"Never before has there been a time when people were so connected through the Internet and other media, yet so very alone and isolated, looking for something more." That is a fairly close quote from the movie Contact. I did it by memory, so please forgive any mistakes, but this memory is close enough to serve the purpose.
I have been thinking about this quote for a few days now. And it is so very true. Never before have we been able to keep up with everyone in an instant, yet still never leave the lonely confines of our homes. Never before have we know people across the globe so intimately yet not even know the names of your neighbors. I have been in my new home going on 3 months, and even though I have reached out to say hello, the neighbors usually simply reply Hey, as they quickly scurry back into their homes. One neighbor out of 6 has spoken to us. I remember growing up. When a new family moved in we baked cookies, brownies, blondies, dinner anything to give ourselves a reason to meet the new neighbors. We looked for ways to welcome them, and often times grabbed a box and helped them move in. Is that done today? I hope it is, but in the past 3 years and 2 moves, we have not seen it. I can understand why people wouldn't want to invest a lot of time into us here. We are renters and we may up and leave in a year, leaving them behind and sad. I can understand that. But the more I look around I don't see any human connection. I see computer, cell phones, hand gadgets, people texting away, as they quickly pass the elderly needing a hand, or the mother overwhelmed with 3 children going in 3 different directions.
I was going through my facebook account recently and I was deleting people that I didn't really know, had as friends just for the networking needs of a project, or who I hadn't either responded to or received a response in a year. To me it just makes sense to only have people you are connected with in your network. I have many friends with 200, 500, one with 800 friends. I wonder, do they actually even know 1/3 of those people? Do they really carry on any real relationship, even if just as an acquaintance, with all of these people? I wonder, when they sign in do they feel more loved because 500 confirmed them as friends? Do they feel better about themselves, since 500 people have validated their importance? Or do they feel even more alone when they notice that not one friend even so much as clicked the "like" button on their status? Are they reminded that of 500 people, no one thought of them that day? I don't know, I am just wondering. Me, I have 135 friends, and I could probably even weed that down further. I have some friends, that no matter what they type, it could just be "eating lunch" and they will have 20 comments left, and other friends who type "I really need prayer today, we have been faced with a loss" and no one left a comment. I don't know who to feel sorry for. The one who needs constant validation, or the one who doesn't receive any.
I know that I am among the group that I am writing about. I have dear friends in England whom I have never met in person, and I don't know a single neighbors name. (I forgot the names of the ones who introduced themselves, yeah, I am really that bad) I don't write this to convict or condemned I write this because it is true and because I am part of the problem.
Never before have we known so many people, yet been so alone personally. I know I battle daily with loneliness, sometimes severe, leaving me aching. Break the trend, get out and connect in person.
Ady
Friday, April 9, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Proverbs 30:7-9
I wrote this one a year or so ago. It is interesting to see changes God has made in our lives, ultimately we did end up loosing the house, but God provided buyers so we could short sell instead of being foreclosed. He provided another place for us to live, smaller, and one that brought this close knit family even closer ... amazing. And He is still teaching us to lean upon Him by keeping us paycheck to paycheck. I must say, these past 20 months have been so very difficult, yet I wouldn't change a moment of them. Maybe one day, when we have learned to keep Him this close to us, He will grant us again some of what He had to take. But if given the choice between being financially secure with every need excessively met and a casual relationship with God, or eating Ramon noodles so that the electric bill can be paid, but living at the feet of God, I would choose the latter.
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Good day to all. ... No wait, that isn't good enough. One of the things that I have always noted and loved was the greetings that each of the letters gave to the readers. They were heart felt and beautiful. I think we have lost the art of greeting people. I know that Hello or Good day Mate, really do suffice on most days, but not today, not to you, and most definitely not to my God. So let me try this again. (Just between us though, I am completely taking Paul's greetings to the Thessalonians, the first letter, and copying them for you. He just really knew how to say hello) To my brothers and sisters In God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (There now that is much better)
Today I was watching a video clip that addressed Proverbs 30:7-9 and it issued a challenge to Americans, which of course made me want to ponder upon it for a bit. The challenge was simple. Would you pray for this? Now I realize that there may be some of you, who like me, don't know off the top of your heads what those verses say, so I will write them here, but I will go back a few verses. Proverbs 30:5-9 "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches -- Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God." Hmm, I had to stop and think upon that. Basically Agur, who wrote this, was saying God control my mouth, prevent me from speaking any falsehoods or lies. Take my mouth and make it Yours. He is petitioning for 2 things that for all intents and purposes was more of a plead then a petition one control my mouth and two my provisions. God don't give me too much that I no longer need to rely on you and only you and don't give me so little that I end up stealing, thus profaning You and Your name. Think about that for a moment. The prayer can be broken down to an even more simple statement. God keep me honestly Yours give me just enough to live paycheck to paycheck, never having more then my needs met, leaving me dependent on only You. Okay, who wants to jump on this challenge bandwagon with me? Any show of hands out there? Now, I say that slightly light heartedly, but don't let that take away from what Agur is saying, nor what this challenge is proposing.
