I was walking on a narrow one lane road, with millions of others. The road I had left before was a wider road holding billions of others. While walking I noticed a gate and a man standing next to the gate. Looking through I saw an even narrower road, so narrow that you had to walk it single file.
I stopped and turned towards the gate, the man watching me waved for me to come to him. Walking over I said "I thought I was already on the narrow path, where does this one go?"
"This is the road of holiness" he said "without holiness no one will see the Lord"
"It looks really tight" I said.
"It's long too" he replied.
Looking over my shoulder I saw the faces of people I love, and who love me and wondered if I could go through without them or if I should turn back and ask them to come with me. "You first" the man said, "others may follow, or they may not. It isn't for you to decide, the Lord will look after them. You need to go first."
Noticing my anxiety over the separation and going in alone he said "Why are you worried? The Lord will guide this path for you, there are others on it too. It will be hard at first, but without going on what hope do you have?"
"None I guess" I replied
"Then go" he said
Looking down the path again I saw others far ahead of me and the image of a cross in the road, or maybe a man with his arms outstretched... reaching my hand to the gate I took one last look over my shoulder, looked back and touched it. It opened at my touch. "Don't forget this" the man said, handing me my Bible "Read it till you remember all it says" he said and closed the gate behind me and continued his watch on the road.
I looked ahead of me, grasped my bible to my chest and walked onward. Not far onto the path I heard the voices of people singing, laughing and playing music. It was a comfort to me. "Keep going" I heard a voice on the other side of the hedge say "It's a long path, remember the word of the Lord to keep it."
"Who are you?" I asked
"David the King" he said.
Stopping in my astonishment I looked at the hedge
"Keep going! Don't stop along the way, we'll see you when you get here." he said.
Suddenly I heard the voices of millions say "Keep going! We are the witnesses of your way, turn not to the right or left, we are awaiting your arrival. Remember the word of the Lord to keep it always. Do not let His words fall to the ground, He will be with you in your journey, you are never alone."
I looked down at my word and flipped to Psalm 46, looking up I saw the path was level all the way until I closed my Bible, then it became more precarious. Opening it again it leveled back out, looking on my Bible I began my walk. Walking straight between the hedge, a light going before me on each step. I still heard their voices singing and praising Him who they saw, I read and walked and not one step faltered.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Good Dirt.
Here recently the Parable that Jesus taught of the sower has been coming up a lot in my life. About every day for the past week I’ve heard or read that parable, and today during service at CLC it came up again and again during a guided study I started about strengthening your grip on God’s word. So I think that it’s time to pay attention.
I enjoy gardening, and I have some limited knowledge about the process. As far as I can tell the most important part of a garden is the dirt. Without good dirt, it’s almost impossible to grow a good crop of anything.
The first part of Jesus’ parable is as follows:
“Behold the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell along the road and the birds came and ate them up.”
The road is not a good place to sow seeds…okay. The dirt of a footpath is trampled down and tightly packed; birds go there to look for food that we humans may drop, the seeds never had a chance.
He continues:
“Others on rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched because they had no depth of soil.”
As a small time gardener I know that whenever I’m rooting around in the soil of the garden that it is necessary to remove the rocks from the soil, when a garden first starts it is easy to spend hours or even days removing rocks from the soil of a garden. The good thing about this kind of soil is that with time and effort and some digging down and rooting around it is possible to make it into good soil.
“Others fell among the thorns and the thorns grew up with the plants and choked them out”
This is probably the most dangerous kind of soil; it isn’t always obvious that there are thorns and weeds in the soil. It isn’t always obvious to us what it is that we may have hidden in our hearts choking out the word of God, neutralizing it before it has the opportunity to grow and yield fruit in our lives. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches are so bad because they are so deceitful. Our enemy above all else wants to make us comfortable, and give us all we could ever wish for. Unlike our father he will say yes to all our whims. He will give us all the material wealth we could ever hope for, if only we would worship him. A pampered American Christian is an ineffective one, it may not be pretty but it’s true. Extreme excess puts blinders on us, we are less receptive and less aware of the needs of others and the still small voice of God.
Lastly there is hope:
“And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
This is where we want to be, this is where we all need to get to. Good soil rarely just happens, it takes work and time. The gardener needs to till the soil, add some fertilizer and dig up any bad roots or rocks that might harm His crop. Enter suffering. It isn’t pleasant but it is absolutely necessary. When God starts digging around in our business it can start to hurt, especially when he starts pulling up those old roots that maybe we don’t love but have been with us for so long that we’ve learned to live with them. He’ll pull out those hard cold stones and give us a heart of flesh, one that feels one that is more acutely aware of the suffering and needs of others than it was before.
