What bliss there is in not dealing with reality.
My wonderful little babyboy had such a wonderful relationship with his Nana. Nobody, to this day, could make him light up like she did. He had just turned three when The Deep Sadness happened. So, of course, he hasn't been able to understand yet what is going on. He still wants to call her, he still prays for her everyday, he still says "I miss Nana" on a daily basis. Soon he'll inevitably learn reality. For now, he's able to fly through these tender years of his life, not having to carry the grief that has fallen on the rest of us.
What a wonderful thing. There are many days that I wish I could just "turn it off". That I could just pretend nothing happened, that My Momma is still here. That I could just shove all the grief, sorrow, and mourning into a neat little box and tuck it away. That I could just consume myself with the busy-ness of life and never have to deal with what has been handed to me. I could. I've wanted to many times. Many people do this, and for a time....it may work. But one day, we have to live through what it is that God has placed us in. It may be today....it may be twenty years from today. But we will.
Two of my greatest faults in any kind of relationship I have are being too trusting and being too transparent. I give my heart away so freely....and many times, I end up getting hurt. I have learned throughout life that I have to guard myself. I have had to apologize to myself for that. But being too trusting and transparent with My Lord, I WILL NEVER apologize for. It's how I am. It's how He made me. I have been face to face with sorrows beyond belief many times over the past three years....the main one being losing My Momma. And ignoring the realities around me would definitely have put me in an awful place by now. I thank God for listening to me. I thank Him for listening to me complain, cry, mourn.....and for allowing me to actually worship Him through my complaint!! WHAT?!?!? Yes, I said it. From what I read in scripture, Old and New Testament, beginning to end.......I have NO IDEA why people think it's just an abomination to complain to our Lord. Read the Psalms. Read the Old Testament. Read the New Testament. Look at Jesus' life!!!
I find comfort in knowing I can offer my hopes, my dreams, my mourning, my complaining, my sorrows, my joys......everything to My Lord. I believe He finds it good. He made me, He knows me. Why hide?
There is still this mindset within the church of America that "well, if you just work hard enough........or.........if you just think good thoughts.......or say good things........good will happen". Don't buy into it. First of all, it's not even Biblical. (HELLO.....look at Jesus' very own life!) Second of all, what many American Christians live for nowadays, what we see as "Gawd-s hand blessin' us"....Christians in other countries will never see. Some even here will never see them. Those things, whatever they may be, are not our hope. Sorrows will probably happen. Death is a promise in this life. (Though the next one, it can't touch us!! AMEN??!?!) I refuse to ignore the realities that are around me. I will continue to love My Lord, to serve Him as best as I know how, to follow Him, to try and learn from Him everyday.......even if sorrow continues to abound. HE ALONE is my hope. Nothing here, no job, no thing, no person, no house, no idea, nothing else lasts.......HE ALONE is my HOPE. I will never try to find a cheap substitute that makes me "feel" better for a moment. Hallelujah, He is Hope.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."
-II Corinthians 1:3-5-
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Being a wife and a momma never ceases to amaze me. I think I have learned more about the Lord through my husband and my son than I ever knew before I had them in my life. I have much to learn, but I cherish every moment He gives me, and I hope change happens when I learn....I also hope the lessons continue.
One of my favorite lessons was earlier this year. My husband had just given our precious little one a wonderful new toy. It was some Star Wars toy....and I'm quite sure my husband got it because it was more precious to him than it would EVER be to our son. Just about a day after that, I discovered the toy was already missing one of it's parts. I quickly told my son he'd better find that piece as quickly as he can, or Daddy would NOT be very happy when he got home!!!! I could see the tiny little wheels turning in his head.......he thought for just a minute. Then with the sweetest smile on his face he looked up and said, "It's okay, Mommy! I will just hide the toy, and then Daddy won't find out, and he won't be angry!". WOW. Now, understand, he wasn't trying to be mean, in his little heart, he was just trying to make sure Daddy was happy. This particular time, it came from a good place. I quickly explained to our sweet little son that he should never hide things from us, he should always be able to talk with us about anything, even if we may get angry about what happened. I then tried to explain to him that we should always do what is right, even when nobody is looking.
And I have yet to get that story out of my head. Who am I? Who are you? What lurks in the dark corners of our minds, what goes on behind the closed doors of our hearts? What thing or things are we keeping from others....even those closest to us? That, my friend, is who we are. Is that who we want to be? Is there something we are holding onto that compels us to stay hidden?
