture on a Friday and leave your link in the comments section.



Thursday, June 9, 2011

The Fruit of Unity

I recently watched a great video highlighting the collaboration of various churches and organizations in Philadelphia, PA who had banned together to help protect the rights of the homeless in their city. A bill had been introduced to give police more flexibility in issuing citations and arresting those who are experiencing homelessness. Many times cities do this to try to get the homeless off the streets to make their city "look" better to tourists, etc. and increase revenue. This is no way to solve a problem, for it is no solution at all.

Due to the overwhelming response from Christian organizations and churches the bill did not succeed. It reminded me of how God calls us, within the Body of Christ, to have unity with one another. When we work in harmony and recognize the elements that we have in common, and agree to disagree on the differences, anything can be achieved. For when our eyes and hearts are fixed on God, our hands joined together and all parts of the Body are aligned and functioning properly, anything is possible. For when God is for us, what can possibly stand against us?

The fruit that was born through the unity of these churches banning together was the promotion of compassion and empathy. They dropped their potential doctrinal differences for the pursuit of peace and to shine the light of Christ among the poor, letting them know that they have advocates. Letting them experience the love of Christ in action.

Below is the video. I found it inspiring and would love to hear your thoughts! 







Some verses that speak of unity:


Ephesians 4:2-62 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Psalm 133:11 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

John 17:2323 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

1 Corinthians 1:1010 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.



Any thoughts? I'd love to hear them! Please leave them in the comments section. Thank you!

Monday, June 6, 2011

The Freedom to Forgive


"Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door to resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness."

                               ~ Corrie ten Boom, Holocaust survivor







I thought those were beautiful words of truth and simply amazing considering the source they came from. The Holocaust stands out in history as one of the most tragic times in our not so distant past. Where hate, fear and ignorance and the desire for dominance and control swept over a continent; leaving in its wake a tremendous amount of death, pain and suffering. Many of us wouldn't even blame a person who had experienced the reality of a concentration camp and had witnessed their loved ones being tortured, starved and killed,  to hold resentment and bitterness towards their past captors.

And yet...and yet....look at the words of Corrie ten Boom. Wow. They echo Grace. They resound with the love of our Maker and His stamp, sealed firmly on her heart, is evident in her beautiful words of reconciliation

I've recently read through Romans, and the attitude of faith that Corrie displays reminds me of how God calls us to conform our characters to be more like Christ's.  Paul gives us some instructions on how to live out a life of grace and love:

Romans 12:9-21

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[a] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.[b] Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it[c] to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


The one thing that I've found in scripture that God sanctions us to hate is evil. Evil did reign in the concentration camps, suffocating the minds and consciences of the Nazis with unspeakable darkness. We are called to hate that evil, but not the individuals who've been infected by that evil, simply the evil itself. We are not to stoop down to the level of those that hurt us and lash back using their means, but to leave vengeance to the Lord. It doesn't mean that we can't resist or defend ourselves, but God doesn't want us caught up in the cycle of hate towards those who wrong us, which indeed can sow dark seeds, bearing bitter fruit. To repay evil with evil just spreads more evil. We are to cast our lights into the world, not help darkness grow.  And to cast our lights, that means we must forgive, for God forgives our every sin and our daily rejections of His grace and mercy that we commit, oftentimes unknowingly through forms of pride.

This is certainly a topic that can be uncomfortable to address for many of us have been wounded greatly at the hands of others. It's so easy to harbor bitterness in our grief and pain. I think that perhaps the most important thing to remember is that God wants us to be free. He wants us to walk in freedom, truth and love. He  holds the keys that unlock the door to healing. Those keys were brought to us through the blood of Jesus. All we need to do is open our hands in humility to receive those keys and they will unlock the door to the pathways of peace and the liberation from suffering. And from my understanding, that's the best way to get back at our enemies; to prosper in life and bear abundant fruit.

We can have the freedom to forgive others, knowing that whatever we might have been able to do to them to act out and try to "get back" at the pain they gave us, is nothing compared to the consequences that they will receive from our God if, when they perish,  they have continued to walk in their dark paths and rejected His love and truth. We can be assured that not only is our God a God of love and compassion but He is also one of Justice, and Justice will always prevail.

Any thoughts? I'd love to hear them. Please leave them in the comments section below. Thank you :)


Thursday, June 2, 2011

This Moment: A Friday Tradition

This Moment
"A single photo – no words – capturing a simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."
“This Moment” is a ritual found on Life inspired by theWee Man adopted from SouleMama which was introduced to me by Sarah-Jane. If you find yourself touched by a Moment and would like to participate, post your picture on a Friday and leave your link in the comments section.
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

"Advancing the Kingdom": A trip Home/Vanderbijlpark, South Africa


Today's article in the series "Advancing the Kingdom" comes from fellow blogger, Nelieta Mishchenko. Her travel blog always has an amazing way of taking me to another place and sometimes another time. I encourage you to visit her site, you are bound to leave it knowing a bit more than when you first visited :   http://nelietatravellingadventures.blogspot.com       

In the following post Nelieta relates her experience of returning back to her hometown, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, and witnessing the dramatic change that it has experienced since her childhood years. Neighboorhoods that were once beautiful and safe are now devasted by crime and poverty. Churches that once thrived with vibrant communites are now desolate.