If God’s word is to have any lasting effect on us, we must allow Him to till the soil of our hearts. To make it dark and rich so that His word can penetrate deeply into our lives and withstand the temptations and trials of this present age. When our hearts are more receptive, we are more effective, more usable we can hear His voice and recognize it easier than before.
I know that soon and probably today the Lord will start to reveal some old roots and cold stones that are still lodged in my heart, and I will probably feel Him start to tug at them and dig around them in order to pull them out. It is probably going to be slow and most likely a little painful, but good soil rarely just happens.
I enjoy gardening, and I have some limited knowledge about the process. As far as I can tell the most important part of a garden is the dirt. Without good dirt, it’s almost impossible to grow a good crop of anything.
The first part of Jesus’ parable is as follows:
“Behold the sower went out to sow; and as he sowed, some seeds fell along the road and the birds came and ate them up.”
The road is not a good place to sow seeds…okay. The dirt of a footpath is trampled down and tightly packed; birds go there to look for food that we humans may drop, the seeds never had a chance.
He continues:
“Others on rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched because they had no depth of soil.”
As a small time gardener I know that whenever I’m rooting around in the soil of the garden that it is necessary to remove the rocks from the soil, when a garden first starts it is easy to spend hours or even days removing rocks from the soil of a garden. The good thing about this kind of soil is that with time and effort and some digging down and rooting around it is possible to make it into good soil.
“Others fell among the thorns and the thorns grew up with the plants and choked them out”
This is probably the most dangerous kind of soil; it isn’t always obvious that there are thorns and weeds in the soil. It isn’t always obvious to us what it is that we may have hidden in our hearts choking out the word of God, neutralizing it before it has the opportunity to grow and yield fruit in our lives. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches are so bad because they are so deceitful. Our enemy above all else wants to make us comfortable, and give us all we could ever wish for. Unlike our father he will say yes to all our whims. He will give us all the material wealth we could ever hope for, if only we would worship him. A pampered American Christian is an ineffective one, it may not be pretty but it’s true. Extreme excess puts blinders on us, we are less receptive and less aware of the needs of others and the still small voice of God.
Lastly there is hope:
“And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty.”
This is where we want to be, this is where we all need to get to. Good soil rarely just happens, it takes work and time. The gardener needs to till the soil, add some fertilizer and dig up any bad roots or rocks that might harm His crop. Enter suffering. It isn’t pleasant but it is absolutely necessary. When God starts digging around in our business it can start to hurt, especially when he starts pulling up those old roots that maybe we don’t love but have been with us for so long that we’ve learned to live with them. He’ll pull out those hard cold stones and give us a heart of flesh, one that feels one that is more acutely aware of the suffering and needs of others than it was before.
If God’s word is to have any lasting effect on us, we must allow Him to till the soil of our hearts. To make it dark and rich so that His word can penetrate deeply into our lives and withstand the temptations and trials of this present age. When our hearts are more receptive, we are more effective, more usable we can hear His voice and recognize it easier than before.
I know that soon and probably today the Lord will start to reveal some old roots and cold stones that are still lodged in my heart, and I will probably feel Him start to tug at them and dig around them in order to pull them out. It is probably going to be slow and most likely a little painful, but good soil rarely just happens.
Friday, October 22, 2010
The Hope of Singleness
There are times when I read scripture and my heart is discouraged, usually when I read scripture dealing with the issues of women, but not for reasons of burden. I have a pretty clear understanding that marriage just isn’t in the works for me, and when it comes to women almost all of scripture towards women is written in the context of marriage and family life.
In that culture it was assumed that a woman would marry the whole of Proverbs 31 is dedicated to the good wife, not woman, wife. It can apply generally to single women, but most specifically it applies to the wife. I’ve read books on the proverbs 31 woman and have put them down half way through because the entire book is written for the married woman. The authors usually in the goodness of their intentions make an effort a few times in each chapter to tell any single woman reading this book not to be discouraged, that someday the Lord will provide a husband even for you! At which point I usually cringe, shake my head and throw the book in the trash.
I have no husband to serve, no children to tend and no maid servants to delegate tasks to, and that is okay.
In my twilight 20’s I am facing the very real possibility of living the rest of my life single. That is okay.
It has been ten years since I have been on a date or asked out on a date, and that is okay too.
There is a temptation to look at that last sentence and think “no one wants me” or for the reader to look at that last comment and think “you poor lonely thing you” but it’s all lies I tell you. LIES!!! There is someone who wants me and who is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He said that He would be with me always, even until the end of the world. I can go nowhere away from His presence and His love is better than wine.
