Jesus - The Living Water

Jesus: The Living Water 

                     

         Since my last blog post, I haven't felt much inspiration or direction for a new post. Last evening, though, after watching some very interesting episodes of "How Its Made" on the Science Channel, at 9 o'clock P.M., I felt I should change channels and watch "Praise the Lord" on TBN. Sid Roth was hosting the program. The main themes echoed by the guests were the power of the anointing, restoration, and supernatural provision. So I started this late Thursday night and am completing it this chilly afternoon .... and it is raining!

         One of the guests even spoke of the power of the anointing being most effective and powerful as we rest in the Lord (like a Sabbath rest) by ceasing our striving. This complemented and confirmed the theme of my Labor Day blog post!  In fact, several times since writing that blog post, I have heard other ministers and speakers mention several things very similar to what the Holy Spirit inspired me to write that day. I just can't help but get excited when that happens! God is so good and always confirms His Word to us. (II Corinthians 13:1).

         When we talk or think about the anointing, restoration, and provision, our source is the Lord. Many places throughout scripture, we see Jesus referred to as the Living Water. We see reference to the Living Water first in the Old Testament. God speaks to Jeremiah and tells him to speak these words to the people:

My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the Spring of Living Water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. Jeremiah 2:13, NIV.

Then in Jeremiah 17:13, we read these words:

Lord, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the Spring of Living Water.

         Living Water! What a huge concept! What depth of resonance! To have access to life-giving power and yet turn away and dismiss it as if it meant nothing, especially after all that Israel had witnessed God do on their behalf over the years plus the wealth of eye-witness testimonies that had been passed down through the generations!  And, yet, do we not have the same tendency as Israel - to do the same thing, thinking that our own way is better, that we can do it all by ourselves, that we really don't need God, except in an emergency, or when we can't figure it out on our own.

         As born-again believers, we often struggle with the temptation that Satan sets before us (just as he did with Eve and even with Jesus), or we struggle with our own selfish desires that woo us toward that notion that is so deeply embedded in our culture of self-sufficiency and independence - the "Me" thing - "Doing it my way."  Sometimes, we get so caught up in daily stuff we get distracted. We lose sight of the most important thing: our personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We need to keep that vertical relationship strong and intact so that we can be healthier when it comes to navigating our horizontal relationships.

         Now I am not saying that we will not have struggles or that we will not stumble from time to time. We will and we do - me included! Sometimes it's just busy stuff that distracts me. Other times, it is the pain and fog of the Fibromyalgia that gets the better of me and I cannot focus enough to read my Bible, pray, or even listen to music. During those times, I am totally reliant and dependent on faith, knowing confidently that He has me in the palm of His Hand and will never leave me nor forsake me. And, that He doesn't condemn me when I slip up or am not able to engage in praise and worship as I would like to do.

         Jesus didn't condemn the woman at the well either. He didn't shun her. He spoke to her with love and gentleness. He came to give her the Good News. He came that she might have life and have life more abundantly. He came to bring forgiveness to her. He came to wash away her sin and bring her into relationship with Him. Not the kind of relationships that she was familiar with. But a different kind of relationship. One full of hope. One full of life. One full of promise: New Life.

Jesus spoke to her of drinking from a well that would never run dry, a well from which she could drink and never be thirsty again!

What? Really? How could that be?

John 4:10

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

John 4:11

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?

John 7:38

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

         Jesus is the Living Water. Water is restorative. Water is refreshing, especially to parched land, a dry plant, or a thirsty person. This is true, both physically and spiritually. Water is powerful.  Water is cleansing. In Ephesians 5: 25-27, we read that husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, so He could present her (His Bride the Church) to Himself in glorious splendor without spot or wrinkle, holy and faultless.

         Jesus gave his life for us, shed His blood for both men and women, male and female, so that our sins could be forgiven once and for all - they would be washed away - removed as far as the East is from the West, never to be remembered again. He is the only perfect spouse! He is the only perfect friend. 

         Jesus is also the Living Word. He washes us clean with the water of His Word which is Truth wrapped in agape love. The water of the Word cleanses our souls and spirits. It refreshes us. It revives us. The water of the Word brings life to the dry and barren land (our physical bodies). Imagine how nice a gently flowing cool waterfall or stream feels on a hot day. Or, a cool rain shower tempering a hot, clammy summer's day. Think of the joy of taking a cleansing shower after working outside in the dirtiest environment you can imagine.

         It's the same principal with the Word of God. Our daily lives are often filled with circumstances and events that tire us, that can frustrate us, even make us angry, though we may never intended to get angry or lose our temper. Perhaps we were tired and short on patience and snapped at someone without thinking. Perhaps someone spewed hurtful words at you or you caught yourself doing that to or about someone else. We get dirty sometimes, not only physically, but spiritually. Sometimes we feel as though we are experiencing a spiritual drought. Our soul, our spirit needs cleansed, needs refreshed, needs washed, needs revived! 

