Testing the System

We know that God does not tempt us, but He definitely lets us be tested.  Deut. 8:2 says, “I tested you so you would know what was in your heart.”  That makes me think about the systems that have been shaped in our lives by so many influences how we think, develop opinions, form passions and make decisions through.  Possibly the reason God has for showing us our hearts and the systems we live life through is because we may be paralyzed in certain areas that hold us to a childish state of being.

When I think of virtue, I think of the Love Chapter, 1 Cor. 13.  It seems that Love should be a starting point, but love includes more than being nice.  Tests show us where we are on our journey of life in caring, serving and being servant leaders.

Think with me through this system in v. 11, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” 

The system being tested in our lives is even plainer in 2 Peter 1:3-9, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.”

There’s even a better picture of a generous, loving and caring Father that would love to upgrade our systems.

 It is apparent that a life built upon Love is a huge playing field.  So God allows our systems to be tested so we know where we are. 

Three words: speaking, understanding and thinking.  When I was a child, I lived through a system of how I spoke, understood and thought.  So one of the many problems we face as followers of Jesus is having our systems of words, understanding and thinking tested.  Is there a system where you got stuck, that has held you captive functioning as a child that you need to be freed from? 

Relationships?

One of the components of health and wholeness comes down many times to relationships.  There is evidence that true relationships contribute to a longer happier life.  It has also been proven that bad relationships contribute to depression, immune deficiency and high blood pressure.  So why would we run from relationships.  Could it be from the wounds and hurts from those we have trusted?

I love this present youth culture.  They seem to be willing to risk everything secure for a life filled with relationships and spirituality.  Connection to them must be something bigger than themselves.  Could it be because the pursuit of relationships and spirituality, have become a passion and longing to possibly surpass the doldrums of the ordinary?

I’ve discovered in watching people that there is a deceptive trap set up for them which leaves them with the danger of ending life all alone.  But this trap is more than leaving you lonely.  Without vulnerable, true connection, it may leave your life with small thinking, unworthy distractions, and missed opportunities that more than likely would bring growth and inspiration.   I’ve also seen busy people, who run from relationships be left bent on giving with a difficulty of receiving.  The problem with not receiving, listening and taking time to be brought into some else’s world, could steal new revelation, vision and inspiration.  That may make you old before your time with not much left to give.

When Jesus said to the disciples, Follow Me and I'll make you fishers of men.  This was more than drop your nets and follow Me from town to town.  Jesus was calling them into a new dimension, a new space.  Calling them from merely an experience with Him, but inviting them into a relationship. 

I’ve discovered how easy it is to get stuck in what I believe is an addiction to experience.  An experience can be a one time event but usually driven to desire more than the previous experience gave.  I’ve watched people run from family and true connection because a new experience was valued more than working out a conflict or just going deeper which always comes from stepping into unfamiliar territory.

Obviously, relationships come from making hard commitments, enduring hardship, willingness to pay whatever the price may demand.  But even more running from the addiction of experiences.  We all love experiences, and most of them are inspiring and needed.  But to grow beyond a shallow thinking and a driven person with a short list; we must jump out of the boat of security and familiar.

I love Peter’s life three years after being called from fishing for fish to fishing for men.  He is drowning in the sea of failure.  He goes back to his experience of fishing for fish.  But it’s a set up!  He has gone all night with no fish.  Jesus shows up on the shore and yells out telling him how to fish.  Throw your nets on the other side!  He responds and Boom, the nets are full. 

Peter jumps out of the boat, leaving the fish on one side of the boat, to truly follow the Jesus.  By the way, that is true love when you leave something huge behind to run after Jesus’ calling.  He swims to shore only to sit with Jesus by a charcoal fire to never be the same again.  A relationship is born where Peter never questions again the value of an experience with Jesus versus a relationship with Him.

Peter truly leaped from one dimension to the next.  He is never on that boat again.  On the Day of Pentecost, filled with the Holy Spirit and Power, he comes out preaching Jesus.  3,000 saved with thousands to follow.  The net of his calling has moved from the boat to his mouth.  A mouth fulfilled with his purpose from a relationship that has the promise that he will never be alone again!  Never alone facing failure, strife and crisis alone again! 

Because he leaped into this scary new called dimension of fishing for men, he is left with the promise that Jesus loves him so much that he need never be embarrassed by his weaknesses, because he is now in relationship, with One who loves being strong in his vulnerable, weak space.

Experiences will come and go, but don’t allow them to become addictions!  Why?  Jesus is saying to You, Trust in Me!  I'm here with You to blow you into your destiny so you don't wallow in your history.

Paul

I Don’t Know!

I remember our first youth pastorate position, in Kansas City in1979.  An official from that denomination we were a part of, came to teach us the ethics of being a pastor.  The main point was, Never Admit you don’t know the answer or show weakness!  If someone asks a question that you don’t know the answer, affirm them that their question is a great one, then instruct them to research until we meet again next week.  In the mean time this gives you the time to find the answer.  This was a tough one for me to swallow because I felt dishonesty and taking a position of superiority was wrong.

