Happy Spring Break!
Recently, in a morning devotion I read of a time back when electricity was first being introduced to a little Scottish village, almost everybody in a particular church switched from the propane lanterns to electricity just as soon as it could be hooked up. However, the oldest couple in the congregation couldn't get their electricity because they were waiting for the poles to go up and the wire to be strung. So they continued to use their propane lanterns.
The day finally came when the electricity was brought into their home. Everyone came for the festive event. Teh old man waited for it to get extra dark; then he told his wife to go turn on the switch. When she did, the light filled the room, and everyone rejoiced. The old man grinned from ear to ear, picked up a propane lamp and said, "It sure makes lighting my lamps easier." And with that he lit a lamp, and his wife turned off the electricity.
We can be like that sometimes, can't we? We can't see the light for need to hang on to the darkness in our lives. Christ sheds His holy light into the dark recesses of our hearts and lives and sometimes we decide we'd rather keep those places hidden. We decide that we only want the light of Christ to shine in the selective sections of our soul. Are there areas of your life where you are more afraid of the light than you are of the dark?
The Bible tells us that we cannot hide from God (Jeremiah 23:24) and that even the darkness is as light to Him (Psalm 139:11-12). As Christians, we do not hold onto the darkness of our lives and live in the darkness...as that is not faithful to the calling of our Lord. John 3:19-21 says, "...the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." Even 1Thessalonians 5:5 says, "For you are children of the light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness."
Whatever darkness you continue to hold onto...whatever darkness you continue to live in...allow the light to overcome it and light your path to experience the light of life (John 8:12). No need to be afraid of the light anymore...it will disperse and consume any darkness in your life!
Lord of Light, thank You for lighting my path. Forgive me for living in darkness and not allowing You access to the deepest, darkest parts of my life. I am grateful for Your light and the power it has to scatter the darkness and bring warmth to my soul. I want to be a child of the light and not be afraid of what the light may reveal. I want to bask in the Light of Your love and grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Joy is Strength
Hello Friends!
I hope and pray that you have experienced the powerful presence of God in your lives this week. This has been a long week! On Wednesday I thought it was Friday - wishful thinking I guess! As you know from a previous post, our church family has experienced the death of two wonderful friends in the last week. That alone is enough to make a normal week, long and draining. Grief has a way of taking away some of the vitality of life for a while. On top of the grief, my heart has been burdened by many who are struggling with physical needs (some immediate, some ongoing), emotional crises, and spiritual challenges. Place on top of all of that the "normal" duties of a "typical" week, and the weight and burdens can easily bring one to his knees (from exhaustion and in prayer!).
As I anticipate the coming weekend and that benefits of a short Spring Break vacation, I continue to be reminded of some words that were spoken at the celebration of life service for Verle Pomeroy. Pastor Denny mentioned a time that Verle invited him over to his house. Knowing that life had been challenging the family for a while, Verle had Denny over to watch a funny video saying that sometimes you just have to laugh in the tough times. Oh the joy for life that Verle possessed, even in the midst of struggles and tribulations. And the gift that joy brought to the depths of Denny's life.
It reminds me of a 3rd century man who was anticipating death. Feeling a need to communicate his heart to a friend he said, "It's a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians...and I am one of them." (Today in the World, June, 1988, p.18)
Living in the joy of every day moments and situations does not mean we have to be happy about our moment or situation. Happiness is an emotion, while joy is a state of the soul. Happiness is short-lived, while joy is everlasting. Happiness is conditional, while joy is given unconditionally.
In Psalm 94:19 it says, "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." I praise God in all things, but I give a little extra shout of joy for seeing me through a week like the one we just experienced. The joy that Christ brings makes the tough weeks, the unbearable burdens, and the deep despairs a lighter load to carry. The consolation of the Lord truly brings joy to my soul!
Whatever you may be going through right now, you don't have to like it and it may burden your soul in a number of different ways. But, when you allow the joy of the Lord to take hold of your heart and guide your spirit, those burdens are lifted and the anxieties lessened. The joy of the Lord can truly be your strength (Nehemiah 8:10)!