One thing that has really be pulling at my heart is that there is a part of me that knows that I need to pray that. That I should for my own sake pray that. That God wants my heart to live that prayer. Then there is this side of me, it is almost a soft voice, whispering delicately in my ear. What if what He gives you isn't enough? What if you end up loosing the house? Ouch, I hate that little voice that speaks so sweetly the doubts that I fight every day. Some days I honestly do wish that I could just reach into my own mind and heart and just jack slap that voice and hand it some eviction papers. But the truth is, I am probably living outside of God's desire for me. Ouch, another slap. Then again that isn't for me to determine is it? It isn't for me to decide what God does and does not want for me. So the bottom line is. Will I just trust him? Will I place my every single need in His hands? Will I accept it when He goes through my life and says "no, this wasn't what I wanted for you" and takes it from me? Will I praise Him for it? Or, will I whine about it? (I hate to admit it, but the odds are better for the latter, but I pray for the former.) Will I stop worrying about my future, my next bill, my next meal, and just live in this moment completely trusting my God for my every need? I can honestly say, that maybe not completely today, but I will remind myself daily, no, hourly, possibly minute by minute to just do it. I do intend to pray this prayer, perhaps after I have had a chance to share this with my husband and hear his wisdom. After all, he would be bound to this prayer as well, and he is my head.
Normally this would be the time that I issue my own challenge to you. But, this isn't for me to issue to you. Instead I ask you to read Proverbs 30:1-9 for yourself and search your own heart, praying, and listening to what God reveals to you.
May God richly bless you as you seek more of Him.
Ady
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Good day to all. ... No wait, that isn't good enough. One of the things that I have always noted and loved was the greetings that each of the letters gave to the readers. They were heart felt and beautiful. I think we have lost the art of greeting people. I know that Hello or Good day Mate, really do suffice on most days, but not today, not to you, and most definitely not to my God. So let me try this again. (Just between us though, I am completely taking Paul's greetings to the Thessalonians, the first letter, and copying them for you. He just really knew how to say hello) To my brothers and sisters In God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (There now that is much better)
Today I was watching a video clip that addressed Proverbs 30:7-9 and it issued a challenge to Americans, which of course made me want to ponder upon it for a bit. The challenge was simple. Would you pray for this? Now I realize that there may be some of you, who like me, don't know off the top of your heads what those verses say, so I will write them here, but I will go back a few verses. Proverbs 30:5-9 "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches -- Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God." Hmm, I had to stop and think upon that. Basically Agur, who wrote this, was saying God control my mouth, prevent me from speaking any falsehoods or lies. Take my mouth and make it Yours. He is petitioning for 2 things that for all intents and purposes was more of a plead then a petition one control my mouth and two my provisions. God don't give me too much that I no longer need to rely on you and only you and don't give me so little that I end up stealing, thus profaning You and Your name. Think about that for a moment. The prayer can be broken down to an even more simple statement. God keep me honestly Yours give me just enough to live paycheck to paycheck, never having more then my needs met, leaving me dependent on only You. Okay, who wants to jump on this challenge bandwagon with me? Any show of hands out there? Now, I say that slightly light heartedly, but don't let that take away from what Agur is saying, nor what this challenge is proposing.
One thing that has really be pulling at my heart is that there is a part of me that knows that I need to pray that. That I should for my own sake pray that. That God wants my heart to live that prayer. Then there is this side of me, it is almost a soft voice, whispering delicately in my ear. What if what He gives you isn't enough? What if you end up loosing the house? Ouch, I hate that little voice that speaks so sweetly the doubts that I fight every day. Some days I honestly do wish that I could just reach into my own mind and heart and just jack slap that voice and hand it some eviction papers. But the truth is, I am probably living outside of God's desire for me. Ouch, another slap. Then again that isn't for me to determine is it? It isn't for me to decide what God does and does not want for me. So the bottom line is. Will I just trust him? Will I place my every single need in His hands? Will I accept it when He goes through my life and says "no, this wasn't what I wanted for you" and takes it from me? Will I praise Him for it? Or, will I whine about it? (I hate to admit it, but the odds are better for the latter, but I pray for the former.) Will I stop worrying about my future, my next bill, my next meal, and just live in this moment completely trusting my God for my every need? I can honestly say, that maybe not completely today, but I will remind myself daily, no, hourly, possibly minute by minute to just do it. I do intend to pray this prayer, perhaps after I have had a chance to share this with my husband and hear his wisdom. After all, he would be bound to this prayer as well, and he is my head.
