Awhile back, there was a video being shared on Facebook of a preacher saying it was alright to, "say the f-word in church, in fact, Christians should say it all the time!" He was sensationalizing the word 'forgive'. It seems that, sometimes, a Christian believes he needs to shock people in order to get his point across. Well, I guess I'm doing the same thing tonight...
Recently, I heard someone tell me, "You may know the Bible, but I believe that God can speak through me, too. After all, if He can speak through a donkey, he can do the same with me. Right?" Aside from being mildly insulting to me personally, I've been pondering why his statement continues to bother me. The comment came from another believer who, I am certain, wants nothing more than to do will of God and show His love to those in the world around him. After all, doing what God wants us to do was exactly the topic several of us had been discussing that evening.
Well, I do like the Bible - I like it a lot - so much so that I often passionately say, "I LOVE the Bible!" I love reading it, and teaching it, and talking about it, and thinking about it... But, I know that doing those things won't do me - or anyone else - much good in having a relationship with God, if that's all I ever do; however, I also know that not doing those things will produce the same result. So, I thought about his words in light of the Scripture, the one in which he was referring to in his comment towards me.
The aforementioned donkey belonged to a man named Balaam. You can read what happens between the two of them in the Old Testament portion of the Bible; it's found in the Book of Numbers, Chapter 22. I'll sum it up for you here: Balaam was a man known to be sensitive to spiritual matters and possessed some power with his words. He had been asked, by some influential people from the area where he lived, to say some not-so-nice things to the Israelites. God told Balaam not to go with those people, then He said he could, but warned him to do exactly as He said. Balaam rode along with them on his donkey - thinking everything was alright - when God's anger was stirred, and He came real close to killing Balaam. His donkey saved him 3 times: the first only cost Balaam some embarrassment as he veered off the road into a field, the second cost Balaam some physical pain as he pressed hard against a wall, the third time stopped his forward progress completely.
Although Balaam beat the donkey each time, it was upon the third time that the donkey was given the ability to speak clearly to Balaam. I absolutely love the conversation the two of them have, and the fact that they even have a conversation at all, but I'm gonna try to keep this as short and to the point as possible. The point is: Balaam didn't see the very real danger that was in front of him, but his donkey did and was willing to endure every beating to keep Balaam from getting killed! We are told that the donkey's life would have been spared, but Balaam would certainly have died if the donkey had just done as Balaam desired. When Balaam's eyes are able to see clearly, he asks God's forgiveness and declares that he is willing to turn around and leave the job those people were going to pay him a lot to accomplish.
The story doesn't end there. Balaam's story winds it's way all throughout the Bible: the Old and the New Testament Scriptures. Balaam is condemned by God because, although he pronounces a blessing instead of a curse on those whom God desires to bless, he encourages sexual immorality and disobedience for God's people. The donkey, however, is again praised for his actions (2 Peter 2:16)!
So, in light of all of this, I say, I hope that God's people see and sound like the ass of Balaam, rather than just going along with the wishes of others, or going our own way, or simply THINKING that we are doing what God wants; I hope that we can see clearly the very real danger of God's wrath on those who persist in doing things which do not glorify God, and give clear verbal warning - despite the cost to us - for people to stop! We need to know the will of God, and obey it! And, personally, I can't think of a better way to accomplish this than to diligently study the Scriptures for ourselves, and also get with wise people who can help to explain His Words in miraculous, meaningful ways! I hope, too, that all who read these words don't find them sensational, but transformational.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me...
When I was a young girl, I remember walking through patches of flowers to admire their fragrance and beauty; sometimes I would pluck bouquets of them from the ground to bring home for my mom or myself to admire there. Many times I would choose just one particular flower from the field, then I'd say the familiar verse, "He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me..." - one petal was removed as each new phrase was spoken - I was always hoping that the last petal would confirm that he did, indeed, love me. I didn't really understand that my efforts with the flower petals were fairly futile back then; I had little comprehension of who "he" even was when I was young.
As I grew older, my understanding of the value of relationships grew as well. At times I became painfully aware of the feeling of loneliness; although I could have been surrounded by family, friends, or even among a crowd, I didn't feel as though I belonged to any of them. Other times I was blissfully happy at home, church, school, the mall, etc. - in every place where I could feel completely comfortable with the people I was around. As I swung through the highs and lows of learning how to relate to people, I began to understand how each person had an impact on my own character development. I learned how to appreciate those who valued me, and cautiously relate to those who didn't. I learned also that those who chose to dislike me, struggled within themselves to recognize the value in other people. I understand that the process of relating to people is a life-long one, and that every moment of the process - just as every person - has eternal value.