Earlier this week I bought a New Testament on cassette to listen to in the car when I drive, I just started Luke after going through Matthew and Mark over the past few days. Today while listening to Luke I heard something that made me stop and rewind the tape, this is what I heard.
36And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
~ Luke 2: 36-38
Anna may have been between 13 or 15 when she was given in marriage, which means that she lived possible 69 years as a widow, in the temple worshipping and serving the Lord. The only time she is mentioned in scripture is in this verse. Did she bare children and raise them before going in service to the Lord? It isn’t known, all we know is that she lived 69 years, maybe more as a widow who had dedicated her life to the Lord in fasting and prayer. He honored her at the end of her long life with the infant cries of Jesus the Savior of her soul.
I love my married friends and the Lord has taught me and is still teaching me to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. There are certain things in life that I may never learn because of my singleness, and most of them I don’t want to. I have met some women so happily married or engaged and yet so socially inept that they insult me for my single state of life. Then I’ve met women who insult me purposefully because married life seems to them as some sort of hierarchy status. Overall I’ve learned that although marriage may be wonderful and pleasant some of the time, it comes with its own set of burdens that most newly-weds are not prepared to deal with. Most of the time it is a trial, a compromise and I do not doubt a humbling journey.
I personally think that I have the better hand. There is no one else for me to greet in the mornings other than my God. There is no one else for me to curl up next too than my sweet and loving Lord who blesses me with his unconditional and never failing love. I have the luxury of spending all day in my room with the Word and seeking the Lords face in prayer. It is a luxury and a privilege to be in service to only Him. Only Jesus.
Anna never had to depart from the temple; she never had to lose her focus on the Lord. Neither do I. I have no husband to take my attention away from serving the Lord, and that is a blessing to me. One day the Lord may look at my life and say I should marry, but it isn’t something I’m looking for or forward too. Whatever He wills will come in His time and to His purposes. For now I am more than pleased to learn to live like Anna lived, and cherish all of my time with the lover of my soul.
In that culture it was assumed that a woman would marry the whole of Proverbs 31 is dedicated to the good wife, not woman, wife. It can apply generally to single women, but most specifically it applies to the wife. I’ve read books on the proverbs 31 woman and have put them down half way through because the entire book is written for the married woman. The authors usually in the goodness of their intentions make an effort a few times in each chapter to tell any single woman reading this book not to be discouraged, that someday the Lord will provide a husband even for you! At which point I usually cringe, shake my head and throw the book in the trash.
I have no husband to serve, no children to tend and no maid servants to delegate tasks to, and that is okay.
In my twilight 20’s I am facing the very real possibility of living the rest of my life single. That is okay.
It has been ten years since I have been on a date or asked out on a date, and that is okay too.
There is a temptation to look at that last sentence and think “no one wants me” or for the reader to look at that last comment and think “you poor lonely thing you” but it’s all lies I tell you. LIES!!! There is someone who wants me and who is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He said that He would be with me always, even until the end of the world. I can go nowhere away from His presence and His love is better than wine.
Earlier this week I bought a New Testament on cassette to listen to in the car when I drive, I just started Luke after going through Matthew and Mark over the past few days. Today while listening to Luke I heard something that made me stop and rewind the tape, this is what I heard.
36And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
~ Luke 2: 36-38
Anna may have been between 13 or 15 when she was given in marriage, which means that she lived possible 69 years as a widow, in the temple worshipping and serving the Lord. The only time she is mentioned in scripture is in this verse. Did she bare children and raise them before going in service to the Lord? It isn’t known, all we know is that she lived 69 years, maybe more as a widow who had dedicated her life to the Lord in fasting and prayer. He honored her at the end of her long life with the infant cries of Jesus the Savior of her soul.
I love my married friends and the Lord has taught me and is still teaching me to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. There are certain things in life that I may never learn because of my singleness, and most of them I don’t want to. I have met some women so happily married or engaged and yet so socially inept that they insult me for my single state of life. Then I’ve met women who insult me purposefully because married life seems to them as some sort of hierarchy status. Overall I’ve learned that although marriage may be wonderful and pleasant some of the time, it comes with its own set of burdens that most newly-weds are not prepared to deal with. Most of the time it is a trial, a compromise and I do not doubt a humbling journey.
I personally think that I have the better hand. There is no one else for me to greet in the mornings other than my God. There is no one else for me to curl up next too than my sweet and loving Lord who blesses me with his unconditional and never failing love. I have the luxury of spending all day in my room with the Word and seeking the Lords face in prayer. It is a luxury and a privilege to be in service to only Him. Only Jesus.
