11 . 03 . 11
Mark 7:1-20
Man... reading this, and now writing this, - especially immediately after just doing my last post - I read it in a compleeeeetely new light.
We (I) just read in what manner, and for what reasons Jesus fed four thousand hungry followers... and now Jesus is being questioned by the Pharisees for his disciples being unclean, and eating food.
Actually, NO! I’m just now remembering why I read these in reverse order, and it was because when I finished reading the story of the four thousand, I for some reason placed my book mark a page behind... shutting it, then coming back to it, I wasn’t sure why it was a page back, but I figured that in the interest of letting the spirit speak, I would read where the book mark indicated... and it’s lovely that I read this story now, with the understanding of the four thousand.
Moving on... stick with me...
So as I’m writing now, I’m extending the metaphor from yesterdays blog, so it might be important you have read that... but here goes. These pharisees - people with hearts distant from knowing their God, but knowing the world, the law - they were called out by Jesus when he said...
“these people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.”
I understand the gift of God’s law, being a gift given to ALL men, having been written on ALL mens hearts... this, and the gift of His spirit, are the gifts of God given to... all men.
Now, whether or not people know Jesus, that might be a different story, I’ve written other blogs about that...
But, what I hear jesus saying is that regardless of what a person’s intake is (religious intake??!), it is how they respond to the Law of God which makes them clean, and worthy of one day being in eternity with their creator. We read yesterday of the people who suffered for three days in hunger, following Jesus tirelessly, trusting completely in his providence... and at the end, earning the meal of their life.. it taught me beautiful things. :)
I think it’s this view that brings about movements like “one love”... where people in a deep way, all over the world, grip onto the call of God written again on all men’s hearts, being realized by those who seek good... this call to love all men, and be with brothers in their suffering. I love learning the call of God, it has a way of bringing me to know His children, who to God appear clean, but to the world appear very ‘unclean’. think about it...
Jesus goes onto talking to these ‘pharisees’ (or people separate from knowing and abiding by the basic call of god written on their hearts) and to these pharisees he accuses them of adjusting their “law” to their own self interests... the interests of Man, not the interests of God.
I've known myself to do this in so many ways :/
But jesus challenges them, and told them that it was not what went into a mans mouth that made him unclean, but what but what came out of it. Unclean things like “evil thouthts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly" to name a few...
These ways of living 'unclean' - although experienced at different levels in all people - are in some way blinding us from the gift of God.
"To thine own self be true"... a good friend of mine Dave Bondo shared with me earlier, and I pass it along to you and encourage you to give these "things" up to Jesus, and ask to see god in a knew way, a way that brings more light to the hope of what is to come for all who surrender to Him. Freedom.
I see a challenge presented to all lovers of God, a challenge to join together regardless of "intake". Each in their own unique way, worshiping God and knowing they are a part of a beautiful family under Him... a family with other children, all answering the call 'to love' written on their hearts.
Bringing people this hope now, is Jesus. This is the gift of Jesus... Obviously so much more to explain with this, and please, if you want to know more about the gift of Jesus, there would be no greater joy for me than to share it with you :)
Some may see my interpretation of this scripture as being too abstract, or maybe just off... but to some it may connect.. And to all readers, it’s important we understand that whatever Jesus is trying to communicate through this interaction... all who were present, didn't understand!
Jesus was forced to repeat it to the crowd... “listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man... click to continue”
And then again to his disciples (important it's not his apostles.. i'd like to explain if you're interested) in a seperate house...
‘“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man can make him unclean... click to finish”
Grasping the meaning of what Jesus is communicating here was difficult for all present... in fact it doesn't appear any of them do.
... but now we, upon His death, have been gifted with the holy spirit, who to this point had only been given to Jesus after his baptism, and bits to the apostles.
But now we, if we give our lives back to God and his good work, we are given the spirit to maybe read this interaction in a fresh way, a way it was meant to be communicated... soaked in the gift and guidance of the spirit.
Imagine it...
I stop here, the sun maybe seven fingers off the horizon, thankful for many little blessings surrounding me... and asking the lord to forgive me for ways I’ve ignored him... so many ways.
Be well friends.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Four thousand fed... with seven loaves. SOO much more than food here...
11.03.11
Mark 8
I’m sitting, overlooking myyy pacific northwest coast, with poulsbo somewhere just across the way, and up wrapped around the corner of my northern coast lies the beautiful Whidbey. Today, sitting here, I read two stories out of Mark, the story of Jesus feeding the four thousand, and the story of Jesus speaking on Clean and Unclean. Both I read in a completely new way... :)
The story of Jesus feeding the four thousand... I think in the past I just saw it as Jesus feeding this large crowd, and it being amazing that he split a few loaves into being able to feed a few thousand... amazing still, but SOO much more there! Stick with me...
These people he fed... they were devout followers of Jesus... they were three days deep into their tireless journey of following him into the wilderness... they hadn’t eaten ANYTHING.
They knew Jesus, and they would do anything to follow him... four thousand of them.
Just imagine it... what did they seee?! (we know some of the stories...) They dropped ALL, and followed... into the wilderness... with no food.
They were houngry... Imagine the hunger??!
Do we trust our lord enough to go three days without food?? With this verse, a three day fast can be very powerful... think about it.
They trusted Him... in what he promised, because they believed... they knew their gift to come was so good, they were willing to wander, no food, into the wilderness... three days.
And then they were fed... their tummies filled.
Jesus took the only seven loaves this whole group had (the #7 being very important... can talk about that more maybe), he laid them down... and then he prayed for them... :)
"There was fish too..."
So, seven loaves, and a “few” fish were laid there “before the people”, and prayed over, by Jesus.
Imagine it... give your shitty circumstances to Jesus... what does he do, he takes them and fills the tummy of the spirit with His goodness, and afterward there amounts to seven basketfulls... FULL baskets, of leftover bread.
His providence will not only fill our lives, our stomachs, but it will leave us OVERFLOWING with leftovers, for others to enjoy.
Others might read this and hear the words of Jesus telling them that in the early days of our walk with Jesus (Just like Jesus taking on the holy spirit and spending an immediate 40 days in the desert experiencing all temptation satan could throw at him), we are going to experience a tough three days (we all have our different “three days”)... persecution, mockery, and all sorts of suffering, until - like jesus - we feel the warmth of the holy spirit in a way that brings power, confidence, and all sorts of joy... the feast.