         As I have mentioned in other posts, when the Fibromyalgia began to take its toll on me several years ago and I sought the Lord for His direction and purpose in this situation, He began to inspire me, from time to time, to write in a way I had never imagined I would write! Sometimes it was in the early morning. Sometimes it was in the evening. Sometimes it was mid-day. Other times it was late at night or the wee hours of the morning.

         Now,  I began to sense (and several close Christian friends confirmed this) that these writings would one day be published.  I wasn't sure when or how, though. In the meantime, I was to share them as directed by the Holy Spirit. Not only have they been blessings to several others already, but the Lord has also used them to encourage me as well! I am still amazed and in awe as I go back and reread them. Some have been tweaked, some have had scripture references added to them. Others remain as originally written.

         One of those compositions was titled "Rivers of Living Water." As I was perusing through some of my art one day, I realized the acrylic abstract of a hanging garden with a gently graded waterfall I had painted paired nicely with this composition. Below is a photograph of the painting with the verse under it.

River of Living Water

Flow through me Father

River of Living Water

Flow out of me Father

River of Living Water

Flow into the hearts of the

Wounded souls

River of Living Water

Reaching, longing, seeking for You

to make them whole

River of Living Water.

         Water can also be destructive. So, too, can the power and anointing we have been given as servants of the Living God if we misuse or abuse it. We must be good stewards of the gift with which we have been entrusted. If we misuse or abuse the gift, our testimony will suffer, others will suffer, we will suffer, and not for the Glory of God. Like a storm unleashed on a vulnerable and unsuspecting landscape, the scars created when we run amok and carelessly or dictatorially misuse our gift or misuse God's Word will run deep.

         We must be careful not to allow ourselves to get puffed up or arrogant, thinking ourselves better than others. Jesus is our perfect example and we should desire and seek to emulate His example of humility and servant-hood. Yes, as we grow and as we continue to walk the straight and narrow, there will be times when we will make mistakes and even times when we may stumble and fall, but forgiveness is vital. Not only are we to forgive others, but we must learn to forgive ourselves as well. That was one of the hardest lessons for me to learn - the importance of loving myself as Jesus loves me and forgiving myself because He shed His blood so that I could be forgiven.

        

         God's Word is the Water that washes over us as, that cleanses us from the daily dirt that's part of living in a fallen world. That is why it is important for us to stay connected to our lifeline! As much as it is possible with you, read God's Word, Speak God's Word, listen to God's Word. Engage in Praise and Worship. Soak in His Presence. Let the Water of His Love flow over and into you, continually, so that You may, in turn, be poured out as a blessing to others, to be a vessel of healing, of encouragement, of refreshing, of restoration. May we be humble vessels filled to overflowing with Rivers of Living Water.

This is our Hope. This is our Promise.

Revelation 7:17, NIV

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

The Relationship of Labor and Rest

     We just celebrated the last of the summer holidays - Labor Day. I spent my weekend enjoying time with some of my family. Last evening, as I was reflecting back over the weekend, the word "labor" took center stage. As I mused about the word, my thoughts expanded concerning  the meaning of the word, the holiday, and related spiritual applications. These musings stirred me to sit down and write today. The writing morphed into this blog post.

     According to the United States Department of Labor's website, Labor Day was initially  set aside to honor and celebrate the social and economic accomplishments and contributions of American workers (http://www.dol.gov/laborday/history.htm). It was meant to be a day of rest, refreshment, and recognition. Over the years, many things about this holiday and how it is recognized and celebrated have changed. Our culture and its expectations have changed. The workplace environment has changed. Yet, some things remain the same.

     Today, many retail businesses engage in "business as usual," meaning that more and more employees are at work serving others on this holiday. Some employees receive the benefit of additional pay because they work on Labor Day. Some employees enjoy the benefit of a paid day off. Some people enjoy the fruit of their labors by spending time with friends and family. Some people use the additional day off to catch up on tasks around the house. Some people choose to rest, to do the least amount of activity necessary.

     In years gone by, many schools did not start until after Labor Day. The holiday became associated with celebrating the final days of summer break. Today, many schools begin their year in mid-August. Even so, Labor Day is still generally thought of as an opportunity to enjoy  the "last hurrah" of summer. Labor Day weekend represents and points to change. Change is active. Change is work. Change requires labor.

     So what is labor? What does it mean from a Biblical perspective? When I hear the word "labor," I tend to think of hard work, engaging in something that requires a considerable amount of time and energy, something requiring much exertion, determination, discipline. Another aspect of labor, such as "laboring a point," also takes much effort as we dwell on and/or strive to prove what we are thinking and saying in an effort to convince ourselves or others into agreeing or seeing our side of a situation or circumstance. This, too, can be quite tiring - exhausting, in fact. Mentally and physically.

