a child of god
this is the way, run in it
We've just finished a Bank Holiday Monday, over here in the United Kingdom. And back in my home country, the United States of America, they were also having Monday off for Memorial Day. It's one of the few Monday holidays that we share, for different reasons.
Ian and I really enjoyed yesterday. Looking back on it, I've been pondering on the skill of taking time off. I had to learn how to do that. As an American, our work ethic and shorter vacation/holiday allowances once we hit the work force meant that I had to get used to taking time off. When Ian and I got married and he took it for granted that we would take a whole 2 weeks time off for our honeymoon, I was shocked! Ha, ha. That seemed extravagant to me, as often early on in careers in the USA we only have 2 weeks time off a year. It seemed like a huge splurge to me, right at the beginning of our married life together. We will have been married for 12 years in June. I have learned a lot of lessons during that time, and one of them is that people are worth investing time in. We all know what it is like to have a list an arm long of things we need to do, people we'd like to see and touch base with, and God tasks we need to prepare for. But that list should not take precedence over the people God has given us to love and live with. I had to learn that and I got to practice it yesterday. :) This morning, Psalm 127 was in my bible reading line up, and it reminds us/tells us that we can't make something happen that will be a blessing by hard work and toil alone. We need God's hand on it, His blessing. The Psalm says this, "Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for God gives to His beloved even in his sleep." I love that! I love it that God wants to be in the middle of what we are doing, and that He will give to us what we need even as we sleep. So just as it is ok to go to sleep, and trust that God will help us and provide what we need, it is ok to down tools for a day and take a break off to rest and play with our people that God has given us. He is in that too. He created the first sanctified day of rest, anyway - way back when He created the world. Now this doesn't mean we aren't responsible to Him to be good workmen, preparing ahead of time and working towards the goals and in the jobs He has given us. We should. But, it does mean that there is a balance in life. And that people are important. I'm thankful that Ian and I took the day off yesterday together. We worked hard in the morning out on the allotment. He was netting our gooseberry, red currant and black currant berry bushes - to keep their fruit safe from the birds. I was digging over a bed and planting out the courgettes (zucchini for you Americans!) from the greenhouse. We enjoyed being out in the back garden together, and cooking and eating dinner together, in that slower pace of life that days off bring. It was good. God was in it with us. He blessed us. And today, it's back to work - the proper cycle of life that God says in His word is good for us. I'm thankful to God for teaching me how to get this balance of life right, and for being in it with us.
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I've just finished reading the book of Ezekiel, in my read-through-the-bible plan. And instead of breathing a sigh of relief, as some might, I say - I'd like to be like Ezekiel. And I'll tell you why.
A lot of people, when you mention the prophet Ezekiel, say, oh that poor man! The things he had to do. And he did have some difficult, and some disgusting, tasks to perform for God as God's spokesman during his time period. For a reason, I hasten to add! God always has a reason. And the reason was God was trying to get through to His stubborn, sinful, willful and hard of hearing people. The reason I say I'd like to be like Ezekiel is he was privileged. Yes, privileged. He got to see the glory of the LORD God almighty, not just once at the river Chebar, but three times. He saw when the glory of the LORD departed from the temple, from the midst of God's people, because of their sin, and he got to see the prophetic vision of the glory of the Lord when He enters the temple again in the Millennial Kingdom, after Jesus comes back. Not only that, but Ezekiel has seen in visions things that no one else has seen yet - they are yet to happen - like the river of life flowing from the Millennial temple. He was the first person to see these things, because He served God faithfully. He had the privilege of being the first to see what God was going to do, on down the line. For people like Ezekiel, though, and the sons of Zadok, priests to the LORD God mentioned in chapters 40:46; 44:15-16, 23-28, it was the nearness of God, being in His presence that was their reward. That is why they did what they did - serve Him faithfully no matter what the people around them did. And God saw that and He will give them their proper reward - they will get to minister to Him, be in His presence, stand before Him, teach the people the difference between the holy and the profane, and have God Himself as their inheritance. For Ezekiel as well, who was scorned and not listened to for most of his prophetic service, God says, in Chapter 33, v. 33, "So when it comes to pass - as surely it will - then they will know that a prophet has been in their midst." God will vindicate Ezekiel. He says so, and God keeps His promises. I think that is a lovely and loving gesture from God to Ezekiel. That sort of validation only God can give. It's like when God says to you, or to me, "You are Mine." God claims, protects and cherishes His own. So the next time you have to read Ezekiel, think about the amazing visions he saw, how God revealed some of His glory to Ezekiel, His servant, His prophet. And consider what God might want to say or reveal to you, today. And for what purpose. For any of that to happen, though, we have to have our eyes and ears on God, and give Him our time and attention. He's worth it! This year has been so full of change and we are only in May! Sunday, we held the leaving service for one of my vicar bosses and his wife. They are off, to South Africa, to work as pastoral peeps for the ministry that Mercy Air does there and in the surrounding countries. This has been a growing, dawning realization of a calling for them from God. He snuck up on them! I love that. But they responded to God's call by saying, Yes, Lord. I'm so proud of them for stepping out of the boat, out onto the waters with Jesus. I said to them, if Jesus comes back next year, He will find you being obedient and in the place where He called you to. What could be better than that?
