How not to be a cat's lunch

Colossians 2:17 says that reality is found in Christ.


I recently found myself dealing with a confusing needless kind of stress that just pounced on me like a wild hungry cat. 
I know that fear and anxiety are not from God and so using that knowledge I tried to convince myself to stop worrying but as hard as I tried to convince myself to just stop I could not do it, I could not just switch the feelings off by forcing myself to stop.


I was missing something important.


Then on Sunday morning I remembered, while studying the 2nd chapter of Colossians with my bible study group earlier that week a phrase stood-up and said 'Hello Cindy' - "But the reality, however, is found in Christ." At the time I used the little treasure of a phrase to encourage women in my study to not let the stress of their life overwhelm them because always no matter how it seems our reality is in Christ, in all things our reality is found in him and who he says we are. We have to centre on him and keep that perspective to overcome that which would like to destroy us.  At the time it was powerful and useful thinking to me.


But now I was faced with a choice, was all that I said to others real for me too? Did I just say stuff to other people and then not apply it to my life?


I walked with God and wrestled in prayer over it. I discussed my reality with him and he reminded me of the real things of my life, of answered prayers and how real he is, of true peace that comes from him, and that he really will never let me just wander off when I am abiding in him. So I abided and I was  delivered from the overwhelming feelings. Though the threat of stress lingered it was no longer my reality.


"I will not be a hungry cat's lunch!"


Forcing myself to think different was not working because I needed to re-centre my thinking on my reality, Jesus, not on stopping the stress.


Stress  and pressures will be there but we can regain peace when we centre ourselves on Jesus our reality. I now have experience with this.


Don't be a cat's lunch.

He Opened my Eyes

During our devotion time this morning we were listening to Tim Hughes 'Beautiful One'. I closed my eyes and imagined what Jesus would look like if I sang it to him. I imagined Jesus enjoying the moment and swaying back and forth while sitting in his usually spot; his big wooden deck chair(#8). After a while I guess he stood because then I imagined my family members coming to him one by one and he hugged them, some did not respond to the hug, for them I prayed for something special to happen today so they might recognize Jesus in their life. All this time the song and video was still playing, actually it had only been two and half minutes because I opened my eyes at this time and saw to my amazement the picture on the screen was of the place I imagine Jesus and I meeting, no kidding our  place looks almost exactly like the picture at 2:39, this was the place I was just at in my minds eye... the yellow grass field with one lone tree in the middle and the trees beyond the Field. and the words on the screen caught my attention too "Open my eyes to your wonders anew, you captured my heart with this love. Because nothing on earth is as beautiful as you." He opened my eyes, Jesus wanted me to see it, I am amazed at his wondrous ways.

The Answer is a Question

This is the follow-up post to Jesus didn't skip.

"What do you think of Christmas trees?" I ask Jesus as a conversation starter. "They're nice." he says in a pleasant and agreeable way as if he hadn't challenged me the day before. Let's cut to the chase I think to myself and then I ask "So what message did you have for me about the Christmas drawing I did the other day?" He answers in a kind voice not an accusing voice:
"Do you just say you worship me or do you actually worship me?"
"Do you just say you'll humble yourself or will you actually humble yourself?"
"Do you just talk about celebrating me or do you actually celebrate me?"
I know it is Jesus speaking these words into my heart because they hit me profoundly. I am amazed at his wisdom and insight. Plus it has to be Jesus; he loves to answer a question with a question. I guess I have some more to chew on.

I hope you hear and ponder this message also if Jesus is speaking to you through this.

