One Opportunity at a Time

The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You've got to love both.

1 John 4:21  The Message

Through his example, Jesus shows us how to love one person at a time.  Jesus could only physically be with one person or group of persons as he walked this earth in his human body.  How did he love?  He didn't spend all night make to-do lists of which people he would show love to the next day.  He didn't have some kind of prioritization grid through which everyone who wanted his love had to pass.  He simply loved people as the opportunity arose during the normal traffic patterns of his life.....Consistent love can only be expressed one opportunity at a time.

  The Relationsip Principles of Jesus, Tom Holladay

During a conversation with some friends at lunch on Christmas, we discussed how many folks I know on the road on which I live.  I meet and talk with them as I walk (which I like to do as often as possible).  Sometimes it's just a quick hello but more often than not, the conversations turn to family or recent events in their lives.

I had a full day of cooking ahead since we planned to have our "big" family dinner the day after Christmas, but felt the need to get outside for a brief walk that morning.  Usually, my walk is with Zoey, Kelsey's dog, toward the farm at the end of the road.  That morning, I decided to walk the other way since Zoey was snuggled up with Kelsey, who was sleeping late.

As only God could do, I ran into a neighbor that was outside moving dirt to make a new driveway beside his house.  I asked him the question that most of us would ask the day after Christmas, "How was your all's Christmas?"  When he answered "terrible", I was caught off-guard.

Sadly, his sister who lived in Georgia was murdered by her husband.  His brother discovered her body and the body of her husband (murder-suicide) the weekend before Christmas.  Oddly enough, I had already heard this story at a gathering on Christmas day, but did not know that it was the sister of my neighbor. As our neighbor recounted the story, I was moved to tears (as anyone would be).  When I asked what I could do for them, he said, "just pray that we will be able to make it through".  God taught me long ago to never walk away from a prayer request, so we prayed together with the dirt-moving machine running right in the middle of the road.

I don't think it was a coincidence that I felt that little nudge to take a walk that morning.  I know that God wanted to pour out His love to my neighbor that day. It had little to do with me (How could I possibly say or do anything that could console someone at a time like that?) but had everything to do with God using me to be his hands, feet and heart.....one opportunity at a time.

Dear Lord, Help me to recognize those opportunities that You provide each and everyday to share Your love. Help us to give way to Your love in our lives so that it can be given to those we meet everyday.  Immanuel-God with us!

He Never Gives Up.....

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me,your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:7 - 10

Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away.

So he said to his mother, “I am running away.”
"If you run away,” said his mother, “I will run after you.
For you are my little bunny.

This passage in Psalm 139 always reminds me of the book by Margaret Wise Brown, The Runaway Bunny. I loved reading this book to my girls when they were younger.  I have to wonder if the author had this passage in mind when she wrote the book because it is a wonderful analogy of how God pursues us, no matter where we are in life.

This morning while I was reading Ann Spangler's devotional, Praying the Names of God, I ran across the fourth century prayer called St. Patrick's Breastplate:

Christ be beside me, Christ be before me,

Christ be behind me, King of my heart;

Christ be within me, Christ be below me,

Christ be above me, never to part.

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,

Christ all around me, shield in the strife;

Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,

Christ in my rising, light of my life.

Christ be beside me, Christ be before me,

Christ be behind me, King of my heart;

Christ be within me, Christ be below me,

Christ be above me, never to part.

Check out this beautiful rendition by Angelina: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJx_Lu4PymE

Dear Lord, thank you for never giving up on me and pursuing me throughout my life.  Help me to be aware of your presence as I pray the prayer above....Immanuel... God with us.

Just a Few Words....

The things we truly believe emerge day-to-day. It’s the conflicts over who makes the coffee, who cleans up the mess, who gets to go home early, or who gets the biggest piece of pie that test whether it is Christ who lives in us or if we’re still saying, “It is I who live.”

Growing with Purpose: Connecting with God Every Day, by Jon Walker

While I've had one of the best Advent seasons I can remember, Big Red is working hard to divert my attention to one small statement that I read on a facebook post. 

I've struggled over the last couple of years with feelings of being left-out of gatherings or events with people that I considered as friends. Those struggles have resulted in many sessions in prayers of forgiveness as well as lessons learned about being friends with those that might feel the same as I.  As a result of my prayers, God has sent people to me that have filled my heart with love and compassion in ways I could never imagine.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throught the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  1 Peter 5:6

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  Ephesians 6:11

So, as I begin this day, I will declare that God orders my day and is in control of my schedule. And, that Big Red will not win by using words to divert my attention (he is always scheming in ways that infuriate me once recognized)!

Thank you, Lord, that you have won the victory over evil. Thank you that we are not fighting flesh and blood (each other) but our struggles are with the evil one and that we have, with the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus, the means to overcome.  Help us to relinquish control of our lives (schedules) to those things that you would have us do. Amen

Immanuel, "God with us"—Jesus is the greatest of all the promises of God. In him God's promise to dwell with his people is fulfilled in a way that is more astonishing than anything we could have imagined. But there is more. We are not only to dwell with God but to be indwelt by him through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Praying the Names of God, Anne Spangler, December 18th http://www.crosswalk.com/

In whom you, with the rest, are united together as a living-place of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:22

Why does it feel so good to have everyone (family and/or friends) together in your home at the holidays?  What is it about their presence that gives us that feeling of warmth and happiness?