But for those of us left behind, there is loss, there is sadness that we don't get to be an active (and annoying for some of us!) part of their lives. We will miss them. Monday morning in the office came and there was no Nigel, coming through the door, saying "Get to work!" and then the "What is it we need to do today?" I'm going to miss Erin's outspoken wisdom and challenges. And her food! I wonder if the disciples felt that, too? The loss, the lack of that person with whom they had had so much to do and who taught them pearls of wisdom from heaven - something no one else could do. (I can hear Nigel laughing now - pearls of wisdom, huh?! My answer to that is, yes, and I know you find that hard to believe.) They were grieving a death, which we aren't. We get to rejoice for Nigel and Erin and follow their journey in this new season of life and ministry. But they felt the loss, and we do, too. There's also a sort of milling about time period. We are milling about, getting ourselves reorganized in the parish office, figuring out who will do what, and what that will look like. We have a good team. But as with any family of God, we need to work together. I'm praying that God gives us His grace, His kindness, His heart for each other through this process. There is also the anticipation of what's to come. What new life, what new season, will come from God for us in the parish of Pype Hayes, the deanery of Aston? Considered by some to be lowly, urban poor, dysfunctional - I'll tell you what I have to say about that. On Sunday, I spoke with one lady from Pype Hayes who comes and cleans the church, who always has a smile on her face, even though there are troubles in her life, and who loves me, the parish administrator, out of the generosity of her heart, not for anything I have ever done. I spoke with people from the congregation of Aston Parish Church who attended, and they all had smiles on their faces, too, and they were eager to share names and stories, and were truly interested in those at Pype Hayes. And I saw an elderly lady in a wheel chair come up during the prayer time for Nigel and Erin, and she held out her pale, thin hands to hold Nigel's and Erin's, and she prayed a blessing over them. She knew them before Nigel became a curate. It is for people like that Jesus died and rose again. And it is for people like that I serve in my lowly post of parish administrator. I hope to be found faithful by Him through this changeable time, by His grace, helping steady our small, leaky boat, as we sail with Jesus. Because, Yes! We get to sail with Jesus! He's like that! He's awesome. He comes and is with us in small and large gatherings - He doesn't care about size. He comes for His own. He walks amongst us. Isn't He lovely? And we never have to say goodbye to Him. I was out weeding my raspberry patch at the allotment today. It was a great day to get at it, as it wasn't so hot and bright that it made the labor harder. I hadn't weeded the raspberry bed all winter, and it showed! The grass had crept in and taken hold. Weeds that are easy to oik out when small were tougher to get out - especially without damaging the new raspberry shoots that are putting out their flower heads to form fruit from. (How's that for some alliteration?)
And it occurred to me, tonight, that our hearts and lives are like that. If we don't work on weeding out the things that aren't of God, that aren't edifying, good, true, of Him, if we don't get rid of them quickly when they are small, they are harder to get out later. Nothing is too hard for God, of course, but He wants our cooperation. And sometimes we feel like it is too hard, too much effort, when we have let the roots take hold, the bad habits form. But that raspberry bed today! After I had worked over it for about an hour and a half, the fruit plants could feel the sun, they could benefit from the light, the ground around them was clear and they had room to display their flowers where fruit will flourish later. The Lord said to me at the beginning of this year, "Get lighter." And He meant in many different areas. Lighter, with open empty hands, and a heart larger for Him to fill, so I can run with Him. That raspberry bed is lighter now, and healthier. I want to be, too. It's worth the effort. He's worth the effort. Can you hear Him calling you now? Let's go! Being perplexed - it's such a human condition.