I hope as I ask myself these questions that I am answering them honestly. I hope that those things nobody knows about are being changed in myself.....in yourself. I hope that when I read Proverbs 15:3, it brings great comfort and hope, not terror and the urge to hide myself.
Who am I? Who are you?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Is a mom someone to come to when it’s food our stomachs
crave?
Or is momma the one who comes to us-reminding us to
behave?
Is a mom someone who holds us when we scrape a tiny
knee?
And is she the one who comes running when we scream out,
“M-O-M-M-Y!”?
Is she the one who used to tuck me in when I would cry at
night?
Then she’d come in and tell me, “Everything will be
alright…”.
She works all day and runs the house, a wife, a mom,
a cook,
But still finds time to clean it all-from every cranny to every
nook.
Is a mom that lady who, somehow, can always make me
smile?
Is she the one who always says, “Come sit with me a
while.”?
Is a Mom someone I aspire to be more like
everyday?
From the way she laughs, to how she thinks, or something she may
say?
I think she’s the one who may get mad, but she’s always quick to be
kind,
She’s poured so many years into this tiny, little
mind.
She’s the one who’s given me so much more than I
recognize-
Not only the manner in which I speak, but my attitude, my heart,
my eyes.
She’s all these things, my best friend, and more special than she
knows-
Lord, help me show her everyday how much I love her
so!
By: Jessica Nicole Schafer
May 12, 2007
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Part two.
Since I talked about the SUFFERING, now what? What about when the suffering doesn't stop? I had already told myself back in December that 2009 would be such an WONDERFUL YEAR. It had to be, right? I mean, after all the junk, the heartache, the sorrow......SURELY God will show mercy and let me have some happy times in 2009!! RIGHT?!?! Well.......not so much. In fact, MANY things have fallen apart since New Year's Eve. Not just with my family, but with many dear, dear friends of mine. WHY!?!?! "But God, I thought.....I thought THIS year would FINALLY be happy!?!?!?"
So, WHAT NOW? Prolonged suffering. And Waiting. Waiting for Him to deliver me. What do I do in the meantime? What if the suffering lasts many more months......what if (GULP).....my life is FULL of deep sorrow and grief until my very days here are over? Hard pill to swallow, that's what I've been thinking about. HOPEFULLY, that will not be the case. HOPEFULLY, I will get to BE IN the Promised Land, and not just SEE IT. That is my hope, but there is NOT a person who can answer that, only the LORD knows. So, I've been asking myself. "Jessica, WHAT IF this is to be the story of your life?". And you know what, yesterday I got a little piece, not the whole picture, but a little piece of hope. A little piece of what to do, you know, in case "WHAT IF" turned into a reality.
All my life I have been told of the LORD's lovingkindesses. How they never cease, they're new every morning. Lamentations tells us of this, a huge picture of Hope. We even have songs about it..."Great is Thy faithfulness....Morning by morning, new mercies I see...". (For me, lately I've been singing it "mourning by mourning".) Did you know the English language doesn't have an equivalent for that Hebrew word? His "lovingkindness" in Hebrew is such a good word, a loving word about God, we didn't have a word to fully describe it, so we called it "lovingkindess". WOW. That's good stuff. I learned that in my college days. ;) Didnt know you'd learn something here, did you? Haha. Moving on.......so I'd been thinking about His lovingkindness.....and how I'd been waiting on Him, MY DELIVERER to show up....how I've been wanting to see some more of this lovingkindness. So, I opened up that Bible, and I went looking. And do you know what? I found something. Let me share. Please read this first, because I don't want you to miss it.......