     Labor or work comes in many forms and in various degrees of intensity. Almost everything requires labor/action of some kind: getting out of bed, getting dressed, cooking, cleaning, parenting, relationships, jobs, etcetera - even sleeping. There is the labor of birth, whether it is birthing children or birthing a dream, a goal, an idea, or a project into reality. Labor is also involved in prayer and spiritual warfare.

     Labor or work can be enjoyable or it can be drudgery. Labor or work may also result in fatigue and exhilaration at the same time! This can also apply to daily life. For some, managing to just make it through each day can be laborious and tiring. For others, getting through each day is filled with joy and excitement. Sometimes, men and women, children and adults, get weary as they keep trying, as they keep hoping, as they keep looking for the rest, for the joy, for the hope of the good fruits of their labor.

     Life/living is labor. Life/living is work. Life/living is active. Even the most mundane processes within our physical bodies require work, require action. Take breathing for instance. On a normal unimpeded basis, we breathe without much thought or effort on our part. That is, until or unless we have a disease or physical malady that interferes with the normal process or we have engaged in activity that stimulates our awareness and need for a change in the way we take in oxygen. Then, we really notice how much work is involved in breathing!

     Life can be that way, too. We can simply be going along with the flow, operating within our comfortable routines, not giving much heed to things around us, and then, BOOM, all of a sudden something changes. Our attention is diverted and a different plan or type of action is required. Up to this point, we have been engaged in work, in activity, but at a much lower level than what is now required. Our sense are heightened. Adrenaline may kick in. Decisions must be made. Confusion may set in. Thoughts and circumstances need to be sifted and sorted. What was simple has become complicated. This is work. This is labor.

     When it comes to your spiritual life, labor can be much the same. We are exhorted throughout scripture to work while we can, to be fruitful, to not grow weary. As I was considering this word "labor," a portion of scripture came to mind:  . . . . labor to enter into my rest . . . . (from Hebrews 4:11, KJV). What? Labor to enter into rest? What does that mean? How do we do that? Why do we have to labor?

     According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the Greek word translated as labor in this passage means:  "to use speed, make great effort, be prompt or earnest :- do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavor, labour, study." Now that might sound really exhausting to many of us! Sometimes, just reading or thinking about work can be exhausting! (Some might even think that reading my blog posts are laborious and exhausting! LOL).

But, we press on.

     Waiting is also a form of labor. Much of the time, the word "wait" conjures up the notion that we are at rest, not doing anything. However, waiting is a verb. Waiting is active. Waiting is often accompanied by anticipation. Waiting requires work. Waiting means that our faith remains intact, and in fact, should be continuing to grow and mature. Waiting means that we continue to read God's Word and pray. Waiting means that we continue to do the things that we know to do until change comes. This leads me to another thought, a word picture, a life application via the kitchen, if you will. And since the title of my blog does include the word "Musings," I am going to go there :)

     The idea of rest indicates inactivity - a time of not working, to be motionless, to pause, take a break from, to sleep, or be idle. Again, referring to Strong's, the Greek word for rest used in this part of the scripture passage from Hebrews 4:11 means: "reposing down, i.e. abode - rest. The word comes from another Greek word meaning to settle down, i.e. (lit.) to colonize, or (fig.) to (cause to) desist - cease, (give) rest (-rain)."

     Hmmm, now this is interesting. As we labor to enter into the rest that God has provided for us, we cease from our own strivings. We cease from wrestling with the world. We enter into relationship with Our Heavenly Father through Jesus, His Son. And, Jesus tells us to come to Him, to cast our burdens on Him and He will give us rest (reference Matthew 11:28-30). When we are joined together in this relationship, we are adopted into His family and have all the resources that He has created and provided available to us as His sons and daughters - we are joint heirs with Jesus (see Ephesians 1:15- 2:19, 3:6)!

     From one perspective, rest may appear to be refraining from activity. However,  this is not the full picture. This brings to mind the process of making homemade yeast bread. The concept of rest actually gives rise to the reality of activity, even though it may occur at a minimized level and may not be obvious right away. The cook or baker labors to mix the proper ingredients in the correct amounts together, then labors to knead the dough.

     The dough is then allowed to "rest," unattended, untouched, usually rising to some degree, provided it has been handled correctly and the environment is right. After a certain amount of time, the recipe may call for punching the dough down and a second kneading before it is set aside for the final rest and rising process prior to baking. During both resting/rising times, the dough is sensitive and should not be disturbed - this particular part of the process has its own set of practical applications, but I shall not digress in that direction. However, feel free to chew on that one for awhile if you want to.

