*UNCALCULATED!
Early in chapter 8 of the gospel of Luke, several women of distinction are mentioned by name: Mary Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out (she witnessed the crucifixion and was the first person to see the resurrected Christ), Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward (she accompanied Mary Magdalene to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus), and Susanna (who is not mentioned in any other accounts).
Many other women remain unnamed in this passage, however, they are referenced because they all shared something in common. They ministered to Jesus and the twelve apostles traveling with Him out of their own financial means. They invested their own private wealth.
We know Jesus' needs were met because even though the Bible says He had no place or dwelling of His own (Luke 9:58), it does not say that He begged for food, clothing or shelter. His needs were met by the kindness and generosity of people like Mary Magdalene, Joanna , Susanna and others.
This phrase "out of their private means" caught my attention as I sat listening to Darryl's sermon on Easter Sunday morning recently. For a few moments, I was carried away with the thought of what an amazing privilege it would be to contribute to the Son of God's needs directly!
This morning as I processed this thought further, I wondered how I would react if faced with the opportunity to make an investment into Jesus' ministry. Walking with Him, talking with Him, listening intently to His teaching, would I offer up whatever resources I had to support Him? I dearly hope so. I hope I would not miss the opportunity. I hope I would not be stingy or cheap, but that I would give gratefully - generously - rapturously - out of a heart filled with incredible joy.
Is it so different today? Jesus' work continues with the body of Christ investing into every need expressed by the human race. I have often considered how if everyone in the body of Christ participated fully in their area of gifting, there would be no unfulfilled needs. Imagine what it would be like if we all gave in uncalculated ways - everything we have, everything we are. It would be a glorious experience to witness this kind of fullness and abundance.
So I ask myself, why am I so calculated with my investments in Kingdom work? Why do I view everything through the lens of self-interest? I do believe that every once in a while it is good for the soul to give in uncalculated, lavish ways. This means, I don't over-analyze until I can find a reason NOT to give.
Ethan, my five-year-old grandson, and I discussed giving recently. He loves it when his mom and dad set out surprises on holiday mornings. We decided it would be fun to surprise them back. Ethan came up with gift ideas for each of his family members. I helped him by purchasing the items and delivering them secretly to his house. Together we tucked them away and we decided he would chose the moment to give them out! Oh, the excitement this caused in his little heart! (He could not help telling them that he had a secret and they were not to look in the closet!!!)
Ethan reported back to me the details of his giving adventure on Easter Sunday afternoon. His face radiated joy as he talked! It was so much fun to watch! I am praying that this meaningful experience will ignite a desire to give thoughtfully and generously as he grows older.
Just like Ethan, I want my face to radiate the same unpretentious joy at the prospect of giving! I don't want to miss opportunities to invest in Kingdom work. I want to invest regularly, purposefully, with a happy heart. I also like the challenge of giving out of my own personal resources. I am motivated to make more to give more - for all the right reasons!
God, use me to fulfill your promise in Philippians 4:19, And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
*BTW - If uncalculated is not a word, I agree with Darryl who frequently says, "Who made Webster God?" I know you get my meaning!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
I've been thinking about potential...
A POTENTIAL TRAP WITH POTENTIAL
You know the scenario. You are cruising along in life minding your own business. The days are whizzing by and your activities are a blur. Then one morning you wake up shaken from a night of fitful sleep. As you slowly gain consciousness, it hits you. A deeply troubling question forms in your mind, "Am I living up to my potential?" It is followed closely by its evil twins: Am I missing the point? Am I wasting my life?
My observations tell me that I am stirred this way often after a particularly wonderful time of self-indulgence. Perhaps, I even feel a little bit guilty about how I eagerly absorb the gracious luxuries of life that God blesses me with from time to time.
What caused me to get off track, shaken to my core, about the course of my life? Defining terms always helps me sort out my thinking. Potential means something present and capable of becoming but not now visible or active.
For a while I added a quote from The Lion King to my e-mail signature. It goes like this, "You are more than you have become!" Yikes! This stirs me up but in what way? If it is followed with accusations like - "Holly, you are wasting your life!" - "You are lazy and ineffective!" - I am tempted to begin to take back control of my life. I think I know better and I distrust the way my Heavenly Father is handling me. This, however, takes me down a dark path.