God of joy, thank You for the strength You offer and the burdens You lift. Thank you for the joy that only You can provide. Forgive me for holding on to my anxieties, my sorrows, and my troubles. Help me to realize that my grip on these things only keeps me from experiencing the joy You desire for me. I want to live in Your joy even when I don't like my circumstances. Remind me that I can discover Your joy in every situation. Open my heart, my mind, and my soul to receive it...again. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
I hope and pray that you have experienced the powerful presence of God in your lives this week. This has been a long week! On Wednesday I thought it was Friday - wishful thinking I guess! As you know from a previous post, our church family has experienced the death of two wonderful friends in the last week. That alone is enough to make a normal week, long and draining. Grief has a way of taking away some of the vitality of life for a while. On top of the grief, my heart has been burdened by many who are struggling with physical needs (some immediate, some ongoing), emotional crises, and spiritual challenges. Place on top of all of that the "normal" duties of a "typical" week, and the weight and burdens can easily bring one to his knees (from exhaustion and in prayer!).
As I anticipate the coming weekend and that benefits of a short Spring Break vacation, I continue to be reminded of some words that were spoken at the celebration of life service for Verle Pomeroy. Pastor Denny mentioned a time that Verle invited him over to his house. Knowing that life had been challenging the family for a while, Verle had Denny over to watch a funny video saying that sometimes you just have to laugh in the tough times. Oh the joy for life that Verle possessed, even in the midst of struggles and tribulations. And the gift that joy brought to the depths of Denny's life.
It reminds me of a 3rd century man who was anticipating death. Feeling a need to communicate his heart to a friend he said, "It's a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are the Christians...and I am one of them." (Today in the World, June, 1988, p.18)
Living in the joy of every day moments and situations does not mean we have to be happy about our moment or situation. Happiness is an emotion, while joy is a state of the soul. Happiness is short-lived, while joy is everlasting. Happiness is conditional, while joy is given unconditionally.
In Psalm 94:19 it says, "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." I praise God in all things, but I give a little extra shout of joy for seeing me through a week like the one we just experienced. The joy that Christ brings makes the tough weeks, the unbearable burdens, and the deep despairs a lighter load to carry. The consolation of the Lord truly brings joy to my soul!
Whatever you may be going through right now, you don't have to like it and it may burden your soul in a number of different ways. But, when you allow the joy of the Lord to take hold of your heart and guide your spirit, those burdens are lifted and the anxieties lessened. The joy of the Lord can truly be your strength (Nehemiah 8:10)!
God of joy, thank You for the strength You offer and the burdens You lift. Thank you for the joy that only You can provide. Forgive me for holding on to my anxieties, my sorrows, and my troubles. Help me to realize that my grip on these things only keeps me from experiencing the joy You desire for me. I want to live in Your joy even when I don't like my circumstances. Remind me that I can discover Your joy in every situation. Open my heart, my mind, and my soul to receive it...again. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A Time to Mourn
Hello Friends,
This past week, from Saturday until today, has been a rollercoaster ride of emotion. On two occasions our church family has received sad news as two saints in our church have been called home by God. Genevieve Brower (March 5th) and Verle Pomeroy (March 9th) turned in this earthly life, for an eternal home made by the hands of our Creator. Both have been pillars of faith and strength in our church for many years. They lived long lives and their wisdom was often sought and their presence desired when we would gather together. They will surely be missed, as they were loved and we felt the love the emmanated from their souls.
Both Genevieve and Verle were simply faithful. This brings joy in times like these, as we are confident of the fact that they are "dwelling in the house of the Lord, forever." I'm sure the Lord took one look at both of them and said, "Well done good and faithful servant. Well done!" We can take solace and comfort in knowing that Genevieve and Verle are experiencing the fulfillment of the promises they clinged to in this life. Their bodies are restored and their spirits renewed. We find joy in knowing they are with the Lord.
Yet, at the same time, we grieve. We are saddened by their absence. We mourn our human loss. We are brought to tears at the mention of their name or the sharing of a memory or when we hear a song that reminds us of them. We expect to see them in the places and situations they frequented. When they don't arrive, we are saddened. We have to learn how to go on living in this life without them.
