Posted on 15th February 2009 by Rick in Deeper Thoughts | Rick's Blog
Christ, Faith, love, mysterious grace
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
Posted on 24th November 2008 by Rick in Rick's Blog | Tracie's Blog
Bonhoeffer, discipleship, Faith, intercession, Jesus, Lord, meditation, peace, prayer, scripture, St. Paul, wisdom
In times of difficulty there seems to be great volume of wisdom to which we can turn. In the 1960’s Paul McCartney of the Beatles wrote that in times of trouble we should “Let it Be.” It made a great song and letting some things be is certainly wise. As they say “let sleeping dogs lie.” But most of life has to be dealt with even if it is unpleasant. So in times of trouble I prefer the wisdom of three men who have faced and suffered greater trials than I ever hope to endure. The first is the 20th century Christian martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the second is St. Paul the apostle and first century Christian martyr, and the third is no less than our Lord Jesus the Christ.
While Bonhoeffer waited out his last years of life in a NAZI prison, he had the strength and courage to continue being part of the German resistance and even participated in the planning of an attempted assignation of Hitler. The result was his untimely death just months before the end of the war. At the same time he wrote what became several books on Christian Discipleship. The following came from one of the books entitled Life Together: “There are three things for which the Christian needs a regular time alone during the day: meditation of the Scripture, prayer, and intercession… In our meditation we read the text given to us on the strength of the promise that it has something quite personal to say to us for this day and for our standing as Christians—it is not only God’s Word for the community of faith, but also God’s Word for me personally…” p86-87
While in a Roman Jail, also awaiting his own execution, St. Paul wrote: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus Philippians 4: 6-7
The night before Jesus was crucified; he was calm and still caring for his disciples when he told them: ”Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” John 14 25-27
So I have to ask myself, if these men in prison and awaiting death for the crime of loving God and humanity can suggest that we should look to the scriptures, pray for ourselves and others, with thanksgiving to God, and we shall receive the peace of God, then maybe I should listen to them.
Something to ponder; all things should be brought to God. In all things we should be thankful to God, not the cruelty of the world people create, but in the all encompassing presence of the Holy Spirit. For me the peace of God is actually the recognizable presence of God in my life at that moment. My memory of the Lords’ previous help for me feeds my faith which acknowledges that Gods’ presence can be trusted, even in the times of unwanted outcome. All three require faith to function within a person’s life. Meditation is more than reading or memorizing, its’ sinking into the scripture. Letting our mind and spirit dive into the scripture to contemplate what it meant to those who first heard it. How did it change their lives and what does it mean to me. What would it mean to put it into practice? What is God saying the Divine power will do? What has been my experience in this matter if any? Do I truly have faith in God to do this? Remember, Jesus said “my peace I give to you.” How much more can we ask for from our Creator?
Posted on 24th November 2008 by Tracie in Tracie's Blog
Christ, Faith, gift, love, memories, remember, remembering, strength, thankful, wisdom
Since my last post the bruise got worse, and now it is better. I’m still typing with one hand, still have my arm wrapped to where it isn’t bendable; but no need for pain medicine now. Tomorrow I get this big bandage off! It has crossed my mind that I may wish to have it put back on! Oh well, progress is being made.
It is the Monday before Thanksgiving and Kristin has convinced me why it is necessary to begin decorating for Christmas before we’ve even had Thanksgiving. Normally I would not allow it, but this year our schedules don’t allow another time; so the decorating has begun!
It’s all about remembering and being thankful for the memories. I fear that in being rushed and impatient with the natural progression of time, we will forget to remember, we will allow impatience to rob us of life’s gifts. Many will say the ability just to remember is a gift. I like to close my eyes and try to remember back as far as I can. There is usually something in my childhood years I can recall. No matter how faint it may be, I know the incident to be a gift. Even in, and possibly most of all, the times I required parental correction, we’re some of the greatest gifts given because they are some of the most useful in my life’s time. It is no different in the times since when life was most difficult. Those are the times that either make you or break you. When one can allow them to become gifts of strength, of faith, of wisdom and character, then one has unwrapped the gift to benefit from it’s greatest rewards.
Yesterday was our 17th anniversary. Together we thought about our lives and the paths they had taken. We agree we have led simple, yet extraordinary lives. Extraordinary in the abundance of love given, the opportunities given with the greatest one being that of knowing Christ. It is the greatest gift a parent can pass on to their child. It is because of the knowledge of Christ’s love that we have been able to use the difficult times of marriage and use them in a positive manner.
Rick and I have been given the gift of an awesome relationship, the gift of children, grandchildren and I could go on and on. But the greatest of all these is love.
Please take time to remember and be thankful this holiday season.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
God Bless,
Tracie
Posted on 27th October 2008 by Tracie in Deeper Thoughts | Tracie's Blog
Christian Life, Faith, God, Hope, journey, joy, prayer, treasures
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
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