hmmm #2

Here we go with another "hmmm"

"If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate."

This was a re-quote someone used in a seminar, and I can't remember who the original person was who said this.

I've done some posts before about meditation, but I still find it hard to spend time thinking on the things of God without getting distracted. Sometimes to be honest I find it hard to concentrate until the end of a song we are singing because I have so many things going around in my head from the day.

There is plenty in the Bible about the kind of things we should be thinking about, here are 2 examples to start with:- Think about whatever is good, Store up God's word in your heart
In Matthew Jesus directly talks about not worrying

So why is it we prefer to worry than meditate?
Surely turning our thoughts Godwards would put things into perspective... and then there would be nothing to worry about!

some "hmmm" quotes

First of all, what is a "hmmm quote"? Well, it's a short quote which has a definite ring of truth to it so it makes you go "hmmm" and think some more about it.

The quote I have been pondering recently is this "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less"

I suppose that means that it is not proud to be aware of the gifts God has given you, and to enjoy using them for Him. Proud is when you get full of yourself about it and forget they are gifts from God.

We sang a song on Sunday with the beginning "I must decrease, He must increase. Increase in me Jesus. Increase till your life obscures my life" That could sound like just putting yourself down, but it's a quote from John the Baptist This guy had an amazing ministry, but when Jesus showed up John recognised who Jesus was and was willing to take second place. Not that John packed up being a prophet at that point, he kept on speaking up even though it mean Herod put him into prison and eventually chopped his head off.

I was also thinking about Mary, Jesus' mother. When the angel came to her to say she was going to conceive she didn't start braggging about it. She didn't freak out and refuse to do it. She accepted with humility the awesome news she had been given, and all through the years she stored up the precious things God showed her in her heart.

Paul talked about us being like earthenware jars. Very useful, very humble.Maybe that's what true humilty is about- just getting on with being used by God for whatever purpose he has called you to.

The best example of a humble person is Jesus. I don't think He was ever un-aware that He was the Son of God, but He did not show off or brag or pull rank, or use His position for His own benefit, not even a tiny bit when the devil taunted Him to do so. Check this out from Philippians about Jesus.

Issues

Someone ministered on this verse in the meeting this evening:

Proverbs 4:23 (New King James Version)
23 Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.

It made me think how the meaning of the word "issue" has changed.

In the biblical sense "issue" meant "fruit" as in the issues of your life being it's fruitfulness. So the verse would mean that from guarding your heart you would find spriritual blessing and reward.

In the modern sense "issues" are problems. So the verse reads as a warning to get your heart right and let God deal with you inside. If not, the things you will stumble over and the problems that will rear up and cause you to fall, will be the things from within you that you have not dealt with.

Interesting

Psalm 23

This is a very "nice" psalm. I have seen pictures of white fluffy sheep in green meadows under sunny blue skies.

Psalm 23 (New International Version)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

I was sharing about this at brotherhood at work, and the following things struck me about it:

God would not restore my soul if all was OK. We don't need restoring if we have not been through tough times.
It says I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Again this is about tough times,grief and death included. It doesn't say "I once walked" but is present tense ie this is a common and ongoing experience for us.
His rod and staff comfort me. Someone once said this was Jesus guidance but also His discipline. He defends us, and he also corrects us.
The table Jesus prepares speaks of covenant. It was at table that God made vows to men. It is at table in the bread and wine that Jesus asks us to remember Him. We remember Jesus in His suffering and sacrifice, and it is in the presence of our enemies, in the middle of the tough times, that He calls us to find Him in his broken body and spilled blood.
He does anoint our head with oil, the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Overflowing. Abundant. Not lacking. The power of God living in us in every situation.
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. We attempt to demonstrate Jesus kingdom here on earth now. We will know the fullness of it eternally.

So... all in all I think it is really a battle psalm.
Christians are not exempt from the trials of life. Because of Jesus we do not go through them alone.

funerals

Funerals... not generally a favourite thing to go to... but I have been blessed to attend the funerals of two good friends.