I see it both... :)
So, Jesus after feeding them, giving them what He promised (a tirelessly full spirit, and a reward of a feast at the end... not until after three days in the wilderness), disperses them and “sends them away”.
He leaves now on a boat... over to a different region... Dalmanutha.
So, normally I might see a ‘different region’ as being a geographical location... But this time I see it as a different place of the heart... a different perception of the world, a different more ‘pharasaical’ way of living, by the law of man, and not the law of God... I saw Dalmanutha as this location.
Here you have the ‘pharisees’... they asked him for a sign, and he replies - directing his comments towards what he refers to as a specific ‘generation’ - with this...
“why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.”
To me, he may be speaking to a different thing than he is you, but try and see this as pointing to areas we are blind to seeing the STINKING miracles right in front of us... like the one Jesus just did, feeding the four thousand.. Those suffering alongside jesus in the wilderness (spiritually, physically, emotionally, maybe all three?) with Him, experience his miracles and the gift of his spirit... Their hope, their joy amidst the suffering, is also shared with Him...
Two very different lessons I hear in this section...
The first having to do with the cost of following jesus, his promise, and the yummy reward.. :) Think on it...
The second being my oftentimes blind eyes to see the miracles right in front of my stinking face... it can be as simple as pausing to give thanks for the steady breaths which bring life to our hearts... or giving thanks for the fact that we’re able to even give thanks, that our spirits are magnetically directed towards something outside of life here on earth, the feeling that at our deepest level, something beyond ourselves exists and deservs our worship...
so pause, and give thanks to the god that created you... your thoughts... and a bazillion other things right in front of your face that deserve your... that deserve our ‘pause’.
Sink into these two warm truths, and as a shoutout to my friends who commented/liked the photo I posted earlier... now you know what I meant when I posted it... Promises in scripture comfort a person interested it's comfort, a person seeking the guidance of the spirit...
Next post is about when Jesus spoke on what made a man clean and unclean... don’t miss it, pretty wild, warmly embrassing stuff!
Mark 8
I’m sitting, overlooking myyy pacific northwest coast, with poulsbo somewhere just across the way, and up wrapped around the corner of my northern coast lies the beautiful Whidbey. Today, sitting here, I read two stories out of Mark, the story of Jesus feeding the four thousand, and the story of Jesus speaking on Clean and Unclean. Both I read in a completely new way... :)
The story of Jesus feeding the four thousand... I think in the past I just saw it as Jesus feeding this large crowd, and it being amazing that he split a few loaves into being able to feed a few thousand... amazing still, but SOO much more there! Stick with me...
These people he fed... they were devout followers of Jesus... they were three days deep into their tireless journey of following him into the wilderness... they hadn’t eaten ANYTHING.
They knew Jesus, and they would do anything to follow him... four thousand of them.
Just imagine it... what did they seee?! (we know some of the stories...) They dropped ALL, and followed... into the wilderness... with no food.
They were houngry... Imagine the hunger??!
Do we trust our lord enough to go three days without food?? With this verse, a three day fast can be very powerful... think about it.
They trusted Him... in what he promised, because they believed... they knew their gift to come was so good, they were willing to wander, no food, into the wilderness... three days.
And then they were fed... their tummies filled.
Jesus took the only seven loaves this whole group had (the #7 being very important... can talk about that more maybe), he laid them down... and then he prayed for them... :)
"There was fish too..."
So, seven loaves, and a “few” fish were laid there “before the people”, and prayed over, by Jesus.
Imagine it... give your shitty circumstances to Jesus... what does he do, he takes them and fills the tummy of the spirit with His goodness, and afterward there amounts to seven basketfulls... FULL baskets, of leftover bread.
His providence will not only fill our lives, our stomachs, but it will leave us OVERFLOWING with leftovers, for others to enjoy.
Others might read this and hear the words of Jesus telling them that in the early days of our walk with Jesus (Just like Jesus taking on the holy spirit and spending an immediate 40 days in the desert experiencing all temptation satan could throw at him), we are going to experience a tough three days (we all have our different “three days”)... persecution, mockery, and all sorts of suffering, until - like jesus - we feel the warmth of the holy spirit in a way that brings power, confidence, and all sorts of joy... the feast.
I see it both... :)
So, Jesus after feeding them, giving them what He promised (a tirelessly full spirit, and a reward of a feast at the end... not until after three days in the wilderness), disperses them and “sends them away”.
He leaves now on a boat... over to a different region... Dalmanutha.
So, normally I might see a ‘different region’ as being a geographical location... But this time I see it as a different place of the heart... a different perception of the world, a different more ‘pharasaical’ way of living, by the law of man, and not the law of God... I saw Dalmanutha as this location.
Here you have the ‘pharisees’... they asked him for a sign, and he replies - directing his comments towards what he refers to as a specific ‘generation’ - with this...
“why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.”
To me, he may be speaking to a different thing than he is you, but try and see this as pointing to areas we are blind to seeing the STINKING miracles right in front of us... like the one Jesus just did, feeding the four thousand.. Those suffering alongside jesus in the wilderness (spiritually, physically, emotionally, maybe all three?) with Him, experience his miracles and the gift of his spirit... Their hope, their joy amidst the suffering, is also shared with Him...
Two very different lessons I hear in this section...
The first having to do with the cost of following jesus, his promise, and the yummy reward.. :) Think on it...
The second being my oftentimes blind eyes to see the miracles right in front of my stinking face... it can be as simple as pausing to give thanks for the steady breaths which bring life to our hearts... or giving thanks for the fact that we’re able to even give thanks, that our spirits are magnetically directed towards something outside of life here on earth, the feeling that at our deepest level, something beyond ourselves exists and deservs our worship...
so pause, and give thanks to the god that created you... your thoughts... and a bazillion other things right in front of your face that deserve your... that deserve our ‘pause’.
Sink into these two warm truths, and as a shoutout to my friends who commented/liked the photo I posted earlier... now you know what I meant when I posted it... Promises in scripture comfort a person interested it's comfort, a person seeking the guidance of the spirit...
Next post is about when Jesus spoke on what made a man clean and unclean... don’t miss it, pretty wild, warmly embrassing stuff!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Soiled Relationships
10.26.11
Mark 4:1-20
Continuing my reading from what I posted yesterday, I was fresh on this heart-wave riding through thoughts of family, and the beauty of Goood’s family. Anyway, after this, “jesus began to teach”. His first lesson was the parable of the sower...