Normally this would be the time that I issue my own challenge to you. But, this isn't for me to issue to you. Instead I ask you to read Proverbs 30:1-9 for yourself and search your own heart, praying, and listening to what God reveals to you.
May God richly bless you as you seek more of Him.
Ady
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Lets start at the very beginning
Hello my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, I hope this day finds you seeking Him and His wisdom and that His peace rest upon you.
Today is a rather different kind of day. I was watching TV the other day when I saw a trailer for the movie Julie and Julia, or something like that. The storyline behind this film was a woman decided to read and do one of Julia Child’s books from the beginning to the end, not skipping a page or recipe, and then write a blog about it. I have not decided myself if I will see the movie or not, but what did come to mind is ... What if someone decided to read the Bible from beginning to end and blog about it, not missing a page, command, lesson, or conviction? Then I wondered if I could take on such a challenge. At that point I realized that it would be a daunting task, and truthfully I don’t know if I am up to that challenge. But I couldn’t help but to wonder about what lessons I could learn. What if I looked at the Bible with fresh eyes, or from a different approach. So I decided to start at Genesis chapter 1, ask God to teach me something new, and document the thoughts that came to mind. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much. I have always looked at the first few chapters of the Bible as ground work, history, and the foundation to introduce God. Man was my mind ever closed off. Here is what I learned reading Genesis 1.
The first thing that struck me was all the times I read “God said .... and there was ...” I stopped for a moment and asked myself. “When have I allowed God to speak into my life?” The truth is, probably never. I have spent so much time lately wondering why nothing is happening and the truth is - God didn’t speak it. Therefore there is no basis for it to be followed by - “and there was”. Then it hit me, that is just the beginning of what I need to change.
Another thing that I noticed is God never allowed the darkness to remain. He did not ever permit total darkness. I remembered in John 1 we are told that the “light was with Him” and I believe that to be Jesus, so even from the beginning Jesus is there. Genesis 1 states the spirit hovered over the earth, again I believe it is a reference to Jesus being there. But God also illustrated that He is the one who brings light, that He is light, by speaking light into creation. Then he places a lesser light to rule the night and places the stars in the heavens. Even when darkness falls, He provides light. I realize that this is the story of creation, and it is the story of how the moon and stars came to be. But I could not help but to see, that even from the beginning, God addressed our need for light, His light.
Something else that sometimes gets overlooked is that God made the plants before he made the sun. This is something that I have been teaching my children for years, but still you would be surprised to see just how many people don’t pick up on that. I think God did this for two reasons, and again, these are just my thoughts. I think the first reason was to just show us His greatness, His ability to show everything, that He is the author of life. That there wasn’t a reaction caused by the sun. That it was His doing. And the second reason is to prove that He alone can sustain everything and that means everyone too. We learn in science that without the sun plants die, but God shows us that it is He who sustains life.
Now this next section I had to park on for a bit. I admit that I probably need to park there even longer then I did, but I am sure it will not be the last time I am there. I had to stop and think about the fact that we are made in His image. I had never really stopped to reflect on that before. I understood the concept, and I believed it to be true, but I had never just pondered upon it. I reflected upon my own children and smiled as I pictured them, I giggled as I thought of their personalities and I was filled with joy as I saw my husband and myself in them. They are us. But when I expanded on to ask myself “Am I in God’s image?” I had to look past my physical image, past the fact that my body formation may resemble God’s and look at my personality. Can you hear my mind spinning as I think of these things? Is your mind going to town over it? What question came to mind next was the most probing question to date. Can God see His personality, His traits, Himself in me? That question, I must admit, may take a lifetime to answer.
Anyway, just when I thought that I had gotten everything I could out of Genesis 1. Just when I thought I knew everything about that chapter that I needed to know. Just when I thought it was just an introductory history lesson to introduce God. I hear it speak to me, and I am reminded that God’s word is a living word, constantly speaking to us .... that is if we are listening.
May God richly bless you as you seek Him.