It never ceases to amaze me how I come to a passage in the bible that I have read before and it comes to life before my eyes, and God the Holy Spirit shows me something new. I was finishing up reading through Luke yesterday, so I was in Luke 24, close to the end and in some ways on automatic pilot. Yes, I know what is in this chapter, it's such a relief to leave behind the pain and sorrow of the cross and hit resurrection day when Jesus rose from the grave to life again, walking with His disciples for one last period of time before going to heaven. But what amused me and caught my attention initially was how the women came on Sunday/Monday morning to have the grave opened and anoint Jesus' body for burial - there had not been enough time for that before the Sabbath rules kicked in - and what do they find? Not just the tomb already open, the stone, too heavy for one man to move, rolled away from the grave entrance, but Jesus' body is missing. It's not there. This is not what they had expected. And the Bible says, "they were perplexed about this" and were standing there not knowing what to think or do. God always does the unexpected. Isn't that wonderful? How boring life would be if we knew what to expect at every turn. How boring if we always got what we wanted without any effort, any testing or growth, any challenge. I give you permission to remind me that I said this the next time I'm complaining about a current challenge I am perplexed about - and yes, I can think of one right now. When God breaks in, life happens and the situation changes. And as if the open empty grave were not enough, two angels appear to the women who respond in terror and bow their faces to the ground, and the angels say to the women, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you...saying that these things must take place and on the third day (He would) rise again?" And those two ladies had an epiphany, a God light-bulb moment. Yes! They did remember that Jesus had said those things, and they could see with their own eyes the truth that His grave was empty, miraculously. When the women go to tell the disciples, they don't believe it. Another typical human response. But Peter, good old hasty impetuous Peter, he goes to look and see for himself, going away afterwards, marveling. Another gospel account says John went with him, and believed. In this chapter 24 of the gospel of Luke, we also have the recounting of the men walking to Emmaus, and the risen Jesus meets them, goes with them for a way, explains to them from the scriptures why it was necessary for the Messiah to go to the cross, and then reveals Himself to them as God the Son when they broke bread together. God reveals Himself - that must have been an amazing moment. We then see the two men doing the typical human thing - I knew it! Did you know it? I knew it when... Weren't our hearts burning when He ... When God breaks in, and reveals Himself, helps us understand, lifts our hearts and encourages us to keep on walking with Him, that is a precious moment and one worth recording and remembering. God sharing Himself with us in life, and Jesus, the Son of God, is the living One who has defeated sin and death for us, so that the grave is not the last of the story for those of us who believe in Him. Thinking about testimonies and truth today, and reflecting on a passage from Exodus 18 that was read at Staff Morning Prayers yesterday, at work. This passage from Exodus, specifically verses 1 - 12, really moved me as it involved family relationships, people from different nationalities and religions, and testimony about God's goodness and provision.
This involves Moses and his family. His father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, "heard about all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people" and because of this report, Jethro gathered up his daughter, Zipporah, Moses' wife, and their two sons, and traveled to where Moses was. The bible says this, "Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped, at the mount of God" (v.5). Moses goes out and receives him well, Moses bows down to him and kisses him and gives him a family welcome, if you will. And I love this next part - they do what families do. They sit down and chew the cud together. They talk family news. Who was doing what and what happened there - all about "each other's welfare" the bible says, and then Moses gets down to testifying, telling Jethro all about all God had done for him and the people of Israel. That story must have been amazing! supernatural events and deliverances, the pillar of fire by night and the cloud of smoke by day - of God's presence with His people. And verse 9 says this, "And Jethro rejoiced over all the goodness which the Lord had done to Israel, in delivering them out of the hand of the Egyptians." Jethro, from another nation and another religion, still rejoiced over what God had done. He acknowledged it and he goes further by saying, "Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods". So this truth, this testimony that was proclaimed to Jethro by Moses helped him know, have the knowledge, the revelation, that the LORD God is greater than all other gods. That is big. And they worshipped together. There is power in proclaiming the truth about God. Who He is, what He is like, what He has done for us - those things ring out for others to hear. That kind of testimony is worth more than anything else because God uses it to bring revelation knowledge and eternal life to those who have ears to hear. And it gains in power and persuasiveness, I think, when we extend it with the hand of fellowship. The family welcome that Moses offered to his father-in-law and family paved the way for that testimony to have an impact. Relationships are important. Ours with God, and ours with each other. Seriously, it's not about the money. In Luke, chapter 12, Jesus takes up quite a bit of time teaching His disciples about how and why they should not be worrying about money. He tells them that God their Father knows their needs - what they need to physically live in this world, and the necessity of it. So this isn't an unrealistic portrait of life. But Jesus says that God will not only provide what is needed for the work we do with Him for His kingdom, but He will provide what we need to live on in this life as well (vv. 29-31).