"I am the man who has seen affliction Because of the rod of HIS wrath........He has broken my bones.......In dark places He has made me dwell.......Even when I cry out and call for help, He shuts out my prayer........He has turned aside my ways and torn me to pieces.......He made the arrows of His quiver to enter into my inward parts.......My soul has been rejected from peace, I have forgotten happiness. So I say, 'My strength has perished, and so has my hope from the LORD.' Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness. Surely my soul remembers and is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." -Lamentations 3:1-23NASB- (excerpts from)
Did you catch it? I never did until Sunday. I was able to find even more Hope to cling to when I did. For the writer, what brought hope? Did God come down and change all his circumstances? Did God audibly tell him He would "fix" everything? Did the brokenness change, did the suffering stop? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! But, we read, "This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease......". Nothing changed, there was no change in what was happening around. He remembered the Lord's lovingkindnesses. He remembered His compassions never failing. He remembered His faithfulness. And if you've read the rest of that chapter, we find even more hope. But YET, we're reminded of this...."Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both good and ill go forth?" -Lamentations 3:38NASB-
That was the shift in thinking for me, in hoping, in my "theology"....which, thanks to my old professors I learned our theology should always be changing and growing.....never stay where it is. You see, I was freed from that thinking that I can hope in Him and rejoice in Him and worship Him whenever He comes to deliver me. Because what IF he doesn't come in this life, for me? What if MY deliverance will be the end, when we're all reunited with Him? Like I said before, HOPEFULLY that will not be the case. But if so, I learned the other day to lift up my face, look ahead, yet still look back and remember. Remember the suffering, remember the sorrow and the grief, remember the dire circumtances God has placed me in.....yet alongside that, remember Him. I learned to remember that I can't change what's going on around me, but I can change me. (Please don't misread, there are times in one's life when SIN is the reason for the suffering, they need to repent and stop the sinning.....but sometimes the suffering has nothing to do with that. It just happens. Look at Job, and hellooooo, JESUS!!!) But I can let Him change me. I can look back and remember Him, my Hope. I have to hope in Him even when NOTHING AROUND ME HAS CHANGED. Because if I don't, sorrow wins. Death wins. Loneliness wins. Grief wins. But if I just remember, though all around is the same.......I know that CHRIST has already won. And THAT is HOPE.
Part one.
So, I've been thinking. Ever do that? Gets me in trouble sometimes. ;)
WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR PEOPLE TO GRIEVE WITH ONE ANOTHER??
Looking back on the past fourteen months, I've learned a ton. More than I could ever write on a little ol' blog. But I DID want to share a few things. I want to talk about SUFFERING. I want to talk about PAIN. Now, before you click to another blog, please stick with me. I am FULLY aware that many people do NOT want to read about hard times in another's life. I mean, why worry about someone else when you have ENOUGH of your OWN WORRIES?! And, in our society, in AMERICA....we often think that if someone is enduring prolonged suffering, it MUST be their own fault, either they're living in SIN, or they're simply NOT TRYING hard enough. I have had MANY a "friend" talk with me about how maybe I'm stuck in a hard place because God's trying to "teach me a lesson" or I'm not "trying hard enough"....I've even been told to "get over it". As disheartening as it is to hear someone say those words to me, I'm sure I'll continue hearing the same stuff from people who have good intentions....however, good intentions aren't always good.
Okay, back on point. I want to talk about something in this post, and continue on with the next post when I get the chance to get it all out successfully. MANY people say while enduring hard times, "Well, I know God will never give me more than I can handle...". Where in the Bible does it say that? If it DOES say that, I am FULLY UNAWARE OF IT. I know some use I Corinthians 10:13....but that verse is talking about God making a way for you when you're being tempted. Not suffering.
So.....where do we get this idea? Beloved reader, whoever you are, could it be that indeed WE ARE given MORE than we can handle sometimes? What if God often does give us such a huge load to carry because he WANTS US TO COME TO HIM? "Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. Take MY yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easey and My burden is light." -Matthew 11:28-30 NASB-
I can't get Job's story out of my mind. I have thought about that story over and over again through the past fourteen months. The tragic circumstances with my Momma were one of many things I've been going through. I remember Job. I remember how he still said "Blessed be the name of the Lord" though he lost everyone he loved. I remember how his "godly" friends were the VERY ONES pointing at him telling him SURELY he has done something wrong to be living through such hard times.....the very friends he needed were the ones quick to judge him instead of be there for him. I remember so much of his story. AM I JOB? No. I am Jessica. BUT, is not life a mixture of all our stories in history? Was not the Bible written for us to learn from and draw comfort from? That is what has comforted me lately. I can say, with all my heart, "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." -Job 1:21b NASB- Though we never forget sorrows, we have to move on.......BUT, ignoring reality will NEVER bring true healing.
Read the Psalms. They're filled with complaint. Almost all of them are filled with complaint WITH Hope, though. (Though I wonder about Psalm 88.) I have learned that God knows my heart, HE alone knows my sorrows, what I've seen, what I have endured, what I will endure.......and HE is BIG ENOUGH to hear my complaints. He is the VERY ONE who is in charge of what's happening around me. He listens. He comforts. He doesn't condemn me when others do. He knows. He always knows. I have learned, as a very wise Professor of mine spoke of, to worship him THROUGH my complaints. Why pretend with Him? Why push aside reality with Him? HE KNOWS!! Oh, what comfort I have been able to experience through my questions to Him, my anger, my loneliness, feelings of betrayal.......through staring death in the face.......through one thing after another falling apart.......what comfort in knowing HE IS WITH ME. And HE KNOWS and DELIGHTS in my honesty with Him.