To help bring balance to my thinking, I turn to James 1:25 in the New American Standard Bible which says, But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
The word translated "looks intently" is in contrast to a casual glance. It pictures a person stooping over to see something better. It means a careful examination because of the importance of the subject under consideration. When a truly wise person looks closely at the Word of God and acts accordingly, there is a promise of blessing that follows. This means God will favor me with things like well-being, prosperity, contentment and satisfaction. I certainly want that!
My potential is always present because God put it there to motivate me - to move me toward the things He desires to do with my life - sort of like the phrase "already but not yet!" My heart tells me that I can only know now what God allows me to know. I can only run with the vision I have and wait for new vision to come.
This brings me to my concern. I don't believe a child of God should force doors open. Impatience is the potential trap with potential! I believe when I wait on Him to open a door then I have confidence that I am following His guidance and direction and not my own. In the meantime my responsibility is to look intently into His Word and obey as best I can.
Instead of cruel accusations these are the blessed encouragements I receive when I am blessed by God. Holly, you are pleasing an audience of ONE - your Heavenly Father. You are walking in obedience moment by moment. You are open and receptive to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. You are praying about and looking for opportunities to advance God's Kingdom. You are following a course with your life that will bring God glory. You are entrusting your needs and concerns to Jesus. You are loving the body of Christ. You are growing in your understanding of God's Word. You are honoring your parents. You are nurturing your children and grandchildren. Your life is filled with a sense of well-being. You are blessed!
For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son... and those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. Romans 8:29,30
You know the scenario. You are cruising along in life minding your own business. The days are whizzing by and your activities are a blur. Then one morning you wake up shaken from a night of fitful sleep. As you slowly gain consciousness, it hits you. A deeply troubling question forms in your mind, "Am I living up to my potential?" It is followed closely by its evil twins: Am I missing the point? Am I wasting my life?
My observations tell me that I am stirred this way often after a particularly wonderful time of self-indulgence. Perhaps, I even feel a little bit guilty about how I eagerly absorb the gracious luxuries of life that God blesses me with from time to time.
What caused me to get off track, shaken to my core, about the course of my life? Defining terms always helps me sort out my thinking. Potential means something present and capable of becoming but not now visible or active.
For a while I added a quote from The Lion King to my e-mail signature. It goes like this, "You are more than you have become!" Yikes! This stirs me up but in what way? If it is followed with accusations like - "Holly, you are wasting your life!" - "You are lazy and ineffective!" - I am tempted to begin to take back control of my life. I think I know better and I distrust the way my Heavenly Father is handling me. This, however, takes me down a dark path.
To help bring balance to my thinking, I turn to James 1:25 in the New American Standard Bible which says, But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
The word translated "looks intently" is in contrast to a casual glance. It pictures a person stooping over to see something better. It means a careful examination because of the importance of the subject under consideration. When a truly wise person looks closely at the Word of God and acts accordingly, there is a promise of blessing that follows. This means God will favor me with things like well-being, prosperity, contentment and satisfaction. I certainly want that!
My potential is always present because God put it there to motivate me - to move me toward the things He desires to do with my life - sort of like the phrase "already but not yet!" My heart tells me that I can only know now what God allows me to know. I can only run with the vision I have and wait for new vision to come.
This brings me to my concern. I don't believe a child of God should force doors open. Impatience is the potential trap with potential! I believe when I wait on Him to open a door then I have confidence that I am following His guidance and direction and not my own. In the meantime my responsibility is to look intently into His Word and obey as best I can.
Instead of cruel accusations these are the blessed encouragements I receive when I am blessed by God. Holly, you are pleasing an audience of ONE - your Heavenly Father. You are walking in obedience moment by moment. You are open and receptive to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. You are praying about and looking for opportunities to advance God's Kingdom. You are following a course with your life that will bring God glory. You are entrusting your needs and concerns to Jesus. You are loving the body of Christ. You are growing in your understanding of God's Word. You are honoring your parents. You are nurturing your children and grandchildren. Your life is filled with a sense of well-being. You are blessed!
For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son... and those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified. Romans 8:29,30
Monday, March 5, 2012
I've been thinking about trust...
