Language and communication

From my reading this morning, Peterson speaks of three kinds of language.  Language 1 is primary, what we learn first.  It’s the communication between a parent and an infant child, the language of intimacy, of relationship and trust. Language 2 is informational and language 3 is motivational.   We most often use 2 and 3.  But 1 is the language of prayer.

Sitting here this morning with Sunshine and her tennis ball game.  Because we spend this time together I have learned that when she barks a certain way it’s because she wants me to retrieve her ball.  It’s either rolled behind something, gotten too close to Bob or she just want me to roll it back to her. However if I’m watching her I can usually tell what she wants before she barks – that my attention is required.

Spending time with is the key in communication; that and an expectancy that something will come from the time spent.  This is what prayer can be.  Perhaps that sounds a bit selfish – what can I get but it’s really more of how can I know God better, how can I learn His language, His will and purposes.  While we mostly need words to communicate, He does not.  He is able to do so on a much deeper level.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  (Rom 8:26-17)

A morning muse

To “hear Him speak” it is necessary to spend time with Him, time in His word, time to be still, time to listen rather than talk.  It’s not easy to quiet before Him because we usually have so much we want to say - but it can be done.  It begins with a desire to just “be with Him”.  It’s not something we can manipulate.  It comes from a surrendered heart, a heart in need of and ready to tremble at His word.

Know too that it is His desire to meet with us as well.  In fact, it is His desire that draws us to Him.  He is the initiator and the lover of our souls.  We were created in His image, so that we could have an intimate and personal relationship with Him but on His terms and not our own.

Be still and know - - - He’s waiting.

The story of Simeon in the temple has always had special meaning for me.

Early in my life as a Christian I use to babysit for my pastor’s family.   When I first started they had two girls but as time went on they had a baby boy.  I can remember the first time I got to sit with him.  They had some church function to attend and so I got to stay with the baby.  I remember sitting at their kitchen table, holding this little being in my arms –so small and so very vulnerable.  I was suddenly overwhelmed with the thought of what it was like to hold the baby Jesus and what an amazing thing God did in taking on human flesh – not only human flesh, but that of an infant, totally dependent upon others for his very existence.  I was both humbled and in awe of such a sacrifice of love

In writing these words they seem so inadequate to describe something that so profoundly changed something in my heart – that if He could love me to enough to take on such frailty and dependence, that I could certainly trust Him with my life.

And so I can identify with dear old Simeon and the joy he must have known to see and hold his Savior.

We are not to make friends with the world or compromise with its ways. We are called to die to its ways and live for Christ. (Paraphrase of Tozer/The old cross and the new)

Abba, I must admit there is fear and trembling in my heart as I read this article this morning.  There is a difference between friendship with You and a familiarity without a true regard for just Who You are.  Help me to never take for granted or in any way diminish You or all that You have done.  My old life is not my friend but has become my enemy, as is any attitude or behavior that separates me from You.  The “world” too in no friend, though there is much beauty and spender to be seen, this is not my home.  I am an alien in a strange land on a journey towards home.  You are my home.  In all things, please direct my path and keep my heart fixed upon You.

Remembering

It’s remarkable to me how a picture can bring up so many wonderful memories and warm emotions, remembering times in my life that were just magical and full of wonder.  Those memories are a part of me, a part of who I am.

I think that’s why God would so often tell Israel to “remember” some event or to “write it down” because we can so often forget, with all the distractions of our everyday lives, just how magical and full of wonder our lives really are.

Random thoughts

Abba, I was thinking this morning about a discussion I had with someone about missing the relationships, the connections that I had in a community we were once a part of and of that time in my life.  They expressed that perhaps they weren't real but were just pretend but I choose to believe they were “for a season”. 

It occurred to me that sometimes we all pretend because we may not "feel" the way we think we should – Forgiveness, for example.  We know we should but deep down we aren’t fully capable of it and so we try to act like we forgive.

I think we’re all works in progress and sometime we just have to accept what is offered as genuine because it may be the best that can be offered at the time.

I’m reminded of the difference between Paul and Barnibus’ reaction to John Mark.  I don’t think either was wrong but each reacted according to their own personalities and visions.  I also believe that as a result John Mark grew in the maturity of his faith.

I think too it has something to do with our expectations.  People are going to disappoint us - and sometimes we disappoint ourselves.  We can choose to let the disappointment divide us or we can choose to allow grace to overcome the disappointment.

Help me, Father, to be an instrument of Your grace

Dogs and Leashes

As you know, we have had a number of golden retrievers over the years which we love to take with us on our adventures. One of our pups (Autumn) does much better on a leash.  She tends to wander off where she shouldn’t so we keep her on a leash, at least initially, for her own protection and our peace of mind. 

We had another pup (Shadow) who never required a leash.  He would always stay by our side and would come when called.  He seemed to know we had his best interest at heart and would choose to remain near us rather than wander off on his own.

Both were allowed to enjoy our adventures, but Shadow enjoyed a freedom because we knew he would obey.

I see God’s commandments are like the leash – they are there to keep us safe and are necessary until we learn to trust the Master, that He knows what’s best for us, and to listen for His voice.

We love them both and I know they both love us, but I can’t help but feel that Shadow’s love for us is what kept him close.  Autumn loves us too, in fact she loves to snuggle, but her “wander-lust” will often cause her to leave us in pursuit of her doing her own thing.  Therefore, the leash is necessary.

When our love for the Master is greater than our desire to wander, that is where our true freedom is found.