And you who are reading, HE KNOWS. He knows your struggles, your pain, your worries, your doubt, your fears, your loneliness, your depression, your sadness, your frustrations, your sorrows, your grief.......He Knows. He wants you to bring it to Him.
More next post.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
*I LOVE THIS THING!!!!!!!*
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
A letter Dylan wrote....(not sure why my computer turned it sideways.....)
First time Fishin' with Daddy. He'd been before, but this time he got to actually fish. (He caught seven fish!)
Dylan and Daddy coloring the Easter eggs.......
All dressed up for Easter Sunday!
Making lots of Easter goodies with Momma....
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
YOU KEEP TELLING ME NOT TO WORRY
I KEEP TRYING MY BEST TO TRUST,
NOT LETTING MY HEART BE TAKEN OVER
BY WANTING MATERIAL THINGS OUT OF LUST.
YOU KEEP SAYING YOU’LL DELIVER
THE NEEDY WHEN THEY CRY…
YET I’VE BEEN HERE WAITING…
AND EVERDAY WONDERING “WHY?”.
I KNOW YOU ALWAYS KEEP YOUR WORD
I KNOW YOU WILL ANSWER ME
AND I ALSO KNOW ALL I CAN DO
IS SIT AND WAIT PATIENTLY.
I’VE PUT MY TRUST IN THINGS BEFORE,
IN OTHER PEOPLE, MYSELF, AND MY PLANS…
BUT THE LESSON I KEEP LEARNING
IS JUST TO LET YOU HOLD MY HAND.
“BUT LORD, YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND-“
AT TIMES I’VE CRIED OUT TO YOU…
AS IF YOU DIDN’T, YOURSELF, CREATE ME-
AND MAKE ALL THINGS AND PEOPLE NEW!
“I CAN’T DO IT ANYMORE-
I GIVE UP!” I’VE CRIED BEFORE.
BUT I KNOW IN MY HEART THAT’S NOT
THE WAY I CAN BE ANYMORE.
ALL I KNOW IS THAT I DON’T KNOW!
AND IT’S OKAY TO BE HERE NOW.
IT’S OKAY TO TRUST YOU HAPPILY,
AND NOT KNOW THE “WHY’S AND HOW’S”.
IT'S EVEN OKAY TO HOPE THOUGH SO MUCH
DESPAIR IS STILL LINGERING AROUND...
SOMETIMES YOU DO YOUR BEST WORK
WHEN MY HEART IS SO CLOSE TO THE GROUND.
EVEN THOUGH OTHERS MAY FAIL ME,
AND IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE, TOO...
I'LL REMEMBER YOU SAID THAT ONE DAY
YOU WILL MAKE ALL THINGS NEW.
THOUGH THINGS AROUND MAY BE HOPELESS,
AND LONELINESS AND DEATH ABOUND HERE...
I'LL REMEMBER YOU SAID YOU COMFORT THOSE
WHO ARE MOURNING, AND I WILL NOT FEAR.
EVEN WHEN THE FUTURE SEEMS HOPELESS,
IT’S A GOOD THING TO TRUST IN YOU-
IT’S GOOD TO KNOW, LORD JESUS,
THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO.
SO I STAY HERE-IN THE WAITING PLACE.
I MAY BE HERE FOR YEARS OR DAYS.
BUT I WILL DO MY BEST TO FOLLOW YOU, JESUS
AND LET YOU TEACH ME YOUR WAYS.
JESSICA SCHAFER-JULY 4, 2007
*with added lines April 14, 2009*
“HOW LONG, O LORD? WILL YOU FORGET ME FOREVER? HOW LONG WILL YOU HIDE YOUR FACE FROM ME? HOW LONG SHALL I TAKE COUNSEL IN MY SOUL, HAVING SORROW IN MY HEART ALL THE DAY? HOW LONG WILL MY ENEMY BE EXALTED OVER ME? ……. BUT I HAVE TRUSTED IN YOUR LOVINGKINDESS; MY HEART SHALL REJOICE IN YOUR SALVATION. I WILL SING TO THE LORD, BECAUSE HE HAS DEALT BOUNTIFULLY WITH ME.” *THE PSALMS*
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
EASTER PEOPLE, SING OUT LOUD.
