Lessons from a guitar string

Music is made in stress.  A string pulled tight, it has to be plucked, it has to be stressed.  Moved from its comfortable, resting position.  The bending of the string induces stress.  As the string bends, as the sting arches in stress and then releases it vibrates - and there is the offering.  This one note, high and long.  Stressed and empty and stretched right out, this is the space of song

In stress there can be song.  The resonance is in the surrender.  (A Voskamp)

Reading these words, I am reminded of a time long ago.  I was part of the music team at a women’s retreat, a position of comfort as I could “hide” behind my guitar.  On this retreat however, I had also been asked to give a talk.  In preparation several of the team would meet in the chapel before each talk to pray with the presenter.  As we gathered to pray for me, I pretty much feel apart – fear and nerves took over, I didn’t think I could go on. 

One person began to pray and as they did they prayed a pray very much like the words above. To produce the music from the guitar, there must be tension and that the musician knows just how taught the string needs to be to produce the right sound, the right note.  That I was like that string and God, my Father was the great musician and knew just how much tension was needed to make a beautiful sound.  His grace would be sufficient, that I could rest in His hands.

Well, I did the talk and I’m grateful to report that it went just fine.  I learned a valuable lesson that day, that in those times of stress, we can trust Him to produce in us a beautiful song.  He knows what He’s doing, all we need do is surrender into His most capable and loving hands . . and let the song be played.

Complete in Him

Abba, reading this morning and remembering, holding Joshua in my arms, his golden curls surrounding his sweet face, sleeping, breathing warmth upon me, the peace, the joy, the contentment.  Wanting that moment to never end.

Now he’s a young man, with a wife and a life separate from mine. . . and I miss him.  I am so grateful for the young man he has become, so grateful -  but there is an ache in my heart for the little boy who held my hand and filled my days with wonder.

But this is as it should be – for him and for me.  The love is still there, different perhaps, but very much present in our relationship.  And I am grateful.

Your love is a perfect love that knows no end, a love that never changes, always present.  Yours is the very breath I breathe and the rhythm of my heart beat, the hand that holds me, the voice that comforts me and the life that fills each moment    . . . and I am so very grateful to be Your child.

Grace to give

Father, as I came to this chapter (2 Cor 8) on “giving” I almost skipped it partly because I didn't really want to deal with it – and then I realized it’s an area I do need to deal with, or rather allow You to.  While I have always given, I have not always done so cheerfully and I know it is the attitude of my heart that really matters. I understand these things with my head but need You to help me get them into my heart.  Not just in the area of money, but with my whole life. 

One of my life’s goals is to be generous with my life.  I believe that is a desire that You have placed within my heart and Your grace will accomplish what You have begun.  All I can do is trust You, to listen for Your voice and follow where You lead.  It’s a wonderful journey and I am so grateful that You are with me – each and every step of the way . . .even when I am reluctant.

Journey's end

The first day of our adventure began before day break.  After loading the car with all our paraphernalia, including three dogs and two cats, Brant went to start the car and  . . . nothing.  After several attempts to jump start it – to no avail - we switched out the battery with another vehicle and we were on our way and we were even on time.  About half way through the trip we pulled off the interstate to get gas.  As we pulled off onto the exit ramp, the van died.  Fortunately it turned out that the connection on the battery had come loose, so it was easy to fix.  We were grateful it didn't happen on the interstate in the middle of construction that was going on.   Our next stop was Auto Zone, where we purchased a battery that was appropriate for our van. 

The rest of the trip were smoothly until we got to our driveway.  Anyone who has been to the house knows about our driveway, which is rather steep.  About half way up we encountered a fallen tree – or at least the top part with all the limbs and branches.  So, we put the van in park and walked in the rest of way only to find that the electricity was out – due to another fallen tree.  Brant and Reuben got a chain saw and headed back down the drive, while I called the electric company (fortunately the hard line phone worked).  In a few moments the guys were up with the van and we unloaded and began to settle in. 

