This is the story of the three brick layers.
The story goes, that three bricklayers were working side by side.
When asked, "What are you doing?", the first bricklayer replied:
"I'm laying bricks."
The second bricklayer was asked. He answered,
"Feeding my family."
The third bricklayer when asked the question,
"What are you doing?", responded,
"I'm building a cathedral."
Lord Jesus, as I surrender this day to you help me see my life with eyes of faith. As I surrender my vision of what my life should look like help me see the outcome with eternity in view.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Perspective,perspective perspective
It wasn't about my honor it was about His honor.
I woke up but I didn't want to get out of bed. I had discovered that someone at our church had used our absence to gossip about us. The hurt I felt was so deep. I didn't want to face the day and I didn't want to face anyone else either.
I lay there hurting but trying to pray. I was struggling to find the words. I decided to just say the words Jesus used when he taught his disciples to pray. "Our Father, who art in Heaven", the reality of these words intersected my pain. For a moment I just lay there letting the truth of having access to the throne of Heaven penetrate my mind. But Jesus didn't just give me access he gave me permission to approach the throne with the relationship of a child to her father.
"Hallowed be Thy name." Because of the gossip and slander that had occurred I felt dishonored. Suddenly, as I prayed I became aware of the truth. I wasn't praying ,"Hallowed be my name",I was praying," Hallowed be Thy name". Suddenly the focus of my prayer shifted. I began to pray that God would redeem the situation and use it to bring Himself honor.
In the Bible there are sacrifices that are put on the alter and God sends down fire to consume them as a sign that He has accepted what was offered. I had in prayer lay my humiliation on the alter and asked my Heavenly Father to redeem it and use it for His glory. I felt as if a ray from Heaven came down and my prayer was excepted.
When I saw the day through the lens of faith my view was altered. When I bowed in prayer before my Heavenly Father I received the courage I needed to face the day.
I woke up but I didn't want to get out of bed. I had discovered that someone at our church had used our absence to gossip about us. The hurt I felt was so deep. I didn't want to face the day and I didn't want to face anyone else either.
I lay there hurting but trying to pray. I was struggling to find the words. I decided to just say the words Jesus used when he taught his disciples to pray. "Our Father, who art in Heaven", the reality of these words intersected my pain. For a moment I just lay there letting the truth of having access to the throne of Heaven penetrate my mind. But Jesus didn't just give me access he gave me permission to approach the throne with the relationship of a child to her father.
"Hallowed be Thy name." Because of the gossip and slander that had occurred I felt dishonored. Suddenly, as I prayed I became aware of the truth. I wasn't praying ,"Hallowed be my name",I was praying," Hallowed be Thy name". Suddenly the focus of my prayer shifted. I began to pray that God would redeem the situation and use it to bring Himself honor.
In the Bible there are sacrifices that are put on the alter and God sends down fire to consume them as a sign that He has accepted what was offered. I had in prayer lay my humiliation on the alter and asked my Heavenly Father to redeem it and use it for His glory. I felt as if a ray from Heaven came down and my prayer was excepted.
When I saw the day through the lens of faith my view was altered. When I bowed in prayer before my Heavenly Father I received the courage I needed to face the day.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
When the yellow jackets swarm
All I knew was pain. I ran without direction driven by terror. I had stepped into a yellow jackets' nest.
That was many years ago when I looked down and saw my legs covered with yellow jackets but the memory still causes me to shiver. I was reminded of this yesterday when I felt like bees were buzzing around my head. They weren't literal bees. They were negative thoughts. Fear, anger, hopelessness, stung my mind. I am no longer a child. I have learned what to do when I am tormented by negative thoughts.
In the book of Ezra God's people are rebuilding the temple after they came back from captivity. The people around them set out to discourage them and make them afraid. They wrote letters to the king accusing them. They succeeded at bringing the work to a standstill. That is until Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet came on the scene.
