During this season of lent we are given the opportunity to experience something other than in our normal everyday lives; to experience something other than ourselves.  We are invited to give up a part of ourselves that we would otherwise be dependent upon, or to cling.  We are invited to experience the other possibilities in our self.  In that process (those 40 days) we begin to suffer over the loss of the familiar.  So often times it is much easier to continue clinging to old ways, to continue dependence on the familiar, to snuggle in the blanket of false security.

In the 10th chapter of the book of Mark, verses 17-22, we read of a man who wanted to experience something other than his self.

“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good?  No one is good but God alone.  You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and mother.’”    He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.”  Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.”

Jesus, whom loved this man, offered him new life.  But the man first had to give up the part of him that was surely to stand in the way, and he couldn’t do it.  He could not give up what he already knew was not permanent, for what he sought was ETERNAL LIFE.  Did he choose instead to wait for another day, to wait for something else, another offer?  Did he think he could just continue day after day after day to live the familiar?  Did he not really believe in what Jesus offered him?  Maybe he just couldn’t comprehend what Jesus was offering?   The man left in grief and shock, turning his back to Jesus choosing other securities, the familiar.

Is this story familiar to you?  It certainly is for me.  Why is it that we can so easily place our hopes and dreams, our very lives into that which is so fleeting?  Do you wait for something else?  Will you get a better offer?  Do you say, wait Lord, first I need to…., Once I get past the stress of raising my family, once I finally make enough money to make me happy….Once I get over just this one more hurdle in my life…then I will follow you Lord.  Is it fear?  Yes Lord, but can’t I just keep on living like I am and follow you too?  Yes Lord, but I don’t want to hurt, I don’t want to suffer in any way.  Lord, don’t ask me to die before I can live.

Actually Jesus has already done that part for us when he gave his life on a cross similar to this one.  He isn’t asking us to literally die before we can experience his resurrection.  He just wants us to give up that which keeps us from Him.

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the son of Man is?” and they said, “some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets?” he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter answered, “You are the messiah, the Son of the living God.”  Matthew 16:13-16

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?  Luke 6:46

…Who is Christ for us today?  Who is Christ for you this day?

As we come bringing our flowers of hope, turning what once was ugly and bare into a full beautiful life giving symbol, let us commit to it, our selves. Tracie Easter 2009

This is an old writing of mine from the Spring of 2000. I was reminded of it yesterday when the birds began their beautiful morning ritual.  Creation is something we must take time to enjoy…

It is just before 6:00A.M. on a new morning, a morning set aside for praise of our glorious and sovereign Lord.

It is still dark as I sit out amongst the beauty of His creation, and I hear but only one bird begin the song. I marvel at its sweetness as it announces, with a melody, this new day.

Everything around me is so peaceful, so still, as if the elements of the earth are awaiting an event.

Then, I hear a second bird as if in response to the first. They speak for awhile, just the two of them, one with a tone of authority, the other seemingly submissive.

I look up into the skies noticing the dawn to appear, a picture so perfect, with colors so clear.

The birds, they are all now singing a chorus of great joy.

It’s a song of great praise to the one who has made the red colors arise out of the expanse of the sky.

Look! There he is! In the east of the heavens; thy Savior appears casting rays of light, showing all of God’s might.

I marvel at its excellence as it continues to rise, God placing His Son in the brilliance of the sky.

I remember now, the one lone bird instructing the other of what must happen for man to awaken.

Now, I see the Son in his place, he shines down on me with the warmth of His face.

It is now that I remember from whence he did come, he arose from earth’s darkness showing all of mankind it is Thine will that must be done.

Now, I know why God made the birds, it is to awaken each day to the glory he hath made.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

So how is your prayer life?  Do you…

• Pray once a day
• Pray once every morning before starting my day
• Pray once a day or so but sometimes forget
• Pray once a week
• Don’t really know

If you were able to answer yes to any of the choices above, then your prayer life is seriously lacking.  And, yes, that includes those of you who were able to answer yes to even the top two.  Don’t even think about patting yourself on the
back for a “job well done.”