Being my first pastoral position, there was a ton I did not know.  So my insecurity of not knowing much along with the pressure to pretend exhausted me. 

I’ve always been driven to learn more and discover answers, and am constantly pushed to stretch and grow to be more capable of serving people.  But more importantly, within this scary space of honesty and choosing to pretend, lies the chance of missing a divine moment.  In this terrorizing moment, I now believe it’s a set up for the miraculous.

In my life I’ve always wondered if I could find a Scripture that gives me guidance and direction to hear the whisper, feel the nudge of the Holy Spirit?  Is there a Scripture telling me what to do to cover my blind spots and experience something glorious?

I’ve gained great insights from Romans 8 on this subject.  Paul says that we know that all of creation is frustrated by its’ bondage and decay, and groans for the sons of God to discover their redemptive and restorative calling to be agents of freedom, wholeness and change.

Later Paul says, and we know that all things work together for the good to those who love Him and are called to His purposes.

But wedged in between all of this knowing, Paul says, but I don’t know how to pray!  Then he goes on to say, but the Holy Spirit knows the prayers of the Father and anxiously waits to pray them for us and through us!  Reading this I am trying to put myself in Paul’s shoes and grasp how this new found truth must be bouncing around the edges of his mind?

Do you see this in between spot of Not Knowing Something, and Admitting It? Paul discovered the potential of stepping into this insecure place that would become the very spot of God’s Glory, just from honestly admitting you Don’t Know!

Imagine a desperate, low moment becoming a magic moment from simply and openly stepping into this in-between place!  Paul knows much about his past, present and future; but in this very honest, vulnerable place, he refuses to pretend and admits, I Don’t Know!

Imagine never allowing yourself to go to this in-between place with no frame of reference of the Glory of God sweeping you off of your feet, taking your breath away, where the miraculous encounters that embarrassing place of insecurity.  It has to be from experience that Paul says, “In my weakness He is made strong!”

So, Paul doesn’t know how to pray, verbalizes his dilemma, pauses, takes the leap, and here comes the Holy Spirit with a prayer purely from Father. 

Reminds me of the time Brennan Manning put his hands softly on each side of Carol’s face, during a hurtful stuck place in her life.  As he looked into her eyes he said, “The Father is so very fond of You!”  These wondrous, surprising words became the marker that propelled her forward in her journey of healing, wholeness and hope.

What do you think keeps you from going to that place of, I Don’t Know?

Have you ever had trouble hearing God’s voice in seeking direction or making a major decision? 

Don’t let self ever keep you from admitting, I Don’t Know!

Dry Places

We walked the Camino through Spain.  Using our guide book for direction, we were able to make it to the next resting place to refill our water bottles.  Running out of energy, one of the most painful moments was arriving and seeing a sign, Water Unsafe to Drink!  Dehydrated and Dry, we were forced to keep going in spite of our unwelcome situation!

Have you ever found yourself in a dry place?  Mt.12:43 says the devil seeks out dry places...  

But Jn. 4 it says when we turn our dry places into worship and setting ourselves toward God, we discover that the Holy Spirit is attracted to water, and causes rivers of living waters to overflow our dry places!

So, If the devil's getting ready to walk your property, pull out your water hose.  Get ready for a miracle and listen for the sound of the abundance of water and watch your dry places transformed into an oasis!

Where Is The King?

Where is the King? Where is the King?
All eyes on the throne
yet where is the King?
Isn't this where He ought to be sitting?
Observing His Kingdom
His face, strong, stoic and statuesque
A testament to holy silence
Enthroned in heaven upon glory, eternally vibrant
Where then is the King?
heavens throne abandoned
How can this be?

Don't be afraid
O eyes do you see?
Behold the King walks
He walks among the living
Ruler of all, his residence among the
Unseen, unheard and unknown
No crown, no scepter, only royal humility

Feet muddied by desert clay, knee deep in poverty
The same knees bent to reach the oppressed
The broken, sick and abused
To His right and His left
Gentle hands outstretched
Near to the brokenhearted and grieving
Behold, Our King, the Lord, with them He is weeping
Divine tears mingled in the dust of human pain
Eye to eye with the lame, perfection close enough to the guilty, daring to be stained
Majesty meeting men in the midst of their shame

Our King stirred by compassion, Love led Him to action
The Most High swept low
What no mind could imagine
A kingdom brought to life by death
!For the King rose, freeing Grace to ascend
His reign established by what He gave not by what He took
It was Love's pain that unlocked Heaven's gates
Open to all, The Kingdom awaits

For He is infinitely more connected to you
than He is to His crown
And should your voice cry out,
to his throne He's not bound
Surely He shall come, should His children cry out

God close the distance, extinguish the dark
come near o King of Kings,
Come near to our hearts

God close the distance, extinguish the dark
Come near o King of Kings
Be King of our Hearts!