EASTER PEOPLE, HOPE IN ME.
EASTER PEOPLE, DON’T FORGET
ALL THINGS WILL BE NEW IN ME.
EASTER PEOPLE,YOU CAN LOOK AROUND
AND SEE THE SUFFERING, PAIN, AND TEARS…
DON’T JUST FOLLOW ME, I’VE CALLED YOU
TO JOIN IN MY WORK THROUGHOUT YOUR YEARS.
IT’S IN ME THAT YOU WILL FIND LIFE
YOU’LL FIND HOPE IN MY COMFORTING VOICE,
REMEMBER THAT EVERYDAY I GIVE YOU,
EVERY MOMENT YOU HAVE A CHOICE.
WILL YOU LOVE THE LOWLY?
WILL YOU TAKE CARE OF THE POOR?
WON’T YOU COMFORT THOSE WHO HURT,
WON’T YOU BE AN OPEN DOOR?
WILL YOU LOVE OTHERS THE WAY I LOVE YOU?
SO MUCH THAT IT CHANGES YOUR INNER CORE?
DON’T LOVE THROUGH ENABLING OR SELF GRATIFICATION,
YOU CAN’T DO THAT ANYMORE.
I LOVE YOU ENOUGH TO CHANGE YOU,
YOU CAN’T KNOW ME AND STAY THE SAME.
STOP SAYING AND START DOING,
AND DO IT ALL THROUGH MY NAME.
YOU SEE IT’S MUCH BIGGER THAN YOU THOUGHT,
I CALLED YOU OUT TO DO MY WORK….
SITTING IDLY BY IS NO GOOD…
DON’T JUST SIT THERE AND SHIRK.
I LOVED YOU WITH MY WORDS, INDEED,
BUT I LOVED YOU WITH MY ACTIONS, TOO…
DON’T FORGET THAT YOUR WORK ISN’T DONE,
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
SO EASTER PEOPLE, REMEMBER
THE REASON YOU’RE STILL THERE…
TO CARRY A CROSS TOGETHER AND SHARE
THE HOPE I GIVE TO PEOPLE EVERYWHERE.
J.N.S. April 7, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Kid Questions.....(from my Facebook page)
1. What is something Momma always says to you? Ummm..I love you!
2. What makes Momma happy? When I kiss and hug you before you leave sometimes…(Although I never go anywhere!!)
3. What makes Momma sad? When I don’t eat what you give me.
4. How does your Momma make you laugh? You do jokes.
5. What was your Momma like as a child? Ummm…You liked “Don’t break the Ice”
6. How old is your Momma? I don’t know…49?
7. How tall is your Momma? Nine pounds.
8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV? You like to watch Scrubs
9. What does Momma do when you’re not around? You just have fun.
10. If your Momma becomes famous, what will it be for? When God gives you to me.
11. What is Momma really good at? Ummm…Playing games with me.
12. What is Momma not very good at? You’re not very good at Hungry, Hungry Hippos.
13. What does Momma do for her job? Umm…to take care of me!
14. What is Momma’s favorite food? Weight Watchers. (haha, can’t tell by looking at me!)
15. What makes you proud of your Momma? Eating all your food!
16. If your Momma was a cartoon character, who would she be? Batman
17. What do you and your Momma do together? We have fun together!!
18. How are you and Your Momma the same? We’re not the same.
19. How are you different? Our voices are different.
20. How do you know Momma loves you? Umm…because God gave me to you!
21. Where is your Momma’s favorite place to go? You like to go to Springfield.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD'S NUGGETS OF WISDOM......
"GUARD-STEMMER"-THAT'S ANY LONG, GOOD STICK HE CAN FIND OUTSIDE.
"GUARD-STEMMING"-THAT'S WHAT HE DOES TO THE GROUND.....STILL NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. MAYBE HIS WAY OF GARDENING.
"SMACKIN' IT UP"-OH, YOU DIDN'T KNOW ALREADY? SURELY YOU'VE HEARD OF THIS. HE TAKES HIS "GUARD-STEMMER" AND DRAGS IT ALONG THE GRASS, THUS THE TERM "SMACKIN' IT UP".
"MOLE-HOLE DIGGIN'"-SELF EXPLANATORY.
"FORKIN' IT UP"-USING A FORK TO THROW SOMETHING, ANYTHING UP INTO THE AIR.
