The Aroma of Waiting

So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. (Isaiah 30:18 NLT)

Waiting is hard...I don't particularly like waiting!  It's not that I shy away from the process of a challenge or new ideas but I also like action and resolution. Waiting is especially hard when it is in silence.  Am I supposed to be doing something or perhaps nothing and if so what direction should I or shouldn't I take?  If I'm not careful my mind will go into overtime seeking direction when the only direction I'm to be taking is...waiting.  

The act of waiting can be the difference between microwave cooking and crock-pot cooking.  There are advantages to both but depending on the end result sometimes one is better than the other.  

Microwave cooking is quick and always has the background sound of the microwave working.  

Crock-pot cooking is silent and would seem as though nothing is happening until the wonderful aroma of whatever is slow cooking starts to permeate the room.

I usually make roast beef in my crock pot with plenty of onions, garlic and other seasonings and veggies.  Raw onions and garlic are too potent and bitter for my taste but when mixed with the roast and slow cooked all day their flavors soften and enhance an amazing taste to the beef.

Life's heartaches and trials are like onions and garlic; left raw they are offensive, burning, bringing  tears at times; and if not dealt with we can give off a horrible smell to those around us.  But when we allow the Holy Spirit to work through them in our hearts amazing lessons and compassion adds flavor and aromas that draw others to his grace and mercy.  This takes time...waiting.

It is in the waiting our hardened hearts receive the tenderizing of 'Holy Spirit slow cooking' in order for the extravagant grace and mercy of God to be seen (smelled) in the world around us.

In waiting comes the promise, "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3 NLT)

May we not be in such a hurry for quick fixes that we miss the sweet aroma Christ is trying to produce in us through our waiting times.

Seasonal Planting

I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ (Hosea 10:12 NLT)

I love living in an area where we can enjoy all four seasons!  It is exciting seeing green sprouts bursting forth from cool earth; planting a new garden; color replacing brown and barren landscapes; the smell of first mowed grass; chats with neighbors; long walks; and sitting on the deck under the warmth of the sun.  

Fall brings gorgeous hews of warm colors; cool, crisp and invigorating days filled with energy to prepare for the hardness of winter; fall harvest festivals; and the anticipation of Holidays spent with family and friends. Winter brings times of rest from outside projects and focusing on inside projects and the warm glow of the fireplace while snuggled under my blanket on the recliner reading or watching a movie with a hot cup of cocoa or tea. 

The seasons of our lives are very much in sync with the seasons of the earth.  We plant seeds in the spring/summer of our lives when we are young, fresh, rejuvenated, and ready to face any storm that might be on the horizon. Those seeds could be times of investments in preparing for marriage; or in raising our young children; or spending time navigating young family life with other couples.  As in the springtime, we may not see the immediate results of these plantings but the seeds of investments are ready to spring forth from the dead casings they have been in. 

Other times we are in the fall/winter of our lives when we are exhausted and weary from the weeds-trials that have grown in our lives among our good crops sewn. The elements of trials and heartaches beat down on us sometimes to the point of surrender. Children gone astray, marriages falling apart, loss of elderly parents or of spouses can become part of the barren landscape of our winters.  Yet as with winter wheat* this is the perfect environment needed for trust and faith to take root in our hearts.

Our summer soil (hearts) need just the right amount of sun and rain so new growth can take place from new seedlings and ones planted for the future. Too much heat burns the crop; too much rain drowns and rots the seed.

Our winter soil (hearts) can become hard from the distance of the suns warmth and the snow and ice. Yet the coldness & snow is needed to help insulate the roots of bulbs resting that have yet to produce once the thawing starts in the spring.

My point is there can be growth in any season we are in. Growth comes from struggles, hurts and pain that can at times become unbearable to stand under...alone.  Seeds have to struggle to burst forth from dead protective casings of fear and hopelessness. Our struggles provide the perfect environment where the painful toiling of the Holy Spirit can bring life back into our hearts if we let him.  

The life lessons we learn through the toiling cannot be taught through a book or observing others.  Personal harvests produces peace and contentment out of bitterness, hope replaces discouragement, and rest replaces strife and anxiousness.

In all seasons, Lord, may my heart be pliable soil so the fruit of your spirit may take hold, deeply rooted so the storms won't destroy the crops you want to harvest in my life. Keep the weeds of complaining and bitterness from taking root and strangling the work you are trying to do in my heart. May the harvest be 100 fold for your glory and honor.