Jesus didn't skip

Every year for advent we do something creative for the count down. A lot of people use chocolate calenders or tree ornaments. In our count down I prepare 24 things that we can make or do with or for someone, that won't take too long but is fun; one per day.(On another day I will post ideas I've had over the years) For now I want to tell you what happened as I was preparing this years idea. This year I have a plan that the 24 tasks will be written on one side of the paper and on the other side will be a potion of a larger picture and when all 24 tasks are done and flipped over we will have pieced together a picture. I didn't have a picture the size I wanted so being the creative me that I am I decided to start drawing. I wasn't really sure what I wanted and I'm kinda in a time crunch, as tomorrow is Dec 1, so I thought if I just start drawing things of Christmas I will have something in the end. First I started with a tree, then I put typical manger scene next to it, just the stable to start with. Then I started drawing in each person in our family and of course Mary Joseph and baby Jesus in a pretty little feeding trough. Everyone was in, I drew some stars at the top and ....... I stopped and looked at the drawing....... by the way I was skipping my devotion time to do this since I was feeling in a rush. Funny thing is Jesus wasn't skipping because he revealed something to me right at this moment as I was taking stock of what I had just begun to draw. There it was, I had roughly sketched my family looking straight at the Christmas tree with Mary, Joseph and Jesus behind us.The stable was so close to the tree that some characters of our family had to be drawn inside the manger scene, but still faced the tree.  At this point I realize I am not happy with what I have just drawn. I am actually kind of stunned as I see it. I try to see how I can re imagine what I am drew... change this person's body and arms, re draw that...I can't. It is very clear; what's been drawn has been drawn. We are so into the Christmas tree that we are not even aware of the birth of our savior. The sentence seems to echo in my mind. It's true of the drawing but is this truly how it is for us? What does this all mean? Do we cancel the Christmas tree?.... I think my family will have mutiny if that is the outcome. Jesus has a message for me in this and I will be asking him to reveal more.

 Jesus I want to face you not the traditions we've made up.

Things that make you go hmmm...

As we were singing a song in church today a line in the song made me have a 'hmmm' moment.
The line was something like '.... Jesus just clothed in righteousness...." .... just righteousness? ..... hmmm ...... nothing else? A picture of heaven I've never thought of. But why not? Adam and Eve were naked in their perfect world until they sinned, before sin they had no shame..... will heaven be like the garden before sin? ..... this just seems so awkward.....Things that make you go hmmmm.

Mark 15

Jesus innocent but treated like a criminal
Jesus on the cross for all to mock
Jesus willing to do God's will but asking "why?"
Jesus dies
Jesus' body is laid in a tomb and sealed

After listening to this chapter I feel sorry and then grateful and humbled by the way Jesus dies willing to do his fathers will, he dies so I can be free, so I can have wholeness and eternity, that should've been me, for my sins, he is my replacement, he sacrifices for me, for us, ....Jesus I thank you. I love you .... these pathetic English words just doesn't seem like enough.

Mark 10

V.15 What does it mean to receive the kingdom of God like a little child?
V.23-31 Why is it hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven? I see Jesus is asking this man to sell everything. Do the rich really have to sell everything to enter heaven? Or maybe it's harder to simply trust in God when you have other things, like money, to give you security. And maybe that's why he tells him to sell everything because it is hindering him. Verse 27 seems to say it would be difficult for the poor too because it is impossible for people without God either way, which we know well because we are saved by grace alone. Then 29-30 goes on to say it is those that will sacrifice the comfort of family for the sake of the gospel that will receive eternal life. It is a little confusing but what I think Jesus is getting at is that people should not let anything hinder them from coming to the kingdom, not family or wealth or anything else, just come to God like a child and God makes salvation possible.
V.33-34 those words I imagine would have been difficult for Jesus to say, knowing it was about himself.
V. 43-45 This is a key verse in this book. In my opinion this is the heart of what Jesus has been saying and trying to do to this point.

One thing I have begun to notice is that Jesus was intentional about his teaching and healed only when called upon to do so. The stories earlier on where mostly healings, people came to him to be healed but didn't recognize the wealth beyond that that Jesus had to offer. Now in Chapter 10 it seems they are beginning to realize. 10:1 says it was his custom to teach them (it did not say heal their sick). The chapter with a healing because the blind man comes and asks for it. The Blind man calls Jesus "Rabbi" which means teacher. Jesus constantly heals because he has compassion on the people. I love Jesus.

Mark 2

The first story(v1-12) is Jesus healing the man who was lowered through the roof. The part that has caught my attention is the miracle of forgiven sins. We often see the physical healing as, "wow-Amazing" but take the forgiveness miracle for granted, at least I do. I know forgiveness. I've experienced that a lot but physical healing not so much, only a few times in my life have I specifically identified my healing as a miracle. We, or I should say I, need to be more wowed over forgiveness because they are equal miracles.

