I was so blown away this morning as God opened my eyes to another distorted view I had of Him. I have read this scripture so many times and heard it preached so many times but I
have to say that today God showed me a beautiful new picture of Him through a devotion He led me to specifically. Here is the picture I had as I sat back and thought about this scripture:
I pictured Jesus pleading & begging God the Father on my behalf because I was such a mess. I
continually screw up so He has to continually plead for mercy, forgiveness, grace & blessings
on my behalf. I was shocked when I realized how distorted this view was. This image makes my precious wonderful heavenly Father look so tight-fisted that Jesus has to pry grace our of His fingers for me. This picture does not fit into anything that I am coming to discover about
God and His heart for us. I don't begin to say that I understand this scripture completely but
I will say that it hold so much more beauty for me now. I looked up the word intercession and
found one of the descriptions of the word entygchano means to go or meet a person especially
with the purpose of conversation. What a beautiful picture I now have. My Jesus, my high
priest is having a conversation with the Father on my behalf not because I am this lowlife
creature but a child that the Father dearly loves. I am so sad for those who have been given
this same distorted picture of the character of God that I had. I do not claim to say that I
fully understand what the scripture means when it says Jesus lives to make intercession for us.
I just know I am walking in yet another place of freedom on who God says I am!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Creating Space
A great question was raised last night among the guys. It went something like this: "When someone walks into our gathering on Saturday night, what makes it look or feel any different than a regular church...we have a structure, there's usually singing, prayer, teaching/discussion...why is that any different than the church experience we all grew up in?"
That's a great question...and one I've pondered a lot in the last three years. As I've thought about it more and more today, I think my response would have more to do with the intent and motivation of our corporate heart than the logistics of structure.
My vision for The River is that our gatherings on Saturday would be an ongoing conversation of what God is doing in our everyday lives the other 6 days of the week. That there would be a "spontaneous combustion" of God-speak happen as we just hang out and talk.
At least that's what it would look like in the ideal spiritual world.
But what happens to the conversation if you haven't heard God this week. Or you believe that your sin and failure have disqualified you from hearing from him...at least for a while. Sometimes life is just hard and the overwhelming nature of living in this world has sucked any desire to talk about God completely out of us.
I know myself. Put me in a room full of people that I love and the first thing comes to my mind to talk about isn't always God. Its the "big game", its how work is going, its how bad the weather has been. Conversation too easily turns to...well, ME and sharing my struggles with anyone who will listen. Granted, we all need safe people to share with but, even in that, I am still the center of the story.
Which is why we need to create space.
We do what we do in our gatherings not because we're "supposed to" sing songs about God when we get together, not because if "we don't have teaching, we haven't had 'church'", not because we're in love with structure, but because, in the midst of our lives, we MUST create the space for God to move that life oftens denies us.
I also don't want to lose sight of the biblical narrative. Structure in the church didn't start when man started to build buildings or write liturgies to follow. We see examples of what we now refere to as structure as early as the Last Supper.
In both Matthew and Mark, we read that, after Jesus and his disciples had taken what we refer to as the "last supper", they 'sung a hymn' and went to the Mount of Olives.
Now, did they take the elements and sing a song because it was written in the bulletin or because that was what they did the week before? Because they were "supposed to"? Because these things were part of their tradition? NO!! These things happened as a spontaneous response because they had created a sacred space for God to move.
Acts 20:7-12 is another instance where there was a type of structure present - it was the first day of the week and people came together to break bread. Its also obvious that Paul was the 'guest speaker' and wanted to give them all God had for them before leaving. There is an element of spontaneity and fellowship in that 'breaking bread' is mentioned twice but it is also obvious that Paul was the "teacher" in this instance. Again, not because it is a prescribed formula but because it was an intentional effort to create space.
There is also the issue of spiritual maturity to consider. We are all at different points on this journey. Without creating a space specifically designed to focus on prayer or the Word or corporate worship, would the conversation naturally turn there? Probably not. Simply because our sin-nature always seeks to turn the spotlight back on us...not God.
So, if one wonders why we have a teaching time, or corporate singing, or prayer time, its not because we're seeking to create structure or seeking to somehow bring an element of control to our gatherings. We're seeking to create space in our own minds and hearts to allow God to do what He wants to do for us every minute of every day...connect with us, help us to open up to Him, help us to open up to each other.
I know myself. And without the intentional effort to create that space, I'm not sure I would go there.
That's a great question...and one I've pondered a lot in the last three years. As I've thought about it more and more today, I think my response would have more to do with the intent and motivation of our corporate heart than the logistics of structure.
My vision for The River is that our gatherings on Saturday would be an ongoing conversation of what God is doing in our everyday lives the other 6 days of the week. That there would be a "spontaneous combustion" of God-speak happen as we just hang out and talk.