Ady
Today is a rather different kind of day. I was watching TV the other day when I saw a trailer for the movie Julie and Julia, or something like that. The storyline behind this film was a woman decided to read and do one of Julia Child’s books from the beginning to the end, not skipping a page or recipe, and then write a blog about it. I have not decided myself if I will see the movie or not, but what did come to mind is ... What if someone decided to read the Bible from beginning to end and blog about it, not missing a page, command, lesson, or conviction? Then I wondered if I could take on such a challenge. At that point I realized that it would be a daunting task, and truthfully I don’t know if I am up to that challenge. But I couldn’t help but to wonder about what lessons I could learn. What if I looked at the Bible with fresh eyes, or from a different approach. So I decided to start at Genesis chapter 1, ask God to teach me something new, and document the thoughts that came to mind. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much. I have always looked at the first few chapters of the Bible as ground work, history, and the foundation to introduce God. Man was my mind ever closed off. Here is what I learned reading Genesis 1.
The first thing that struck me was all the times I read “God said .... and there was ...” I stopped for a moment and asked myself. “When have I allowed God to speak into my life?” The truth is, probably never. I have spent so much time lately wondering why nothing is happening and the truth is - God didn’t speak it. Therefore there is no basis for it to be followed by - “and there was”. Then it hit me, that is just the beginning of what I need to change.
Another thing that I noticed is God never allowed the darkness to remain. He did not ever permit total darkness. I remembered in John 1 we are told that the “light was with Him” and I believe that to be Jesus, so even from the beginning Jesus is there. Genesis 1 states the spirit hovered over the earth, again I believe it is a reference to Jesus being there. But God also illustrated that He is the one who brings light, that He is light, by speaking light into creation. Then he places a lesser light to rule the night and places the stars in the heavens. Even when darkness falls, He provides light. I realize that this is the story of creation, and it is the story of how the moon and stars came to be. But I could not help but to see, that even from the beginning, God addressed our need for light, His light.
Something else that sometimes gets overlooked is that God made the plants before he made the sun. This is something that I have been teaching my children for years, but still you would be surprised to see just how many people don’t pick up on that. I think God did this for two reasons, and again, these are just my thoughts. I think the first reason was to just show us His greatness, His ability to show everything, that He is the author of life. That there wasn’t a reaction caused by the sun. That it was His doing. And the second reason is to prove that He alone can sustain everything and that means everyone too. We learn in science that without the sun plants die, but God shows us that it is He who sustains life.
Now this next section I had to park on for a bit. I admit that I probably need to park there even longer then I did, but I am sure it will not be the last time I am there. I had to stop and think about the fact that we are made in His image. I had never really stopped to reflect on that before. I understood the concept, and I believed it to be true, but I had never just pondered upon it. I reflected upon my own children and smiled as I pictured them, I giggled as I thought of their personalities and I was filled with joy as I saw my husband and myself in them. They are us. But when I expanded on to ask myself “Am I in God’s image?” I had to look past my physical image, past the fact that my body formation may resemble God’s and look at my personality. Can you hear my mind spinning as I think of these things? Is your mind going to town over it? What question came to mind next was the most probing question to date. Can God see His personality, His traits, Himself in me? That question, I must admit, may take a lifetime to answer.
Anyway, just when I thought that I had gotten everything I could out of Genesis 1. Just when I thought I knew everything about that chapter that I needed to know. Just when I thought it was just an introductory history lesson to introduce God. I hear it speak to me, and I am reminded that God’s word is a living word, constantly speaking to us .... that is if we are listening.
May God richly bless you as you seek Him.
Ady
Friday, February 5, 2010
A blog submitted by Parker
A very dear friend of mine posted this blog someplace else and graciously gave me permission to post here. I just loved it. Thank you so much Parker for sharing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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Being on time is problematic for me; it always has been. Today I knew I had several stops to make before picking up the two young boys that I baby-sit. First, I had to mail my Mom’s Mother’s Day card (that was a must) and second with the fuel gauge on ’E’ it was also imperative that I make that stop at the gas station (not the closest one mind you, but the cheapest one).
The Post Office was my first stop and needless to say it was no huge surprise to find that the line was already a long one and moving nowhere. Even though I knew I needed to ‘be in a hurry’, let’s face it- I wasn’t. Several minutes passed and most everyone in line was looking around, shuffling from foot to foot, huffing because things weren’t moving fast enough, their eyes and heads were bobbing around like those bobble head dolls with a look of 'when will this all end'.
Behind me in the distance (at least 3 or 4 people back), I heard the voice of a woman- who having not seen her when she walked in, would probably have described her as elderly. Before I knew it, I found myself drawn to her voice and her conversation with the gentleman in front of her. (Now don’t give me that…you guys know you listen in on other people’s conversations whether you want to or not)
I heard her say something to the effect of ‘so many people waiting in line for a single stamp‘. The guy acknowledged her comment in a polite nonchalant sort of way.
