Galatians 1:1-4
exaireĊ
to tear out. to rescue.
Dramatic. Powerful. Definite. Secure. A before and an after.
And this is what God has done through Jesus.
Jesus was not just sent to be an example, or a motivator, or the president of a social club. He came to rescue us. To save us. And I wonder what the Church would look like if we really thought about that. I wonder what my life would look like if I really believed that.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Heart Shepherding
James 5:19-20
Though we don't have kids, we really want to see God's desire for our home. My husband and I went to a parenting conference led by Paul Tripp. He taught that parenting is an act of shepherding a child's heart to the living, gracious God. The one thing that hit me hard is that Mr. Tripp said that when children get "caught" it's an act of God's love. When a parent has the opportunity to discipline her child, she is extending God's grace to that child. God's love desires that child to repent, to grow, to mature.
Wow.
Wow.
I needed to hear this.
Because the same is true for us. When we get corrected, re-directed, spoken to with the Gospel - most of the time it hurts because pride is wounded, shame is exposed. But, this is God's love. This is God bringing us back to himself.
And when we see someone who is slipping through the cracks or seems to be stumbling or even lollygagging... it is a glorious thing to offer the good, sweet balm of the Gospel. It might be about a verse taken out of context. It might be about a choice of sin. It might be about a selfish outlook. Whatever the context, God's grace is waiting to be extended.
Though we don't have kids, we really want to see God's desire for our home. My husband and I went to a parenting conference led by Paul Tripp. He taught that parenting is an act of shepherding a child's heart to the living, gracious God. The one thing that hit me hard is that Mr. Tripp said that when children get "caught" it's an act of God's love. When a parent has the opportunity to discipline her child, she is extending God's grace to that child. God's love desires that child to repent, to grow, to mature.
Wow.
Wow.
I needed to hear this.
Because the same is true for us. When we get corrected, re-directed, spoken to with the Gospel - most of the time it hurts because pride is wounded, shame is exposed. But, this is God's love. This is God bringing us back to himself.
And when we see someone who is slipping through the cracks or seems to be stumbling or even lollygagging... it is a glorious thing to offer the good, sweet balm of the Gospel. It might be about a verse taken out of context. It might be about a choice of sin. It might be about a selfish outlook. Whatever the context, God's grace is waiting to be extended.
Praying for Rain
James 5:17-18
I was going to make a chart. One that compared Elijah's life to mine. There would be three columns. The first one would have a situation, like "confronting prophets of Baal". And then the next would be how Elijah responded and the next one would be how I have responded. Ummm... the only problem is that I have not confronted prophets of Baal. Nor have I been so starving that I've needed to ask a widow to give up her last bit of food for me. And the death thing? Well - I haven't died, yet. But I'm guessing the only chariot of fire I'll get to experience is the belt that my body rides on as it goes into the crematory. I know, I know... not exactly pleasant. But, I'm doing my best - trying to bond with Elijah. James says he was just like us. He had the same passions and ideas as us. And God answered him. Which means God will answer us. And we really need rain here in Texas. For our grass and crops. But for our souls, too.
One time I was praying about something BIG. My heart's begging burdened prayer. And almost as an afterthought I asked the Lord for rain. And it rained. Right that second. With a bright, hot sky. Drops of mercy fell on my head. Drops of Living Water that confirmed God was listening, that He knew my hearts deep cry.
And it happened again. With rain. And then again with the wind.
It would be years and years before God gave me the BIG thing I had been asking for. But, He was always listening. And I'm sure-really sure-that the weather was just to show me that He was in charge.
Elijah had doubts. And frustration. And weariness. And he had the same God. His rain prayers? They were a reminder not that Elijah could control the universe but that the Maker was in control of all things.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
An Invitation
James 5:14-15
proskaleomai... to invite
When we're sick, James tells us to invite the elders to pray over us. But we don't. We don't want to bother people. We don't want people to bother us. It's no big deal. I can take care of myself. It's kind of embarrassing and kind of annoying to not be whole and perfect and in charge.
It starts out with a weakness that seems physical. But somewhere along the line, James brings in the disease of sin. A spiritual weakness. That's what really needs healed, anyway.