At least that's what it would look like in the ideal spiritual world.
But what happens to the conversation if you haven't heard God this week. Or you believe that your sin and failure have disqualified you from hearing from him...at least for a while. Sometimes life is just hard and the overwhelming nature of living in this world has sucked any desire to talk about God completely out of us.
I know myself. Put me in a room full of people that I love and the first thing comes to my mind to talk about isn't always God. Its the "big game", its how work is going, its how bad the weather has been. Conversation too easily turns to...well, ME and sharing my struggles with anyone who will listen. Granted, we all need safe people to share with but, even in that, I am still the center of the story.
Which is why we need to create space.
We do what we do in our gatherings not because we're "supposed to" sing songs about God when we get together, not because if "we don't have teaching, we haven't had 'church'", not because we're in love with structure, but because, in the midst of our lives, we MUST create the space for God to move that life oftens denies us.
I also don't want to lose sight of the biblical narrative. Structure in the church didn't start when man started to build buildings or write liturgies to follow. We see examples of what we now refere to as structure as early as the Last Supper.
In both Matthew and Mark, we read that, after Jesus and his disciples had taken what we refer to as the "last supper", they 'sung a hymn' and went to the Mount of Olives.
Now, did they take the elements and sing a song because it was written in the bulletin or because that was what they did the week before? Because they were "supposed to"? Because these things were part of their tradition? NO!! These things happened as a spontaneous response because they had created a sacred space for God to move.
Acts 20:7-12 is another instance where there was a type of structure present - it was the first day of the week and people came together to break bread. Its also obvious that Paul was the 'guest speaker' and wanted to give them all God had for them before leaving. There is an element of spontaneity and fellowship in that 'breaking bread' is mentioned twice but it is also obvious that Paul was the "teacher" in this instance. Again, not because it is a prescribed formula but because it was an intentional effort to create space.
There is also the issue of spiritual maturity to consider. We are all at different points on this journey. Without creating a space specifically designed to focus on prayer or the Word or corporate worship, would the conversation naturally turn there? Probably not. Simply because our sin-nature always seeks to turn the spotlight back on us...not God.
So, if one wonders why we have a teaching time, or corporate singing, or prayer time, its not because we're seeking to create structure or seeking to somehow bring an element of control to our gatherings. We're seeking to create space in our own minds and hearts to allow God to do what He wants to do for us every minute of every day...connect with us, help us to open up to Him, help us to open up to each other.
I know myself. And without the intentional effort to create that space, I'm not sure I would go there.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Heart Transplant
As I was reading the update on Tonya @ Caringbridge and praying for her, I was overwhelmed
with the voice I heard speaking. It was the voice of my Jesus talking to me about the heart
transplant that I had undergone. I remember someone once saying that someone has to die in
order for someone to live. They were talking about transplant recipients. I can't imagine what
it is like to be on a list, waiting for a donor. Jesus told me this morning how my name had been
on a list. He saw my diseased heart and knew how much I needed a new one even though I had
no idea at the time. I didn't even know I was sick so to speak. Then He told me that He loved
me so much He became a donor for me. He died and rose again so that I could have a new heart
and live. I don't know how to express what I felt as He showed me how much He loves us, that
He was willing to become the first donor on our behalf. I am so humbled and grateful for the
new heart He has given me. I am in awe at how my heart beats with love for Him and others where once it was cold and unfeeling, like stone. He said He would give me a new heart and He
did. I never want to take the beating of my heart for granted any longer. May I love Him and others with every beat of my heart!
with the voice I heard speaking. It was the voice of my Jesus talking to me about the heart
transplant that I had undergone. I remember someone once saying that someone has to die in
order for someone to live. They were talking about transplant recipients. I can't imagine what
it is like to be on a list, waiting for a donor. Jesus told me this morning how my name had been
on a list. He saw my diseased heart and knew how much I needed a new one even though I had
no idea at the time. I didn't even know I was sick so to speak. Then He told me that He loved
me so much He became a donor for me. He died and rose again so that I could have a new heart
and live. I don't know how to express what I felt as He showed me how much He loves us, that
He was willing to become the first donor on our behalf. I am so humbled and grateful for the
new heart He has given me. I am in awe at how my heart beats with love for Him and others where once it was cold and unfeeling, like stone. He said He would give me a new heart and He
did. I never want to take the beating of my heart for granted any longer. May I love Him and others with every beat of my heart!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
WAKE UP!!
Sunny wrote this after our gathering on Saturday. Excellent insights.
