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.

Gateway to our heart

David said "I will be careful to live a blameless life— when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly; I will have nothing to do with them. (Psalms 101:2, 3 NLT)

David knew our eyes are the gateway to our heart and what comes out of our mouth and through our actions reveal the condition of our heart. Would the Holy Spirit want to make his dwelling in my heart?  The Holy Spirit is not destitute that he must accept any condition for a home. He has the whole universe and beyond as a dwelling place.

It is at his prompting and revelation about our sinful nature to us that we accept what Jesus has done for us and ask him to make his dwelling in us. Through our submission to him He reveals our sinful nature to us and our hearts housecleaning begins.

And then he (Jesus) added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.” (Mark 7:20-23 NLT)

What happens after our hearts are cleaned is as critical as the prior acknowledgement they need cleaned.

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

How does this work in our life?

1.  We are made new because of what Jesus has done for us. Change must come from the inside out. Don't make the mistake of comparing yourself to anyone. (Romans 3:22)

            There is no such thing as good, better or perfect Christian no matter what gifts or works God has called us to do.  We are all equal in Gods eyes.  He is our standard to live by...no one else.

2.  Make the Word the foundation for transforming and renewing your mind from worldly standards to Gods. (Romans 12:2; 8:5-9) Read the word....meditate (think about it through out your day)...memorize the word...ask the Holy Spirit to make it real...learn how to apply it daily in your life through daily circumstances.

3. The Holy Spirit now lives within us teaching and bringing correction when needed. LISTEN!

            Becoming a new person means growth.  Growth comes through stretching, like the tearing of a muscle in body building.  Growth usually comes through trials. We were never promised a carefree life as a follower of Jesus. Quite the contrary because we now live in conflict with the values and morals of the world in which we live. (Romans 5:1-5)

4.  We are no longer under any obligation to sin or its power. All comes down to choice. (Romans 6, 7:14-8:1,12) Old habits can be changed to new healthy habits. Can't do it on your own, ask the Holy Spirit to help and he will!  Don't give up!!

5.  Live a joy filled life to safeguard your faith. 

            "Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith." (Philippians 3:1 NLT)

How? "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:6-9 NLT)

So what, or whom, is guarding the gateway to your heart and mine today?

Parable of the lost coin

Joanie came in to work Monday glowing and proudly extending her right hand out for all to see.  “Mark did it!  He finally asked me!”  Her excitement was contagious and congratulations were flooding the office!  The pride and excitement of becoming Mrs. Mark Benson was as brilliant as the sparkle in her ring.  “It needs sized but I couldn't bear to come in and just tell you what happened over the weekend without showing you!” Joanie said. 

We all wondered how she was ever going to keep her head below the clouds to get her job done that day!  Somehow she managed and the time came to go home. 

Unbeknownst to Joanie she went home that night but her ring didn’t.   While washing her hands at the end of the day the ring slipped off and went into the trash can with the paper towel.  Joanie, however, did not realize it until she was home.  Her shriek probably could have awoken the dead when she discovered it was missing.  She and Mark, who I might add took the announcement of the missing ring very well, rented a metal detector and went back to the workplace hoping the trash had not been dumped for the evening.

Worst case was realized when they saw the trash cans had been emptied in the building. They spent the entire evening scavenging through the dumpster in the back lot.  I can only imagine the sense of joy and relief when the ring was found…at the bottom of the dumpster!

Luke 15 is a chapter about precious items/people lost and then found in the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son (being the most familiar).  What we so often miss is they were not only found but were also restored.

Don’t know about you but I don’t think I’ve ever heard any sermons about the lost coin.  It must have had some significance or why would it be there?   

In biblical times and in some areas today when a woman marries the bridegroom gives her a wedding gift of 10 silver coins on a string.  These are usually worn as a headdress or even around her neck.

To lose or misplace any of these coins is considered carelessness in her lack of affection and respect for him.  Worse case it might even be thought that she purchased the affections of someone else which could result in divorce.  These coins were held to be very sacred[i] .

So what does that have to do with us today?  Simply put as followers/believers in Jesus Christ we are his bride awaiting his return.  He has given us not coins as a display of his affection and love for us but rather his life and the gift of the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a deposit (coin) promising his return.

As the bride in old days would probably touch the coins and cherish what they represent, do we today treasure what the Holy Spirit wants to do in our lives to prepare us for not only life here but our future life with Jesus Christ?  Do we actively seek him out as the woman searching for her lost coin?  Do we share with others our story of how we were lost, found then restored?  Do we celebrate with those around us what the Holy Spirit is doing in and through us or perhaps in and through them?

The parable of the lost coin is one of the shortest parables yet hidden in its meaning is immeasurable treasure if we take the time to find them.

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[i] Insights Into Bible Times and Customs by G Christian Weiss

No Vacancy

Summer time and vacations are upon us.  While we look forward to them, if we don't make plans ahead of time we will be faced with a lot of No Vacancy signs along the roads.

Could this be the imagery we think of when reading Philippians 3:13, “…I focus on one thing:  Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.  But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.”

You might be thinking, “Where is the No Vacancy in that??”

The purpose of a No Vacancy sign is to let those seeking lodging know there is no room at that particular establishment.  Our past is a guest refusing to accept the No Vacancy sign and keeps coming back looking for a place to stay.

Our memories can become entanglements preventing us from moving out of our past and letting go of unhealthy patterns or behaviors in order to make better decisions for our present and future.

To stay in our past can be strangely comforting.  While we don’t like the end results at least we know what to expect.

Paul tells us in the above passage it isn’t easy but he focuses on “forgetting and looking forward.”  This takes a conscientious effort and determination not to invite and entertain the past but rather celebrate the change that comes from moving out of the past.  Look at change as an unexpected rain shower in the middle of summer, cleansing, refreshing and invigorating.

Once we deny our past a home we must then renew….restore…refurbish…replenish…(get the point?) our minds with new.  How do we do that?

Paul puts it this way, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”(Philippians 4:7) 

To fix our thoughts means to determine and strengthen our thought process and this takes practice.

“Those dominated by the sinful nature (which could be our past and its affects*) think about sinful things (dwelling in our past*), but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.  But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.  But you are not controlled by your sinful nature.  You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.  Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.” (Romans 8:5,6,9,12) 

So when Mr. & Mrs. Past want to take up residence in your mind stand firm to the progress you are making.  You are under no obligation to let them in.  Flash the NO VACANCY sign and flex your thought/mind muscle on truth. 

*thoughts added