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 | November 14, 2008 The Character of Water Remember English class and discussing character literary types? A couple in particular are flat characters and catalyst hero characters. These are people who do not change much throughout the story line as they spend their time helping others. Usually, these character types suffer a major flaw. Their character usually remains the same with little internal change. Most often, they struggle with obsessive compulsive tendencies. Examples would be Johnny Depp from Pirates of the Caribbean, The Old Man and The Sea, Tom Hanks in Castaway and Russel Crowe in Master and Commander. They feel that money, power and success is never enough. They are on a long quest were the journey never ends. They are trapped in time over a past failure and have trouble moving on. These characters become aloof to the outside world. They are locked into an unchanging state of mind on a never ending pursuit. Their goal is elusive, even though the feel entitled to win. We can relate with these internal struggles, which is why we grow so fond of these characters. The danger we face is similar to what we find in our favorite actors and actresses. The fear of letting go and the fear of defeat. We find ourselves in various mental battles. Our focus drifts away from God. We become dry. The battle gets so tough that we are left wounded, stranded and broken. In this condition, it is easy to dwell on the negative. We become too tired and disoriented to stand up. We are frail and thirsty. When the light shines, we want to close the door because are eyes are growing dim. How can we be refreshed, even when we may not feel like it? Today I stumbled on the passage from Isaiah 43: 15-21. It says: 18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. 20 The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, 21 the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. How can we forget the former things and see the newness of God? Easy to say/read - hard to do. However, after reading this passage, my thoughts turned to the observation of water. Water is used to nurture crops, satisfy thirst and refresh what is dry. We use water to wash, cook and clean as well as for transportation. In modern times, we’ve learned how to channel water to conduct power and energy. In the biblical reference, water is likened to the Holy Spirit. Water conveys re-birth, forgiveness and the action to renew and restore. In the Creation, water was used to shower the earth. It was also used to provide a boundary. In Exodus, God used water as a defense as well as to display His miracles. Water provided relief and comfort to the Israelites and prophets. Water is a symbol and reference of the Holy Spirit. It is used for baptism to signify re-birth and used by Jesus and the apostles to heal, wash and nourish. The water of God’s Holy Spirit can help wash, clear and restore our eyes to see His work. He gives us streams in the wasteland to provide for our daily needs. He uses the current of water to direct our paths. He carries us on waves of grace, while we rest besides waters of peace. He satisfies our souls with good things so we may give Him praise. Like the blind man who was healed by Jesus, we go out with joy giving Him thanks. He rescues and restores; heals and forgives. The Holy Spirit gives us a never ending drink of his merciful love. You know when I reflect on these truths, I soon forget my OCD tendencies and troubles. I am changed by the power of His Spirit and supply. This is why He reminds us in Phil. 4:8-9 and is my prayer for all of us today: 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. |
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October 7, 2008 My Heart’s Not In It. I remember waking up for school, zipping into my clothes and dashing off to the bus stop. My thoughts along the way told me that I did not want to be late, yet I did not want to go to class. First period was science at 7.40a. Arrrrgh! I did not feel like having my brain squeezed and stretched, only to become a cerebral plastic man. Coasting through the morning with my white powdered donuts and chocolate milk was so much more appealing. You know, going through the motions is much easier. Then the all too familiar pop quiz would rear its head. Guess what? The test wasn’t on the color, maker and distributor's name of my packaged treats. By the time I spelled my name on the form, I lost all conciseness. And yes, even drooled a bit. Suddenly, I found myself in Dumbville and missed the last ride out. By the time I got home after the long day of I-don’t-what-to-do, my mom asks me how my day went. Before, I could elude the subject of my science class experience, she inquired if there were any tests? You know, it’s really funny how teachers and parents talk about you until you are the last one to find out! I was busted. Ok, a show of hands to indicate who’s been here before. That figures. I don’t feel alone and neither should you! The truth is, I was a really good student. I actually graduated on an advanced degree plan apart from the strategic executive summary of Dolly Madison donuts. The action of my teacher flagging down my parents was a truth telling fact. I was not being my normal self. Even more so, my heart was not in it. During that period of my life, I was facing tough measures of depression and hurt. Events from my past childhood in combination with my inability to move ahead was costing my emotional health and mental balance. It is far too easy to let past events imprison you. Events can be simply expressed in day-to-day motions, where your heart is not in it. On the other side of the island, depression can manifest itself in peculiar ways. Simple things become a task, routine becomes draining and the idea of fun is less than desirable. What’s even more easy to feel? God is far away, or maybe we feel that we are far away from God. Remember when your favorite pet or a friend that you knew, had a furry family friend that was hit by a car? For me, it was devastating. Our first reaction was to find and rescue our pet, while placing our hands around them for comfort. The animal’s first reaction? To run, hide and bite. When our heart is not in it, what ever it may be, it’s easy to bite the people we love and even God. Unlike animals, we have the ability to reason and process. More times than some, this is harder in the moment. Usually the people we are close to are often the same ones to first experience our bites. This comes out in the form of emotions, excuses and blame, we've seen this in the Garden. Whenever I feel that my heart is not in it, down from my recent/past