A moment or two of silence fell upon my ears except for the postal worker saying ‘next’ (granted the official United States Postal employee was very nice, but it sort of reminded me of ’Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’. However instead of ’Bueller, Bueller, Bueller…I heard next…well, you get the picture)
The elderly lady began to speak again and she mentioned that ‘she knew the lines would be long and so she brought along a book to read‘. Again, silence fell until I heard the lady reading aloud. At first, I thought maybe she had found some interesting sentence and just wanted to share it with someone; because at that time I was only catching a word here and there. But they were familiar words; words that I had heard somewhere before...church, seminary....
After I heard her reading aloud, I must have become tuned into what she was reading because her words grew louder. By now my curiosity had grown so, that I had to turn around and see who this woman was and what she was reading. She was just as I had pictured. She was an elderly looking woman with this worn weathered beaten look about her. Her reading was like that of a child, but so sweet and hushed…unlike anything I had ever heard before. She never looked up, but kept her face and her hand poignantly on her book…
Strangely the Post Office became eerily quiet, yet wonderfully exciting (I have not been drinking and I’m not on drugs). As I intently concentrated on what she was reading, I heard the words ever so clearly…
“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
I was now at the counter ready to send my Mom’s much belated Mother’s Day card and could no longer hear the woman reading. But what I did notice was that everything seemed to slow down and the ‘huffing’ and shuffling of the people and papers seemed to be removed.
My time in the Post Office had ended and for once I left there with a smile. Maybe it was because I thought of the enormity of what this woman had done and maybe it was because I knew what followed next in this passage from John:
“Philip said to him, ’Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ’Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?”
By the way, the reason I was late in sending my mom’s card was because I made her one this year. For some strange reason, last week my printer decided to quit working and it wasn’t until last night that I finally managed to fix it. Had it been working correctly last week, I would have missed this face of God for one postage stamp….
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Being on time is problematic for me; it always has been. Today I knew I had several stops to make before picking up the two young boys that I baby-sit. First, I had to mail my Mom’s Mother’s Day card (that was a must) and second with the fuel gauge on ’E’ it was also imperative that I make that stop at the gas station (not the closest one mind you, but the cheapest one).
The Post Office was my first stop and needless to say it was no huge surprise to find that the line was already a long one and moving nowhere. Even though I knew I needed to ‘be in a hurry’, let’s face it- I wasn’t. Several minutes passed and most everyone in line was looking around, shuffling from foot to foot, huffing because things weren’t moving fast enough, their eyes and heads were bobbing around like those bobble head dolls with a look of 'when will this all end'.
Behind me in the distance (at least 3 or 4 people back), I heard the voice of a woman- who having not seen her when she walked in, would probably have described her as elderly. Before I knew it, I found myself drawn to her voice and her conversation with the gentleman in front of her. (Now don’t give me that…you guys know you listen in on other people’s conversations whether you want to or not)
I heard her say something to the effect of ‘so many people waiting in line for a single stamp‘. The guy acknowledged her comment in a polite nonchalant sort of way.
A moment or two of silence fell upon my ears except for the postal worker saying ‘next’ (granted the official United States Postal employee was very nice, but it sort of reminded me of ’Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’. However instead of ’Bueller, Bueller, Bueller…I heard next…well, you get the picture)
The elderly lady began to speak again and she mentioned that ‘she knew the lines would be long and so she brought along a book to read‘. Again, silence fell until I heard the lady reading aloud. At first, I thought maybe she had found some interesting sentence and just wanted to share it with someone; because at that time I was only catching a word here and there. But they were familiar words; words that I had heard somewhere before...church, seminary....
After I heard her reading aloud, I must have become tuned into what she was reading because her words grew louder. By now my curiosity had grown so, that I had to turn around and see who this woman was and what she was reading. She was just as I had pictured. She was an elderly looking woman with this worn weathered beaten look about her. Her reading was like that of a child, but so sweet and hushed…unlike anything I had ever heard before. She never looked up, but kept her face and her hand poignantly on her book…
Strangely the Post Office became eerily quiet, yet wonderfully exciting (I have not been drinking and I’m not on drugs). As I intently concentrated on what she was reading, I heard the words ever so clearly…
“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
I was now at the counter ready to send my Mom’s much belated Mother’s Day card and could no longer hear the woman reading. But what I did notice was that everything seemed to slow down and the ‘huffing’ and shuffling of the people and papers seemed to be removed.
My time in the Post Office had ended and for once I left there with a smile. Maybe it was because I thought of the enormity of what this woman had done and maybe it was because I knew what followed next in this passage from John:
“Philip said to him, ’Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ’Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me?”
By the way, the reason I was late in sending my mom’s card was because I made her one this year. For some strange reason, last week my printer decided to quit working and it wasn’t until last night that I finally managed to fix it. Had it been working correctly last week, I would have missed this face of God for one postage stamp….