This teaching is kicked off by a man asking him to make his brother divide the family inheritance with him. Ouch! Why do we worry about and argue so much about money? Jesus refuses to be drawn into this particular family problem, saying He isn't the appointed earthly judge for that (v.14), and then He goes on to warn His disciples, "Beware! Watch out! Be careful! and be on your guard against every form of greed" (v.15). So here Jesus is pointing out the heart problems with letting a love of money control one's heart/actions/words. He then says something very interesting. He says, "for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." Even when one has an abundance, Jesus says, even then, that person's life does not consist/is not made up of/is not ranked as important by ... the things he owns. How often do we equate what we have with our own self-worth? I have to have the latest iPhone model, I must have those clothes, that make up, that car, that ... how often do we show off what we have and think that says something about us? It does! Only too loudly. We are not our stuff! We shouldn't want to be valued by our stuff. What does that say? Jesus goes on to tell them a parable, a teaching story, about a rich man who had a lot of stuff. So much stuff he needed to build bigger and better barns to store it all up for himself. All so he could enjoy himself in life, "there I will store all my grain and my goods. And then I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry' " (vv. 18-19). God says this is foolishness. In verse 20 God says this man is foolish, for he will die and he can't take it with him. "Who will own what you have prepared?" This reminds me of a saying we have "you can't take it with you." We used to see it as a bumper sticker in America, way back when. The problem with that saying is it is used to imply "so enjoy it now, don't worry about saving and storing it up. Spend it and enjoy it now" as an excuse for buying that sports car, the latest thing. That is not what God says. God says the foolish man is the one "who lays up treasure for himself (on this earth) and is not rich toward God" (v.21). Jesus goes on to say, don't be anxious for your life, what you will eat and what you will wear, "for life is more than food and the body is more than clothing" (v.23). He also says that "all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek" (v.30), so Jesus knows that people are like that. All of us are worried and concerned about living, about how to provide for ourselves and our families. But what he is saying is that we can't do much about it by worrying about it. We should trust God that he will provide, "for your Father knows you need these things" (v.30). "But seek first His kingdom, and all these things shall be added to you" (v.31). I love this verse. Not only does it say that God will provide all we need when it comes to doing kingdom work with Him, but, He will also add to that all we need to live this life in the here and now. God will provide. So what should our response be? To give, and give generously, to others, which is kingdom work with our Father, and that will store up treasure for us in heaven, "where no thief comes nor moth destroys" (v.33). And the most important part of this long passage on money - not that God will provide everything we need although that is very important - but God's concern about our heart attitude and motives - v. 34, "For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also." God Himself is our treasure! Our life with Him, doing life with Him, getting to know and love Him better, and loving others more and more like He does, that is our treasure. So, yes, it's not all about the money, even though that is necessary for the here and now which God knows; it's that we should be very careful to not let concerns about money control our hearts, and instead live the here and now for God and for seeing people enter into and grow in His family, in the kingdom of God, through Jesus, His Son! In God’s kingdom, all are included who believe in Jesus. Reading in 2 Kings chapter 23 today about how King Josiah, after his heart was pricked by the reading out loud of the Word of God to him by the scribe Shaphan, when they rediscovered the book of the law in the temple, Josiah gathered all the people together to hear it, too. And the word says, both small and great were gathered, all the people.