I AM A LABORATORY FOR TRANSFORMATION ALCHEMY - Part 4
In my three previous blogs in this series I have been describing elements of a change process I have identified in my own life as transformation alchemy. Transformation alchemy includes INSPIRATION + KNOWLEDGE + WONDER which God uses to move me along a path toward sanctification. Sanctification is God's term for the incremental changes He makes in me as He changes me to be more like His son, Jesus Christ.
Each element is required for transformation alchemy to occur and I do believe the order matters. The fourth and final element in the process is TRUST. As I mentioned in my previous blog, it was not until I learned about TRUST and specifically the moment to moment call to "entrusting" that I was transformed.
"Entrusting" is an active word to me. It reminds me that each moment of the day I am called to be in accord with God's plan by "entrusting" everything to Him. I have learned through many hard lessons that I cannot presume upon God, I cannot willfully construct my own plans and dreams and expect His stamp of approval. He reveals Himself to me only when I approach Him with a humble heart - sincerely desiring for union with Him. He then makes Himself strong on my behalf and cements the transformation that I cannot accomplish in my own strength.
When I looked up the definition of trust, I found out it means assured reliance on the
character - individualizing ethical traits
ability - state of being able to perform
strength - showing power to resist or endure
and truth - a transcendent spiritual reality
of someone or something.
In this context, entrusting is about constantly, moment by moment, placing my full confidence in my Heavenly Father. Modeling this concept, Jesus Christ, the visible image of invisible God, showed me just what entrusting looks like in 1 Peter 2:23, When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly. Christ's suffering was undeserved, but He simply "committed Himself" to Him who judges righteously - His Heavenly Father.
Following the example of Jesus, my decision to commit myself to "TRUST by entrusting" brings me to a safe, peaceful harbor where I rest after the storms of life dissipate. A fruit of my commitment is that I am able to remain stable and sturdy under the weight and pressures that life brings. A thought that often comes to mind these days is, "This current difficult situation or circumstance will not change anything that I am doing for the pleasure of an audience of one - God!"
Meanwhile, the on-going cycle continues of INSPIRATION + KNOWLEDGE + WONDER + TRUST = causing a desire within me to aspire to CHANGE. These elements move me forward into a future shaped by God.
And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:10
In my three previous blogs in this series I have been describing elements of a change process I have identified in my own life as transformation alchemy. Transformation alchemy includes INSPIRATION + KNOWLEDGE + WONDER which God uses to move me along a path toward sanctification. Sanctification is God's term for the incremental changes He makes in me as He changes me to be more like His son, Jesus Christ.
Each element is required for transformation alchemy to occur and I do believe the order matters. The fourth and final element in the process is TRUST. As I mentioned in my previous blog, it was not until I learned about TRUST and specifically the moment to moment call to "entrusting" that I was transformed.
"Entrusting" is an active word to me. It reminds me that each moment of the day I am called to be in accord with God's plan by "entrusting" everything to Him. I have learned through many hard lessons that I cannot presume upon God, I cannot willfully construct my own plans and dreams and expect His stamp of approval. He reveals Himself to me only when I approach Him with a humble heart - sincerely desiring for union with Him. He then makes Himself strong on my behalf and cements the transformation that I cannot accomplish in my own strength.
When I looked up the definition of trust, I found out it means assured reliance on the
character - individualizing ethical traits
ability - state of being able to perform
strength - showing power to resist or endure
and truth - a transcendent spiritual reality
of someone or something.
In this context, entrusting is about constantly, moment by moment, placing my full confidence in my Heavenly Father. Modeling this concept, Jesus Christ, the visible image of invisible God, showed me just what entrusting looks like in 1 Peter 2:23, When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly. Christ's suffering was undeserved, but He simply "committed Himself" to Him who judges righteously - His Heavenly Father.
Following the example of Jesus, my decision to commit myself to "TRUST by entrusting" brings me to a safe, peaceful harbor where I rest after the storms of life dissipate. A fruit of my commitment is that I am able to remain stable and sturdy under the weight and pressures that life brings. A thought that often comes to mind these days is, "This current difficult situation or circumstance will not change anything that I am doing for the pleasure of an audience of one - God!"
Meanwhile, the on-going cycle continues of INSPIRATION + KNOWLEDGE + WONDER + TRUST = causing a desire within me to aspire to CHANGE. These elements move me forward into a future shaped by God.
And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)