Now, if you read this parable (reeead it and let the spirit speak to youuu!) and it’s ending, you learn that the message the spirit is sending through Jesus’ words is intended to be seen as a metaphor for the different environments believers grow up in their faith, and their varied successes/failures with each environment. A beautiful imagery that i've read in the past with this imagery, and its been very helpful...
Today however, I read it differently...
Fresh off the ‘family’ section at the end of chapter three, I read the parable of the sower imagining relationship (man & wife) being the seed thrown to the different environments (path, rocks, thorns, and good soil)... and I saw the different environments those seeds were given to grow as being the families and surrounding influences of that seed. The soil from which a relationship comes together and grows, is of vital importance to that seed’s success in sprouting, revealing it's beauty, growing good fruit, and bringing light, glory to a world of scattered seeds.
It’s especially beautiful reading this after just learning about our family in God... how this community - growing intimately with god fearing people - is where seeds grow well.. in strength to fend off the elements (trials), and in beauty (joy) to attract onlookers who wonder at the contents of your soil... soil to be shared.
I’ve been lucky to have rich soil in my family on earth, what a blessing :) and with the amount of joy iiiii feel for my ‘new family’, I can’t imagine the anticipatory joy of someone whose family here on earth is torn, broken, and in need of good soil... their joy in being a member of a new family, in eternity.
I’m not sure if this sounds in any way judgemental, but for some reason I have the little yellow caution lights going off in my head warning me that I might offend someone... :/
I don’t intend offense. I merely am caught in a place of thanksgiving for the gift of this soil, and hope for all to join that family.
Relationships growing in good soil, with blessings and love coming from both sides... these will from their onset, I believe, grow with less confusion and more LIFE.
Now, in no way is this exclusive... My mimi and papa for example, married now over 50 years, would probably agree they didn’t have the best soil starting out as far as family was concerned... but have you ever seen the most beautiful little wildflower sprout between the cracks in a broad stone (ya?! me too..), and wonder hooooow in the heck it made it through that journey? Well... they are that flower :) they sucked the nutrients out of.. stone.
beautiful...
They are in God’s family... And in that growing out of stone they have sowed good soil for their next of kin. Soil their children, and their children's children get to grow into (how it's designed?). In this soil grows fruits of the spirit, the same spirit which gives life to the soil, bringing life to the seed... those fruits delivering love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness etc... In His family, and in our own, these are the gifts we receive, these fruits. And these fruits we are responsible to grow for others to pick and enjoy, juice dripping off their lips.. bringing life.
Then the two become one, and the soils mix.
Fruit is grown, new seeds now sprouting, life grows. The soil bringing strength to withstand the elements, and beauty to attract others to the life giving soil... the fruit. Pause... and imagine it with me..
Maybe a whole other subject all together, but isn't it funny that plants grow best in manure... shit. Shit brings growth?! Hmm... Extend thaaat metaphor... ha
Without really feeling led to write anymore about this cause I could go on all day... I dive into the morning giving thanks for the soil I was born into, and the gift of the soil offered in our ‘new family’.. offered to all. I get excited about making good soil one day for my own family... growing God’s family... :) blaaaah!
be well friends.
Mark 4:1-20
Continuing my reading from what I posted yesterday, I was fresh on this heart-wave riding through thoughts of family, and the beauty of Goood’s family. Anyway, after this, “jesus began to teach”. His first lesson was the parable of the sower...
Now, if you read this parable (reeead it and let the spirit speak to youuu!) and it’s ending, you learn that the message the spirit is sending through Jesus’ words is intended to be seen as a metaphor for the different environments believers grow up in their faith, and their varied successes/failures with each environment. A beautiful imagery that i've read in the past with this imagery, and its been very helpful...
Today however, I read it differently...
Fresh off the ‘family’ section at the end of chapter three, I read the parable of the sower imagining relationship (man & wife) being the seed thrown to the different environments (path, rocks, thorns, and good soil)... and I saw the different environments those seeds were given to grow as being the families and surrounding influences of that seed. The soil from which a relationship comes together and grows, is of vital importance to that seed’s success in sprouting, revealing it's beauty, growing good fruit, and bringing light, glory to a world of scattered seeds.
It’s especially beautiful reading this after just learning about our family in God... how this community - growing intimately with god fearing people - is where seeds grow well.. in strength to fend off the elements (trials), and in beauty (joy) to attract onlookers who wonder at the contents of your soil... soil to be shared.
I’ve been lucky to have rich soil in my family on earth, what a blessing :) and with the amount of joy iiiii feel for my ‘new family’, I can’t imagine the anticipatory joy of someone whose family here on earth is torn, broken, and in need of good soil... their joy in being a member of a new family, in eternity.
I’m not sure if this sounds in any way judgemental, but for some reason I have the little yellow caution lights going off in my head warning me that I might offend someone... :/
I don’t intend offense. I merely am caught in a place of thanksgiving for the gift of this soil, and hope for all to join that family.
Relationships growing in good soil, with blessings and love coming from both sides... these will from their onset, I believe, grow with less confusion and more LIFE.
Now, in no way is this exclusive... My mimi and papa for example, married now over 50 years, would probably agree they didn’t have the best soil starting out as far as family was concerned... but have you ever seen the most beautiful little wildflower sprout between the cracks in a broad stone (ya?! me too..), and wonder hooooow in the heck it made it through that journey? Well... they are that flower :) they sucked the nutrients out of.. stone.
beautiful...
They are in God’s family... And in that growing out of stone they have sowed good soil for their next of kin. Soil their children, and their children's children get to grow into (how it's designed?). In this soil grows fruits of the spirit, the same spirit which gives life to the soil, bringing life to the seed... those fruits delivering love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness etc... In His family, and in our own, these are the gifts we receive, these fruits. And these fruits we are responsible to grow for others to pick and enjoy, juice dripping off their lips.. bringing life.
Then the two become one, and the soils mix.
Fruit is grown, new seeds now sprouting, life grows. The soil bringing strength to withstand the elements, and beauty to attract others to the life giving soil... the fruit. Pause... and imagine it with me..