*Winter wheat is a crop plant that is cultivated from September to December in the Northern Hemisphere. Winter wheat sprouts before freezing occurs, then becomes dormant until the soil warms in the spring.  It is ready to be harvested by early July.   Without this wheat we wouldn't have the flour used for making breads since it is a heartier wheat.

A supernatural heart

Watchman Née said in his book The Normal Christian Life[i]:

The heart, God says, is "desperately sick" (Jer 17:9) and he must do something more fundamental than cleanse it: he must give us a new one. We do not wash and iron clothing that we are going to throw away...the flesh is too bad to be cleansed it must be crucified."

God said in Ezekiel 36:26, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you."

God didn't come to save our flesh yet so much time and energy is spent on our flesh. The cosmetic, diet/exercise and medical businesses are billion dollar enterprises that help us feel good and some changes are even beneficial for our health.  I thank God for the wisdom and creativity he has give to those in the medical profession for life threatening diseases and surgeries. God created us with a desire to fight off illnesses and diseases lest we easily give up and die.

We all want to look and feel our best.  Our bodies are the instrument through which we live in this world...we need our bodies.  But could the need for constant self improvement have its root in wanting to satisfy our spiritual hunger and desires our own way?  If we could change the outer appearance to get a sense of accomplishment or receive recognition would that truly satisfy the deeper longing?  Lasting change starts from the inside out.  Lasting change starts with not a renewed or laundered heart, but a new heart...a new spirit within us.  

God can't live in a heart that is partially clean or filled with greed, self pride, deceit, lies, anger, self inspired morality, drunkenness, quarreling, and lust.  These hearts have no room left for him.  A new heart comes with God's presence which is the opposite of our 'self natured' heart.  His presence fills our hearts with endless love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

How does this happen?  It isn't a physical heart transplant but a spiritual. No man in and of himself can accomplish this transformation.  Our part is recognizing we can't do enough good deeds or recite enough religious prayers or liturgies or be morally good enough to clean or fix a broken heart. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. (Psalms 51:17 NLT) 

No one has ever physically witnessed one of these heart transplants, but the proof is demonstrated through the outward expressions and life changes of the recipients.  Jesus said, "A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. (Luke 6:45 NLT). This will give proof of what condition our hearts are in...the old natural heart or the new transplanted heart.

Once the new heart is received and the old natural heart tries to rear its ugly head (make no mistake it will!), this new heart is able to be cleansed with the 'soap' of the Holy Spirit because the contents are not filled with the old ways but the new ways of God.

No one is ever beyond hope of receiving this new heart. So which heart will speak and act through you and me today?

---

[i] The Normal Christian Life, ©Angus I Kinnear 1957 by Gospel Literature Service, Bombay, India

Shoes of Peace

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. (Ephesians 6:15 NLT)

I've often wondered exactly what Paul meant about putting on peace as shoes. What does that look like?  In the Roman world in which Paul lived shoes were made of soft pliable leather. Sandals were made of stiffer material such as wood or cane for rougher wear on long journeys. 

Shoes are used as a protection for our feet as we move around. The purpose of our feet is to give support and balance; transport us; help us move; assist in standing; absorb shock when we jump; and to hold up to one-half our body weight (not sure what happens to the other half!?)

As believers we are to put on the whole armour of God everyday in order to resist the enemy (6:13), still be standing firm after the battle (6:13), and to be fully prepared (6:15). 

So what does all this have to do with "putting on peace as shoes"?  Just as our feet were designed to be the shock absorbers for our bodies, the Peace from the Good News was meant to be the shock absorber in our lives.   

We think peace comes after the battle when in reality we must have peace to enter the battle and that can only come from already being absorbed in the Good News before the battles come. 

Then the peace that comes from the Prince of Peace, Jesus, will be our balance, our upholder, and our shock absorber. 

May my life and my days would be absorbed by his peace and not contention. As Paul's shoes were soft and pliable may I be pliable in Gods hands-not stiff fighting your purposes for my life.  Help me today Lord to rest in you so I will be an instrument of your peace wherever my feet may take me.  Only then will I be fully prepared to live in this world. 

Valued Talents

Close your eyes and it would seem the very angels from heaven are on stage when Susie sings.  When Pastor Smith preaches his eloquence demands attention and people are moved by his words.  The audience is taken back to another place in time when Sarah portrays the woman at the well feeling her anguish and then hope. Joe starts tickling the ivories and the whole church is brought to its feet in adoration of the amazing God we serve.  Music moves the heart and soul when nothing else can.

Ever feel like you can't sing, preach, teach, act, or play an instrument like _________?

How can God use me, I have no talent in these areas?  