events and/or far away from God, I am only human to experience these emotions. But God...He is closer than we realize. He is stronger than our weaknesses. He our shelter in the storm. Have you cried out? That’s right, cried out to God in the midst of pain. Releasing our pain has a great deal in our ability to process. Like a fresh wound, it needs to bleed, in essence this is what it means to grieve. No doubt, we don’t like feeling pain, nor do we want others to know our struggles. So why do we hide from God? Maybe because we feel like that poor little animal - injured and helpless. Think about the Garden again. We walk together on this road, wearing different shoes but towards the same destination.The Bible says that in every way we're troubled but not crushed, frustrated but not in despair (2Cor. 4.8). We have hope, which is why we are not crushed nor in despair. It is a tragedy for those who have no one to help them up. For those in a relationship with Jesus Christ, we carry the love, rescue and comfort of God. We can strive all our lives to put our hope in a man or substance. Yet this is false hope, that will never, never yield Life that brings true healing, fulfillment and peace. This kind of fulfillment God gives never runs dry and never fades. Everything else in life is temporary and futile. It is amazing to be loved by God, who comforts us in all our tribulations (2Cor. 1.4). He is the God of all comfort and life. When you feel like your heart is not in it, or far away, this is when He is the closest. Let Him find you. Where you are. Just like playing hide and seek when we were kids; He will find you if you ask Him to. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose. May the God of all comfort be with you now. It’s my prayer for the both of us that we are found in the canopy of His care. “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And saved him out of all his troubles.” - Ps. 34.6 |
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August 24, 2008 Worship Pure and Pleasing to God A response is found in
Deuteronomy 12, where Moses is recording God’s instructions for worship. The
Lord is about to bring Israel into a new land. They are just
about to cross the Jordan, where God is commanding them to
take action as they occupy this new territory. The property is being controlled
by a people who worship false idols and pagan gods. Moses listens carefully to
God’s prior instructions, where He outlines the “blessings and cursing.” If the
people obey, they will be in the blessings of God; if they disobey Israel will fall outside of the Lord’s
hand. There is a distinctive choice
between obedience and sacrifice. We can choose to obey God on his terms, even
when we don’t think it makes sense. Obedience involves trust and faith. This
was the attitude that God desired for Moses and the people. This opportunity
involved two other things: change and growth. Change takes courage and growth
takes nurturing. The Lord said to Moses: 12:3 When God brings us to a new place
in our growth, he does not desire for us to remain in the old (2Cor. 5:17). He does not want us to even
worship in the way “things were,” but rather, He wants us to focus on “what
is,” and who He is. When we cling on to the former things, we cannot embrace
the newness that God desires to give us. He is a God of blessing not defeat.
His nature is to give not take. His character is to love not refuse. The Lord did not want any
reminders of the old ways and disobedience in worship, nor did he want the
Israelites to fall into the temptation of worshiping other gods. The people had
to destroy the former things so they may not be reminded nor tempted to evil,
but they were to inherit the full blessings of God. There are no two ways about it.
God calls us to grow and be formed into the image of Christ (Eph. 2:10). We cannot move forward while
looking back or holding onto the past. You are a new creation in Christ, the
old is gone the new has come. Now, go in the direction of His voice. What land or blessing has God
called for you today? What are the old sacred “things” that God is tugging at
you to destroy in order to obey Him? May our worship be pure and pleasing to
Him through the act of obedience.
June 24, 2008 My
friend, let us comfort one another with the hope of Christ and from the
strength of the Word. From our hearts, may our worship be drawn upon fresh
waters of peace that flow like streams in the desert to provide for others: Heavenly Father of All: we are poor and needy and search for You in our dry and
thirsty lands. Jesus: You are the Source that beautifies our very existence far better than
the flowers of the field and the birds of the air. Move in us to share your wealth
with others. move in us to provide for those who cannot provide for themselves. Wonderful
Counselor: thank You for your peace that surpasses our understanding, while you
guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Living Water: we return not just
for a drink, but to be immersed in Your River of life that washes us
continually.
September 30, 2008
What In The World?
Most
people do believe in God, but like the early Israelites, because we
cannot see Him, it’s harder to reconcile the peace of God in a world of
hate. Therefore, the world rejects God and defaults to finding hope in
man through temporary solutions. On the contrary, faith is the
evidence unseen. We do witness God’s love and compassion through the
Word and see his effects through people, events and prayers. This world
is definitely in pain and we see horrible events around our country and
world. But as a people, where is our hope? Who is more constant and
unchanging? What is the power that saves us? When does our fear turn
into faith? How do we find hope, peace and love in a world of chaos?
These are some of the questions I was asked by an atheists friend. Yes,
a friend. If we are true disciples we are lovers of both our neighbors
and strangers. My friend was bombarded by the hurt, evil and
destruction seen in this world. He actually told me he wanted to shut
out the world, move on an island and build a bomb shelter.
His
whole point was to save yourself because no one nor God will. I was
stunned by his emotion. I was not stunned by his reasoning. I felt that
he was right in the first half of his sentence - not putting your hope
in people. The destruction of our world is horrible and does appear
void of hope – especially trying to find that hope in a man. I shared
with him how I understand why he feels the way he does. I see the same
spread of hurt and violence that bothers me as well. I mentioned that
sometimes, I want to build a shelter away from the evil of the world
myself.