It was as if these two prophets took the curtains of Heaven and pulled them back revealing God on the throne. Once they saw themselves with an eternal perspective they were filled with courage. The people set to work and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.
What I have learned over the years is that I am not at the mercy of the painful, hurtful things that happen in my life. Do they happen? Yes. Still, I am not at their mercy. I have a choice. One of the promises Jesus made was that He would send a Helper. He promised to send His Spirit and He did.
Haggai and Zechariah caused God's people to refocus. I too must choose daily to focus my mind on the truth of what God has done for me. I find new mercy every morning as I renew my mind according to His Word. I see the yellow jackets stinging my legs, I feel the pain, but with the hand of faith I knock them off.
Lord Jesus, here I am again. I am weak but You are strong. Show me today how to be strong with Your strength. Please redeem my sorrow and use it for Your glory.
That was many years ago when I looked down and saw my legs covered with yellow jackets but the memory still causes me to shiver. I was reminded of this yesterday when I felt like bees were buzzing around my head. They weren't literal bees. They were negative thoughts. Fear, anger, hopelessness, stung my mind. I am no longer a child. I have learned what to do when I am tormented by negative thoughts.
In the book of Ezra God's people are rebuilding the temple after they came back from captivity. The people around them set out to discourage them and make them afraid. They wrote letters to the king accusing them. They succeeded at bringing the work to a standstill. That is until Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet came on the scene.
It was as if these two prophets took the curtains of Heaven and pulled them back revealing God on the throne. Once they saw themselves with an eternal perspective they were filled with courage. The people set to work and the prophets of God were with them, helping them.
What I have learned over the years is that I am not at the mercy of the painful, hurtful things that happen in my life. Do they happen? Yes. Still, I am not at their mercy. I have a choice. One of the promises Jesus made was that He would send a Helper. He promised to send His Spirit and He did.
Haggai and Zechariah caused God's people to refocus. I too must choose daily to focus my mind on the truth of what God has done for me. I find new mercy every morning as I renew my mind according to His Word. I see the yellow jackets stinging my legs, I feel the pain, but with the hand of faith I knock them off.
Lord Jesus, here I am again. I am weak but You are strong. Show me today how to be strong with Your strength. Please redeem my sorrow and use it for Your glory.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Jack's door
"Jack, why do you have a shoe hanging on your door?"
Jack pointed out the other things he had hung on his door. At church they had talked about the armor of God. He had made a shield of faith out of cardboard; it hung on the door. He also had a wooden sword stuck in his back pack hanging on the door. As Jack pointed out the different items and why they were there, I smiled.
Doors lead somewhere. Jack's door reminds me of the truth of Ephesians 6:10-20. We are to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. The strength of the Lord is something I put on or forget to put on. If I fail to put it on. If I fail to put it on, I fail to stand against the schemes of the devil.
I had trouble with this yesterday. I forgot that I wasn't just wrestling with flesh and blood. I forgot that my real battle was with rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness. I forgot that Scripture tells me that there are spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. I left my armor hanging on the door and went into the world unarmed.
Lord Jesus, help me to be strong in the strength You give me. You have provided every thing I need to be more than a conqueror through You. Oh yes, and please help Jack to remember to always wear Your armor.
Jack pointed out the other things he had hung on his door. At church they had talked about the armor of God. He had made a shield of faith out of cardboard; it hung on the door. He also had a wooden sword stuck in his back pack hanging on the door. As Jack pointed out the different items and why they were there, I smiled.
Doors lead somewhere. Jack's door reminds me of the truth of Ephesians 6:10-20. We are to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. The strength of the Lord is something I put on or forget to put on. If I fail to put it on. If I fail to put it on, I fail to stand against the schemes of the devil.
I had trouble with this yesterday. I forgot that I wasn't just wrestling with flesh and blood. I forgot that my real battle was with rulers, against authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness. I forgot that Scripture tells me that there are spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. I left my armor hanging on the door and went into the world unarmed.