Nelieta shares with us the story of how one man, amidst huge obstacles, refused to give up on those around him. He had been personally touched with healing and hope through the power of God and sought to manifest the light of Christ to those suffering in his community. He truly serves as an inspiration to all who hear his story of how any of us, no matter how seemingly limited, can make a huge difference in our communities and the individual lives of others. Bringing hope, bringing joy. All the pictures in the article come from Nelieta's trip to her hometown and her experience with an unlikely hero. Here's her story:




"Moments" sometimes punch you in the stomach and leave you breathless. I've had my moments. I remember a visit to a concentration camp in Germany, a battlefield in France and standing in front of the great pyramids. 

The story I want to share with you is about life. A story about miracles and hope. The story of Cor, a blind man, whose eyes were touched by the Hands of God.

Can you imagine spending your days in darkness with no more than a flicker of light every now and then? God works in mysterious ways. When Cor prayed for an improvement to his eyesight, God answered his prayers and gave him 20%. Some people would argue and say that a 10% improvement is hardly a miracle. For Cor it was. Now he could see shapes and make out people. But the true miracle was yet to come.


He was so grateful for what God had done for him and wanted to give back to the community. The neighbourhood where Cor lives is run by drug dealers, prostitutes and shady characters. Many homeless people hang out there. Poor people of all race and color. People that the world had turned their back on. Closed the curtain. Shut the door.

It is impossible for one person to change the world but one person can make the world of a difference.

Instinctively he knew what had to be done. He wanted to prepare a home-cooked meal every day and feed the hungry. This was easier said than done.  Where would the food come from? Where would he cook it? He lived in a very small apartment and didn't he doesn'thave the space or finances. But God provided and quickly donations were rolling in. Biker clubs were helping. accept any money. Pots, cutlery and eventually a freezer was donated. Word spread and the lines became longer. More people to feed. At night people from the neighborhood would help him to peel the vegetables.


Some days the lines were very long with a lot of mouths to feed. They would start to panic. Will the food be enough to feed them all? But you know what? The food were always enough with second helpings for those who wanted more. You want to tell me this is not a miracle?






We arrived just before 10 am on a sunny Thursday morning. A lump was forming in my throat when I saw how this once beautiful neighbourhood had deteriorated. I remember driving past here every day to school on my bicycle. Around the corner is the church where I was christened. It has closed it doors due to the fact that people were not going to church any more. I still remember the last time I was there. When did all of this happen or was I also one of the people who have turned my back on it all?

People were already hanging around, waiting. Cor knew we were coming so we headed over to greet him. He is a very tall men with gentle features. I told him that I wanted to write about this amazing project that he had undertaken. Some people went back inside the building when I took my camera out. They were ashamed to be photographed in a line, asking for food. This was understandable. If this was me, I imagine I would feel the same.
I respected their privacy.

The caretaker came out and asked me if I was from the Press. She was not friendly but warmed up when I told her that I grew up here and now live in Argentina. I had no intention to embarrass anyone. She told me about how this neighbourhood had changed over the last couple of years. Soon more people joined the conversation and pointed out the pimps and drug dealers. They explained to me how drugs exchange hands every day. How corrupt the
police force is.

The conversation moved on to the food and the people outside. They are regulars. Some days more than 60 people come to eat here. One woman told me how children stand in line to eat. That nearly broke my heart. From here they move on the Red Cross or the hospital where they also get something to eat. But they all tell me that the food is by far the best here. Cor is very particular about the food. They get a balanced, home-cooked meal. The food is clean and well prepared. He takes pride in that.  There are no food on Sunday. That is the day when he rests.


It was time. The pots were carried out one by one and placed on a table.  The people were forming a line. It was time to pray.




 This food shelter was not about a specific religion. You did not have to be Catholic or Protestant to get food. I liked that. I watched the people. I got handed a plate to taste the food. By now it was difficult to hide my tears. As I was talking to Cor and the other people I pretended to have sun in my eyes. Fact was, I was crying. I was so humbled by what I have seen. I quietly thanked God that I never had been in this situation. I thanked God that I always had food to eat. An unbelievable sadness came over me. Something that I couldn't
explain. I felt like hugging all the people and sob like a little child but I kept my pose.
After everyone had eaten they washed their own dishes. The water was thrown in the drain and the cutlery counted. People left. It was time to go.

I gave Cor a hug and told him what a wonderful thing he was doing for the people. I got the impression that it was the other way round.

                                       Nelieta with her mother-in-law visiting Cor's outside soup kitchen.