Jan 25, 2010 | Prayers in Poetry & Prose
Please sing me your thoughts about covetousness.
And truly, I would like to know.
It seems every time that I step out my door
and at every place that I go
I see thing after thing that I “need”…that I want
and most would say that it’s okay…
But is it not greed or avarice perhaps
that I windowshop people all day?
I’ve been far away from the West for awhile,
Not years, but just months now, you see.
But it feels long enough for a detox to start
— I wake face to face with my greed.
I thought to find solace at church, perhaps
but while I sing praises for Grace
I find a heart struggle to see words on the screen,
for want of the clothes in the place.
And how, I must wonder have we come so far
to think that it might just be sweet…
More clothes in our closet than we’ll wear in 3 months
while others lack shoes on their feet?
Am I not still greedy — though I “don’t have much” —
is it not avarice at some speed?
To long for day in, week in, and week out
so many things I’ll never need.
Jan 23, 2010 | Prayers in Poetry & Prose
Until You feel the timing’s right
for You to speak or move,
Lord, I’ll wait and I’ll hold on,
cos I’m holding on for You.
Though waiting seems much harder
and I don’t see the way through,
I mean it when I say I love You,
and I’m holding on to You.
Jan 21, 2010 | Baby Photos, Stories, The Good Word
In some ways I’ve been experiencing a sort of spiritual renaissance lately. I think there is something really significant about going through trials, learning to trust God and count it all joy. Plus, I’ve just been challenged, as I may have shared with you, that if I want to be real about anything, I want to be real about seeking and loving God.
One little tidbit of delight that has been bringing me joy lately has sprung out of my continued realisation that the Lord really loves me. As I shared with you at New Year’s, I’ve been allowing myself to soak that in, and really believe it all over again. And as a result I am reminded of so many beautiful truths. The Lord loved me long before I loved Him. The Lord loved me before I even knew what love was. He knit me together in my mother’s womb, and He gave me a great mother, so He really must’ve loved me even then! 😉
In response to this love, instead of saying “I love you, Lord†in prayers and quiet moments here and there, I’ve often been saying “I love You, too.†This simple sentence is such a beautiful reminder to my soul that I love the Lord because He first loved me. And that I’m only able to love Him because He already loves me, and has put His love in me.
I can't wait to hear an "I love you, too" from this little guy. I wonder if that's how the Lord feels about us.
It just feels different to say “I love you, too†no matter whom you’re saying it to. The first statement, “I love you†feels like you’re taking the action and onus on yourself — to profess love, to point out something you are doing or feeling or being, and you might often say it without really knowing whether the other person will also say it in response. It can be a bit risky, hey? But “I love you, too†says “I know you love me. I am glad you love me. I am happy to be in your love, and I am responding to your love with love.â€
At the moment it occasionally feels like a tiny revolution in my heart, to constantly remind myself that I am loved by God, as I tell Him I love Him (too). And although it may not feel that way forever, as we are created beings which tend to tire of doing something a certain way (shouldn’t we be thankful for seasons and time and all the changes the Lord has given us, since we are the way we are!?) I thought I would nevertheless share this potential tiny revolution with you, in case it would stir your heart to be reminded of the goodness of God toward you. He already loves you. Very much. I hope it causes you to worship, to be so very glad, and to love Him, too.
Jan 20, 2010 | Stories, The Good Word
How often have you heard that statement? A few times too many? Enough to get you in trouble? Sometimes I hear it from people who I feel pretty certain I shouldn’t trust. Sometimes it comes from the guy on your doorstep trying to sell you some miracle cleaning solution or oceanfront property in Kansas.
More often than not, it’s not a serious statement — and it can almost be an indication that you ought to take lightly whatever the person you’re speaking with is about to say next. I always picture Aladdin saying it to Princess Jasmine just before they jump off a building and land in a sand pile, and I guess he was trustworthy. I digress.
What if God says “Trust Me?” Â Is that a different kettle of fish for you? For the past wee while, Mark and I have been praying about some decisions regarding our next steps here in South Africa — about perhaps getting part time employment to make ends meet, or trying to raise more support or — whatever other direction the Lord might lead us in.