I'M SURE YOU'RE ENLIGHTENED NOW.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
THE LONELINESS WILL NOT LAST MY CHILD,
THE TEARS WILL SOON CEASE.
JUST COME TO ME AND BE YOURSELF,
AND YOU’LL FIND SWEET RELIEF.
A TRUER FRIEND YOU’LL FIND NOWHERE ELSE,
NO OTHER CAN LOVE YOU LIKE I CAN.
JUST COME TO ME, BE HONEST, BE TRUE,
AND LET ME TAKE YOU BY THE HAND.
IN YOUR DARKEST MOMENTS,
I’VE NOT LEFT YOU, I’VE BEEN THERE.
I’VE SAID I’LL NEVER LEAVE YOU, LOVE,
I’LL BE WITH YOU EVERYWHERE.
I KNOW THE DARKNESS SOMETIMES LASTS
SO LONG, LIKE IT WILL NEVER END…
BUT TRUST ME, KEEP ON WAITING FOR ME,
I’M THERE JUST AROUND THE BEND.
SOME HAVE BEEN GIVEN SWEET LIVES,
SOME HAVE BEEN HANDED MANY SORROWS…
BUT I NEVER PROMISED HAPPINESS, ONLY HOPE,
THAT’S WHAT WILL GET YOU THROUGH EACH TOMORROW.
SO THROUGH THE HOPELESSNESS, KEEP HOPING,
THROUGH THE LONELINESS, STAND STRONG…
KEEP TRUSTING IN ME WHEN IT SEEMS TO YOU
THAT I’M DOING IT ALL WRONG.
KEEP YOUR EYES FIXED ON ME, CHILD-
NO OTHER WILL BE ABLE TO OUTLAST.
JUST TRUST ME, I HAVE YOUR FUTURE,
YOUR PRESENT, AND I ALSO HOLD YOUR PAST.
IF YOU’RE ANGRY WITH ME, I CAN HANDLE IT.
IF YOU’RE SAD, COME TELL ME WHY.
BECAUSE NOT ONLY FOR THE WORLD, BUT FOR YOU, TOO,
DID I RISE AFTER GIVING MYSELF TO BE CRUCIFIED.
DON’T LOOK TO THE LEFT, NOR THE RIGHT,
STAND FIRM IN MY WORD, AND ME…
KEEP DOING, LOVING, FORGIVING, TRUSTING,
FOR IN ME, YOU’LL ALWAYS BE FREE.
J.N.S. March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
I WROTE LAST WEEK’S POST BEFORE READING THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER OF THE BOOK I’LL BE QUOTING. I, WHICH I’M SURE YOU HAVE, HAVE SEEN SO MUCH TRAGEDY IN LIFE. SOME OF WHICH PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT ON THEMSELVES, AND SOME THAT HAVE JUST HAPPENED, REGARDLESS OF WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE. IT’S A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW. THE ONE THING WE CAN’T DO, AS I WROTE IN THE PREVIOUS POST, IS TURN OUR HEADS AND IGNORE REALITY. THOUGH IT’S EASIER, WE KNOW IN OUR HEART OF HEARTS THAT CHRIST DID NOT CALL US TO A LIFE OF “EASY”. AT OUR LADIES’ BIBLE STUDY, WE’VE BEEN READING THROUGH N.T. WRIGHT’S BOOK “FOLLOWING JESUS; BIBLICAL REFLECTIONS ON DISCIPLESHIP”. IT’S AN AMAZING READ. IT POINTS YOU TO BOOKS OF THE BIBLE SUCH AS COLOSSIANS, REVELATION, JOHN, AND SEVERAL OTHERS.
I ALMOST CRIED WHEN I READ THE FOLLOWING PARTS OF THIS BOOK. THEY ARE TAKEN FROM CHAPTER SIX TITLED “A WORLD REBORN; REVELATION”. WHAT HE WRITES ABOUT IS WHAT I’VE BEEN SEEING IN THE CHURCH OVER THE PAST FIFTEEN MONTHS. IT IS PERSONAL. I HAVE SEEN IT, LIVED MUCH OF IT, AND SEEN WHAT HE TALKS ABOUT SO MUCH IN THE CHURCH, AS A WHOLE.