     The process of rising is active even though  it is a part of the rest process. The spiritual application to our lives is thus: The ingredients (God's word, prayer) have been activated and are expanding - air (life) is being breathed into the dough (us). Okay, I didn't intend to take the above-mentioned application further, but find that I have to touch on it a bit: any loud or harsh movement - vibration or shaking of the bread dough while it is resting, rising, or even in the early stages of baking,  disturbs it and causes it to fall - the similarity here to us as Christians is that Satan (our enemy) comes to try to disturb and disrupt our resting/rising & baking process. We need to remain vigilant and on guard, although there are plenty of times, we are "blind-sided" by stuff that he throws at us or we slip or trip on stuff he subtly sneaks into our path.

     So, what does it mean to labor to enter into His rest? Can we really do this? Some may see this as conflicting, as contradictory, as not making any sense. For a long time, I struggled to understand this concept, this truth. But, in reality it is not a conflicting concept - this idea of laboring to enter this rest or being active while at rest. This kind of rest is a peace that passes understanding and only comes from having a personal relationship with the Lord.

     We actively live our lives through obedience to God's Word. We repent when we are convicted. We forgive - both ourselves and others. We love as God loves. We accept Godly correction and discipline as a necessary part of our continued growth and maturity. We walk through the difficult and hard places with assurance that Jesus is with us, knowing that He can use all things for our good, and that He has a plan. We can be confident in the fact that Jesus is our friend, our brother, our advocate, and is ever interceding on our behalf. We rest in, rely on, and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to fill us, teach us, and reveal to us the Heart of our Father and to empower us to accomplish all that God has for us to accomplish.

     I now see and realize how labor and rest go hand in hand in perfect agreement where God is concerned! I hope you can too....

     I look forward to hearing from you. Please share your thoughts, comments, or feedback  in response to this blog post or on any of my other blog posts. 

Battling A Bad Attitude

Yes, it’s a bit risky to put myself out here like I am about to do, but how else can others relate if we are not honest and willing to be transparent. Now, I’m not talking about sharing every thing that comes our way, but there are times when it behooves us to share aspects of our experiences that can serve as sources of encouragement to others and to show that even though we belong to and serve a Heavenly Father who is perfect and calls us to be perfect as He is perfect, we live in this human body and are subjected to emotional, physical, and psychological darts. Who am I kidding….sometimes those darts feel more like spears or bombshells!

There are times when it is needful or beneficial for us to walk through trouble, through trials, through the hard stuff. Then, there are times when we need to retreat, rethink, and refresh, to take time to rest, reassess, and reevaluate. Like soldiers engaged in battle, it is important for us to be able to discern and understand the nature of where we are at and what strategy will be most effective. Sometimes, it is needful to take time to sit at Jesus’ feet and wait on His instruction. Sometimes, He gives us instruction in the midst of battle engagement. Wisdom instructs us as to the best method of action.

However, we sometimes get so engrossed in the circumstances; we tend to lose sight of where our help comes from. Oh, deep down within our hearts, we still know where our help comes from, but the nature and intensity of the battle distracts us. Sometimes we mess up. Sometimes we slip. Sometimes we fall. Much to my chagrin, I admit that I don’t always consciously remember to put on or effectively use my spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18).

With the exception of a few days here and there, the past several weeks have been, quite frankly, “the pits.” The intensity of the Fibro, the arthritis, and the allergies interspersed with various degrees of migraines and nausea have shown little hope of easing. The grip tightens. Restful sleep is often elusive. Fatigue increases. Weariness takes hold. Frustration sets in. It’s even hard to pray. I saw a Facebook post recently that posed the question: Do you ever hurt so much that you cannot pray, that all you can manage to say is help? Yes. I have. I am there. Or, as of today, I can say I was there.

Mix all of those ingredients together with the full impact of  numerous other changes that have taken place over the past three months, and you (in this case me, in particular) have a recipe for potential disaster. The disaster victim: My Attitude.  It headed downhill. Fast. Like the downside of a roller coaster ride. Humph - I never did have an affinity for roller coasters. Or, maybe it was more like the result of a snowball that gets bigger and bigger as it rolls downhill – it knocks you down and engulfs you. Or, maybe it was more like a big wave you don’t see coming or you misjudge the speed of its approach thinking you will get out of its way in time – you don’t - it takes you under.

Anyway, I think you get the picture. I began to feel overwhelmed by the combination of the pain and the way those changes affected my life. I thought I had handled the changes pretty well and was adjusting. Guess not. I am one who doesn't adapt well to change right away and it does take time for me to process it and find my new comfort zone. And, with some changes, loss occurs so there might be a need to allow for some time to grieve. I hadn't fully realized the depth of loss I felt because of those changes.  I hadn't allowed myself to travel that road. Yet.  Then it happened. I came face to face with it. Sadness and loneliness flooded my state of being. I was already frustrated and cranky!