Seriously, I hope you don’t think of prayer as a “job” at all but rather as an ongoing relationship with your greatest love.  Now that’s a good question-is God your greatest love?  If the answer is yes AND you answered yes to any of the
above then I ask you again-How is your love life, really?  Is God truly first in your life?

I’ve heard various reasons for people avoiding prayer, I’ve used them all myself.

• I don’t know what to say
• I’m afraid of messing up
• I just can’t seem to make time
• I feel too guilty

Do any of those sound familiar?  Then let’s get to the heart of matter…RELATIONSHIP.

Relationships don’t just run themselves.  They must be nurtured.  One of the most important elements in nurturing that relationship is the ability to converse openly, honestly and on a continuous basis.

Let’s first tackle the issue of being open and honest in any relationship. Whether it’s with a spouse, a child, friend or relative, honesty can be withheld and when it is, it is almost always destructive in some form either to the person you are dishonest to or most certainly to the self.  Never the less, complete truths do not have to be revealed.  But when it comes to being open and honest with God, there is nothing that can be hidden.  He already knows every thought and action in your life, so then the issue turns inward.  It becomes an inability to be honest with the self, which in turn inhibits growth and causes internal strife.  So what does this suggest?  Would it not be to one’s advantage to be able to confide in someone who already knows everything about you?

But let’s not allow self growth to be the only reason for prayer.  God is to be praised and He is certainly worthy of praise!  Prayer is also used to make requests of God.  I  find myself doing a lot of that!

What about continuous prayer?  One of the definitions for continuous is, ‘connected throughout.’  This is how I like to think of continuous prayer…not that we are to be in a “prayerful position” at all times, but rather that we are connected with God in some fashion throughout.  And what does ‘throughout’ mean?…continuously, from beginning to end.

I once read an excerpt from a book where the writer was sharing a part of his journal.  His “experiment”, as he called it, was to see if he could fashion his life in order that he could stay “connected throughout” with God.  With each entry, his
time with God, rather it be in prayer, or just thoughts of God,  would increase, as this was his goal.  He began to realize that in everything he did throughout his day, it was possible to keep ‘the things of God’ on his mind.  At the finish of the experiment, he knew that it was not by his own efforts that he had attained this, but it was through the indwelling of His Holy Spirit that had enabled him to ‘think God thoughts’ with every thought and action of his daily life.  He had been ‘connected throughout.’

Are you connected throughout with His Holy Spirit?

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all you mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.”

Matthew 22:37-38

What do you think?  Were the disciples rich or poor?

While sitting in a NAZI prison Dietrich Bonheffer wrote this about the plight of Jesus’ followers.

“The Disciples are needy in every way.  They are simply “poor” (Luke 6:20).  They have no security, no property to call their own, no piece of earth they could call their home, no earthly community to which they might fully belong.  But they also have neither spiritual power of their own, nor experience or knowledge they can refer to and which could comfort them.  For his sake they have lost all that.  When they followed him, they lost themselves and everything else which could have made them rich.  Now they are so poor, so inexperienced, so foolish that they cannot hope for anything except him who called them.” Discipleship p 102-103

What would you give to have known Jesus?   What would you give to know him now?

Luke 6:20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.’ Matthew5:3    Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

If we love the good things of life more than God, then our wealth is our enemy.  If we are self-righteous, then we will not know how very much we need Christ.

RD

The pursuit of happiness is a frivolous American affair which confuses fun with the greater life of finding joy in mind, body, and spirit.

Fun is often a market driven state of mind with little redeeming quality outside of the extreme state of the moment.  Though it should be a part of the enlightened state of joyful living it is often so obsessed over that it must be purchased and often in the form of a chemical alteration to the brain or other parts of the body.  It can lead to an obsessive and compulsive behavior attempting to maintain the heightened sense of excitement or pleasure.  It can and will be disrupted by most or all things which interfere with the pleasing moment or the perceived attainment of social, mental, financial or physical goals.