What do we need to see within the Christian community....First we need an acknowledgement that we do not simply live in a physical realm right now, but also a spiritual realm that is at battle about us, and that, although we may not physically SEE the spiritual with our eyes, it greatly affects us. Until we come to a belief in that, we will not equip ourselves to defend our hearts and minds. We are made in God’s image, that is, in spirit, and as Christians, have supposedly taken on the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. However, I speak to very few Christians who have a basic knowledge of the Holy Spirit, His role and authority, and His access to us and His reality. In my opinion, I think many Christians are of the understanding that we live on this earth separate from God, and when we die, depending on our salvation, we either take the southbound elevator and burn in hell forever, or the northbound to receive our harps and wings for an eternity of rest. My response to this thinking is, “WAKE UP!” God is offering you eternal life in the Spirit RIGHT NOW, start living like it. “Church” is not about the building, the programs, the number of members. It is the body of Christ, and as that body we are to function as Christ did on earth. Our churches have a responsibility to disciple, to speak truth even when it’s not warmly welcomed, to prepare us for the battle. How can they prepare us when often they themselves don’t acknowledge it, or act like that knowledge is only for them...they dare not let the congregation in on the wicked little secret that there is a being seeking to destroy them every moment and that the congregation has access to God’s power through the Holy Spirit. You don’t lead a horse to a trough and give him water from a cup. No, you lead a horse to water so he can drink of his own free will. You give him immediate access to the water, to life. As I think about this, I’m reminded of the churches before the reformation. ‘The people’ didn’t have access to God’s word because the Catholic church thought they needed to be the final authority in translating God’s word to them. These poor souls were at the mercy of what the church told them. Of course the church didn’t want to teach the people how to drink of the life-water, they would lose control and power. So what happened? The church became more and more corrupt in their ways. Martin Luther, as he nailed the 95 Thesis to the door, resembles Jesus as he entered the temple in anger and overturned the tables because of the corruption going on, because the people were being mislead concerning forgiveness and righteousness. Isn’t this a bit similar to what’s going on today when we talk about the spiritual realm that is going on right now, not just in heaven? If we don’t acknowledge that, there’s no way we will have a belief in Satan’s effect on us right now. The business of church in general would not be serving its purposes if it discipled people in the freedom that comes with housing the power of the Holy Spirit and using their God given authority according to Christ’s blood. No, the church (in general) persuades us to ‘build-up’ the Kingdom of God by focusing our efforts and talents into ‘bringing in the flocks.’ Nothing wrong with that, at first glance. The problem comes when the flocks enter the church gate, they are often not fed properly.
What do we need to see within the Christian community....First we need an acknowledgement that we do not simply live in a physical realm right now, but also a spiritual realm that is at battle about us, and that, although we may not physically SEE the spiritual with our eyes, it greatly affects us. Until we come to a belief in that, we will not equip ourselves to defend our hearts and minds. We are made in God’s image, that is, in spirit, and as Christians, have supposedly taken on the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. However, I speak to very few Christians who have a basic knowledge of the Holy Spirit, His role and authority, and His access to us and His reality. In my opinion, I think many Christians are of the understanding that we live on this earth separate from God, and when we die, depending on our salvation, we either take the southbound elevator and burn in hell forever, or the northbound to receive our harps and wings for an eternity of rest. My response to this thinking is, “WAKE UP!” God is offering you eternal life in the Spirit RIGHT NOW, start living like it. “Church” is not about the building, the programs, the number of members. It is the body of Christ, and as that body we are to function as Christ did on earth. Our churches have a responsibility to disciple, to speak truth even when it’s not warmly welcomed, to prepare us for the battle. How can they prepare us when often they themselves don’t acknowledge it, or act like that knowledge is only for them...they dare not let the congregation in on the wicked little secret that there is a being seeking to destroy them every moment and that the congregation has access to God’s power through the Holy Spirit. You don’t lead a horse to a trough and give him water from a cup. No, you lead a horse to water so he can drink of his own free will. You give him immediate access to the water, to life. As I think about this, I’m reminded of the churches before the reformation. ‘The people’ didn’t have access to God’s word because the Catholic church thought they needed to be the final authority in translating God’s word to them. These poor souls were at the mercy of what the church told them. Of course the church didn’t want to teach the people how to drink of the life-water, they would lose control and power. So what happened? The church became more and more corrupt in their ways. Martin Luther, as he nailed the 95 Thesis to the door, resembles Jesus as he entered the temple in anger and overturned the tables because of the corruption going on, because the people were being mislead concerning forgiveness and righteousness. Isn’t this a bit similar to what’s going on today when we talk about the spiritual realm that is going on right now, not just in heaven? If we don’t acknowledge that, there’s no way we will have a belief in Satan’s effect on us right now. The business of church in general would not be serving its purposes if it discipled people in the freedom that comes with housing the power of the Holy Spirit and using their God given authority according to Christ’s blood. No, the church (in general) persuades us to ‘build-up’ the Kingdom of God by focusing our efforts and talents into ‘bringing in the flocks.’ Nothing wrong with that, at first glance. The problem comes when the flocks enter the church gate, they are often not fed properly.
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