Blessed to be able to thank God for his work in my friends' lives
Blessed to remember all they did for God.
Blessed to see all the different people who gather at these times to remember friends we love.
Blessed to know a closeness of God: His grace and His mercy and His faithfulness to us.
Blessed by all the friendships I still have.
Blessed by the covenant bond which means we do share each others pain and can also support each other.

Today I was humbled to see a leader who has a reputation for being a bit stern stood by the graveside with tears running down his face. It showed God at work in this brother that he really did love and was not afraid to let his grief show.

I used to say that I did not want anyone at my funeral who would not have sat with me in a meeting. I don't feel like that anymore. Jane and Danny both had many more people who loved them than they would ever have imagined. If we had talked about it while they were still alive, they would not have believed how many people would come to their funerals. If my life serves as a testimony to God, then as many people as want to can come.

Tribute

This is a tribute to some very good friends of mine:
Danny
Jane
Jerry

And also to others much loved and recently lost in our church
Paul
John
Pete

You'll have to excuse the pop video. The point is the lyrics
"Life is good, eternal life is better."

However gutted we might feel right now, our hope is to live eternally with God/Jesus in the next life.

However hard it is to keep going, life is short and we must not waste it. We need to live for Jesus while we can so there are no regrets left behind us.

I am blessed that Danny was right with God when he died. He is a brother who has had his struggles and strops, but I can testify that for a year I can only remember I strop. This is something we testified to before he died, not a "happy memory" that I have dredged up since then.
Whenever Danny ministered he would say "I put myself at the front of the queue on this one". Now he has beaten us all to the front of the queue and is with Jesus ahead of us.

Jane was one of those people who probably did not realise just how much she was loved and apreciated. I cannot claim to be one of her close friends, but she offered me an open ear and a supportive shoulder once when I was feeling the need of someone to talk to. I did not take her up on it, which is probably my loss and lack, but I did really appreciate her for that.

I have not known Jerry for years, we lived in Nottingham at the same time. Jerry encouraged me a lot when I was first choosing celibacy because he enjoyed worship and had a mystical streak in him, as I do.

role models

I was looking through some old copies of our church magazine, there was one article which reported on a stage item which I remember from when I first came around the church. This was a group of sisters sharing about how God had drawn them together from all sorts of different backgrounds and made them good friends in Jesus.



The thing that I noted about it was, the sister I most looked up to at the time was 35 when the article was written. That was about 17 years ago, when I was 18. This year I will turn 35, so I will be the same as as this sister who I considered "mature", "stable", "secure" and so on.

It's a bit scary to think I am now the same age as people I used to look up to when I was in my teens.
Part of me does not feel like I have been around the church that long. I certainly do not feel that "grown up".

I also wonder what I have actually achieved in all the years I have been in the church.
Or what am I doing with all the "experience" that comes with 17 years of covenant/community/celibacy/kingdom employment.?

It also makes me think along the lines "Am I living the life I claim to?", "Is the life I am living what I really want to be doing?", "Am I really achieving what I want to in life?"

encouraged

I was helping someone in another department at work yesterday 'cos they had a load of rubbish to clear up and were anxious to get on with another job. Also, we have had a mouse so I wanted rid of the rubbish to be sure of getting rid of the mouse.

Anyway... we were chatting about this and that and the brother asked me "Are you a celibate?". "yes, I am" I replied. "I thought so" he said "you are too happy not to be".

That so encouraged me because so often I think I am just stressed and moody at work. I don't like myself the days when it seems all I do is nag and correct people and hassle them to get the work done. I was encouraged that someone does see something different sometimes.

Vision

We were singing this song on Sunday:-

I can hear the sound of a rising generation
Not afraid of love or dreaming of the future
They talk about Jesus and the good things He's done
Fling wide those gates, let's see His Kingdom come...