Maybe a whole other subject all together, but isn't it funny that plants grow best in manure... shit. Shit brings growth?! Hmm... Extend thaaat metaphor... ha
Without really feeling led to write anymore about this cause I could go on all day... I dive into the morning giving thanks for the soil I was born into, and the gift of the soil offered in our ‘new family’.. offered to all. I get excited about making good soil one day for my own family... growing God’s family... :) blaaaah!
be well friends.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Family ... mine, yours, ours.
10 . 26 . 11
Mark 3
Today, if you read this section, you’ll read through Jesus’ direct defiance of the pharisees... You'll read of Him being crowded out and touched all over by all sorts of diseased folk... His beautiful, spirit soaked appointing of the twelve apostles... Him being accused of having an evil spirit by which he drove out evil spirits, and then Him going on this beautiful rant about spiritual warfare... “whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” ... I learn from reading this last section the importance of not allowing appearances blind me from experiencing the beauty of a persons spirit within. Lots to say here.. but i move on from these beautiful chunks to focus more on the next...
The end of chapter three was especially sharp for me. It talks about family, and gives us a new family under God. Beautiful, but kinda tough.. mostly beautiful though. Jesus says in response to a question about his mother and brother... “‘who are my mother and my borther?’ he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’” (3:33) It's interesting he doesn't say father... mt23:9 tells us who Jesus says we are to call 'father'.. in God's family, all other men are brothers, even your earthly father. God is father.
A week or so ago I went to dinner at my uncle’s house to share a meal made by my cousin, enjoyed by all including my aunt and their three beautiful children... my cousins. I would be lying if I said that these familial ties haven’t suffered strain over the years, strain which has caused pain, a lot of pain, on both ends... But I would also be lying if I didn’t acknowledge that it was one of the most enjoyable meals I’ve had in a very long time.
Driving home, I was struck, and brought to a very sad place at the separateness of families these days. Now I won’t go into what I believe the reasons for this degradation to be, (here at least, I would LOOVE to talk about it whenever) but I will share of the condition of my heart that night.
Adrift among the sadness was a beautiful image of what I imagined family to look like in a perfect, loving environment. Now I know some people hate their family members, duh... but imagine this image being free from those ‘things’ that bring pain, a place where the the spirit over all members. A picture that is maybe more realistic when experienced in a dream state, but a picture none the less of a tight knit family, a clan, a loyalty, a nearness... We’ve become distanced. And reader (you), let me tell ya i’m as guilty as any for placing ‘distance’.. :/
So driving along after this dinner, I became really sad. Then I was given hope because in my heart was somewhere buried a rememberance of this scripture... and I saw the beauty of our trueee family, those who do God’s will... those with good spirits... this is our family Jesus says. Our clan. Where we feel warm, invited, understood, welcomed, trusted, and loved... of whom we make warm, invite, seek to understand, feel welcome, trust and love because the spirit of God is in them.
What a gift for me on this drive that this realization came after painting the ideal picture of what God intended family to look like... because then He tells me.. “this ideal family, you have that in me”... “that picture you imagined, luke, in my kingdom, that picture is reality.. on earth as it is in heaven... in my family... my clan”
I think it’s important that those in His family are those who “do God’s will”, and are not simply believers, or even broader... “Christians” (oooohhh).
Those who do God’s will.
Man, the fat sort of rises to the top on this one, no?
Thessalonians lays out what “god’s will” is for all men pretty well... in chapter 4 verses 3-12 (read it here), Paul says that we should live sanctified lives... having control of the spirit over the flesh, being true to our neighbor, not living in passionate lust or webs of deceit... like so many (guilty as charged :/) are guilty of. He calls those who follow God's will to live quiet lives, working with their hands, winning the respect of outsiders and not being dependent on anyone.
Then in chapter 5 he tells us that those living into God’s will will be “joyful always, praying continually; always giving thanks in all circumstances (good and bad).”
Who just popped in your head? I’ve more than a couple friends close to me, from foreign cultures also, who have spirits that fall within this line. Their spirits bring life... their life oozes joy... their joy in faith will be made complete in eternity with their maker.
These verses give us insight into the spirit of our family... “those who do God’s will”, and what we as members of that family are responsible to.
My car ride mostly over at this point, I pulled into my destination with a heart of thanksgiving. Thanks for my beautiful family here on earth despite our separateness, as well as my many brothers sisters, aunts & uncles, moms (not fathers) and grands all over the world whose spirits are ones that in the midst of their diverse cultural background, do the will of God, through earthly suffering, with joy. I’ve felt warm, invited, welcomed, trusted and loved under many roofs... shingled roofs, cardboard roofs, many roofs...
Who doesn’t want to be in this family?
Well... I think thats a good place to wrap er up...
Be well friends.
Mark 3
Today, if you read this section, you’ll read through Jesus’ direct defiance of the pharisees... You'll read of Him being crowded out and touched all over by all sorts of diseased folk... His beautiful, spirit soaked appointing of the twelve apostles... Him being accused of having an evil spirit by which he drove out evil spirits, and then Him going on this beautiful rant about spiritual warfare... “whoever blasphemes against the holy spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” ... I learn from reading this last section the importance of not allowing appearances blind me from experiencing the beauty of a persons spirit within. Lots to say here.. but i move on from these beautiful chunks to focus more on the next...
The end of chapter three was especially sharp for me. It talks about family, and gives us a new family under God. Beautiful, but kinda tough.. mostly beautiful though. Jesus says in response to a question about his mother and brother... “‘who are my mother and my borther?’ he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’” (3:33) It's interesting he doesn't say father... mt23:9 tells us who Jesus says we are to call 'father'.. in God's family, all other men are brothers, even your earthly father. God is father.
A week or so ago I went to dinner at my uncle’s house to share a meal made by my cousin, enjoyed by all including my aunt and their three beautiful children... my cousins. I would be lying if I said that these familial ties haven’t suffered strain over the years, strain which has caused pain, a lot of pain, on both ends... But I would also be lying if I didn’t acknowledge that it was one of the most enjoyable meals I’ve had in a very long time.
Driving home, I was struck, and brought to a very sad place at the separateness of families these days. Now I won’t go into what I believe the reasons for this degradation to be, (here at least, I would LOOVE to talk about it whenever) but I will share of the condition of my heart that night.