And, wouldn't you know it, just to further complicate matters, Bella, my darling little long-haired Chihuahua, decides it’s time to implement Alpha Dog mode – that’s her “my way or no way” and “I have no intention of minding you or cooperating with you” attitude! “Sigh” So, a bit of behavioral re-training was necessary and her mesh-window carrier became her place for time-out. Then, I felt bad for having to scold her and put her in solitary confinement. Mentally beating myself up over that, I quickly captured those thoughts and put them into their proper perspective. Why couldn't I seem to do that with all these other emotions that were bombarding me?

Moving on - Certain people might say I just needed a good swift kick, so to speak, to catapult me out of the dumps. Some might say that I should “just get over it,” “shake it off,” pull myself up by own bootstraps. Others might pat me on the shoulder and say it’s okay; you deserve to have a pity party from time to time. And there are those who would have lovingly reminded me of what I needed to hear: to cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5). That is what I should have done. Did I think to do that? No. So….what did I choose to do? Well, I chose option #3.  I was the ultimate guest at my own pity party. Odd thing about those types of parties, they really only make you feel worse, not better – they only create a bigger emotional hangover and they provide more fodder for Satan to guilt you with.

After a few days of this, I was tired of this scenario. To make matters worse, I was quite unhappy with myself for allowing myself to be lured there in the first place. I appealed to the Lord, asking His forgiveness and help just like David so often did when he messed up or was in a hard place (he and others wrote some beautiful Psalms expressing the full range of their emotions in the midst of their circumstances and we are blessed to have them, not for self-justification, but as our examples of hope and encouragement). These Psalms may start out expressing anger, pain, shame, sorrow, etc., but always come back to praising and worshiping the Lord in the midst of whatever is happening. Psalm 91 came to mind and I began to meditate on the first few verses about finding shelter in the secret place of the Most High….it was a start…I still had a ways to go to get where I should be, where I needed to be, where I wanted to be.

By Friday evening, I decided to read through a couple of email updates I had received from a friend regarding her up-coming mission trip to Egypt. I hit reply to thank her for the updates and then began to empty out some of my frustrations on the page. (We often share with one another for the purpose of prayer and encouragement. That is an important function of the body of Christ. In fact, it is not unusual for the two of us, when we compare notes, to be experiencing circumstances related to similar themes.) By the time I finished typing, I realized I had another composition in the works for my notebook and this blog! And, it was another step upward, on my way out of that pit. My friend called me Saturday evening and we had a great visit. Yes, she too had been battling some similar things. We talked about that and then about the spiritual application inherent in our trials and testing which was part of my email reply to her. As I felt that flicker of joy, hope, and strength rise up in my spirit while composing it, she said she felt joy rise up as she read it.

Here is part of what I shared with my friend and what the Holy Spirit showed me concerning this most recent battle:

Lately, I have been getting more frustrated and even angry with myself because of my reactions to the emotional upheaval of the pain and prolonged days of such limited function, then feeling like I am falling so short of where I should be in my walk with the Lord,  or even where I was when this first became so debilitating.

Then, added to that are all the other changes over the past 2-3 months - it's overwhelming.

But, I know He's taking me, taking us, into new territory, and new territory means reinforcement of (testing and applying) what we already have learned and know as well as learning and understanding new things. It's a time of more stripping, more stretching, of our roots going down deeper, of our faith becoming deeper and stronger: a time of pruning and growth and greater fruitfulness.

Oh the joy of being a recipient of our Father's love, His mercy and forgiveness, His grace and long-suffering. Time after time He reaches down in Love, reassuring and confirming me, reassuring and confirming us, as a loving parent loves and reaffirms a child.

Sometimes I am a warrior. Sometimes I am a child.

"... even soldiers need a quiet place to rest" ... "The Warrior is a Child" by Twila Paris.

Learning While Looking For That Just-Right Car

As I went to bed last night, I contemplated whether or not it was time to write another entry for my blog. Bits and pieces of this and that swirled around in my thoughts, but nothing concrete took shape. 

Now, I sit here in front of the computer this morning wondering, still, if anything will take shape. And, morning evolves into the afternoon. Those swirling thoughts centered around my continued search for a vehicle (and waiting … sometimes very impatiently I have to confess … on the Lord to open the door to the right one), my desire to maintain some measure of independence, and the lesson gleaned from the car I test drove last week which, by the way, had seemed to be just the perfect fit, aside from some obvious cosmetic problems. It was an older vehicle which was fine. Taxes and insurance here in Kansas would be more palatable! I loved the color (silver), it had a sunroof, leather interior, as well as a cassette and multi-CD player – it was loaded, and handled nicely on the test drive.