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Pure worship
I have spent most of the day trying to figure out what I was going to blog about today. I have known that I wanted to continue on pray and really touch on worship, yet my studies yielded only personal messages. Messages I cherish. Since I began my writing career, which I know hasn't taken off yet, I have been bombarded with one question. A question that I believe is from God speaking right to my heart. What was that question? It was a simple one. Adrienne, if you are the only one who comes here, the only one who reads what you write, would it be enough for you? If your words were only ever between Me and you, would you be satisfied? I have to admit, that was not a question I answered in haste. I knew that the answer wasn't black and white. I had to evaluate my goals, my desires, my heart. I had to ask myself. Would it simply be enough for me to only write to God? I love and hate those questions of the heart He poses. They always lead to deep thought and evaluation, yet sometimes what the reveal literally breaks my heart. I am pleased to say that I have found my answer. Yes, if this place, if my books, my thoughts, my prayers, my everything written, and not, were only between myself and God, it would be enough. This place is worth maintaining if only for U/us. Do I think that will be His will? I don't know, but regardless of whether it is or not, it changes nothing. God is worth our best. He is worthy of us placing our hardest work, or most inspired creativity, our everything for just Him. He has given us so much, yet so often we offer Him what is left over at the end of the day. What is good enough to just get by. He gives us gifts to share with the world, and to share with Him. When I write, so often, I completely loose myself in the moment, I find my communion with God at it's purest form. This is my form of worship and I worship Him.
I have been watching my daughter and husband this evening. Watching them listen to music together. He with his eyes closed, hands lifted up in worship, and her twirling and composing dances, complete with moments of bended knee and clasped hands. She as learned to sometimes pray the songs she hears. As I watched her I wondered when we got so old, so mature, so religious that we were no longer to just twirl as we looked up and sang and danced for our King. I remembered Jesus saying we should approach him as the little children do. They don't worry about doing it "right" they just do what comes to them. Now I am not suggesting that we just start twirling in the middle of church and pull out our Jesus coloring books. There are times that we do need to be respectful of our surroundings. What I am suggesting is that we also allow ourselves times of pure worship. When the thoughts of others do not enter our minds. When we sing loudly out of key and allow tears to flow down our cheeks. When we get up and twirl around and dance for our Lord. I am reminded of the song, Heart of Worship. And, I can't help but to think that we all need to come back to our purest form of worship with our God. What ever that gift is He gave us to share with Him, and the world.
May God richly bless you as you seek Him today.
Ady
I have been watching my daughter and husband this evening. Watching them listen to music together. He with his eyes closed, hands lifted up in worship, and her twirling and composing dances, complete with moments of bended knee and clasped hands. She as learned to sometimes pray the songs she hears. As I watched her I wondered when we got so old, so mature, so religious that we were no longer to just twirl as we looked up and sang and danced for our King. I remembered Jesus saying we should approach him as the little children do. They don't worry about doing it "right" they just do what comes to them. Now I am not suggesting that we just start twirling in the middle of church and pull out our Jesus coloring books. There are times that we do need to be respectful of our surroundings. What I am suggesting is that we also allow ourselves times of pure worship. When the thoughts of others do not enter our minds. When we sing loudly out of key and allow tears to flow down our cheeks. When we get up and twirl around and dance for our Lord. I am reminded of the song, Heart of Worship. And, I can't help but to think that we all need to come back to our purest form of worship with our God. What ever that gift is He gave us to share with Him, and the world.
May God richly bless you as you seek Him today.
Ady
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Lord's prayer and it's impact on us.
Matthew 6:8-13 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation.
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
A prayer that many of us have been taught since childhood. Most of us can recite it automatically without giving much, if any, thought to the words, they just flow from our lips. Many have written about this passage and for good reason. Far too often, this prayer's power is not realized. Jesus isn't simply telling us to recite these words as a ritual to our Father. Nor is He saying this is the only prayer to say. This is a model prayer, that is to say, something to learn and learn from. Max Lucado in his book The Great House of God broke down this prayer beautifully. I would recommend everyone to read this book. If for no other reason then to get a better perspective of these lines. I will not re-write his book here, for I am not qualified. But I will share with you some food for thought. But first, some questions. What does this prayer mean to you? What does it mean when Jesus says "your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him."? Does that imply that we really don't need to ask since God already knows? I think most of us would answer that question with a NO. What Jesus is trying to get us to do is to recognize a few things. One, God already knows everything. Two, He is in charge of everything. And three, we need to approach God with a forgiving heart.