Adrift among the sadness was a beautiful image of what I imagined family to look like in a perfect, loving environment. Now I know some people hate their family members, duh... but imagine this image being free from those ‘things’ that bring pain, a place where the the spirit over all members. A picture that is maybe more realistic when experienced in a dream state, but a picture none the less of a tight knit family, a clan, a loyalty, a nearness... We’ve become distanced. And reader (you), let me tell ya i’m as guilty as any for placing ‘distance’.. :/
So driving along after this dinner, I became really sad. Then I was given hope because in my heart was somewhere buried a rememberance of this scripture... and I saw the beauty of our trueee family, those who do God’s will... those with good spirits... this is our family Jesus says. Our clan. Where we feel warm, invited, understood, welcomed, trusted, and loved... of whom we make warm, invite, seek to understand, feel welcome, trust and love because the spirit of God is in them.
What a gift for me on this drive that this realization came after painting the ideal picture of what God intended family to look like... because then He tells me.. “this ideal family, you have that in me”... “that picture you imagined, luke, in my kingdom, that picture is reality.. on earth as it is in heaven... in my family... my clan”
I think it’s important that those in His family are those who “do God’s will”, and are not simply believers, or even broader... “Christians” (oooohhh).
Those who do God’s will.
Man, the fat sort of rises to the top on this one, no?
Thessalonians lays out what “god’s will” is for all men pretty well... in chapter 4 verses 3-12 (read it here), Paul says that we should live sanctified lives... having control of the spirit over the flesh, being true to our neighbor, not living in passionate lust or webs of deceit... like so many (guilty as charged :/) are guilty of. He calls those who follow God's will to live quiet lives, working with their hands, winning the respect of outsiders and not being dependent on anyone.
Then in chapter 5 he tells us that those living into God’s will will be “joyful always, praying continually; always giving thanks in all circumstances (good and bad).”
Who just popped in your head? I’ve more than a couple friends close to me, from foreign cultures also, who have spirits that fall within this line. Their spirits bring life... their life oozes joy... their joy in faith will be made complete in eternity with their maker.
These verses give us insight into the spirit of our family... “those who do God’s will”, and what we as members of that family are responsible to.
My car ride mostly over at this point, I pulled into my destination with a heart of thanksgiving. Thanks for my beautiful family here on earth despite our separateness, as well as my many brothers sisters, aunts & uncles, moms (not fathers) and grands all over the world whose spirits are ones that in the midst of their diverse cultural background, do the will of God, through earthly suffering, with joy. I’ve felt warm, invited, welcomed, trusted and loved under many roofs... shingled roofs, cardboard roofs, many roofs...
Who doesn’t want to be in this family?
Well... I think thats a good place to wrap er up...
Be well friends.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Who will be in Heaven..(??)
10 . 25 . 11
Revelation 6-7
Since the first time I ever reeeally read revelation (which was maybe two years ago or so, just months before I left for Haiti) these two chapters have been really difficult for me.
The first five chapters left us nestled into a pretty warm scene... Jesus, the lamb, has just revealed himself walking to the throne surrounded by elders and angels worshiping his greatness... He had just been given the seals to open, and they worshiped in this anticipation of what was to come.
In chapter 6 we have the seals being broken. The first four seals each revealed a horse, each ushered in by one of the four living creatures there with the lamb... each a different color and each with a very different rider on their backs. White, red, black and pale. The description and importance of these horses is beautiful and deep, coming more into play later.
Stay with me...
The fifth seal opened up the voices of the martyrs. Those “slain because of the word of God”. Each was given a white robe, and on this day they were made holy... but they were told to “wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was made complete.” They wait for those living, who will eventually die, “slain because of the word of God.”
Faith. Combine faith. This is a scene we want to understand deeply... we learn who will spend eternity with our God.
The sixth seal brought a great earthquake, the stars fell and the earth was rocked.. The sun turned black, and the moon red. Everyone fled to caves (safe places). After this, a strange thing is done to the earth... Angels are assigned to take the four corners and stretch it, “preventing any wind from blowing on the land or the sea or any tree.” This might seem strange, unless you see the wind as representing the spirit... as it does all throughout scripture.
BUT. Before they began their duty that would rid the earth of the spirit, the seal of the living God came down and said to the angels “do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
Mmm...
Before John - after hearing the words of the living God - there appeared a "great multitude, that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the lamb.” (7:9) All wearing white robes, they worshiped.
Now, this next part was tough for me...
An elder standing near John during this unfolding of the great multitude wearing white asked him... “these in white, who are they?”
John responded.. “sir, you know.” And the elder did know... he said this..
*soak this in, these are those who will be SEALED.. those that will be with Him in eternity, wearing white*
“These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore ‘they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (7:14-17)
The first time I read this, what I left in the margins was simply “I am too comfortable...” yuuup.
... apparently at that time, like now, it was the simpliest way of packing up such a crazy loaded emotion.
I just read about those who will inhabit heaven... and I would be hard pressed to place myself into any of the descriptions...
Never again will they hunger...
thirst...
be scorched by the sun...
“And God will wipe away every tear...”
Are these things I need freedom from? Should I need freedom from them? Peace in their midst?
This isn’t a section of scripture I’ve found to fit well into my cultural puzzel... The pieces are just different...
I realize now that this book of revelation largely influenced my interest in diving into other puzzle boxes...
My time in Haiti - learning the beauty of those peoples spirits in the midst of such terror, oppression, and lack of basic supplement - was vital for me in understanding the reality behind these verses.
Laced throughout scripture we find the comfortable things of this earth paling when compared to the richness of color offered by the gift of the spirit. I feel a bit pale today...
The less comfortable we are on earth, the more we learn to lean on the spirit... leaning - like maybe doing a wall squat would burn your quads and bring strength - in this way strengthens the bonds with the spirit... trust increasing with increased reliance... trust in an eternity wearing white in His kingdom separate from the pains they felt on earth...
Placing myself in other peoples pain - another puzzle box with very foreign pieces - I was able to learn a sliver of the depth of their trust... their reliance. I also soaked in the depth of our need, right here in my own puzzle box. In different ways we rely, in different ways we are then led... to different boxes maybe? maybe not.
I believe many reading this have experienced something similar to my own... shocking in nature, burning on the tablet of your heart new ideals for life here on earth... and a new hope of the beauty that awaits amidst the struggling.