As Christian people we live in the tension between joy and sorrow, strength and weakness, and restoration and brokenness. We come to God in these moments, and we hold on to the promises He has given. How do we handle this tension? Do we focus only on the joy because we believe that a good Christian would respond that way? Do we allow ourselves to slide deep into despair, forgetting to turn our eyes toward eternity? How do we grieve as Christian people?
Grieving like a Christian does not mean we do not grieve. It means we grieve without despair. We crawl into our Father's lap and lay our tear-stained cheeks on His shoulder, and trust that what He ordains is always right, will always work out well in the end, and that all our losses will one day be restored to us. It is running to Him and asking, "Tell me the story of what You have done and what You will do to destroy this enemy." It is going to Him and asking for the strength and comfort we need, to face the new reality of our temporary, mortal-lives-- a reality without someone we have grown to love, without someone we are used to having as a part of our lives and perhaps mistakenly assumed would always be there. It is knowing that although there is loss, all is not lost.
God does not tell us we will not have sorrows. He tells us that He will be our comfort in sorrow. He does not tell us we will not have tears. He tells us He will be there with us to wipe our tears away. He does not tell us there will not be times to mourn. He tells us that on the other side of that mourning is the promise of joy indescribable. (www.dory.typepad.com)
As we walk this path of sorrow together, may we also experience the joy that comes with having been loved by and being able to love Genevieve and Verle. May we experience the restoration of our souls as God strengthens us and reawakens us to His Spirit which embraces us. Yes, this is a time to mourn, but thanks be to God that on the other side of that mourning is the promise of an indescribable joy and a peace that passes all understanding.
Comforting, holy, God, I place myself in Your hands...I put myself in Your lap, and I ask that You hold me and those dear to me close to Your heart as we mourn. Turn my mourning into joy as I remember the ones I love who have gone home to be with You. Walk with me in the tension of these moments and the contemplations of the mysteries of life and death. Remind me that You are my God and I can find refuge in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
This past week, from Saturday until today, has been a rollercoaster ride of emotion. On two occasions our church family has received sad news as two saints in our church have been called home by God. Genevieve Brower (March 5th) and Verle Pomeroy (March 9th) turned in this earthly life, for an eternal home made by the hands of our Creator. Both have been pillars of faith and strength in our church for many years. They lived long lives and their wisdom was often sought and their presence desired when we would gather together. They will surely be missed, as they were loved and we felt the love the emmanated from their souls.
Both Genevieve and Verle were simply faithful. This brings joy in times like these, as we are confident of the fact that they are "dwelling in the house of the Lord, forever." I'm sure the Lord took one look at both of them and said, "Well done good and faithful servant. Well done!" We can take solace and comfort in knowing that Genevieve and Verle are experiencing the fulfillment of the promises they clinged to in this life. Their bodies are restored and their spirits renewed. We find joy in knowing they are with the Lord.
Yet, at the same time, we grieve. We are saddened by their absence. We mourn our human loss. We are brought to tears at the mention of their name or the sharing of a memory or when we hear a song that reminds us of them. We expect to see them in the places and situations they frequented. When they don't arrive, we are saddened. We have to learn how to go on living in this life without them.
As Christian people we live in the tension between joy and sorrow, strength and weakness, and restoration and brokenness. We come to God in these moments, and we hold on to the promises He has given. How do we handle this tension? Do we focus only on the joy because we believe that a good Christian would respond that way? Do we allow ourselves to slide deep into despair, forgetting to turn our eyes toward eternity? How do we grieve as Christian people?
Grieving like a Christian does not mean we do not grieve. It means we grieve without despair. We crawl into our Father's lap and lay our tear-stained cheeks on His shoulder, and trust that what He ordains is always right, will always work out well in the end, and that all our losses will one day be restored to us. It is running to Him and asking, "Tell me the story of what You have done and what You will do to destroy this enemy." It is going to Him and asking for the strength and comfort we need, to face the new reality of our temporary, mortal-lives-- a reality without someone we have grown to love, without someone we are used to having as a part of our lives and perhaps mistakenly assumed would always be there. It is knowing that although there is loss, all is not lost.