God wants us to come to Him, even though we know He already knows what we need. It shows that we recognize his Deity, that He IS God. And that we know that He is the only one we can truly turn to. Look at the words, in heaven, your kingdom, your will. These words are proclaiming that God is indeed the ruler of heaven and earth, that our desire is for His kingdom, His will, which also means not our kingdom, not our will. When we pray it is important that we take time to not only ask for things, but to also to humble ourselves and admit to God and ourselves that in the grand scope of things, He is in control, His kingdom is the one that needs to be promoted and ultimately His will is what we need for our lives. If we did that, from an honest heart, how much more power would our prayers hold? How much closer would our communication be with God?
Another aspect of this prayer is that He forgives us as we forgive others. How many of you are holding a grudge? Tell me, how is that going? Does it make you feel better about what happened? Have you determined how much suffering that person deserves from your persistent anger? Will that day ever come? Is it making you healthier, or tearing you up? Finally, is holding on to that anger towards another person, worth you not receiving forgiveness from God? Ahh now there is a question that we might not ask ourselves very often. Is that person worth not receiving God's forgiveness? Yet when we refuse to forgive someone, regardless of what they have done, that is exactly what we are risking. Lets face it, we need God's forgiveness. What we have done to Him is worst then what others have done to us. God gave us His forgiveness even though we did not deserve it. Even though we continue to do things to hurt and sin against Him. I don't think He is asking too much by telling us to extend what He has already given us. How much would the quality of your life improve if you left the past behind and just forgave, if for no other reason then to receive God's forgiveness.
In closing I want to challenge you. When you pray today, which today is the day we pray for each other, ask not for what you need right now. Instead ask God to show you any unforgiveness you may be harboring. Walk line by line through the Lord's Prayer and meditate on what it means, when you ask for His will, ask it willing to accept that right now it might not be what you want or think you need. Remember that even Jesus, while in the garden, asked for what He wanted, but ultimately asked for God's will to be done, not His. Sometimes the walk we need to take does not feel good, but in the end, it was the exact thing we NEEDED. Finally, before you end your prayer, forgive your trespassers, and the ones you struggle with, ask God to help you forgive. He will help you.
May God bless you on this day.
Ady
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation.
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
A prayer that many of us have been taught since childhood. Most of us can recite it automatically without giving much, if any, thought to the words, they just flow from our lips. Many have written about this passage and for good reason. Far too often, this prayer's power is not realized. Jesus isn't simply telling us to recite these words as a ritual to our Father. Nor is He saying this is the only prayer to say. This is a model prayer, that is to say, something to learn and learn from. Max Lucado in his book The Great House of God broke down this prayer beautifully. I would recommend everyone to read this book. If for no other reason then to get a better perspective of these lines. I will not re-write his book here, for I am not qualified. But I will share with you some food for thought. But first, some questions. What does this prayer mean to you? What does it mean when Jesus says "your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him."? Does that imply that we really don't need to ask since God already knows? I think most of us would answer that question with a NO. What Jesus is trying to get us to do is to recognize a few things. One, God already knows everything. Two, He is in charge of everything. And three, we need to approach God with a forgiving heart.
God wants us to come to Him, even though we know He already knows what we need. It shows that we recognize his Deity, that He IS God. And that we know that He is the only one we can truly turn to. Look at the words, in heaven, your kingdom, your will. These words are proclaiming that God is indeed the ruler of heaven and earth, that our desire is for His kingdom, His will, which also means not our kingdom, not our will. When we pray it is important that we take time to not only ask for things, but to also to humble ourselves and admit to God and ourselves that in the grand scope of things, He is in control, His kingdom is the one that needs to be promoted and ultimately His will is what we need for our lives. If we did that, from an honest heart, how much more power would our prayers hold? How much closer would our communication be with God?
Another aspect of this prayer is that He forgives us as we forgive others. How many of you are holding a grudge? Tell me, how is that going? Does it make you feel better about what happened? Have you determined how much suffering that person deserves from your persistent anger? Will that day ever come? Is it making you healthier, or tearing you up? Finally, is holding on to that anger towards another person, worth you not receiving forgiveness from God? Ahh now there is a question that we might not ask ourselves very often. Is that person worth not receiving God's forgiveness? Yet when we refuse to forgive someone, regardless of what they have done, that is exactly what we are risking. Lets face it, we need God's forgiveness. What we have done to Him is worst then what others have done to us. God gave us His forgiveness even though we did not deserve it. Even though we continue to do things to hurt and sin against Him. I don't think He is asking too much by telling us to extend what He has already given us. How much would the quality of your life improve if you left the past behind and just forgave, if for no other reason then to receive God's forgiveness.