Then someone returned a book to me with this poem in

The way of God (David Adam from The Glory of Light)

When I walk in the shadows
Unsure of my way
When I fail to see the beauty
Or the wonders about me
Come, Lord, guide me into light
Show me the way to walk in.

Lord, go before me and lead me
Let me follow in your steps
Then let me boldy venture
Rejoicing in all about me
Reveal to me the way of holiness
And the glories of your creation

The line in the song which struck me was "not afraid of love, or dreaming of the future".
When I feel discouraged then I do not feel brave to love. By this I don't mean that I don't love anyone, but I stop taking the risk of reaching out to new people or deepening relationships that have begun.
When I feel encouraged, I easily find inspiration both for the future and for things I am already involved in, I am keen to try things and take risks. Life is exciting when you can see God leading the way.
The poem sums all this up so well. In times of doubt I need God to lead me, to go before me, to give me courage to be brave and to enjoy what is ahead.

Life should have excitement and adventure in it. Not that it can always be like that, 'cos daily routine is obviously routine. But as it says somewhere in the Bible "without vision the people perish".
So, hold fast to your hope, your vision, and encourage each other too 'cos it is often through each other that encouragement or discouragement come

Tree of Life

In one of the proverbs it says "a desire fulfilled is a tree of life"

I was thinking about that at work recently as I was making some bread. I have really enjoyed myself doing this because I find food science really interesting, and making my own method has meant I can get the grey cells working again and put some of what I remember into practice. The fact the bread also worked out well and tastes good is a bonus.
The proverb is probably talking about deeper things than enjoying baking. But, I think it is good to do things you enjoy. It is good to express the creativity or talents God has given you.
If we limit ourselves and never step off the treadmill then we become dull grey robots. If we often try new things, or spend time in creation, or enjoy the skills God has given us, then we become people who are free to try things out in the spirit too, people who are ready for "God adventures".

walking on solid ground

I was listening to this song on a CD in the car on the way home:

"I fall on You because everything else is insecure
I trust in you for You are awesome, yes you are"

This made me think that life is a bit like walking on uneven ground or balancing a beam, where you need someone strong alongside you to lean on, someone who is not going to wobble or fall when you need them.

Then I thought "why walk on the wobbly ground at all?" I mean, if Jesus is standing where the ground is secure, then why not walk arm in arm with Him?
If I was going for a walk with someone, I would prefer to be alongside them, maybe even arm in arm with them, rather than concentrating on the balancing act of picking my own wobbly path.

the mystery of redemption

I have been having a bit of a theological discussion with someone recently, it was provoked mostly by this verse from the hymn "and can it be"

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

To me this seems like, until Jesus had died, angels did not understand redemption.
This was explained to be quite right, because angels are in heaven where there is no sin, so they do not know the pain of separation from God caused by sin.

Somehow Satan did sin, and God had to throw him out of heaven. There is no redemption for fallen angels. I don't understand why not, but maybe having once been in heaven there is no excuse for sin, and no redemption possible.

Anyway... if the angels (and satan) now see that mankind has been redeemed by Jesus, I guess that is why satan opposes us so much? He once knew heaven, but now knows his end is eternal destruction. God's grace to fallen humanity must be the most horrible thing to him as he cannot share in it.

Acquired by God

My friend's husband was baptised tonight, it has taken him a long time to make this decision so it was a very meaningful and much prayed for occasion.
In the afternoon I txt someone about this, but when I entered "baptised" on predictive txt it came up with "acquired".
I thought this was very apt. He has been acquired by God. He has transfered. He no longer belongs on the other side any more and now belongs fully to the Kingdom of God.
That is awesome.

Gossip

Quite a bit has been said about gossip recently.
I have noticed how much information gets passed on "in your best interests to know" or "in strictest confidentiality" or "just for prayer of course".
This does incline me not to talk about some things 'cos I do not want the whole world knowing.

I know someone who is very confidential about things that have been shared with them. Even to the extent of not confirming that a word of knowledge about the situation is correct.