God does not tell us we will not have sorrows. He tells us that He will be our comfort in sorrow. He does not tell us we will not have tears. He tells us He will be there with us to wipe our tears away. He does not tell us there will not be times to mourn. He tells us that on the other side of that mourning is the promise of joy indescribable. (www.dory.typepad.com)
As we walk this path of sorrow together, may we also experience the joy that comes with having been loved by and being able to love Genevieve and Verle. May we experience the restoration of our souls as God strengthens us and reawakens us to His Spirit which embraces us. Yes, this is a time to mourn, but thanks be to God that on the other side of that mourning is the promise of an indescribable joy and a peace that passes all understanding.
Comforting, holy, God, I place myself in Your hands...I put myself in Your lap, and I ask that You hold me and those dear to me close to Your heart as we mourn. Turn my mourning into joy as I remember the ones I love who have gone home to be with You. Walk with me in the tension of these moments and the contemplations of the mysteries of life and death. Remind me that You are my God and I can find refuge in You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Heal or Hurt
Hello Friends!
It has been a couple of weeks since I've last posted. I'm glad to be back and sharing with you again. Over the last few weeks I have watched with great interest how our human race responds to conflict situations. Conflict is all around us and it takes many forms. Conflict manifests itself in curtly spoken words to a spouse, child, or co-worker. It manifests itself in gossip and slander. It manifests itself in screaming matches or accusations in front of a tv camera. It manifests itself in protests, picket lines, and walking out on the job. The worst manifestation of conflict comes when words and actions incite violence against our fellow human beings. Other forms of conflict are more subtle as they exists within our own thoughts and emotions. We struggle spiritually with the issues that bombard us in life. We struggle emotionally to hold it all together - or at least find a healthy way to express our raw emotions. We struggle mentally - trying to make sense of senseless situations. While most people hate conflict, it is something we live with every single day.
If we are to handle conflict in our lives as the world has modeled it for us, we will quickly find ourselves caught up in the powerful currents of anger, hatred, and the demonization of those who disagree with us. With all of the images and reports on the television screen and in the newspaper (and we tend to choose the newspapers and television stations that usually support our position and perspective), it is easy for us to get swept away by the raw emotions and dangerous reactivity of the issues in front of us.
Within our personal lives it is just as easy. When we disagree with someone or a decision that has been made that affects us, we seek out those that agree with our position and before we know it, we have an army of people on our side. The more we have on our side, the more emboldened we are to confront the person or issue with which we disagree.
For any of us who have experienced conflict in these ways, when we are honest with ourselves, we know that this approach to resolving conflict often has painful and destructive consequences. People get hurt. Relationships are broken and destroyed. Our souls are darkened with anger, bitterness, and shattered spirits.
When are we going to learn that there is a better way to handle the conflicts that plague us? When are we going to be willing to walk in the way that leads to healing instead of hurt? How many more times must we experience the pain and anguish of going against each other, before we submit to the way of walking together?
The Bible is very clear on how we are to handle our conflicts. We are to first look at ourselves and acknowledge what we bring to the conflict (Matthew 7:3-5). We are to look at each other with eyes of love and grace (Hebrews 10:24). When we have a disagreement we are to bring it to one another and sit down at the table and talk about it together (Matthew 5:23-25, Matthew 18:15-17). In the midst of the conflict make sure you speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Most problems and conflicts we face become worse because we do not invest our time in bringing reconciliation and healing. Instead we focus our time on things that make the conflict worse.
John Maxwell lists 12 ways to constructively manage conflict and 12 ways to destructively manage conflict. I'd like to share them with you...with the constructive management style first and the destructive style after: 1. Agree on a time and place to talk it out or Catch the other person off guard. 2. Assertively, honestly express your feelings or Passively suppress your feelings. 3. Focus on the problem, not the person or Personalize the disagreement. 4. Select a neutral referee or Get your friends to referee. 5. Develop a positive, mature attitude or Be negative and vindictive. 6. Search for a solution or Find someone to blame. 7. Focus on specifics or Generalize and exaggerate. 8. Be open and available or Be silent and superior. 9. Affirm your responsibility or Blame someone else. 10. When problems arise, work them out or When problems arise, walk out. 11. Listen, wait and learn or Presume, assume and dominate. 12. Forgive and forget or Stubbornly demand guarantees.
One way leads to healing, the other to hurt. Which approach do you believe God desires of you?