A bit of back-story: I never imagined how much difficulty or how many closed doors I was going to encounter as I began the search for another vehicle. Two years ago, a good deed resulted in the loss of my 2002 Ford Escape XLT to an accident – it was totaled. God protected the driver, but not my SUV. I am very thankful for His protection of the driver, but wondered and asked why He didn't protect my vehicle. He could have, you know. He didn't tell me…apparently it wasn't necessary for me to know why … it wasn't part of His plan. Since then, many prayers have been lifted up and continue to be lifted up for me to find the right one. And, I have started asking the Lord what valuable lessons I could learn along the way.

I have test driven a number of different vehicles only to find that the construction of the driver’s seat triggered strategic pain points, or the vehicle had serious mechanical problems, or the price was much higher than the condition of the vehicle warranted. I do my homework and approach the potential transaction well-armed (usually anyway)! I have confidence, though, in God’s promise, that He has the right vehicle for me at the right time. In the meantime, it is very challenging to be dependent on others for transportation on those good days when I would love to be able to have that aspect of my freedom restored, even if for just a few hours here and there. Needless to say, I am so very thankful for friends and family who have made themselves available to assist me.

While we have some public transportation options available here, I have just never felt that those were the right options for me. I cannot explain why I feel this way.  I was thinking about that again last night, while perusing my Facebook news feed before succumbing to sleep. I saw an ESPN video posted by a friend and was compelled to click on the link. WOW! What a great story? What a great testimony!  God gifted this young man, who was born without arms, with amazing parents and with a wonderful gift of engineering and creativity which enabled him to excel, work at a great job that he loves, and to live on his own without the help of prosthetics! He even drives a car. The young man expressed the need (actually it was more the importance) of maintaining some level of independence and freedom – he did not want to be completely dependent on others or on public transportation. Boy, can I identify with that! Yes, I understand!

This last car, at first glance, seemed so perfect and I was really excited that I might have finally found the “right” car. However, upon further consideration, I realized that the cracked windshield, the pitted rust spots on the poor paint job when the hood was repaired or replaced, and the rips in the driver’s seat, not to mention the good cleaning that the inside would need, really bothered me. Fixing these things would cost more money. I thought the owner should really be more realistic in his asking price. Upon returning to the location where the vehicle was parked, after the test drive, I noticed a pretty good-sized area of freshly leaked fluid – transmission fluid. L That, of course, would require the outlay of even more money. The owner wasn't convinced it was from his car. To verify, he had me park in an area of the lot that was clean. He would check it later.

So, I came home and forgot about the leak, only focusing on how comfortable the seat fit, how much I liked the body style, the color, and all the amenities. While talking with a close friend, during a phone conversation, about the cosmetic problems, she asked if they were something I could live with. My thoughts immediately flooded with the truth of how imperfect we all are and how much God loves us, in spite of those perfections. Maybe I could live with those imperfections. I called the owner the next day, after checking on prices for repairs (just in case), but couldn't bring myself to make an offer on the car. I thought that a bit strange. Later that afternoon, though, the Holy Spirit nudged me to go back up and look under the car. I called another friend and she took me up to look at it. Ugh! So disappointed - there was the evidence…another good-sized fresh wet area of transmission fluid under the front-end of the car. The other leak I had seen the day before had, indeed, come from his car.

Now, as I am writing, several questions come to mind regarding imperfections. Why are we so hard on others, so critical, so often very unaccepting of those “imperfections,” disabilities, deformities that seem so obvious in others?  We can even be hard on and unaccepting of ourselves. Who coined that word “deformity”? Who determined what a disability is? Why do people so often judge other people’s value according to outward appearance? It is something that is culturally and socially ingrained, not only in the United States, but throughout the world. Sadly, it even happens within churches and among the body of believers. I have to admit, that I have been guilty of this myself. Still, to this day, I sometimes catch myself repeating that same initial judgment based on outward appearance and needing to ask God’s forgiveness and how I might pray for that person or group of people.  

In this light, the cosmetic problems with the car then became nothing more to me than a symbolic representation of humanity, including myself. I could live with these things, if indeed, this was the car the Lord wanted me to have and drive. It would be a concrete example of His Love and Grace toward the things we so often consider less worthy. But, it wasn't meant to be. At least not right now. Clearly, though, it was a valuable experience.

God looks upon our hearts. He knows our thoughts and intentions. A socially and culturally defined disability or deformity, or even dirty clothes and uncombed hair may affect a person’s value in the eyes of some, but not in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. Nor do those physical issues undermine the value of the person in the eyes of Jesus. He still loves them, with His unconditional love and accepts and forgives all who acknowledge Him with their mouth and believe in Him with their hearts.

Those cosmetic things did not negatively affect the overall function of the vehicle for which it was designed and created. They were superficial. Although they might have some effect on its overall value appearance-wise, they did not affect the heart of the vehicle, the most important part. However, a transmission leak is a totally different problem. That would affect the car’s purpose and could be quite expensive to diagnose and repair. And, if not fixed or repaired correctly, would do more damage. Just like sin.