Most of those feelings come from reconnecting (usually through direct conversations) with those whom relationships are important or with those that we have shared some life experiences.  Those connections  and conversations strengthen our souls and give us a sense of belonging. 

I find that if we take the time to be "present" in conversations with others (whether family, friends or strangers), God uses His Holy Spirit to connect our hearts in ways we never imagined.  We can share God's love with others without even knowing it. 

There's been many times over the last several years that God has allowed me to leave a conversation or the visit with a friend with that feeling of warmth and fulfillment.  I have learned (through God's guidance) to slow down and keep my attention on the conversation at hand as well as be "present" without distractions or allowing my mind to race foward....I think some may call it "being in the moment". 

Not only can we have those moments with others (earthly beings), but God allows our hearts to connect with Him through the same type of experience...prayer. 

Immanuel, God with us, help me to be the living-place of Your Holy Spirit as I slow down and allow your Spirit to connect me with those that need to feel Your love.  Keep me mindful that You desire to be in a loving relationship with me through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

So, what present do I give Jesus?

I have been challenged to be more intentional about preparing my heart for Jesus during this Advent season. Over the past several weeks, He has been faithful in answering my prayer to give me opportunities to share His love.  As I review each day at night before I drift off to sleep, I have been blessed by recounting the day's activities and those times that were clearly orchestrated by God in response to my prayers.  Spending the night with a friend going through a divorce, a precious conversation with a elderly lady as she recounts some  memories of a friend that has just passed away and an opportunity to serve a group of ladies that are not in my circle of friends are just a few of those opportunities that have come my way.

As Christmas day quickly approaches and I finish my shopping for family and friends, I am challenged this morning to give thought and listen to what will be MY gift to Him. As only God can do, I am led to the following passage in Micah 6:6-8

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?  Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?  Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil?  Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?  He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  

After giving my heart to Jesus forty-four years ago, I will ask Him to help me offer these three as my gift to Him this Advent season. 

No Vacancy

There remains then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.  Let us, therefore, make every effot to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.  Hebrews 4:9-11

Observing a Sabbath rest makes us stop and in so doing contributes to our health and well-being. The commandment to rest reminds us that God created everything in six days and rested on the seventh day. If this is good enough for God, the injunction implies, surely it should be good enough for mere mortals. It also serves as a reminder to live humbly. We are not God. We are not called to "do it all." Albert Scariato, The Washington Post

see full article

http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/faithandhealing/2009/03/rest_a_pathway_to_physical_and.html

After an afternoon with my girls at the movies and then home for them to assemble the nativity (a yearly tradition), I realized that each of us had made a choice of what to do with our time.  As their mother, I was overjoyed that they had chosen to spend several hours with me.  With Kelsey in school and Caitlin with a life of her own, I realized that the choice to be together came with many sacrifices, which made it all the more special. 

Not only did we laugh and cry together (thanks to the movie), but I believe our souls rested in the love that we shared with each other. And, with that soul rest comes some actual physical results.  Those of you that in the medical field know that when our bodies are at rest, healing happens. 

So, how can we experience that healing for our soul without entering a Sabbath-rest?  For me, it's not a destination, but a journey...I like the way The Message translates this verse....

So, let's keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest.

Dear sweet Lord, help us to take time during this busy holiday season to experience the healing that happens when we rest and abide in Your love. Help us to make room in our hearts for You. Amen

Dancing Before Jesus

David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might,

while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord

with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 

2 Samuel 6:14

Worship with abandon is an intimate experience. A Heart Like His, Beth Moore

I love to watch people dance!  Obviously, from the ratings of shows like Dancing With the Stars, so do lots of others.  We've all watched with amazement how groups of people from all walks of life (yes, even a group of prison inmates) danced to Michael Jackson's, Thriller.  Ballet, jazz, swing, ballroom, hip-hop...it doesn't matter-I'm drawn to the way that the human body responds to the music.

So, if God made us in His image, why shouldn't dancing be a form of worship? There are several references to dancing in the Psalms. Growing up in a Baptist church, we were discouraged from dancing, which could explain my being drawn to that form of artistic expression.  But, as I worshiped God this morning, I imagined Him dancing with me...and then all those in heaven dancing together...using their bodies as a form of worship to the Holy One. 

Several years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a Prayer conference in South Alabama.  Since many of those in attendance came from a more charismatic church, the worship was much more expressive.  One of the songs they sang was, Dance with me, O Lover of My Soul.  As we sang together, with many dancing in worship to the Lord, I experienced a time of worship that was very intimate and moving.

Dear Lord, open my heart and mind to express my worship to you with abandon...

using my whole body.  I thank you for creating music of all kinds that draws us to worship You,

our Lord and King (and possibly, dance partner).  Amen

Dance with me, O lover of my soul, to the song of all songs

Romance me, O lover of my soul, to the song of all songs