Someone else gave the illustration of lions in Africa which were being poisoned. The problem was traced to a herbicide the farmers were using on the grass, which the deers ate but were not affected by the chemicals, and then when the lions ate those deers the herbicide was poisonous to the lions.
The herbicide is like information that is not intended for us. It might not harm the person who passes it on to us, but it will harm us.
It might cause us to form an opinion which is not helpful. It might undermine what we think of a third person. It might tempt us to sin. It might make us aware of something we are better not knowing about.

I need to be careful what I do and do not say. Even if something is true I do not always need to say it. And so what if people will find out anyway... they don't have to find out because I have gossipped.

a rotten plant

Our room is quite dark, so I have to be careful when I water my plants 'cos if they do not get enough light the water just sits there and they go rotten. That has happened to a couple of plants I had.

On Sunday evening in the meeting I felg God speaking to me about that.
It was like He was pointing out that if we receive the water of the Holy Spirit we need to walk in the light and draw on that water to make us grow.
If we are watered and then sit and do nothing, or go back to things of the darkness, then the water will be like rotteness within us and we will die.

One of the plants that went rotten was a cactus. It would have been quite happy not to have been watered- it is meant to be able to cope with dryness. That kind of said to me that it is better not to receive the Holy Spirit than to be fake about it. If we are real and say "God, I am dry, I need you" then He can work in us and we will drink up the water of the Holy Spirit. If we are not bothered, but think we better go through the motions, then we end up stagnant and that is worse than being dry.

Lord of Glory

This is a poem/prayer from the book "Glory of Light" by David Adam which someone bought for me:

Lord of glory and holiness
I bow in wonder before you
I cannot capture the sunrise
How can I contain you?
I am unable to grasp the wind
How can I hold on to you?
Nowhere near touching the stars
How can I reach out to you?
God of deep mystery
Beyond our imagining
You reach out to us
You touch our lives
Still my mind and heart
That I may reflect your glory

I like this because it puts us into perspective. God is awesome and vast and way out of our reach. Yet He reaches out to relate to mankind, and though we are like lumps of clay He is able to display His glory through us.

It reminds me of the end of the book of Job.
There are chapters and chapters of philosophy and counselling and arguments and counter argument between Job and his friends who claim to speak for God. Then God shows up.
God speaks out of the storm and points out how He created everything, and controls the weather. God says "If you know as much as me, then you can question me about what is right or just". "If you can answer my questions, then I will agree with you that my justice and judgements are wrong and will let you be saved by your own efforts"
Jobs answer to God is full of humility, he realises that Gods plans and ways are far above human understanding, and he repents of having challenged God.

Our lives are so full of works for God sometimes, we are used to the Holy Spirit and presume we can speak for God. It is good to pause, to be humbled by God's awesomeness and to listen.

Speaking in Tongues

At the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of August we were encouraged to speak in tongues for 10-15 minutes every day until the Sheffield meeting (which is next week now).
I have tried to do this, but not always managed it, and it has varied from being a slog to being an amazing experience.

Someone once said that speaking in tongues too much was not a good thing 'cos it only built yourself up and did not help the body.
That seems to be an odd thing to say 'cos surely the more inspired members the body has, the more healthy it is?
The more used we are to getting in touch with our spirit and with the Holy Spirit the more we will have to contribute to corporate spiritual life.

Another time someone else said they liked to pray in tongues 'cos it is a heavenly language, given by God, so whatever you pray in tongues must be in the spirit and must be the right thing to pray for the occasion 'cos it is God's words you are praying!

Anyway, I was thinking about the discipline of all praying in tongue, and about how much power it must be having in the spiritual realm. It reminded me of when all the people of Israel went marching around Jericho everyday for a week, until on the last day they gave a big shout of praise and all the walls fell down.
I don't know for sure, but I would expect it took a bit of discipline and commitment to get everyone to do the marching, in silence, once around the city every day for 7 days, and then 7 times around on the 7th day.
The people must have had faith in God. Human nature would have grumbled and shuffled chattering around the city, and maybe not bothered to get out of bed after the third morning doing the same thing yet again.
The other thing was, on the 7th day, when Joshua gave the command to shout praise, they were ready, they were expectant, they shouted for the glory of God and when the walls came down they were ready to go in and take the city as God commanded.