I still wrestle with this scripture, knowing who will be ‘sealed’, and not feeling worthy. It’s funny, worthy in the kingdom of Heaven are those who here on earth experienced great suffering.. hunger, thirst.. Not really funny actually. :/
I know that today I want to rely on the lord in new ways, leeeaning more on Him and his spirit for guidance, comfort, strength... And if you will lord, bring me again into another box of puzzle pieces that I might be near to those, and grow deep with those who experience daily the plight (or glory?) of hunger, thirst, and scorching heat... those who will be dressed in white one day. Give me a heart soaked in compassion, moving to act in bringing the attributes of heaven to earth.. sharing in peoples pain that I am foreign to... healing and being healed.
A deep struggle of mine, my spirit is anything but settled (i count it a blessing..), I too pray for peace and conviction... Today, I feel a bit sick..
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” -Jesus (mt2:17)
Revelation 6-7
Since the first time I ever reeeally read revelation (which was maybe two years ago or so, just months before I left for Haiti) these two chapters have been really difficult for me.
The first five chapters left us nestled into a pretty warm scene... Jesus, the lamb, has just revealed himself walking to the throne surrounded by elders and angels worshiping his greatness... He had just been given the seals to open, and they worshiped in this anticipation of what was to come.
In chapter 6 we have the seals being broken. The first four seals each revealed a horse, each ushered in by one of the four living creatures there with the lamb... each a different color and each with a very different rider on their backs. White, red, black and pale. The description and importance of these horses is beautiful and deep, coming more into play later.
Stay with me...
The fifth seal opened up the voices of the martyrs. Those “slain because of the word of God”. Each was given a white robe, and on this day they were made holy... but they were told to “wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was made complete.” They wait for those living, who will eventually die, “slain because of the word of God.”
Faith. Combine faith. This is a scene we want to understand deeply... we learn who will spend eternity with our God.
The sixth seal brought a great earthquake, the stars fell and the earth was rocked.. The sun turned black, and the moon red. Everyone fled to caves (safe places). After this, a strange thing is done to the earth... Angels are assigned to take the four corners and stretch it, “preventing any wind from blowing on the land or the sea or any tree.” This might seem strange, unless you see the wind as representing the spirit... as it does all throughout scripture.
BUT. Before they began their duty that would rid the earth of the spirit, the seal of the living God came down and said to the angels “do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
Mmm...
Before John - after hearing the words of the living God - there appeared a "great multitude, that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the lamb.” (7:9) All wearing white robes, they worshiped.
Now, this next part was tough for me...
An elder standing near John during this unfolding of the great multitude wearing white asked him... “these in white, who are they?”
John responded.. “sir, you know.” And the elder did know... he said this..
*soak this in, these are those who will be SEALED.. those that will be with Him in eternity, wearing white*
“These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore ‘they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (7:14-17)
The first time I read this, what I left in the margins was simply “I am too comfortable...” yuuup.
... apparently at that time, like now, it was the simpliest way of packing up such a crazy loaded emotion.
I just read about those who will inhabit heaven... and I would be hard pressed to place myself into any of the descriptions...
Never again will they hunger...
thirst...
be scorched by the sun...
“And God will wipe away every tear...”
Are these things I need freedom from? Should I need freedom from them? Peace in their midst?
This isn’t a section of scripture I’ve found to fit well into my cultural puzzel... The pieces are just different...
I realize now that this book of revelation largely influenced my interest in diving into other puzzle boxes...
My time in Haiti - learning the beauty of those peoples spirits in the midst of such terror, oppression, and lack of basic supplement - was vital for me in understanding the reality behind these verses.
Laced throughout scripture we find the comfortable things of this earth paling when compared to the richness of color offered by the gift of the spirit. I feel a bit pale today...
The less comfortable we are on earth, the more we learn to lean on the spirit... leaning - like maybe doing a wall squat would burn your quads and bring strength - in this way strengthens the bonds with the spirit... trust increasing with increased reliance... trust in an eternity wearing white in His kingdom separate from the pains they felt on earth...
Placing myself in other peoples pain - another puzzle box with very foreign pieces - I was able to learn a sliver of the depth of their trust... their reliance. I also soaked in the depth of our need, right here in my own puzzle box. In different ways we rely, in different ways we are then led... to different boxes maybe? maybe not.
I believe many reading this have experienced something similar to my own... shocking in nature, burning on the tablet of your heart new ideals for life here on earth... and a new hope of the beauty that awaits amidst the struggling.
I still wrestle with this scripture, knowing who will be ‘sealed’, and not feeling worthy. It’s funny, worthy in the kingdom of Heaven are those who here on earth experienced great suffering.. hunger, thirst.. Not really funny actually. :/
I know that today I want to rely on the lord in new ways, leeeaning more on Him and his spirit for guidance, comfort, strength... And if you will lord, bring me again into another box of puzzle pieces that I might be near to those, and grow deep with those who experience daily the plight (or glory?) of hunger, thirst, and scorching heat... those who will be dressed in white one day. Give me a heart soaked in compassion, moving to act in bringing the attributes of heaven to earth.. sharing in peoples pain that I am foreign to... healing and being healed.
A deep struggle of mine, my spirit is anything but settled (i count it a blessing..), I too pray for peace and conviction... Today, I feel a bit sick..
“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” -Jesus (mt2:17)
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Diving Into Revelation
10/23/11
Revelation 1-4
Mark 1
This morning I had a beautiful time of worship overlooking my hometown, remembering who I was, my path, the good and the bad... Even the road I drove on to get up to this point had scarring memories that I was forced to confront, and in that time of worship, give to my Savior those things and give thanks for where he has brought me. Good morning... Especially poignant after an evening of journeying back into old habits with old friends... Good morning :)
This morning I read revelations 1-4, and the first chapter of Mark. The spirit came alive in these readings, first in Mark talking about the importance of Jesus being baptized by John... describing the very moment the spirit descended on Him(as a grown man, beginning his ministry), and heaven was torn open!
God then says to him... “you are my son, with you I am well pleased.” So, what happens next? This spirit he was just gifted with, it “sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan.”
Dang.
Before he even began his ministry... he had to spend forty days with Satan! He experienced I believe every form of temptation known to man... he can relate with us in our times of weakness, because he has felt it too... but it is by HIS strength we are given the power to overcome. :)
Having gone through this, he was ready to be moved by the spirit to confront those which he just spent forty days with. The spirits of evil that roam the earth...