Thank you Father, for looking on the heart and teaching us to see each other as You see us. Thank you for the grace and mercy You extend to us and help us to extend that to others.

Scripture references:

1 Samuel 16:7

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

John 3:16-17

Romans 10:9

1 John 1: 8-10

1 John 2: 1-6

Perfection

I painted this abstract cat as a project for a college art class assignment back in the Fall of 2006. It was originally titled "Enchanted". However, when the other art instructor came over and looked at it, he pointed out the imperfections. I spontaneously replied, "Nobody's Perfect". Now, it has two names! 

In July of 2012, I was inspired to write about perfection and how we view ourselves versus how God sees us. Here it is:

Perceived Perfection vs True Perfection      

What is it?
Why are we so consumed by it?
Whose standard are we using? 

Perfection - without flaws 
Perception - what or how we see and believe something to be

Flaws  are perceptions 
Flaws are judgments

Against who we are 
Against how we were created

Against our scars
Against our shape

Against our being 

Perceived perfection is the world's idea of beauty - more outward than inward 
Perceived perfection is the world's ideal for wealth and status –again outward not inward

The world seeks that which it cannot obtain 
The world seeks what will not remain  

Perceived Perfection, like beauty,  is in the eye and the mind of the beholder
Perceived Perfection  depends on one's standards of measurement 

The world thrives on the value of perceived perfection measured against one another
    There's always a better way to improve something
    There's always a better way to improve oneself 
    Get the latest
    Get the greatest 

This need for perceived perfection keeps people searching
This need for perceived perfection keeps people unhappy
This need for perceived perfection distorts truth

Truth - not one of us is perfect inward or outward 
Truth - Jesus is the only perfect one

Truth – is absolute 

Yes, we are created in God's image
Yes, mankind began in perfection 

Then sin 
Entered in

Sin came
Sin distorted truth

Perhaps that is why
We continue to try

To reach
To attain

What was lost

But, we cannot

We cannot do it on our own 

There is only one way
We can regain
What was lost

There is only one way 
To cover our shame

Come to the cross
Repent
Receive

Jesus*

The Only One Perfect
The Only One who died for you
The Only One who Lives for you
The Only One who paid the price for you

To transform your life
To enable you
To experience 
True perception

True Perfection

True perfection is not based on the world's standard 
But

True perfection is what the world is truly seeking

True perfection doesn't mean we are without flaws 
True perfection is viewing those flaws differently
True perfection is walking in obedience 

Serving God

Allowing Him 
Allowing the Holy Spirit

To lead us

To guide us

 
Asking Him to help us see one another as He sees

Allowing Him to work with us
Allowing Him to work in us

Allowing Him to work on us

Allowing Him to perfect us

To mold us
To shape us
To remodel us

According to His Perfect Design

And clothe us in His Perfections

As we walk the narrow path
Letting true beauty flow out from within. 

*Dear One, 

If you have just accepted Jesus, please know that the narrow road is not an easy path. You may find yourself stumbling, falling, feeling like you just don't measure up, or that you just can't do it. Sometimes we gain ground only to feel as if we've lost it. I’ve found myself there many times over the years. Even the most mature Believers have walked through these difficult experiences. 

The thing is: Jesus is always there for you. He is ready to forgive, to restore when any one of His precious children come to Him with broken and contrite hearts.  

He is the most exuberant cheerleader you will ever have! He loves you so much and His plans for you are for good to give you an expected end - to live and reign with Him for Eternity.

Surround yourself with other Believers who have walked the path ahead, who love you and from whom you can learn. Spend time those who will pray with and for you, those who will hold you accountable, those who will be honest with you, encourage you, listen to you, cry with you, and laugh with you.  Immerse yourself in God's Word, His Truth, His Love. 

For the Believer who finds himself or herself in the desert, feeling deserted or abandoned, please be assured that you are not! Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. He is there with you. Sometimes the most bleak and barren deserts produce some of the most magnificent beauty. 

We struggle. We wonder. Why. God does allow times of suffering, trials, and tribulations, and He also administers discipline to teach and train us, to grow us, to perfect us. 

He turns everything for good for those who love Him, for those who are called according to His purpose.  

He gives us 
Beauty for ashes
Joy for sadness
His riches for our rags 

---a few scripture references---
Psalm 51: 17      

Jeremiah 29:11-14     

Isaiah 61:1-3, 7, 10     

Romans 8:28

Hebrews 12  

Yes, God Has A Plan!

Over the past several days, two things happened that "shook my world" up a bit! Mind you, this is definitely not the first time such shaking has happened! I thought to myself and even commented to friends that you'd think that I'd be used to "shake-ups" by now. But, I'm not. I'm sure you all know exactly what I am taking about. The initial impact of such shaking can be quite emotional as we try to absorb the implications of these events and the change(s) they bring.

