A new name

Father, when I was looking at facebook and saw a picture of a few women friends enjoying a day out together I found an unwanted feeling within my heart, a wanting to be included.  I remembered a time in high school and wanting to be in a certain “service” club and not being invited. . . the feeling of being on the outside – not being enough.  These feelings come from how I interpreted a situation and by allowing something or someone other than You to define who I am or was.  
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Then this song came to mind. A song we use to sing and that I haven't thought about in years:

I will change your name

You shall no longer be called

Wounded, outcast

Lonely or afraid

I will change your name

Your new name shall be

Confidence, joyfulness

Overcoming one

Faithfulness, friend of God

One who seeks my face.

Thank You that You have given me a new name, a new identity.  And that in You I am and have more than enough for all of eternity.  

Shoulder taps

I watched a short video this morning.  This man recalls having lunch with his wife and noticed an older woman sitting alone at a table.  She was joined by what appeared to be her daughter and some grand kids.  The gentlemen felt he should tell the woman how nice she looked, so when their meal was finished, and they were leaving the restaurant he stopped at her table and leaned down and said, “I don’t know if anyone has told you today, but you look lovely.”  It got very quiet and then the woman said, “I know you”.  To which the gentlemen replied, “No, we’ve never met”.  Then she said “Yes, I know your spirit. My husband died a year ago, and that is something he would have said”.  At that point, with tears in their eyes they embraced and went about their day. 

They point the gentleman wanted to make was, when God taps you on the shoulder, listen.  Both had been blessed by his willingness to listen and respond to God’s tap on his shoulder.

This reminded me of a time I was having lunch with a friend.  It was a restaurant we eat at frequently.  There was an employee who would walk around with a basket of bread sticks and give them out to the customers. I just remember one day she stopped at our table, looked at me and said, “You’re a Christian, aren’t you?”.  I replied that yes, I was.  Then she said, “I could tell by the countenance of your face.  I recognized His Spirit.” And then she moved on to the next table and continued to distribute bread sticks.  I believe I was on the receiving end of a “shoulder tap”.  I felt that God had taken a moment to tell me He saw me, that He knew me.  I’ve never forgotten that brief encounter and the impact it had on my life.

So, when God taps you on the shoulder – listen and obey and be both a blessing and blessed.

He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge.

These verses reminded me of the story of the woman with the issue of blood and the significance of “the hem of His garment” and the reference in Malachi 4:2 - The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings.

The first time I heard the connection it just brought home to me how the Bible (Old and New testaments) are a love story. Both give meaning and understanding to the other.  As a friend once told me, understanding the old testaments’ relationship to the new is like walking into a room and turning the lights on.  The room hasn’t changed but the shadows now take form and substance.

The following is a brief explanation of the connection:

Have you ever wondered what prompted the woman with the issue of blood to touch the “hem” of  Jesus’ garment? The word translated  garment in the story is translated elsewhere as “wing”. The Jewish prayer shawl, or tallit, has a very important, knotted, blue cord that hangs from the corner. This area is called the “wing”. When the Hebrew  prayed they held the “wings” of their prayer shawl out to form a “tent”. This was their prayer closet.  Old Testament scripture foretells that when Messiah comes, there will be “healing in His wings”. The woman familiar with this scripture knew to touch the “wing” of His prayer shawl to be healed. And Jesus said to her, “Your faith has healed you.” Mk. 5:34.

For  a more in-depth  study see here:  
http://servantofmessiah.org/hebraic-biblical-studies/healing-hem/5/

Generous living

I read this morning about an employer who continued to pay his employees, even after his factory burned to the ground.  An example of living generously.  The thought occurred to me that perhaps we to easily try to live beyond our necessities.

In Psalm 78 – I was reminded how Israel “grew unfaithful in their hearts”; all their needs were provided for, but “they grew tired of God’s provision”.  They wanted more.

Our troubles in life often come because of our selfish desires for more and because of what we allow into our hearts.