“Easter is all about the wiping away of tears. In our fear of terror and joy, we have forgotten the purpose of tears. We have become embarrassed by them—and with good reason, since they are a God-given reminder of the truth which our culture, as much as any communist propaganda, has done its best to make us forget: that we are neither naked apes nor trainee angels, but humans, made in the image of God. Which God? The God who stood and wept at the tomb of his friend; the God who fell down and sobbed in the garden of Gethsemane. We have deemed tears to be childish, whereas in fact they are childlike; and Jesus told us to be childlike. We have allowed our proper dislike of emotionalism to deceive us into trying to ignore our emotions. But if Good Friday and Easter don’t stir our emotions, then the tyrant has indeed enslaved us. We have become like a garden paved over with stone slabs. Many people live like that; God help us, many of us even choose to, rather than face the terror and the joy of our own hearts, let alone of Calvary and Easter.” (page 58, Wright)
AND THAT LAST PART, “MANY US US EVEN CHOOSE TO…”, THAT IS WHAT I’VE SEEN RUN RAMPANT THROUGHOUT THE BODY OF CHRIST. YOU SEE, NO MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY TO TURN IT OFF, IT’S STILL THERE. THE WIDOW. THE ORPHAN. THE FRIENDLESS. THE LONELY. THE HUNGRY. AND EVEN THOSE WHO STAY IN UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, BECAUSE THEY’VE DECEIVED THEMSELVES INTO THINKING THEY HAVE NOBODY TO TURN TO. THE THING IS, AS BELIEVERS, WE CAN’T TURN A DEAF EAR TO REALITY. WITHOUT GETHSEMANE, THERE IS NO CALVARY….AND WITHOUT CALVARY, THERE IS NO GETHSEMANE. THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE OF GOD, THE TERRIBLE, AWESOME SIDE OF HIM THAT SO MANY OF US HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE. WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE DIED WHEN THEY SAW THE LORD? BECAUSE HE WAS A SWEET LIL’ MAN WHO SHOWED NO POWER? BECAUSE HE WAS ONLY MEEK AND HUMBLE, WITHOUT AN AMAZING, FEARFUL SIDE? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
“But with Easter we have hope; because hope depends on love; and love has become human and has died, and is now alive for evermore, and holds the keys of Death and Hades. It is because of him that we know—we don’t just hope, we know—that God will wipe away all tears from all eyes. And in that knowledge we find ourselves to be Sunday people, called to live in a world of Fridays. In that knowledge we know ourselves to be Easter people, called to minister to a world full of Calvarys. In that knowledge we find that the hand that dries our tears passes the cloth onto us, and bids us follow him, to go to dry one another’s tears. The lamb calls us to follow him wherever he goes; into the dark places of the world, the dark places of our own hearts, the places where tears blot out the sunlight, the places where tyrants pave the grass with concrete; and he bids us shine his morning light into the darkness, and share his ministry of wiping away the tears.” (pages 61-62, Wright)
READER, THIS IS WHAT OUR FAITH IS. CHRIST CALLS US TO JOIN HIM, NO MATTER WHETHER WE “FEEL” LIKE OPENING OUR EYES TO HIS TRUTHS, OR NOT. A WISE PROFESSOR OF MINE ONCE SAID, “DO WE REALLY MEAN IT WHEN WE SING, ‘OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART, LORD, OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART.’”…….WHAT IF HE DOES? WHAT IF HE OPENS OUR EYES TO OUR OWN REALITIES, TO THAT OF OUR NEIGHBOR’S, OUR TOWN’S, OUR COUNTRY’S, OUR WORLD’S….? WE HAVE A CHOICE. JOIN HIM, OR IGNORE HIM. AS MY SWEET HUSBAND PREACHED SEVERAL DAYS AGO, “FAITH IS NOTHING WITHOUT FAITHFULNESS, AND FAITHFULNESS IS NOTHING WITHOUT FAITH.” THERE IS A HUGE CANYON BETWEEN “KNOWING” AND “DOING”. I HOPE THAT AS THE BODY OF CHRIST, WE CAN TRULY BE EASTER PEOPLE MINISTERING TO A WORLD OF CALVARYS. LIVE LIKE YOU BELIEVE IT; EASTER IS COMING!!! IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE, EASTER IS ALWAYS COMING. LET US JOIN CHRIST IN WHAT HE HAS CALLED US TO DO.....NO MORE EXCUSES.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
"I DON'T KNOW THE SUFFERING OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE MY FRONT DOOR,
I JOIN THE OPPRESSORS OF THOSE I CHOOSE TO IGNORE-
I'M TRADING COMFORT FOR HUMAN LIFE,
AND THAT'S NOT JUST MURDER, IT'S SUICIDE..