People want to believe that they matter, that they have importance. And, if they can belong to - or relate very well to - just one other person, then they can see the value they have in themselves. This belief system is, perhaps, never as blatantly evident as it is during our adolescent years. It is during this time that it seems as though every fiber of our being drives us to find that 'someone special'; really, what we are striving for is the feeling that we are the one who is special to someone else. This feeling is unbelievably delicate - it can be so easily shattered by one word or gesture, either spoken or left out - yet it is so fiercely desired.
It was during my adolescence that my significance was confirmed. God's love taught me to respect the necessary solemnity of physical relationships, so I could not fathom becoming intimately involved with anyone who did not hold to the same Spiritual reality as I did. I had grown up believing that God loved me, so when none of my peers found me attractive enough to pick me out of the crowd, I concluded that He would have to be enough for me. He loved me.
However, the human connection that I so desperately desired still remained, and I hoped that surely there had to be someone with whom I could share a loving relationship with. Through the years of middle school, high school, and young adulthood, I found many guys attractive, and I tried to be attractive (as I could manage) to them, but had little success finding anyone who would return my affection. Each year of misplaced and misguided affection, my reality was that he loved me not.
In my early 20's, I was blessed with a close circle of friends. From that circle grew a bond with the one man who chose to pick me from the crowd. Though our relationship has been known to produce thorns at times, those are not among our most noteworthy features; it is the glory of God's amazing love in, with, and for us that brings beauty to our home! My husband reveals to me the heart of my loving God by using his strong arms to hold and comfort me and our children, his knowledge and faith to guide us, his life experiences to warn us, and his passion and faithfulness to insure joyful times as well as to endure through life's difficulties. As he loves God, so he loves me!
When I was young, I recognized that some flowers were more beautiful than others; some beautiful flowers were more pleasingly fragrant than others; I learned that some bouquets were actually weeds I had gathered, and others were out of well-designed gardens. Being a mom, I encourage the young people I enjoy relating with now, to learn how to admire those relationships which reflect the Glory of God. We must learn how to belong to the most well-designed, most pleasing, fragrant, and beautiful kinds of relationships; so, we will be able to bring such beauty into our homes - to our friends, families, and among the crowds - it is through these kinds of relationships that we are blessed to know who He is and why He loves us!
As I grew older, my understanding of the value of relationships grew as well. At times I became painfully aware of the feeling of loneliness; although I could have been surrounded by family, friends, or even among a crowd, I didn't feel as though I belonged to any of them. Other times I was blissfully happy at home, church, school, the mall, etc. - in every place where I could feel completely comfortable with the people I was around. As I swung through the highs and lows of learning how to relate to people, I began to understand how each person had an impact on my own character development. I learned how to appreciate those who valued me, and cautiously relate to those who didn't. I learned also that those who chose to dislike me, struggled within themselves to recognize the value in other people. I understand that the process of relating to people is a life-long one, and that every moment of the process - just as every person - has eternal value.
People want to believe that they matter, that they have importance. And, if they can belong to - or relate very well to - just one other person, then they can see the value they have in themselves. This belief system is, perhaps, never as blatantly evident as it is during our adolescent years. It is during this time that it seems as though every fiber of our being drives us to find that 'someone special'; really, what we are striving for is the feeling that we are the one who is special to someone else. This feeling is unbelievably delicate - it can be so easily shattered by one word or gesture, either spoken or left out - yet it is so fiercely desired.
It was during my adolescence that my significance was confirmed. God's love taught me to respect the necessary solemnity of physical relationships, so I could not fathom becoming intimately involved with anyone who did not hold to the same Spiritual reality as I did. I had grown up believing that God loved me, so when none of my peers found me attractive enough to pick me out of the crowd, I concluded that He would have to be enough for me. He loved me.
However, the human connection that I so desperately desired still remained, and I hoped that surely there had to be someone with whom I could share a loving relationship with. Through the years of middle school, high school, and young adulthood, I found many guys attractive, and I tried to be attractive (as I could manage) to them, but had little success finding anyone who would return my affection. Each year of misplaced and misguided affection, my reality was that he loved me not.
In my early 20's, I was blessed with a close circle of friends. From that circle grew a bond with the one man who chose to pick me from the crowd. Though our relationship has been known to produce thorns at times, those are not among our most noteworthy features; it is the glory of God's amazing love in, with, and for us that brings beauty to our home! My husband reveals to me the heart of my loving God by using his strong arms to hold and comfort me and our children, his knowledge and faith to guide us, his life experiences to warn us, and his passion and faithfulness to insure joyful times as well as to endure through life's difficulties. As he loves God, so he loves me!