Can you guess what the Lord’s response has been as I’ve brought this before Him in prayer? Yup. Trust Me. No booming thou shalts, no other thoughts or directions, just a still, small Trust Me.
I have found hearing a Trust Me from the Lord really encouraging. It has given me an expectation that He is going to do something great…that He’s going to come through for us in some unexpected way…or at least that something is going to happen. But today as I was spending time in the Word and in prayer, I noticed a heaviness on my heart.
The first thing that came to mind was “my thoughts are a mess.” As I went over what I’ve been thinking about and dwelling on. You know those random thoughts you find swirling in your head while you’re shampooing your hair or waiting for the baby to finish his bottle or driving along or absent-mindedly stirring a pot on the stove? Those are the meditations of your heart. They’re a good indication of what’s really going on in there.
And what’s been going on in there ain’t none too purty. I’m full of fear and worry, and mis-trust. Un-trust. Non-trust. Well whatever it is, it ain’t trust! It is really remarkable that Trust Me was God’s Word for me, before I even knew I needed it.
The Bible has a really simple solution to this issue. Would you like to hear a few thoughts on it, dear one? Great! Today I returned to II Corinthians 10 which talks about, among a lot of other really good things, “bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” What I understand from this is that I should consider the thoughts in my head in the light of God’s truth. If they don’t line up with what His Word says, I need to get to a place in my heart and mind where they do line up.
What does that look like? Well, let’s say I’m worrying… be reminded, dear ones, worry is actually a sin…we are specifically instructed not to worry or be anxious about anything! Nevertheless, I am in process and working on this, so let’s say I am worrying about provision for the future. I’m worried about our finances and how all the ends are gonna meet. What does the truth have to say to this concern?
Therefore, do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33)
That’s a great answer, hey? It’s a good idea at this point for me to ask the Lord to forgive me for not trusting Him and for giving so much of my heart over to worry and to fear. Then it’s a good idea for me to begin thinking about that promise from God’s Word, and exchanging my yucky meditations for meditations on God’s Word…His truth and His promises. Think about it until you’re convinced! I think it is good to think about what you’re thinking about…don’t you think?
I look forward to telling you how the Lord brings things about in the days ahead, but in the meantime, perhaps we can all learn and grow and be a little more conformed to His image thanks to the opportunity we’ve all been given to simply trust the Lord, and believe what He says.
The Sermon in a Nutshell: Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. (Corrie Ten Boom) And take some time to do some thinking about what you’re thinking about! (Me)
Jan 16, 2010 | The Good Word
Are you any good at sitting still? I’ve been working on being still lately. Which sounds funny to say, because you’re actively trying to be in-active for a bit. It seems like I am in a perpetual state of wanting to be doing for the Lord, or just to be doing, while sometimes I think He wants me to just be being for Him. He keeps reminding me that He loves me, and cares more about me than what I can do for Him.
Lately we’ve taken the time to just be for Him in some different ways, and it has meant we’ve been available to others in a way I didn’t expect. Our decision not to jump in and start doing like crazy — to give ourselves time to settle in and find our feet in a new country and new circumstances — has meant we’ve been able to open up our home and our lives to a friend who needed some space and a place to be as well. It has also meant we’ve been being with our neighbours (not just doing, and baking cookies for them, although that is happening, too!) and in the midst of our being, we’ve decided to start studying the Bible together every week or two. When you aren’t so caught up in doing for God, or for whatever, and you take the time to just be it seems like it makes you more available to do the things God would have you do, and you don’t get caught up spinning your wheels, just so you can cross tasks off the to-do list.
The Lord is still the Lord. He is still sovereign and He is still on the throne. Whatever is happening in the world around us, it is sometimes good to remember that. And sometimes, the best place for us to be isn’t in the kitchen trying to make something happen for Him, but instead at His feet, quietly just being with Him.
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 46:10
My friend Amanda wrote a post about this subject recently that I thought was really good. Check it out here.
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