This is set me to thinking how all are included in God’s family, who belong to Him. It doesn’t matter whether we are considered great or small. Yet we, like the disciples, are always jockeying for position. We want to know who is the greatest among us, who is the top dog, who has the power and to whom we will look up. The answer to that should be God Himself! He is no respecter of persons, and by that I mean, he isn’t impressed with whether we have a title or are considered a big shot. God is impressed and pleased with faithfulness and humility, and whether we look to Him or not. Sometimes He gives us tasks to do. But the measure of the task shouldn’t be whether we can pull it off, it should be whether we believe that God will pull it off if He asks us to do it. We are simply His servants, vessels to be used. Sometimes, God will have one task for a person to do in his lifetime; the rest of that life is simply living faithfully a life that pleases God and blesses those around us. Other times, God may have multiple tasks for someone to do. God uses whom He pleases. And in the end, when it’s all over and Jesus comes back for His people, we all get to go, regardless of how God used us during our lifetime. He is interested in whether we make ourselves and our hearts available for Him to use, but that can only be done effectively with a humble heart that doesn’t worry about prestige and rank. May we be found faithful, our hearts tender to His Word and focused on Him. I love the book of Malachi. It's the last book in the Old Testament, and it was written by the prophet Malachi under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. This book burned in my heart for a year, from 14th November 2012. I still remember how that whole year I kept going back to it because it just gripped my heart, and I knew that it was important that year, that God was flagging it up to me as important. So I prayed into it and read it, spent time with the book and The Lord. And it is on my read-through-the-Bible program today.
Malachi had a difficult message to give to the people of God as it was mostly a critique of their lazy and dishonoring worship of God. Instead of honoring The Lord from the first of their produce and giving Him the best they had, they were just giving God the offerings and time they didn't want or wouldn't miss. Even the priests weren't doing their jobs right. Instead of bringing to the people true instruction and knowledge of God, they were calling bad things good, and good things bad. There were a remnant who honored and respected God. Here's what He said about them, "then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and esteem His name. "And they will be Mine", says the LORD of hosts, "on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him." And Malachi then goes on to say that the people will then be able to distinguish again between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and one who does not serve Him. It matters what we offer God as worship, on our own and corporately. Do we proclaim His name, and give Him our hearts and lives? Do we love and revere and keep His word, and walk it out day by day? Do we honor those who teach us the truth, even when it isn't easy to hear? Or do we think it doesn't matter, and that we don't have time to give God our time? Is it our time? If we belong to God, if we are His people, then our time and even our lives, our money, our gifts and talents, are His, if He is our Lord. Malachi also tells the people that God has said that He is sending His messenger, to clear the way before Him, and it says, "but who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap." God is very much concerned with the state of our hearts and lives, and He is coming to purify His people. Will we be found serving God when He comes? "For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evil doer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze", says the LORD of hosts. "But for you who fear My name the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall." I know how I want to be found by the LORD God of hosts. With my heart burning for Him, His word and name in my mouth, and my hands ready to serve Him in His righteousness. Reading in Luke 8 today, I am struck by the companionship between Jesus and His disciples. They were going around together, doing everything together. Can you imagine getting to go around with Jesus? Looking at the word “companionship”, here are some synonyms: friendship, fellowship, closeness, togetherness, amity (lovely, old-fashioned, word, isn't it?), intimacy, rapport, camaraderie, a band of like minded people, company...
I know what it is like to be with my friends, out on an adventure, getting ready to have some fun, and even better, being given a God task to do together. There is nothing else like it for bonding people together, growing together, getting to know each other and trust each other more, finding out what you are capable of together. Can you imagine doing that with Jesus? Wow! In Luke 8, it’s not all fun and games either, for the disciples. There were ministry moments, and there were moments that looked dangerous to the disciples (the storm in the boat), and the response of the people around them was mixed: some thankful for healing, others afraid of the supernatural power displayed, or upset at the cost financially (the herd of pigs who drowned in the sea because of the demons cast out). And teaching. Pearls of wisdom and life giving words from Jesus, for those with ears to hear, and for the disciples, a fuller explanation. And what were the disciples, Jesus’ friends and people He called “brother/family”, to do with that learning? Display it, for all the world to see and hear. “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over wi h a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lamp stand, in order that those who come in may see the light.” (Luke 8:18 ) Jesus, Light of the world! For all the world to see! |
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January 2019
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