I was reminded of a quote by John Piper.  “The works of the flesh and the fruit of love are not two different optional ways to live in freedom. When you live according to the flesh, you are in slavery. But when you serve each other in love, you are in freedom. Why? Because love is motivated by the joy of sharing our fullness, but the works of the flesh are motivated by the desire to fill our emptiness.”

What motives my obedience?

My prayer: To live generously – make my obedience more and more a grateful, willing gift . . . not out of fear or for appearance sake – but for the joy of knowing and being known by You.

Making someone beautiful

Following is a story I read this morning and found the lesson something to remember and put into practice.

“A man who spent much time with Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, used to speak of his ability to compliment and express gratitude …even for a muffin. On one occasion he sat with Reb. Shlomo in a dingy restaurant, presided over by a sour-looking proprietress. The woman was unusually homely and unpleasant. He was happy when she put down their breakfast order and returned to the counter. But after taking one bite of the muffin she had brought him, Reb Shlomo summoned her back. ‘My most beautiful friend,’ he said to her gently, ‘are you by any chance the person who baked this muffin?’

‘Yeah, I am, what about it?’ she retorted.

‘I just want you to know that this is the most delicious muffin I have ever tasted in my life.’

The woman gave a hint of a smile, thanked him, and started to walk away.

‘And I also want you to know,’ Reb Shlomo still was not finished. ‘And mamash (truly), I have to thank you because I was so hungry, and you did me the greatest favor in the world by so expertly baking this muffin, which is surely a taste of the World–to-Come.’

By now the woman was smiling broadly:

‘Well, gee, thanks a lot. It’s very nice of you to say so. Most people never comment when the food is good; you only hear from them when they have a complaint.’

Reb Shlomo went on to ask the woman about the special ingredients she used in preparing the muffin, and listed attentively. He was specific with his compliments, commenting on the muffin’s airy texture, its buttery and fragrant quality. Carlebach’s friend recalls that he was watching Reb Shlomo paean to a muffin with a mixture of amazement and amusement, until he gazed at the woman. ‘I was taken aback. The homely woman was no more. A few minutes with Shlomo had done the trick. She was transformed. She had become beautiful.’”

I learned there is value in acknowledging the good another has done for you and I hope someday to acquire the ability to sing hymns to muffins and make people beautiful.

Joy

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.  Psa 30:5

I love the word joy – it brings with it a sense of peace and well-being deep deep down inside my soul where the cares and distractions of life can not touch it or take it from me.  It’s always there, always available, always present.  It is His joy that abides within me and it is His joy that is my strength.  My response to this amazing gift is to praise the One who brings it, with a heart full of thanksgiving – for even in the darkest times, I am truly blessed.

Weaknesses

I’ve spent the last several weeks considering weaknesses, especially my own.  Paul discovered that in his weaknesses God’s power is perfected.  That says to me that my weaknesses, which are many, are not a hindrance to His working in and through my life.  My insecurities and fears are no match for His power and His grace. This is good news!

In my reading this morning, an even more wonderful promise regarding my weaknesses became clear.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  (Heb 4:14-16).

“Sympathize” here means to be moved by what has moved someone else.  It’s more that just feeling sorry for someone.  It’s understanding what its like to live in the middle of someone else’s circumstances, coupled with the desire to do whatever is within your power to help them out.

“Weaknesses” is also a very strong word and is understood as “the human condition”. (P. Tripp)

Jesus knows what it’s like to live in a fallen world.  He understands the full range of temptations we face, the complexity of relationships.  He understands betrayal, rejection, pain and aloneness.  

He . knows . us

Knowing that He “understands” me is a truly great treasure, that He’s not turned off because I stumble and fall and don’t always get things right.  Being understood is right up there with knowing I am forgiven and that I am loved.

So, my understanding is that my weaknesses are no match for His greatness; that He knows them personally because He experienced them.  But He was not defeated by them but overcame them.  So, He is able to walk with me in my weakness and I, in turn, can rely upon His strength - and THAT is a pretty good deal :)