While the above mentioned talents may bring us to an emotional awareness of God these 

aren't the only avenues God works through.  It's time we lower the bar in comparing and raise the bar in expectations. 

Jesus gives us two parables using the illustration of receiving talents and then investing them in Luke 19:11-27 and Matthew 25:14-30. Matthews’s parable connects to the following verses describing all nations and people gathered to the Son of Man to give an account of what they did for him and how they invested what he gave them on earth.

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ (Matthew 25:31-40 NLT)

Notice how Jesus didn't ask what sermons were preached, songs sung or played, or even what favorite biblical character was portrayed. 

 

Here is the good news! These are the valued talents God has given to everyone.  We all have the opportunity and time to invest in someone everyday--no special abilities required other than an open and willing heart to be used.  

Comparison game gone, all are equally equipped. Expectation levels raised because the human touch accompanied with God's touch will always bring interest from the investment.

For the most part these talents are void of public accolades so if you and I are looking for recognition might want to choose a different path. 

  

Lord, help me not to get caught up in the comparison game. It is so easy to do because my flesh cries out for recognition. Help me to realize these talents are from you and you are expecting interest from the investment...for your honor not mine.  Today, may I be aware of those around me needing a touch of your grace in their lives.  

Family barnacles

Jesus asked, “Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17, 18 NLT)

Sometimes it takes the deeds or insight of an outsider to return value to a family, or family member, lost through years of fighting and misunderstanding. Senses become dull. Instead of appreciating individual differences and uniqueness we become intolerant of one another. 

Pride, selfishness and the dulling of senses can become like barnacles to a ship in a family. If barnacles are allowed to accumulate on a ship's hull, the ship will travel slower in the water, or it will have to burn more fuel to keep up its speed, than it would otherwise. A six month growth of barnacles can result in having to burn 40 to 45 percent more fuel to maintain cruising speed.  

As with the decrease in a boats speed from barnacles, it will take more and more effort to interact in a family consumed with the barnacles of pride, selfishness and hurt moving them away from healthy relationships to where intolerance is the standard.

Sounds like this was what was happening within the Jewish religious family. Leaders were consumed with pride in their positions, members were intolerant of anyone who wasn't a 'real' Jew.  It took an outsider, a dreaded Samaritan* to react in the manner the other nine family members should have.  

All ten were healed through their obedience to the command (vs 14), but the foreigner had something the others didn't...a thankful heart.  A grateful heart will always see beyond duty and obligation, and beyond pride and self.

*Non-Jewish people who partially adopted the Jewish religion, were never accepted by the Jewish people as one of them, and eventually became antagonists of the Jews. Originated about 700-600BC

The Three Stooges

Remember this picture? Moe, Curly and Larry otherwise known as the The Three Stooges. They were an American vaudeville and comedy act featuring slapstick comedy. Their antics brought laughter and comic relief to many people from 1925-1970.

They personified the definition of stooge: a performer whose act involves being the fool of a comedian's jokes.

For some reason they came to mind while reading the following scripture:

Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? (Galatians 3:2, 3 NLT)

You might be thinking, "what does this have to do with the Three Stooges?"  

Just as they were the butt of many jokes and crowds of laughter, have we in western Christianity unknowingly aligned ourselves to the following world views that would make us appear to be like the three stooges?

Enlightenment..."All religions lead us to God, open your minds to new ways."

Apathy..."There is nothing we can do, just keep hoping for the best."

Tolerance..."Everyone has a right to live the lifestyle and make choices that 
                      are best for them.  We should accept all people and support
                      their decisions."        
          

The Three Stooges, if you will.  

Have these three world views infiltrated the gospel diluting its power today? 

Just as the acronym for these three suggests we have tasted, chewed and swallowed their poisonous promises resulting in a death sentence to how we are to be representing the power of Jesus Christ in our world today.

When we start believing the truth and living as Jesus did: not in condemnation of unbelievers (but showing grace); sharing the truth of the gospel (not our religious traditions); giving of ourselves (not just our checkbooks); and standing up to the hypocrisy of religion THEN the veil of the Three Stooges will be removed and we will witness people's lives changed through the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Paul said, "I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law (human effort) could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die." (Galatians 2:21 NLT italics added).

Human efforts alone will not bring lasting change or fill the void and longing in our hearts. Only the Creator of our hearts can fill us to completion.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NLT) Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. (Isaiah 46:9 NLT)

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. (Romans 1:16 NLT)

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:13, 14 TLV)

When we forgo the Three Stooge world view and not be ashamed of the power and truth of the gospel, then we will be the light and salt God has called us to be in our world today.