Jesus a friend of sinners, Jesus not for the ones who think they're religious(v.13-17).
1. What does this say to our world? - Jesus is for them.
2. What does this say to our country? - Jesus is for them.
3. What does this say to our community? - Jesus is for them.
4. What does this say to our congregation? - Jesus is for us and we need to move out from our 4 walls and 101 self-serving programs to be Jesus to our world, country and community.
5. What does this say to our family? - Jesus is for them
6. What does this say to me? - Jesus is for me and I need to remember to extend grace and that Jesus is good news for sinners and I need to be their friends too.

Mark 1

Journaling Mark 1
As I read the chapter my mind didn't settle on just one story or passage but several points that stand out.
I notice it is interesting that Jesus is tempted(v.12) and yet in James 1 says God can not be tempted. Not a discrepancy, I don't think, it just shows me Jesus was able to be tempted because he was fully human, which I feel brings Jesus closer to really knowing and understanding what I go through. Oh Jesus you know what I go though, your strength will be my strength.
Verse 35 seems to highlight, Jesus gets up early to pray in solitude. He's getting his fathers priorities for the day..... Jesus I want to be like you... I don't know how often Jesus does that, it doesn't say, we always assume it was daily maybe it was weekly maybe monthly does it really matter? I know my day goes in a wonderful way when I can get up in the house while it's still calm and quiet and have some solitude with my heavenly father, to get his priorities. Jesus thanks for teaching us how it's done.

1 What is the question to which the text responds?
- Was Jesus really tempted like us? Does Jesus need to get direction from God? What does Jesus do to get directions from God?
2 What do these passages say to you about relating to others?
- I will know the fathers priorities in relating to others when I spend time with him in a quiet place like Jesus did.

#6 Friend of Sinners

Last session by Mike Frost - The number one non-negotiable in church planting is - Jesus is our reference point.
Jesus is the root and example of all we do, yes it's true what you learned at age 3 in Sunday School, the answer to all questions is "JESUS". Oh and in case you're wondering this is not just for labeled "church planters", I think we can safely say Jesus is the reference point for all of his disciples. Kinda a no brainer...right? .... but wait, read on.
Jesus was a friend of "sinners" and "Holy people" didn't like him very much.
I think the reason this point about Jesus being our reference point is so important is because we have this thing switched around, we the disciples of Jesus, too often, have become people-pleasers to the "holy people" and we have alienate ourselves from "sinners". The total opposite of what Jesus did. Why is this? I think one reason is we are afraid of looking bad, looking like a "sinner" to the other "holy people". The whole way we have identified ourselves as different from the worldly has often been associated to who we hang with and where we hang. We have this mental list of where it's "Ok" for Christians to be and where it's not and we judge people and forget- Jesus would have been in the Bar too.
So when we think of reaching people with grace and truth we have to be like Jesus, and not let the fear of what it might look like stop us from bringing the kingdom into places that "sinners" gather. Besides let's get over it, we're all sinners.

A Different Kind of King

Ben has started a sermon series this fall, on the book of Matthew. Matthews stories says a lot about how we have a different kind of king than any earthy king or leader, different than the Jews were expecting. Jesus our savior and king comes to us and relates to us different than we expected.
Join Ben on his blog to go deeper into the study of Matthew, if your not local join in by following the blog and listen to the messages via the church web site(The messages are usually up mid-week).
This past Sunday Ben, conveyed to us that God does fulfill his promises and he is at work and this is what he taught from Matt. 1:1-17. If you're not looking it up I'll tell you this is the genealogy of Jesus. I was really amazed how Ben pulled such a great message out of what I normally skim over out of fear of boredom.
God is amazing all glory to Him.

1 + 1 = 2 x as much

Don't know what to say when you pray?
Take a part of scripture and turn it into a prayer for yourself or for someone else.

I felt this scripture speak powerfully to me in prayer this week as I prayed it for myself.

Ephesians 1:17-20
"I keep asking you, Abba, my God and father of my Lord Jesus Christ, please give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that I may know you better. I pray also that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened so that I will know the hope that you have called me to(Oh glorious day) That I might know the hope to which I have been called, that is the riches of your glorious inheritance I have in you. And I pray that I might also know and understand your incomparably great power for me because I believe. This power, is the working of your mighty strength and it is the same power that raised you, Jesus, from the dead. Amen"

Maybe I'm paying more attention these days but I've had more opportunities these days to pray with people, specific requests, than I even have. Humbling and a blessing, and I think this Ephesians prayer means that much more in these days. I need to know God better, be open eyed, know where my hope is, be enlightened to his thoughts and know His amazing power and authority is working through me. Scripture has such power and then combine that with prayer ... wwheewww ... envisioning amazing things!