AND THIS, TOO SHALL BE MADE RIGHT..."
*DEREK WEBB'S "THIS TOO SHALL BE MADE RIGHT"*
IT'S SCARY TO ME HOW EASY IT IS FOR CHILDREN OF GOD (MYSELF INCLUDED) TO TURN AWAY FROM THE HURT, THE NEED, THE SUFFERING, THE PAIN, THE LONELINESS.......TO UTTERLY SHUT OUR EYES TO WHAT WE KNOW IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE OUR FRONT DOOR.
THERE IS A FAMILY MOURNING THE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONE. THERE IS A FAMILY NOT ABLE TO GET GAS MONEY TO TRAVEL TO COLLEGE TO TRY TO BETTER THEMSELVES....SO THEY STAY POOR, NOBODY TO HELP THEM. THERE ARE WOMEN WHO ARE STILL WONDERING IF THEY'LL EVER BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEIR HUSBANDS, WHOM CONTINUE TO BE UNFAITHFUL TO THEM. THERE IS A LONELY WIDOW. THERE IS A GIRL WHO IS WONDERING WHERE ALL HER FRIENDS ARE. THERE IS A MAN DEALING WITH A DEBILITATING SICKNESS, AS HIS WIFE AND SON SIT BY AND WISH GOD WOULD HEAL HIM. THERE IS A GIRL WHO WONDERS IF HER HUSBAND WILL EVER TRULY LOVE HER AS HE'S SUPPOSED TO, BECAUSE SHE DREAMS OF HAVING HIS CHILDREN. THERE IS A MAN WHO KNOWS HIS WIFE IS AN ADULTERESS, BUT STAYS ANYWAY, "FOR THE KIDS". THERE ARE THOSE NOT ONLY OUTSIDE OUR COUNTRY, BUT HERE, IN THIS "GREAT COUNTRY OF AMERICA" WHO HAVE NO SHELTER, NO FOOD, NO HOPE FOR THEIR CHILDREN WHO HAD NO CHOICE AS TO WHAT LIFE THEY WERE BORN INTO.
AND SO WE SIT HERE. WE CONTINUE TO CLOSE OUR EYES, BECAUSE IT'S EASIER. WE CONTINUE TO MAKE EXCUSES AS TO WHY WE DO NOTHING. WE JUSTIFY OUR OWN SIN, BUT HAVE A DARN GOOD WAY OF MAKING IT SOUND LIKE IT'S SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM AND NOT OUR OWN. READER, UNDERSTAND, WHEN OUR EYES ARE OPENED TO WHAT IS TRULY HAPPENING AROUND US, IT BEGINS TO BE PARTLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY. NO, WE PROBABLY CAN'T FIX EVERYTHING. NO, IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO. BUT WE CAN DO SOMETHING. NOT ONLY THAT, WE SHOULD. WE CAN DEFINITELY PRAY. MAYBE JUST CALLING THAT PERSON AND GIVING THEM AN EAR FOR A WHILE. MAYBE GIVING GAS MONEY TO THAT WIDOW WHO HAS NOBODY ELSE TO HELP HER. THERE IS PLENTY WE CAN DO, IF ONLY WE CAN GET PAST OURSELVES AND OUR SILLY LITTLE EXCUSES AS TO WHY WE HAVE BEEN DOING NOTHING.
*BY THE WAY, EVERY PERSON MENTIONED ABOVE IS SOMEONE I KNOW, PERSONALLY. SURELY IF I KNOW OF THIS MANY HURTING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW AT LEAST ONE THAT YOU CAN LEND HELP TO. *
"AND HE SAID TO HIM, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.' THIS IS THE GREAT AND FOREMOST COMMANDMENT. THE SECOND IS LIKE IT, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'" *MATTHEW 22:37-38*
"DO NOT WITHHOLD GOOD FROM THOSE TO WHOM IT IS DUE, WHEN IT IS IN YOUR POWER TO DO IT. DO NOT SAY TO YOUR NEIGHBOR, 'GO AND COME BACK, AND TOMORROW I WILL GIVE IT,' WHEN YOU HAVE IT WITH YOU." *PROVERBS 3:27-28*
WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOR? AND NOT JUST THE ONES WHO LIVE NEXT DOOR. AND NOT JUST THE ONES YOU LOVE. YOUR ENEMIES ARE ALSO YOUR NEIGHBOR.