When I was young, I recognized that some flowers were more beautiful than others; some beautiful flowers were more pleasingly fragrant than others; I learned that some bouquets were actually weeds I had gathered, and others were out of well-designed gardens. Being a mom, I encourage the young people I enjoy relating with now, to learn how to admire those relationships which reflect the Glory of God. We must learn how to belong to the most well-designed, most pleasing, fragrant, and beautiful kinds of relationships; so, we will be able to bring such beauty into our homes - to our friends, families, and among the crowds - it is through these kinds of relationships that we are blessed to know who He is and why He loves us!
Monday, February 6, 2012
What's love got to do with it?
I love science! I love witnessing how things act and interact with other things in the natural realm!
I remember being taught in school the value of experimentation. The one thing that I remember most is how important it was to have a "constant" - a "control" - by which to measure: to have something that could/would never change in order to compare every part of all my experiments by.
I am saddened by the reality that, as the Evolution hypothesis has taken root in our education system, verifiable truth is no longer absolutely relevant to many people in our culture. In that hypothesis, there really isn't any control, everything was, is, and always will be transient. It is the foundational belief that whatever may be the "fittest" at any given time, should be the only thing that could "survive" (or could be the only thing that should "survive"). In that kind of environment, there can never be an absolute constant, because the "control" is what is reigning in the moment.
I love the Word of God more and more every day! And, I realize that this is due - in large part - to the failed experimentation in the world around me.
In the above passage of Scripture, Jesus declares Himself the constant for all things and for all times. John recorded (not only in Revelation, but also) in the Gospel which bears his name that Jesus said of Himself, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life... (John 14)". It is by the Word of God that I confidently measure and compare how everyone/thing acts and interacts, not just in the natural realm, but also in the spiritual one. In Him I "live and move and have [my] being (Acts 17)"; it is only by having His life as my source, that I can realize what He needs changing in order for Him to remain constantly in control.
No part of life should ever be seen as any kind (or aspect) of an experiment - to see how fit any of us are at surviving - knowing only the kinds of lives each person is capable of on their own, or with a little help from others. There are too many people who have gone through life believing that love can be found living like that. The truth is that life should be known as the gift that it has always been - it is a relationship with the One who was, and is, and is to come - and true love can only be found within the boundaries of this relationship.
I love being loved by the One who is Love! This kind of love I can't keep to myself - I want VERY MUCH to help others also live this truthful, loving interaction with God that is both natural and spiritual!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
...just the messenger
There are a series of television commercials currently being aired; the lead character is a man who has saved so much money on his insurance, that he - supposedly - feels compelled to pass along the his 'earnings' to others. Of course, the beneficiaries of his generosity are surprised and some are thankful! He, however, is quick to point out that he is not the one they should focus on for what they (including himself) have been blessed with, as he says, "Don't thank me, I'm just the messenger."
I've been pondering that mindset for quite awhile now, as I, too, have often heard words of gratitude - of course, not for giving my money away - for saying something that someone else benefited from, but knowing that true wisdom and knowledge are gifts from God. Unlike my little advertising example, I usually take the credit for what I've spoken, and lately I've been increasingly uncomfortable about it.
I want everyone to know the same thing James, Jesus' brother, knew; that , "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)". If what I say is good and perfect, then the glory for such insight should be given to God, and I should just be known as His messenger. All glory - thanks and honor - should be given to the One who originates the blessing.
If what I say is less than perfect, then I believe I should receive whatever reward/punishment is due for bestowing those fake jewels on someone else.
I know - just like the reactions on those commercials - it's sometimes difficult to receive what you're being given, especially when you're not sure what you should expect to accept. I suppose, then, it is in everyone's best interest to know every message for what it is: good and perfect, or not-so-good and less-than-perfect, then we could treat the messenger accordingly.
I've been pondering that mindset for quite awhile now, as I, too, have often heard words of gratitude - of course, not for giving my money away - for saying something that someone else benefited from, but knowing that true wisdom and knowledge are gifts from God. Unlike my little advertising example, I usually take the credit for what I've spoken, and lately I've been increasingly uncomfortable about it.
I want everyone to know the same thing James, Jesus' brother, knew; that , "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)". If what I say is good and perfect, then the glory for such insight should be given to God, and I should just be known as His messenger. All glory - thanks and honor - should be given to the One who originates the blessing.
If what I say is less than perfect, then I believe I should receive whatever reward/punishment is due for bestowing those fake jewels on someone else.
I know - just like the reactions on those commercials - it's sometimes difficult to receive what you're being given, especially when you're not sure what you should expect to accept. I suppose, then, it is in everyone's best interest to know every message for what it is: good and perfect, or not-so-good and less-than-perfect, then we could treat the messenger accordingly.
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