A morning thought

The lesson from the BJV this morning is to avoid extremes.  I was struck again at how detailed the law can be when determining what is right and wrong behavior – down to the last jot or tittle.  I believe in most cases this is done from a sincere heart wanting to be obedient and out of love for God. But while these “laws” are good they can become superficial.  In sense like false idols – if we rely upon them to make us right rather than relying on God.

Paul says that what ever we do, do it out of love for God because of His great love for us.  Jesus came to show us what real love looks like, so if we follow His example we will fulfill the law because our actions will be motivated by love.  Love “knows” what is the right thing.  It doesn’t need to be told.  The “knowing” comes from His Spirit abiding with us and in us.

Don’t embarrass a guest or your children.

In the reading this morning the author tells the story of a dinner where one of the guests knocked over a glass of red wine, spilling it on the white tablecloth.  The host, in seeing what happened, knocked the leg of the table which caused his wine to spill as well.  At which point the host said, “There must be something wrong with this table.  I’ll need to see about getting it fixed”.  Basically, accidents happen, and rather than express anger perhaps we should show concern for the other. (Book of Jewish Values)

This reminded of a time, I don’t remember the details, but Joshua as a young child did something which resulted in something breaking, a dish perhaps.  He felt really bad about it and told his grandmother how sorry he was, that it had been an accident. He certainly didn't mean for it to happen.  I remember her saying “accidents don’t just happen, they are caused.  If you hadn’t been careless this wouldn’t have happened.” 

While there was truth in her statement, when it was said in an unloving and critical way, I believe it did more harm than good.  It’s like having knowledge but not having the wisdom to use it.  Knowledge  is a good thing but knowing how to apply it requires wisdom. Knowing that a tomato is a fruit is knowledge, knowing not to put it in a fruit salad is wisdom.

And if “being right” condemns someone else then maybe we should rethink our response. 

How to be both just and merciful.  How fortunate that our God is both.

“according to what they have done”

One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard:

“Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;

and, “You reward everyone according to what they have done.”  (Psa 62:11-12)

“. . . according to what they have done” 

While there is a difference between salvation and rewards, when I come across verses like this, I must confess, they make me tremble a bit – what if the things I have done are not good enough.  And then I remember, He has already done all that is needed for me, that my security rests in Him and not in me.  Praise God!!!

This also reminds me of the parable about the talents and what we do with what we’ve been given.  In Christ we have been given forgiveness and new life, not to be hoarded but given away freely, as it has been given to us.  It is not the quantity that He looks at so much as to the quality – things done from a heart that has been broken and remade in His image.  A work He both begins and finishes.  I am simply clay in the Potter’s hands.

Flat-rock

We spent the afternoon at flat-rock today.  It’s one of our favorite places to go, mostly because we can take the dogs and it’s just beautiful.  We call it flat-rock because that’s what it is. A very large area of rock with lots of room to roam around and explore.  What’s amazing is how oftern we have the place all to ourselves.  The Cullasaja River meanders over and around it. Depending on how the river is running, there are times it’s almost completely submerged but most of the time there’s plenty of room to kick back, relax and enjoy God’s creation.

There are pools that are deep enough to swim around in.  But it’s mostly shallow enough to just get your feet wet – well maybe up to your knees.  There’s even some white water for those daring enough to slide down the rocks.  Joshua loved it as a kid and it was one of the places he wanted to share with his bride after he got married.  I don’t even remember how we first discovered it – but it’s a Hargrove tradition to spend some time there whenever we come up, and it’s a place we love to share with friends.

It’s a wonderful place to just be – to feel the sun and to hear the sounds of nature and the continuous sound of the river running.  There’s a sense of the eternal.  The rock itself has been around from the beginning of time.  And the river never stops running and has run, well, for - ever.  I am always reminded of the constancy of God and His many blessings, so underserved but so available to those who seek Him.  I know flat-rock was a place He created for our enjoyment and appreciation.  A place to be at peace and to remember to Whom we belong.  I pray everyone has a flat-rock in their lives.

Patience:

the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

We’ve been looking at God’s patience in our study this week and I find myself so very grateful.  How comforting it is to know He is patient; that my actions or inactions will not cause Him to lose His patience with me –

It’s like a child learning to walk - with all the attempts and failures but a loving parent never gets angry or dismissive but continues to encourage and to understand.

In a world that is quick to judge and find fault, what a comfort to know that I have a Father who knows my every thought and all my imperfections but loves me anyway and is willing and able to walk with me, to pick me up when I fall down and rejoice with me when I move forward.

W o w -  just W O W!!!

My weakness, His strength - thoughts from Gideon

What I once considered a weakness I now see as a gift.

To accept or reject.

Misplace focus – on the problem rather than on God.  This is where faith comes in, to see the unseen, to see beyond what’s in front of me into eternity, to the Eternal.  

Teach me to run, not walk, into the arms of Jesus.

When I come to the end of myself, that is where I find Him.

Don’t focus on the disparity between the problem and your resources.  Your weakness, in His hands, is the key to unlocking His strength

Father, at the moment my weakness is my inability to cope with all the distractions of life that take my focus off You and onto them.  I’m tired and heavy laden and need to enter into Your rest and just breathe.  You are greater than the distraction.

I don’t want to fail You, to dishonor You in any way, but I feel like my "inability" keeps me from Your victory because on some level I give into the distraction.

I see how I’m like our Bob, I snarl and growl when I lose control, when things don’t go as I want, when I’m inconvenienced in some way.  Teach me how to connect with You in those times, to rise above, to let go, to see beyond and just rest . in . You.

When things rock my world, teach me how, cause me to stand in You.

Just some thoughts

In a discussion last night we talked of how it really is His story, that our lives are to be about Him and not focus on us  - to look upward and not inward.  While I see this is true, I’m also aware that His focus is on us, on me.  I kept thinking about the lyrics from Restless Love:

There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down

Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

How He’s willing to leave the ninety-nine – for me.

That I have been bought with an incredible price.

That I am now a daughter of The King.

I need to live my life “knowing” these things to be true.

I also remember reading about the Jewish word for prayer:  The Hebrew word l'hitpallel means to pray. The root word is pallel, which actually means to judge, clarify, differentiate or decide. In the reflexive tense of the word--l'hitpallel, the subject acts upon him/herself.

The idea that prayer, therefore, is about self-definition and establishing some level of personal inner clarity.  In a sense, to know one’s self.

I guess in some ways its that Lion and Lamb, justice and grace, thing  While they seem to be in opposition to each other  are really just two sides of the same coin.

It’s because of His amazing love for me, that I want my life to be for Him, to be about His plans and purposes – to be all about Him.