The first chapter of Mark you see Jesus confronting evil spirits left and right. It’s crazy how he deals with them though.
An evil spirit spoke out of a man in the tabernacle saying “what do you want with us, Jesus? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!” (24)
So the evil spirits KNEW who Jesus was... what he was there for. And what did jesus do? He would expel them from their carriers, and tell them to “Be quiet!”... “he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.” This is why we ask in Jesus' name... in recognition of His power over the spirits that haunt us. Depression, loneliness, addiction, helplessness.... so many more.
So jumping from here to Revelation was pretty appropriate actually...
John’s vision, while you can very easily pick it apart verse by verse, I chose this time to read it more as a story... a story with a beginning like no other.
So John hears from God, “write these things to these seven churches, and send it to them”.. I could write all day about these seven churches, but for now i’d just encourage you to read the different letters written to each, and soak it in. Jesus speaking to John says to us all after each letter... “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Ask the spirit for this ear to hear what it is telling YOU through these letters to the seven churches. Intense stuff...
After he hears these seven messages from God, heaven opened up to him! He was invited up, and taken up “in the spirit, and there before [him] was a throne in heaven.”
Jesus too had heaven torn for him, and was given that same spirit... remember? Mark 1...
This is what he (John) saw...
“the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God (described in each of the seven letters). Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.”
Can you imagine?!
It then tells us of four creatures that are there by the throne... these creatures I believe representing creation, their job is just to live always in worship to their creator... which it seems they do pretty well.
So God is sitting there in this throne, “His face was like the sun shining in all it’s brilliance.” (1:16)... and He has this scroll in His right hand.
This scroll no one had ever been able to open. The elders, the creatures, angels and all creation had been awaiting. The power of this scroll brought John to “weep, because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.”
But then steps in the Lion of Judah, the Root of David... Jesus, our saviour who broke the power of sin, to break the seal, and read the scroll.
Jesus comes onto the scene, approaching the throne of God with the appearance of a lamb... a lamb with seven horns and seven eyes, representing the seven spirits of God he had received.
He then took the scroll from God, and everyone fell... the elders, the four living creatures all fell in anticipation and worship for what was about to happen. They praised the lamb and proclaimed his greatness.. they would say “you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
Then came the worship of the tens of thousands upon tens of thousands of angels surrounding the throne, awaiting the opening of the great scroll. The angels worshiped, then came the worship of “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them.” They worshiped this lamb that would save...
Everyone worshiped!
So, I guess next time we get the first tastes of what the scrolls say. Last time I read these, I was rocked pretty hard...
But today, I am in a very special way thankful for Jesus, the one who showed me life... the one who had the spirit descend on him, spent 40 days experiencing Satan and his tactics so that we could have access to this same spirit which gave Him strength, upon his death. The gift of the spirit, is the gift of life... lets embrace it today, and pray for “ears to hear” what the the spirit is telling us through these scriptures.
Be well friends.
Revelation 1-4
Mark 1
This morning I had a beautiful time of worship overlooking my hometown, remembering who I was, my path, the good and the bad... Even the road I drove on to get up to this point had scarring memories that I was forced to confront, and in that time of worship, give to my Savior those things and give thanks for where he has brought me. Good morning... Especially poignant after an evening of journeying back into old habits with old friends... Good morning :)
This morning I read revelations 1-4, and the first chapter of Mark. The spirit came alive in these readings, first in Mark talking about the importance of Jesus being baptized by John... describing the very moment the spirit descended on Him(as a grown man, beginning his ministry), and heaven was torn open!
God then says to him... “you are my son, with you I am well pleased.” So, what happens next? This spirit he was just gifted with, it “sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan.”
Dang.
Before he even began his ministry... he had to spend forty days with Satan! He experienced I believe every form of temptation known to man... he can relate with us in our times of weakness, because he has felt it too... but it is by HIS strength we are given the power to overcome. :)
Having gone through this, he was ready to be moved by the spirit to confront those which he just spent forty days with. The spirits of evil that roam the earth...
The first chapter of Mark you see Jesus confronting evil spirits left and right. It’s crazy how he deals with them though.
An evil spirit spoke out of a man in the tabernacle saying “what do you want with us, Jesus? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!” (24)
So the evil spirits KNEW who Jesus was... what he was there for. And what did jesus do? He would expel them from their carriers, and tell them to “Be quiet!”... “he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.” This is why we ask in Jesus' name... in recognition of His power over the spirits that haunt us. Depression, loneliness, addiction, helplessness.... so many more.
So jumping from here to Revelation was pretty appropriate actually...
John’s vision, while you can very easily pick it apart verse by verse, I chose this time to read it more as a story... a story with a beginning like no other.
So John hears from God, “write these things to these seven churches, and send it to them”.. I could write all day about these seven churches, but for now i’d just encourage you to read the different letters written to each, and soak it in. Jesus speaking to John says to us all after each letter... “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Ask the spirit for this ear to hear what it is telling YOU through these letters to the seven churches. Intense stuff...
After he hears these seven messages from God, heaven opened up to him! He was invited up, and taken up “in the spirit, and there before [him] was a throne in heaven.”
Jesus too had heaven torn for him, and was given that same spirit... remember? Mark 1...
This is what he (John) saw...
“the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God (described in each of the seven letters). Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.”
Can you imagine?!
It then tells us of four creatures that are there by the throne... these creatures I believe representing creation, their job is just to live always in worship to their creator... which it seems they do pretty well.
So God is sitting there in this throne, “His face was like the sun shining in all it’s brilliance.” (1:16)... and He has this scroll in His right hand.
This scroll no one had ever been able to open. The elders, the creatures, angels and all creation had been awaiting. The power of this scroll brought John to “weep, because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.”
But then steps in the Lion of Judah, the Root of David... Jesus, our saviour who broke the power of sin, to break the seal, and read the scroll.
Jesus comes onto the scene, approaching the throne of God with the appearance of a lamb... a lamb with seven horns and seven eyes, representing the seven spirits of God he had received.
He then took the scroll from God, and everyone fell... the elders, the four living creatures all fell in anticipation and worship for what was about to happen. They praised the lamb and proclaimed his greatness.. they would say “you are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
Then came the worship of the tens of thousands upon tens of thousands of angels surrounding the throne, awaiting the opening of the great scroll. The angels worshiped, then came the worship of “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them.” They worshiped this lamb that would save...