And letting people get That Close is really... well, invasive. And humbling.
But, that's what we're to do as the Church.
We're not alone. Maybe we should start acting like it.
proskaleomai... to invite
When we're sick, James tells us to invite the elders to pray over us. But we don't. We don't want to bother people. We don't want people to bother us. It's no big deal. I can take care of myself. It's kind of embarrassing and kind of annoying to not be whole and perfect and in charge.
It starts out with a weakness that seems physical. But somewhere along the line, James brings in the disease of sin. A spiritual weakness. That's what really needs healed, anyway.
And letting people get That Close is really... well, invasive. And humbling.
But, that's what we're to do as the Church.
We're not alone. Maybe we should start acting like it.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Twang Away
James 5:13
We think of the word "twang" as an adjective. And we think of a southern woman with a twang in her voice, sweeter than Texas tea. Or we think of cowboys singing their twangy songs around the campfire, accompanied by coyotes.
Usually we talk about "singing psalms of praise" being Pluck The Strings in Greek. Which, it is - but that pluck has a more fun reality: twang. Twang the strings. Plucking, well, that's just plucking... but, twanging? That sounds like fun. That's my nephew making up songs on his tiny guitar. That's my husband singing in the kitchen to make me laugh. That's the guy behind me in church singing his not-so-in-tune heart out.
There's nothing refined, nothing proper, nothing stuffed up, nothing pretentious about twanging. So, turn the radio up; roll the windows down.
Feel free to put in your earplugs.
Or you could sing with me.
We think of the word "twang" as an adjective. And we think of a southern woman with a twang in her voice, sweeter than Texas tea. Or we think of cowboys singing their twangy songs around the campfire, accompanied by coyotes.
Usually we talk about "singing psalms of praise" being Pluck The Strings in Greek. Which, it is - but that pluck has a more fun reality: twang. Twang the strings. Plucking, well, that's just plucking... but, twanging? That sounds like fun. That's my nephew making up songs on his tiny guitar. That's my husband singing in the kitchen to make me laugh. That's the guy behind me in church singing his not-so-in-tune heart out.
There's nothing refined, nothing proper, nothing stuffed up, nothing pretentious about twanging. So, turn the radio up; roll the windows down.
Feel free to put in your earplugs.
Or you could sing with me.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
James 5:13
kakopatheĊ: to undergo hardship, endure hardness
Sometimes this is the hardest place to pray... where you cannot find a footing, when you feel you have no roots, when you feel like God is far away...
If two flowers are growing, one in soft, nutrient soil but the other one has to push through the rocks, pick the one that has endured hardship. It's the one that's going to be more fragrant. Something in the battle produces more oil. In fact, perfumers search out these flowers when gathering the best ingredients for their perfumes.
So, even when you don't want to - even when it feels hopeless; know that our God is listening. He hears. He knows. He will be faithful.
kakopatheĊ: to undergo hardship, endure hardness
Sometimes this is the hardest place to pray... where you cannot find a footing, when you feel you have no roots, when you feel like God is far away...
If two flowers are growing, one in soft, nutrient soil but the other one has to push through the rocks, pick the one that has endured hardship. It's the one that's going to be more fragrant. Something in the battle produces more oil. In fact, perfumers search out these flowers when gathering the best ingredients for their perfumes.
So, even when you don't want to - even when it feels hopeless; know that our God is listening. He hears. He knows. He will be faithful.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Roping the Moon and Tying Up the Sun
James 5:12
To swear means to take an oath... Oath in Greek looks a little like the horizon... which is the line where the world stops. Oath means that - to draw a line and set up a fence. This is where it stops. Maybe one of the reasons God doesn't want us to swear by any of his magnificent creation is that neither heaven nor earth - and definitely not God Himself - shall be fenced in by our little words.
To swear means to take an oath... Oath in Greek looks a little like the horizon... which is the line where the world stops. Oath means that - to draw a line and set up a fence. This is where it stops. Maybe one of the reasons God doesn't want us to swear by any of his magnificent creation is that neither heaven nor earth - and definitely not God Himself - shall be fenced in by our little words.
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