My friend was obviously hurting and
was trying to resolve the matters in his terms, by running away and to
hide. He was shutting off the world by cutting-off himself. But there
was a bigger thing that bothered me. He was really running away from
God – not the world.
True, if we take the world at face value,
it offers us nothing eternal. All the turmoil we see on the earth is
enough to hide our eyes and turn away. It is impossible in our own
attempts to save the world from its problems. People for eons have been
trying to “save the world,” or make a "change" but no human ever has
resolved all of humanity's issues – ever! When trying to resolve one
problem, we move to another only to find that our previous repair has
been breached. This is like going through one broken band-aid after
another, until our supply is empty. I could (still can) see why my
friend felt so strongly in his reasoning and emotion.
A
curious thing happened. A change in the air was experienced. You could
feel the winds of fury dying. A clearing was taking place, like a
beacon in the stormy night to a stranded sailor. I listened to this
man; his voice began to change. He quieted his tone. The sails of his
anger were coming down. He whispered to me in a still small voice that
said: “thank you.” I was stunned again. I asked him why. He explained
by saying that he just needed someone to listen. He needed someone to
validate his feelings, rather than to disagree and argue.
He was afraid that he might appear
“ungodly” or “crazy,” in the perspective of other people. I sided with
him in letting him know that it's only human to experience these
feelings. When we get older, somehow we become too adult to "feel," and
shrug-off our emotions because either we were told by somebody else:
"we shouldn't feel that way," "you're a grown up," or the
hollier-than-thou statements like: "you should pray more, read your
Bible and act holy." While the later statements reflect things we do to
grow in our relationship with God - they are good, but in the moment of
pain they are not as helpful. Sometimes (more than others) we need to
grieve. Look at Job when he lost everything. He was miserably
distressed. Oh, and look what happened. His friends came around the
corner, insisting and questioning that he was in some sort of sin that
caused this calamity. Is that really the way to treat a friend? But we
do this, even to strangers.
God has built us with certain
emotions. The beauty, is how our emotions are guided back to His
presence by the His gentle hand. He rescues, restores and renews our
entire being. In receiving His care, we find peace, healing and love
from the hurt in the world and the hurt within ourselves.
Back
to my friend. His experience and fears only reinforced his anxiety and
reactions. Here’s the fact: my friend was only reflected how others
were treating him (like Job's friends). People can be very cruel.
Another truth is: God is very angry over sin and the ways of the world
– shutting Him out, casting him aside. See, I began to understand that
the more we truly listen to people, we are truly loving them. Empathy
and compassion or actions and reflections of God's love. People see the
invisible hand/love/care of God as He is working through you. God is
truly revealing himself. Isn’t this what Jesus meant, when he said
“they will know us by our love?” (Jn. 13:35).
Many times people
claim: "where is God? If He were here, why doesn't he defeat the Devil
and all of evil now." Again, it's human to question. It's faith to see
that God is here as He works through His people. No the people who
claim to be His and act like Job's friends, but the ones who live in
complete honesty, sincerity and frailty whose difference is the
authentic love of Christ working living in them. We do not understand
the ways of God. He never asked us to understand, He asked us to trust
Him. Unlike our earthly fathers who have failed us, God has never
failed us, even when it came to His own Son's death and Resurrection.
As a people, we have failed each other and God. I am thankful, that God
does not reject us in the way the world does.
Where and how do we find the love of God?
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Where do we find Life and acceptance in Christ?
"I
have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this
world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the
world." Jn. 16:23
Rhythm of Life
The Scriptures
say that God’s mercies are new every morning (La. 3:22-23). We experience the freshness
of God each day because He is working within us. God constantly brings us to
new places as His desire is to mold us into the image of Christ. How do we
respond to his call when part of us wants to move ahead, yet we want to stay in
what is familiar?
Det. 12:2
Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains and on the hills and
under every spreading tree where the nations you are dispossessing worship
their gods.
Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and burn their Asherah poles
in the fire; cut down the idols of their gods and wipe out their names from
those places. 
Scripture and Prayer
17 "The poor and needy search for water,
but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
But I the LORD will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake
them.
18 I will make rivers flow on barren heights,
and springs within the valleys.
I will turn the desert into pools of
water,
and the parched ground into springs.
19 I will put in the desert
the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and
the olive.
I will set pines in the wasteland,
the fir and the cypress together,
20 so that people may see and know,
may consider and understand,
that the hand of the LORD has done this,
that the Holy One of Israel has created
it.
- Isaiah 41:17-20.
37 “On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud
voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever
believes in me, as[c] the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow
from within him." - John 7:37-38.
Almighty Triune God:
Thank you that you are the Sustainer and Provider for our lives. When we are in
need, You supply for our thirsty souls, when we are weary you strengthen us and
when we are broken, you bind us together again.
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Copyright 2008, Worship Team Training: Workshops and Resources to Inspire, Create and Transform the Leading of Worship.