Now the reason we had started this adventure before the break of day was because Brant really wanted to see Franking High School’s football game, which was taking place about 2 hours away and I am happy to report he made it.  Shortly after they left for the game the electric guy showed up and within about an hour the power was restored. So I got to stay home, lights and water working, with the puppies and the cats and just enjoy being at peace in our mountain retreat.

I’ll never know the reason for all the little bumps in the road along the way, but at journey’s end none of them really mattered.  I’m confident that is how it will be when we’re finally home with the Lord, the peace and joy we will experience will far outweigh any difficulty we may encounter along the way.  So just keep on keeping on!

Is it lawful?

Hypocrites usually care more about external conformity than about inward righteousness. (Commentary on Luke 14:1-6)

This brought to mind an episode in Flashpoint (a police drama where an elite tactical unit responds to extreme situations) – where Ed, in doing his job, shots a young woman and kills her.   He followed procedure, did what he was trained to do, but it’s eating him up because what he did went against what he knew was right.  In a following episode the mother of the young woman comes to forgive him, but he can’t accept it, because he can’t forgive himself.  There is this conflict between doing what he was trained to do and doing what he knew in his heart was the right thing to do.

We are born with this knowledge of what is right and wrong, so that when we sin, by doing what we know is wrong, our hearts confront us and there is no peace.  Only through the forgiveness of a loving Father can we be made right again.  That forgiveness is only found in Jesus.

Acts 16:6-7

Forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel in Asia and Bithynia.  

Our timing is not always in line with God’s timing.  Being sensitive to the Spirit is the best way to “stay” in God’s will, with His plans and purposes, with His time table.  Part of knowing the right thing to do is often knowing the right time to do it.  How does one learn to be sensitive to His Spirit?  By spending time with Him.  Jesus promised His sheep would recognize His voice. 

I’m reminded of phone calls and how we learn to recognize the voice of a friend – just hearing their voice registers in our memory that we know them, that we share a relationship with them, even though we can’t see them.

Paul logically thought he would go to Asia – to preach.  It would seem to make sense.  He was close and preaching the gospel was his mission.  But God had other plans. Paul is being guided by hindrance. The Holy Spirit often guides as much by the closing of doors as He does by the opening of doors.

How do we know? 

Knowing His word

Godly counsel

Prayer with an open, expectant heart

Being still before Him

(not necessarily in this order)

Confrontation is not a dirty word.

Some thoughts on Matt 16;21-28:  Jesus tells His disciples what is to come regarding His suffering and death and His resurrection.  Peter tries to deny it and Jesus confronts him; tells him he is an offense, a stumbling block, that he is thinking like a man not like a disciple.  This must have been hard for Peter to hear, especially following his previous confession that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.  But Peter needed to see that his present perception, his way of seeing things, was contrary to the will of God.  I find this somehow comforting.  Peter always seemed to struggle with this, and yet I believe it was his faith, not just individually but in example, upon which the church is founded.  I think Peter was truly and completely in awe of Jesus, in the majesty and mystery of Who He was, that he loved Him deeply and knew that he too was loved by this man, this Son of God clothed in humanity.

At this point Jesus knows His time here is short and what is coming, the physical and spiritual suffering he would endure, was probably weighing upon Him.  Peter’s comments were a distraction from the purpose and plan of His Father, a temptation to turn aside and take the “easy way out”.  

But He knew His death and resurrection would be Peter’s (and our) salvation.  That no matter how hard we may try - we will fail.  Only He could redeem that which was lost and restore what was broken.  We will stumble and fall but He has provided a way.  In our weakness He is strong; when we rely upon and cling to Him and live in the awe and wonder of Who He is and of His great love towards us who are called by His name.

In those times when we fail, Jesus will confront us.  Not to condemn us but to show us where our perspective needs adjusting, where our hearts need changing and always to reveal that we are loved and precious in His sight.