Broken Dreams

Often we try to go it on our own & before we can stop it, a wake of tears & pain fill the lives of those around us. Psalm 16:7 tells us, "... the Lord has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me..." Some call it our conscious, while others call it our sinful nature. I call it our selfish nature. Hearts remain whole when we heed "His still, small voice" which is within our very being. Romans 2:15 clearly tells us He has written His Holy Word on our hearts. When we can't find the strength to approach the throne ourselves, we can turn to those who will clear our vision of the things of this world.

"..Much will Be Required..." *

In the time of Jesus, Roman law was final. When a Roman centurion was walking and came upon a non-Roman citizen, he could force a non-Roman to drop what he was doing and carry his load for one mile. What a tremendous burden and inconvenience !!! After having accomplished my work, I have been instructed to carry out the tasks assigned to others. It is frustrating, to say the least, infuriating at most. Not given to anger, I first sought the words of scripture for counsel.

In Matthew 5:41 Jesus said, "And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two". Is the Bible an outdated manuscript without relevance in the modern world? I would say this example puts an end to that argument.

* see Luke 12:48

Please Don't Call Me "Religious"

Please don't call me "religious"...Religious people are the ones who crucified Christ. They continue to crucify Him today.
Folks in Jesus' time had gotten so caught up in the "Shalt nots" that they failed to love one another. That is why God sent Jesus, His Son. The vast majority of non-believing people I have met, were "raised Christian", and yet they do not know Christ. They have been so brain-washed by judgementalism that they do not know who Christ really was and IS.
If you want to get to know the REAL Jesus: who He was and is, why He came and what He is all about, PLEASE FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF. Start with the Book of John. If you want a quick biography, read the Book of Mark. John, Jesus' "beloved disciple" gives us a great understanding of who Christ really was.....Jesus hung out with sinners...prostitutes, thieves, working class stiffs....people on the edge & over the edge. Jesus spent most of his time talking about love and hope, putting others first, about forgiveness and new beginnings.....
What is your image of Christ? How do you represent Him? Do your daily words and actions align with your faith? Are you "religious"?

Who Is My Neighbor?

Jesus sums up God's law with the command,
"You shall love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself". (Luke 10:27, see also Romans 13:9 & Leviticus 19:18). If I give to others all day, as a follower of Christ, am I entitled to take the evenings and weekends off? Can I ignore my neighbor because I have already filled my "good deed quota" for the day? I don't believe so. A lawyer asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29). Jesus replies with the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 30-37). One of those who passes by is a Levitical priest. This tells me that no matter how holy or righteous one thinks they are, there is never a time to turn ones' back on a neighbor.
Jesus gave 3, primary instructions: Love God, love your neighbor, preach to all the world. Just before His ascension, He commissioned His followers to "go into all the world..." (Mark 16:15) or "nations..."(Matt 28:19-20) and preach the Gospel..." Perhaps some believe Jesus' instructions were multiple choice, but I believe they were all equally important.
I like the metaphor in this image. The open archway that God created into a garden of His creations where the light begins to shine. This is in stark contrast to those who are in the dark and strive to fence people out of their lives. How does your light shine in your every-day and every-moment walk towards the Kingdom? Do we ever get to retire?...Take some time off...? Not on this go-around. That comes later.

Listening

I usually get up between 3 & 5 ~ "oh-dark-thirty ~ and I listen. Not yet ready for starkness, I fill the room with the soft glow of a dozen or more candles. I settle in with Mikey, gently warming me with his purrs, comforting cup of tea or coffee, my journal and my Bible. Imagine ! The Creator of all things actually used the hands of man to write down his Holy Word in a book!!!...and I have access to it !!! How can I not read it ?!? I get to know Him better that way and myself, too.
I pray, but I try to listen most af all. It's not just a doing kind of faith, or a checklist item. It's not just dumping my requests and feeling better~ a cosmic kind of feel-good remedy. It's about relationship. I thank Him, praise Him and worship Him.
Outside, I stand so small, over-shadowed by the forest silhouette. I gaze in awe at the night sky. "When I consider the moon and the stars, what is man that thou art mindful of him?" (Ps. 8). And me? That you care for me?!? I wonder in amazement that the Creator of the Universe wants to spend time with me !
It's all about relationship and relationship is 2-way. I pray & I praise, but most of all, I try to listen. I hear "His still, small voice" best of all when the world has not yet arisen. I am His beloved child. He has adopted me into His family and made me an heir to His Kingdom...how can I not be amazed and filled with wonder !!! The Master Artist has made me in His image~ Once again, in the glow of candlelight, I am driven to create, still in praise and worship.
Soon, I will head out to spend my day with middle schoolers, but I invite my Lord along. I will learn to know Him even better as he allows me to help others find their image of Him through the act of creating.... and I continue to listen.