In closing I want to challenge you. When you pray today, which today is the day we pray for each other, ask not for what you need right now. Instead ask God to show you any unforgiveness you may be harboring. Walk line by line through the Lord's Prayer and meditate on what it means, when you ask for His will, ask it willing to accept that right now it might not be what you want or think you need. Remember that even Jesus, while in the garden, asked for what He wanted, but ultimately asked for God's will to be done, not His. Sometimes the walk we need to take does not feel good, but in the end, it was the exact thing we NEEDED. Finally, before you end your prayer, forgive your trespassers, and the ones you struggle with, ask God to help you forgive. He will help you.
May God bless you on this day.
Ady
The Bethel of our Souls
Then Jacob rose early in the morning and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You." Genesis 28: 18 - 22 NKJV
I realize that this may seem like an odd place to start, but for me this is a place of beginnings. Bethel, by the way, means house of God. How appropriate. Why? You may be asking. The reason is simple. God told us in Isaiah 56:7 " Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My alter; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." NKJV. Bethel. Oh to live in Bethel. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Wouldn’t you feel safer in Bethel? Couldn’t you almost imagine grabbing a warm blanket and sinking into a soft comfortable chair and just relaxing in Bethel?
When I first got this impulse to write a blog that surrounded itself on prayer, I did not understand where I would go with this. But, I did know that if it was God’s desire for me, then I was in safe hands. As long as I stayed out of it, which isn’t easy for me. I am still not completely sure of the journey God will take us on with this, but I do know this. Prayer is our communication with God, our communion with him, our life line. God makes 364 references to prayer in the Bible, that alone should tell us something. The great importance God places on prayer. Back that with him telling us outright that His house is a house of prayer, and well I think we all get the picture. Prayer is vital, important, a must, imperative, needed, desired, instructed ... The list literally goes on, but I think that I have made my point. God wants us to pray. So pray I will.
I have decided to move to Bethel. At least in my mind. I want my body, God’s temple, to be a temple of prayer. My own private Bethel. Complete with offering and submission. It won’t always be easy. In fact I expect that at times it will be quite difficult, but then again, when things are too easy they don’t mean as much.
I am at a stage in my life where I almost feel as though my next breath is totally dependent on the grace of God. To say that things are difficult is an understatement. The ironic thing about that is that this isn’t the first time I have been here. It isn’t even my second time. And, yet even knowing that God has pulled me through this before, I still struggle. I would like to think that my struggle is less then in the times pass, but that would probably just be a lovely misconception. The truth is, that for me to even struggle speaks volumes. And, those volumes are not my proudest moments.
I want to share with you whatever God places in my heart. I would consider it a great privilege to be used by God. And it is my sincerest prayer that He takes us all to the Bethel’s of our hearts where we can live the rest of our days. Would you join me?
Ady
I realize that this may seem like an odd place to start, but for me this is a place of beginnings. Bethel, by the way, means house of God. How appropriate. Why? You may be asking. The reason is simple. God told us in Isaiah 56:7 " Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My alter; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." NKJV. Bethel. Oh to live in Bethel. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? Wouldn’t you feel safer in Bethel? Couldn’t you almost imagine grabbing a warm blanket and sinking into a soft comfortable chair and just relaxing in Bethel?
When I first got this impulse to write a blog that surrounded itself on prayer, I did not understand where I would go with this. But, I did know that if it was God’s desire for me, then I was in safe hands. As long as I stayed out of it, which isn’t easy for me. I am still not completely sure of the journey God will take us on with this, but I do know this. Prayer is our communication with God, our communion with him, our life line. God makes 364 references to prayer in the Bible, that alone should tell us something. The great importance God places on prayer. Back that with him telling us outright that His house is a house of prayer, and well I think we all get the picture. Prayer is vital, important, a must, imperative, needed, desired, instructed ... The list literally goes on, but I think that I have made my point. God wants us to pray. So pray I will.
I have decided to move to Bethel. At least in my mind. I want my body, God’s temple, to be a temple of prayer. My own private Bethel. Complete with offering and submission. It won’t always be easy. In fact I expect that at times it will be quite difficult, but then again, when things are too easy they don’t mean as much.
I am at a stage in my life where I almost feel as though my next breath is totally dependent on the grace of God. To say that things are difficult is an understatement. The ironic thing about that is that this isn’t the first time I have been here. It isn’t even my second time. And, yet even knowing that God has pulled me through this before, I still struggle. I would like to think that my struggle is less then in the times pass, but that would probably just be a lovely misconception. The truth is, that for me to even struggle speaks volumes. And, those volumes are not my proudest moments.
I want to share with you whatever God places in my heart. I would consider it a great privilege to be used by God. And it is my sincerest prayer that He takes us all to the Bethel’s of our hearts where we can live the rest of our days. Would you join me?
Ady
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