Anna never had to depart from the temple; she never had to lose her focus on the Lord. Neither do I. I have no husband to take my attention away from serving the Lord, and that is a blessing to me. One day the Lord may look at my life and say I should marry, but it isn’t something I’m looking for or forward too. Whatever He wills will come in His time and to His purposes. For now I am more than pleased to learn to live like Anna lived, and cherish all of my time with the lover of my soul.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Holy Roller
I've been thinking alot about doctrine here lately...1 Timothy 4:16 says " Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do you will save both yourself and your hearers."
I hear the words "it doesn't really matter" a lot in my christian circles when it comes to things in scripture, and I'm wondering if that general attitude is coming from genuine apathy or is coming from fear. If I were to take scripture at face value, and really do what scripture says Gods children will do then quite honestly I would be living much differently than I do at present. I've been wondering, why haven't I made that all or nothing effort in living by the book. Jesus said that His commands are not burdensome, so thats no excuse.
The core doctrine of Scripture centers on love, love for God and love for others. (Matt. 22:37-39) Everything else revolves around that, every last bit of scripture and every last bit of command is based on love. So when I read the words of Peter and Paul in regards to the issues of women, involving modesty and roles in the church and later discuss those same commands with believing friends who say to me that "it really doesn't matter" I have a hard time there.
Do I think that women should teach in the church... yes, but they should teach only other women. Is that hard? Of course, it's part of the curse. Does it really matter, it absolutely does. God gave us that word out of love for us, not to burden us but so that we can fulfill our true purpose in Christ which is not to take authority over men. Do I think Christian women should dress and behave in a modest way, yes I do, although I'm still trying to figure out what that looks like for my own life. Does it need to involve long skirts and long hair, at least for me? I'm not sure yet, but it does need to involve an acute amount of self awareness in the way we present ourselves to the world. Again it absolutely matters, how many men have fallen because of the floozy in the front row at church? Too many marriages and families and whole congregations for that matter have fallen apart because of man burglars taking what isn't theirs to take. Even if it wasn't entirely intentional to begin with.
There are so many details to the Christian life and they all center on love, how can I then realizing that take any one portion of His word with a grain of salt? It is all so extremely valuable and it is all meant for my good. All of it matters. There are core issues that must come first and the details follow after, but the details matter too. Keeping Gods word with extreme effort is not legalism unless done without love for God and love for others. How radically different would life be if I practiced that? I think I'll try it and find out, praying for Gods grace and wisdom.
~Amanda
I hear the words "it doesn't really matter" a lot in my christian circles when it comes to things in scripture, and I'm wondering if that general attitude is coming from genuine apathy or is coming from fear. If I were to take scripture at face value, and really do what scripture says Gods children will do then quite honestly I would be living much differently than I do at present. I've been wondering, why haven't I made that all or nothing effort in living by the book. Jesus said that His commands are not burdensome, so thats no excuse.
The core doctrine of Scripture centers on love, love for God and love for others. (Matt. 22:37-39) Everything else revolves around that, every last bit of scripture and every last bit of command is based on love. So when I read the words of Peter and Paul in regards to the issues of women, involving modesty and roles in the church and later discuss those same commands with believing friends who say to me that "it really doesn't matter" I have a hard time there.
Do I think that women should teach in the church... yes, but they should teach only other women. Is that hard? Of course, it's part of the curse. Does it really matter, it absolutely does. God gave us that word out of love for us, not to burden us but so that we can fulfill our true purpose in Christ which is not to take authority over men. Do I think Christian women should dress and behave in a modest way, yes I do, although I'm still trying to figure out what that looks like for my own life. Does it need to involve long skirts and long hair, at least for me? I'm not sure yet, but it does need to involve an acute amount of self awareness in the way we present ourselves to the world. Again it absolutely matters, how many men have fallen because of the floozy in the front row at church? Too many marriages and families and whole congregations for that matter have fallen apart because of man burglars taking what isn't theirs to take. Even if it wasn't entirely intentional to begin with.
There are so many details to the Christian life and they all center on love, how can I then realizing that take any one portion of His word with a grain of salt? It is all so extremely valuable and it is all meant for my good. All of it matters. There are core issues that must come first and the details follow after, but the details matter too. Keeping Gods word with extreme effort is not legalism unless done without love for God and love for others. How radically different would life be if I practiced that? I think I'll try it and find out, praying for Gods grace and wisdom.
~Amanda
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