Over the past few years, primarily since the severe onset of Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and Carpal Tunnel,  I have a notebook that is in process of being filled with Holy Spirit-inspired writings, some paired with original artwork. Thus far, these writings serve as an inspiration and encouragement, not only for myself, but for others with whom they have been shared. For this, I give thanks and praise to my Heavenly Father! Each time I go back through and read them, I am amazed at this gift the Lord has given me and how he paired them with artwork created apart from the writings. Yes, He certainly has a plan, a good plan.

Sometimes, we hear preachers telling us that sickness, disease, pain, sorrow, trouble, and/or  persecution have no right in our lives if we are born-again believers in Jesus Christ. This is not necessarily true. We all are wonderfully and uniquely created with purpose. However, we live in a sin-filled world. We have freedom to choose how we will live - how and what we will believe. Others have that choice as well. Sometimes, though, we do not always make good choices. I am one of those.

 Life is a process of growth and learning. Everyone's choices affect someone in some way, sometimes more than others. We also have the choice as to how we will respond to those shake-ups, to those hurts, to that loss, to that pain.

Now, I will be the first to admit that the shake-ups I have encountered pale in comparison to what many others have experienced, but we are not called to compare ourselves to others. Each person's experiences may share similarities to others' experiences, but each will have significant and unique aspects. They are personal. Often the path through these hard places involves dealing with  a wide range of emotions, many that come and go at different times and might not make sense. Grief comes. We have choices to make. It is not always easy.

Will we choose to use these hard places as an excuse to harbor hatred and and bitterness, to only see ourselves as victims? Will we choose to seek vengeance? OR ... Will we use these hard places as stepping stones to learning and growth? Will we choose to see them as an opportunity to learn valuable lessons and develop empathy and compassion for others? Will we choose to exercise forgiveness?

As I was contemplating the reality of how we all encounter such shake-ups,  which can manifest in any number of ways, the Holy Spirit inspired me to create another composition a couple of days ago about these hard places. The examples included are only a few of the many God has given us in His Word.  Here it is (with some additions and typographical corrections -hoping I have caught them all!) :

God Has A Plan

Joseph was the favored son
His father blessed him with a special coat
His brother were jealous and bitter
They looked for a way to get rid of him

But, God had a plan.

In their selfishness
They neglected to consider the pain
They would cause their father

They did not think about long-term repercussions
Only their own disdain and hatred at the moment
Let's get rid of the problem , they said
Life will be better
So, they thought!

But, God had a plan.

Joseph endured some very hard places
Yet God was with him
Every step of the way

God had a plan.

Through the pit where his brothers put him
Through the journey with the slave traders
To whom his brothers sold him

God had a plan.

Joseph ended up in Pharaoh's palace
He was favored by the king

But, Joseph encountered more hard places

Still, God had a plan.

Through the lies and false accusations of Potiphar's wife
Through the years in the dungeon, as God used him
To interpret dreams of fellow prisoners
Who quickly forgot him when called before Pharaoh

God still had a plan - a greater plan

Potiphar had a dream
No one could interpret its meaning
Joseph was remembered
Joseph was brought up out of the dungeon

God gave him the interpretation
God gave him favor and elevation!

God indeed had a plan - a greater plan!

Through it all
Joseph remained faithful
Through it all
God remained faithful

God worked it out for good
God brought restoration
God brought reconciliation

God, indeed, had a plan!

And

He has a plan for you.
He has a plan for me.

Yes, He did come that we would have life, life more abundantly
Yes, by His stripes we were healed
Yes, He was wounded for our transgressions
Yes, He was bruised for our iniquities.

Yes, He was the last and perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness and remission of sin.

Yes, He is our banner
Yes, He is our peace
Yes, His right hand upholds us.

But, He never promised us a life free from trouble

He did Promise that He would walk through it with us
He did Promise that He would be right there with us

Just as He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace
Just as He was with Daniel in the lion's den*
Just as He was with Stephen as he was stoned to death for preaching the gospel
Just as He was with Paul & Silas when they were throne into the dungeon and restrained with heavy shackles for preaching the gospel

God was there
God had a plan

And

For you, He has a plan
Even when you do not understand

Will you Trust Him
Will you Remain in Him
Will you let Him walk with you

Through whatever plan He has for your life

To strengthen you
To enable you
To bring Glory to Him
To be a witness for Him
To live out His plan
To be salt and light to a world of lost people bound by darkness.

* In this particular scripture, I believe that the lions represent Satan, our enemy, who stalks about seeking those from whom he wants to steal, and those he wants to kill and destroy.

Some scripture references for this blog and "God Has A Plan":
Genesis, chapters 37-50
Psalm 105: 16-22
Romans 8: 18-39
I Peter 5:8-10
Daniel, Chapter 6
Isaiah, Chapter 53