The enlightened state of joyful living begins with spirit and moves to mind and body.  If the mind and body are dysfunctional the spirit can carry the person who has found contentment.  In the Judeo-Christian tradition this state of joy filled spirit and living is found in the simultaneously devoted journey with and toward God.  In his/her God given faith the sojourner learns to desire the thoughts and ways of the Creator.   The power of well being grows from the experience that the Lord God will care for them even in the absolute worst situation.  This confidence of understanding does not depend on continuous pleasures but grows from the very troubles life does contain.

Because God is the ultimate source of life and healing the person does not depend upon purchased or exotic fun for fulfillment.  Instead the peace of a God centered life is enjoyed with moments of fun scattered throughout but not depended upon.  Life is celebrated because of the loving presence of God, not due to something purchased, perceived to have been earned, or social acclaim.

RD

By looking at the Christ we have our best opportunity to understand life, love, tragedy, and redemption.

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
- Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein, one of the greatest human minds at unlocking the mysteries of creation understood the power and beauty of that which is beyond our grasp of understanding.  Maybe it was the beauty of it that kept him thinking and dreaming about the unknown and the keys that unlock the doors of understanding, one at a time.

God is the greatest of all mysteries.  This is why faith is so difficult to understand for those without its comfort.  They cannot own it, or create it with their rules;  it is Grace and this is one blessing we cannot control or enforce.  It must be
accepted then set free to bless all others.  The minute we tie it down, it is dead, ceases to exist within the borders of our laws.  If we deny others are worthy then we have killed it within our breast.  For Grace comes from the very breath of God, and as Jesus said “we cannot tell which way it will blow.”  Nor is it for us to decide.  Thank God, otherwise we would all be damned by someone!

Seriously, thank God and enjoy the mysterious Grace given to us by our Lord, the Christ.

RD

By looking at the Christ we have our best opportunity to understand life, love, tragedy, and redemption.  RD

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.
- Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein, one of the greatest human minds at unlocking the mysteries of creation understood the power and beauty of that which is beyond our grasp of understanding.  Maybe it was the beauty of it that kept him thinking and dreaming about the unknown and the keys that unlock the doors of understanding, one at a time.

God is the greatest of all mysteries.  This is why faith is so difficult to understand for those without its comfort.  They cannot own it, or create it with their rules, it is Grace and this is one blessing we cannot control or enforce.  It must be accepted then set free to bless all others.  The minute we tie it down, it is dead, ceases to exist within the borders of our laws.  If we deny others are worthy then we have killed it within our breast.  For Grace comes from the very breath of God, and as Jesus said “we cannot tell which way it will blow.”  Nor is it for us to decide.  Thank God, otherwise we would all be damned by someone!  Seriously, thank God and enjoy the mysterious Grace given to us by our Lord, the Christ.

If people were like earthworms, then maybe they could grasp some of the greatness of Christ.

-Rick Davis -Organic Theology

They take the garbage and manure of life, the discarded waste of humanity and turn it into some of the richest, healthiest dirt designed by God.  That enriched soil then gives nutrients to the plants of creation which within the food chain gives life to all land mammals.

People on the other hand….Create garbage, and waste, then try and bury it somewhere so they don’t have to see it or deal with the trash they produce and then wonder why life smells so bad.   In short we are better at destroying life than we are at enriching the world and those around us.

The worm knows its place in the world, in the universe, more importantly in life, and performs its’ Divine assignment, reaching its’ potential; how many people do?

I remember well the time when I had no hope.  It was a time of great misery for me.  A time when the trials of pain consumed my every thought.  Pain had become the controlling presence of my life.  But it was at that time of my deepest despair that God reached out to me.  With His mighty arm He pulled me into His grip of grace, enveloping me with a love that only He can provide.  He breathed into my very soul the light of hope.  It was then that I began my search for an answer as to why I should have any hope at all.  It was in His word that I found my answers.  Through His divine leading, by the power of His Holy Spirit, I found this verse…

“So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

The truth and power of this one verse gave me the hope I had been lacking.  It was His strength that lifted me and led me on to discover that my hope lied not in self, but in the promises of a new life. 