The challenge to you - Use scripture in your prayer time.

**If you're one of those fabulous people that prays for me and reads my blog, wow may God really bless you. First - thank you and Second - now you have a specific request, Ephesians 1:17-20 for me:).**







1(scripture)+1(prayer)= 2 x as much

Depression

Every movement is a choice
Every movement is forced
Every moment is a fight
Every moment is long

I see no light
I see no hope
"you sense no purpose"
"you sense the end"

"Lost your will to call out?"
"Lost your will to live?"
Lost in this place
Lost in emptiness

There is a place so deep and dark that unless you've been there you don't believe it exists.
There is a place where some feel so beyond the reach of help, even beyond the reach of God.
There are people around you and I who are struggling to see hope and a future in their existence.
These people struggle with depression.

I offer no fix
I offer no steps
I give no wisdom
I give no understanding

I know one thing
I know one who does
I know who knows you
I know who He is

God your creator
God your life
Jesus in your darkness
Jesus beside you

He loves you now
He loved you then
He is here now
He is here forever

I have experienced depression for but a few days(a long time ago) it really gives me no grounds to understand or speak about the place people go in these times, but I have been burdened to pray for the ones I know and in that I have somehow experienced an empathy for these people in these times. It might be you. I am so so sad at times with you. From the outside looking in I see hope and light but you don't see what I see, you see darkness and ...I don't know ... I wish I could give you my eyes for one day.
Jesus really loves you and us all and he comes to truly set us free, I believe Him for my own life and I know He can do it for you too.

I hope, I pray
if you read this today
you'll look for Jesus,
He's near you,
that's where He said He'd be.

Women's Rights and the Bible

Women and the Bible has always been a touchy subject for some and maybe, being a women, especially one who wants to be able to stand on her own two feet, I've cringed more often than some at the words submission, subjection and silence. The words that undoubtedly comes up when talking about women and the bible. I guess you could say I am one of those that finds it a touchy subject. With a little uncertainty, knowing the many verses often quoted, I set off on the Internet wondering what I would find as I googled "women's rights and the Bible", looking for help to understand this. The big question was - what would I find? ....
I came almost at once to a site that, for me, so nicely explained things. http://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_womensrights.htm From Eve to the new testament church to today. Here is the conclusion if you don't want to read the whole thing

God created both men and women in His own image and made them equal custodians of all His creation. But, because of their disobedience, God punished Adam and Eve and evicted them from the Garden of Eden. Eve's punishment was to suffer pain in childbirth and be ruled over by her husband. Jesus broke with tradition and treated women in a much more egalitarian way than was normal in the society of that time. The early Christian churches followed Jesus' lead and gave women much higher status and more privileges than was common in the rest of the world. But Paul and other Christian leaders continued to affirm the principle of a husband's family leadership and authority over his wife.

Reading this article made me feel/think several things:
1- I really love Jesus and Jesus loved women -He treated women well in his time
2- Bible time culture matters, we must know it to accurately know the meaning of a passage,
3- Our culture matters because just as Jesus worked at times with and at times against his culture, he'll still do it today, which also means changing things will happen in God's timing.
I suppose the search or study of these things isn't done, it comes to the suface in different ways at different times. But for now I was happy to find this "re"understanding and I wanted to share it with you too.

Everything Must Change

As I mentioned in my last blog post I was working on finishing this book by Brian McLaren, Everything Must Change. I finished today. Some quotes from the book.

Today, for the first time, I see what Jesus meant by the kingdom of God. I see that it's about changing this world, not just escaping it and retreating into our churches. If Jesus' message of the kingdom of God is true, then everything must change.

This is our call to action, our invitation to move mountains and to reshape the social and spiritual landscape of our world. Yes, change is impossible through human efforts alone. But faith brings God's creative power into our global crises, so the impossible first becomes possible and then inevitable for those who believe

It was a challenging read but worth it and so glad to have finished it, now I have to start seeing how I can live it's message...the hardest part.