Everyone worshiped!
So, I guess next time we get the first tastes of what the scrolls say. Last time I read these, I was rocked pretty hard...
But today, I am in a very special way thankful for Jesus, the one who showed me life... the one who had the spirit descend on him, spent 40 days experiencing Satan and his tactics so that we could have access to this same spirit which gave Him strength, upon his death. The gift of the spirit, is the gift of life... lets embrace it today, and pray for “ears to hear” what the the spirit is telling us through these scriptures.
Be well friends.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
A cloudy day...
10 . 19 . 11
Link to song I mention at the end...
Today (which was actually yesterday) I found myself wandering aimly (opposite of aimlessly?) near the waterfront of Seattle... my beautiful city :) After checking out the seattle art museum, I returned to pikes place for a second day in a row after yesterday meeting some lovely farmers... farmers of all sorts of things from bees, to lavender, and everything in-between. I came back to talk more with a few of them, their personalities magnetic to mine, and mine to theirs. What beautiful spirits these people have, living well and in a responsible way. I then wandered down to the piers, making my way eventually to the olympic statue park... and here I sit.
It’s quite a bit more cloudy than it was yesterday, and the beauty comes delivered in shades of gray :) Every once in a while, the sun makes it’s way through a sliver between clouds and reveals itself in the most glorious way, a ray of BEAMing sunshine making way to the water, illuminating just that section. You’ve all observed this at one point i’m sure. Sometimes that clearing is made between you and the sun, and the ‘beam’ finds it’s way directly into your eyes.
Stick with me...
Sometimes you'll see two beams blast down right near one another, their closeness bringing a brighter 'bright' than might seem possible.. 1+1=3. Sometimes too, off as far as the eye can stretch along the horizon, great amounts of light make their way through, illuminating whole regions, and it's impossible not to stare at it and wonder what that region might be seeing, what glorious Light are they soaking in.
2 of 3 phenomena pictured below... the third is just a treat for your eyes.
Todays beauty just doesn't compare with yesterdays. Not a cloud in the sky yesterday, the colors beaming off mount rainier and the olympic range's lightly dusted peaks, will not soon be forgotten. The gray today was weighty, but then those beams came... and the spirit spoke.
In my opinion, it saddens me to feel that we live in a very ‘cloudy’ world... The colors aren’t as vibrant as they’re meant to appear, the many colors of the sky are blocked by a thick layer of... blah.
But then comes the gift of the beams... Seeing evidence of light, illuminating in the most brilliant way something or someone who has found access to His light. I see those beams often in people, they reveal the light in the way they live... In relationships where two spirit soaked people come together in holy union... I see it in healthy organizations that do good sustainable work helping people. This light - the light that lives behind the clouds and longs to reveal himself to us all - is seen through the clouds with the knowledge in scripture and faith in days to come without clouds. If we can have faith to see through the clouds - the distractions of the world - we can see his light... we can BE his light to those who might just be observing from a bench in a park. :)
So sitting now beneath the clouds, I sit with the knowledge of the beauty that lies just behind them. Having just sat here yesterday, I can remember in great detail the beauty... And in a world of clouds, I pray to live in the knowledge of that beauty, being a beam of light, giving hope to those living with the weight of the clouds on their shoulders. :)
I have a new excitement for the many cloudy seattle days to come... Be well friends. If you've made it all this way, click the link at the top of the page to hear a beautiful song that sings of what I wrote about. An easy one to worship to...
"the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God... we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1thess4:16
Link to song I mention at the end...
Today (which was actually yesterday) I found myself wandering aimly (opposite of aimlessly?) near the waterfront of Seattle... my beautiful city :) After checking out the seattle art museum, I returned to pikes place for a second day in a row after yesterday meeting some lovely farmers... farmers of all sorts of things from bees, to lavender, and everything in-between. I came back to talk more with a few of them, their personalities magnetic to mine, and mine to theirs. What beautiful spirits these people have, living well and in a responsible way. I then wandered down to the piers, making my way eventually to the olympic statue park... and here I sit.
It’s quite a bit more cloudy than it was yesterday, and the beauty comes delivered in shades of gray :) Every once in a while, the sun makes it’s way through a sliver between clouds and reveals itself in the most glorious way, a ray of BEAMing sunshine making way to the water, illuminating just that section. You’ve all observed this at one point i’m sure. Sometimes that clearing is made between you and the sun, and the ‘beam’ finds it’s way directly into your eyes.
Stick with me...
Sometimes you'll see two beams blast down right near one another, their closeness bringing a brighter 'bright' than might seem possible.. 1+1=3. Sometimes too, off as far as the eye can stretch along the horizon, great amounts of light make their way through, illuminating whole regions, and it's impossible not to stare at it and wonder what that region might be seeing, what glorious Light are they soaking in.
2 of 3 phenomena pictured below... the third is just a treat for your eyes.
Todays beauty just doesn't compare with yesterdays. Not a cloud in the sky yesterday, the colors beaming off mount rainier and the olympic range's lightly dusted peaks, will not soon be forgotten. The gray today was weighty, but then those beams came... and the spirit spoke.
In my opinion, it saddens me to feel that we live in a very ‘cloudy’ world... The colors aren’t as vibrant as they’re meant to appear, the many colors of the sky are blocked by a thick layer of... blah.
But then comes the gift of the beams... Seeing evidence of light, illuminating in the most brilliant way something or someone who has found access to His light. I see those beams often in people, they reveal the light in the way they live... In relationships where two spirit soaked people come together in holy union... I see it in healthy organizations that do good sustainable work helping people. This light - the light that lives behind the clouds and longs to reveal himself to us all - is seen through the clouds with the knowledge in scripture and faith in days to come without clouds. If we can have faith to see through the clouds - the distractions of the world - we can see his light... we can BE his light to those who might just be observing from a bench in a park. :)
So sitting now beneath the clouds, I sit with the knowledge of the beauty that lies just behind them. Having just sat here yesterday, I can remember in great detail the beauty... And in a world of clouds, I pray to live in the knowledge of that beauty, being a beam of light, giving hope to those living with the weight of the clouds on their shoulders. :)
I have a new excitement for the many cloudy seattle days to come... Be well friends. If you've made it all this way, click the link at the top of the page to hear a beautiful song that sings of what I wrote about. An easy one to worship to...
"the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God... we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1thess4:16
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