Loving, reconciling, God. I have handled myself poorly in the midst of conflict. I have fought for my right to be heard. I have unfairly labeled and condemned those I am supposed to love. I have fought for my way, instead of Your way. Forgive me. Create in me a heart that values love over hate; mercy over bitterness; gentleness over power; Your way over mine. Give me strength in the midst of the conflicts around me and the opportunities to be an instrument of Your healing and Your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
It has been a couple of weeks since I've last posted. I'm glad to be back and sharing with you again. Over the last few weeks I have watched with great interest how our human race responds to conflict situations. Conflict is all around us and it takes many forms. Conflict manifests itself in curtly spoken words to a spouse, child, or co-worker. It manifests itself in gossip and slander. It manifests itself in screaming matches or accusations in front of a tv camera. It manifests itself in protests, picket lines, and walking out on the job. The worst manifestation of conflict comes when words and actions incite violence against our fellow human beings. Other forms of conflict are more subtle as they exists within our own thoughts and emotions. We struggle spiritually with the issues that bombard us in life. We struggle emotionally to hold it all together - or at least find a healthy way to express our raw emotions. We struggle mentally - trying to make sense of senseless situations. While most people hate conflict, it is something we live with every single day.
If we are to handle conflict in our lives as the world has modeled it for us, we will quickly find ourselves caught up in the powerful currents of anger, hatred, and the demonization of those who disagree with us. With all of the images and reports on the television screen and in the newspaper (and we tend to choose the newspapers and television stations that usually support our position and perspective), it is easy for us to get swept away by the raw emotions and dangerous reactivity of the issues in front of us.
Within our personal lives it is just as easy. When we disagree with someone or a decision that has been made that affects us, we seek out those that agree with our position and before we know it, we have an army of people on our side. The more we have on our side, the more emboldened we are to confront the person or issue with which we disagree.
For any of us who have experienced conflict in these ways, when we are honest with ourselves, we know that this approach to resolving conflict often has painful and destructive consequences. People get hurt. Relationships are broken and destroyed. Our souls are darkened with anger, bitterness, and shattered spirits.
When are we going to learn that there is a better way to handle the conflicts that plague us? When are we going to be willing to walk in the way that leads to healing instead of hurt? How many more times must we experience the pain and anguish of going against each other, before we submit to the way of walking together?
The Bible is very clear on how we are to handle our conflicts. We are to first look at ourselves and acknowledge what we bring to the conflict (Matthew 7:3-5). We are to look at each other with eyes of love and grace (Hebrews 10:24). When we have a disagreement we are to bring it to one another and sit down at the table and talk about it together (Matthew 5:23-25, Matthew 18:15-17). In the midst of the conflict make sure you speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Most problems and conflicts we face become worse because we do not invest our time in bringing reconciliation and healing. Instead we focus our time on things that make the conflict worse.
John Maxwell lists 12 ways to constructively manage conflict and 12 ways to destructively manage conflict. I'd like to share them with you...with the constructive management style first and the destructive style after: 1. Agree on a time and place to talk it out or Catch the other person off guard. 2. Assertively, honestly express your feelings or Passively suppress your feelings. 3. Focus on the problem, not the person or Personalize the disagreement. 4. Select a neutral referee or Get your friends to referee. 5. Develop a positive, mature attitude or Be negative and vindictive. 6. Search for a solution or Find someone to blame. 7. Focus on specifics or Generalize and exaggerate. 8. Be open and available or Be silent and superior. 9. Affirm your responsibility or Blame someone else. 10. When problems arise, work them out or When problems arise, walk out. 11. Listen, wait and learn or Presume, assume and dominate. 12. Forgive and forget or Stubbornly demand guarantees.
One way leads to healing, the other to hurt. Which approach do you believe God desires of you?
Loving, reconciling, God. I have handled myself poorly in the midst of conflict. I have fought for my right to be heard. I have unfairly labeled and condemned those I am supposed to love. I have fought for my way, instead of Your way. Forgive me. Create in me a heart that values love over hate; mercy over bitterness; gentleness over power; Your way over mine. Give me strength in the midst of the conflicts around me and the opportunities to be an instrument of Your healing and Your grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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