So, when we have finished praying in tongues as God has asked us.... what are we going to see God do at Sheffield? Are we ready to shout for the glory of God, to see the strongholds fall, and take the victories God has in store?

Reflecting Jesus

When we were on Lindisfarne we visited a community for their lunchtime prayers, which were very sincere but left us feeling something was missing. We also visited a small church to look around. There was stuff there that had been inspired by radical men of God, but it was a dead building.

When we came outside we looked out and saw Cuthbert's island just off the shore, and the sun was reflected in the waves.

Beckie commented that is how we should be:

The sun itself is too bright and powerful to look at, but the water reflected the sun as we should reflect God. People should be able to look at us and see God. It's not about monuments and rituals, its about living and moving faith.

mixing religions

When we went to Lindisfarne we looked in a small church on the island. They had all sorts of leaflets and newsletters there for information. What really upset me was to find one describing how a group of Franciscans had gone on a retreat in Thailand with a load of Buddhists and were learning the Buddhist way of meditation. I stood there muttering under my breath "that is wrong, that is so wrong" until Beckie told me to shush. I admit I took the newsletter without paying for it as I intend to write and ask them what on earth they are up to. These people even had a symbol which was a cross and a lotus flower. I hate it.

So, what is the big deal? Is this just a bee in my bonnet? What is wrong with multi-faith stuff in our tolerant modern society.

Well. I reckon you either believe Jesus or you don't.
Jesus said "I am the Way and the Truth and the Light" "No-one comes to the Father except by Me".
That does not leave much room for other faiths does it?

Also, if there are other options, why did Jesus have to die?
In Gethsemane He prayed "Father, if possible, take this cup from Me". If God knew mankind could be saved just as well through Buddhist meditation I am sure He would have answered that prayer and sent angels to rescue Jesus.

Paul has stuff to say that is relevant to multi-faith stuff too.
He said you could not eat at the altar of demons and the table of the Lord.
He said don't be un-equally yoked to unbelievers.
He was harsh to the Galatians who had been adding other beliefs to the gospel they had been taught.

James said a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. What is more double minded than trying to marry two faiths?

It is not just Buddhist's I disagree with. I know Jesus is the way to God.
If I did not believe that I would not be a Christian.
As I do believe that I cannot accept that other faiths, whatever they may be, are "just as good".
I know Jesus and have chosen to give my life to Him.
What on earth these monks and nuns who have also given their lives to Jesus are thinking of, I cannot imagine.

Do you do church?

When we were away on Lindisfarne we saw a house which is used as a Christian retreat, and they had a notice up saying anyone was welcome to join them for noon prayers, so we did.

They had a very simple chapel, very small with about a dozen chairs and a driftwood cross at the front.
The service was all about the cross and about Jesus carrying our burdens. They had prayers for those with heavy burdens and for the needy ones in our society.
It was very lovely, and there was nothing I disagreed with, but it all came from a book.
When we came away we all felt that there was something missing.
They knew the form of Christianity, but we knew the life of it.
They prayed for the victims of society, we meet them and often live or work with them.

When I came home I found we had visitors, two lads were staying with us for the weekend. One has just found Jesus and the other says he is an atheist.
These lads fit in quite well really, they have a laugh with the other folk living in the house and they enjoy the culture and join in the worship on the noisy songs.
Something niggled me though.
I wondered, are we introducing these lads to Jesus, or just the Jesus Fellowship?
Do we want them to learn to do what we do? Or do we want them to find real faith in Jesus?

Wether it is following the prayers in the book
Wether it is fitting in with the scene
If we are just "doing church" we are missing the point.