As I grew in my understanding of the Biblical story, I began to realize that from the very beginning of creation God has constantly been in action to instill and fulfill hope for mankind.  He does that now through the various journeys we travel in our lives.  Journeys that grow faith, events that keep hope alive.

Christ’s journey involved much sacrifice, temptation, some disappointment and much pain.  But His faith was unbreakable for His faith bore the Spirit of God.  His hope was that found not only in His eternal life but in the newness of His people.  He came so that we might all die to self and rise again in a new life.  A life filled with hope, peace, joy and love.

Hope, very simply put, is in Jesus Christ.  And that hope is alive today and available to all for the asking. 

If you don’t yet know Jesus Christ to be your Savior, your hope for new life, pray this prayer now asking Him to fill your soul with His Spirit.

Abba Father, I praise your very name, for it is Holy.  I praise you Father, for You are my Creator, my Savior, my Lord.  I love you.

Father, I am a sinner.  I have sinned in many ways and on many occasions.  I repent of these sins and ask that You would make me aware of every sin in my life.  Help me to overcome them, Father.

Father, I believe that you are the Creator of all, I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior and in the power of Your Holy Spirit.  I believe that Jesus walked on this earth, that he was crucified for the forgiveness of my sins, that he died, was buried and then rose and now reigns with you.

I want to live for You Father.  Bless me now with your great love and grant me this request to live my life in glory for You.

I pray this prayer in Jesus Christ most Holy name,

Amen.

If you have prayed this prayer with all sincerity, you must now take the next step.  Seek out His will for your life.  Seek out others who can help you to grow in faith, to grow in love for Christ.  There is so much more to learn, so much more beauty to discover in your new life.  You must turn to His Word.

“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

Proverbs 2:1-5

God Bless,
Tracie

What does it really mean to have faith?  We say we have it, yet do we live it in our daily lives?  There are some that do, yes.  But most often, I would have to say people lack faith.

Paul tells us in Hebrews 11:1 what faith is…”Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

I’ve thought a lot about this particular verse in seeking to understand why it is that I continue to suffer from chronic pain.  It has caused me to think a lot about my hope and where it lies.  I do carry a lot of hope that one day I will be free from the daily suffering, but I’ve come to understand that it is not in the end result that we carry hope, but it is in the journey toward the end result that it abides.  And that journey of hope has brought me much gain.  The fulfillment of peace and the exuberance of joy are two of my greatest treasures.  But faith has become the essence of my Christian life.

In Mark 11:22-24, Jesus said, “Have faith in God.  I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Faith that moves mountains.  Faith in yourself that you can move a mountain will not gain entry into the sea.  But faith that God will move the mountain for you will move it beyond the depths of the sea.

It is too often that we base our faith on the end result rather than the blessings we received during the journey.  It is then that we may begin to lose hope and life becomes a chore.

Where does your faith lie?  Does it rely on the outcome of daily life or is it found in the hope of your daily blessings?  Must you have proof of faith, if so, then it is not faith at all.

In my faith journey, I have refocused my hope.  It is not on the hope of the physical being, but it is hope in the spiritual.  For my physical self is dying just as is yours.  But what lies within my spiritual being is the promise of Jesus.  He has moved mountains for me.  My hope is that God allows me to use His strengths, gained through faith, to bring blessings upon another.  My hope is that my blessings flow into you and that you share them with another.  And God is faithful.  He has used me to reach out to others in ways I never thought possible; just as He uses others to bless me.  It has been and continues to be an awesome journey.  It is a journey of growing Christians.  Christians who find that hope lies in salvation and salvation is discovered in what we sow each and every day.

I have learned to stop staring at the mountain before me and to look for the space between the mountain and the sea.  It is there that I’ve discovered faith and where my hope lies so preciously.

Thank You Jesus for the faith, hope and love you’ve given me.
God Bless,

Tracie