Lord Jesus, help me to be strong in the strength You give me. You have provided every thing I need to be more than a conqueror through You. Oh yes, and please help Jack to remember to always wear Your armor.
Friday, August 5, 2011
The key to the dungeon
I can't believe it happened again! This time Jack wanted not only me to go on his Plgrim's Progress, but his mother as well. Once more I was reluctant to leave the comfort of the couch for the journey into the woods.
Jack had been excited to see that I had written about my last journey with him, and he wanted to do it again. Into the woods we went. Deeper and deeper into the woods we went. "I added more,” Jack said. "I can tell,” I responded.
Suddenly, Jack stopped. "You are now in the dungeon of Giant Despair. Pretend it's dark and you feel hopeless and you can't see a way out." It wasn't that hard to pretend. I had been feeling that way all week. I did feel I was being held captive by something bigger than me, and I was having a hard time getting free.
Jack bent down and picked up a stick."This is the only key that can get you out of the giant's dungeon. This key is God's promises." I had forgotten. I had forgotten that I needed to meditate on God's promises. I had just been drifting with the situations that overwhelmed me. It took my eight year old grandson holding up a stick to set me free.
That night I was tucking Jack into bed. "You've been going through some hard things, haven't you?" Suddenly Jack looked very vulnerable and nodded his head yes. "Remember what you told me in the woods today about the key? It's true." I told him I would bring him a box of promises I had from God's word. "We can read one every night. It will help all of us stay out of Giant Despair’s dungeon."
Lord Jesus, I keep forgetting the things You’ve told me. I keep finding myself imprisoned by fear and doubt. Thank You for sending me an eight year old grandson who knew where to find the key.
Jack had been excited to see that I had written about my last journey with him, and he wanted to do it again. Into the woods we went. Deeper and deeper into the woods we went. "I added more,” Jack said. "I can tell,” I responded.
Suddenly, Jack stopped. "You are now in the dungeon of Giant Despair. Pretend it's dark and you feel hopeless and you can't see a way out." It wasn't that hard to pretend. I had been feeling that way all week. I did feel I was being held captive by something bigger than me, and I was having a hard time getting free.
Jack bent down and picked up a stick."This is the only key that can get you out of the giant's dungeon. This key is God's promises." I had forgotten. I had forgotten that I needed to meditate on God's promises. I had just been drifting with the situations that overwhelmed me. It took my eight year old grandson holding up a stick to set me free.
That night I was tucking Jack into bed. "You've been going through some hard things, haven't you?" Suddenly Jack looked very vulnerable and nodded his head yes. "Remember what you told me in the woods today about the key? It's true." I told him I would bring him a box of promises I had from God's word. "We can read one every night. It will help all of us stay out of Giant Despair’s dungeon."
Lord Jesus, I keep forgetting the things You’ve told me. I keep finding myself imprisoned by fear and doubt. Thank You for sending me an eight year old grandson who knew where to find the key.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
The healing touch of truth
She woke up but she didn't want to. She had been having her favorite dream. In it she was a wife and mother, she was loved and respected. She was awake now. It was hot and there were chores to do. In her dream she was loved and respected but in her reality she felt a deep since of failure and shame. It was late, she was thirsty, her escape of sleep would have to wait till later.
The book of Isaiah says," He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sickness." Throughout the Scriptures I see Jesus healing by reaching out His hand and touching the one who is sick. When the leper came to Jesus in Mark 1:40 he knelt before Jesus and said," If you will, you can make me clean." Jesus was moved with compassion and He reached out and touched him and said," I will, be clean."
Blindness, deafness, leprosy, these were not the only infirmities Jesus bore. There is also an infirmity of the heart and a sickness of the soul. It is often hidden from the eye but it cripples just the same.
When she reached the well she saw him there. She was startled when he asked for a drink. Jews didn't talk to Samaritans. Then he offered her the gift. He said," If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you,' Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." She was intrigued," Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water."
She was surprised when he told her to get her husband. She replied honestly,” I don’t have one.” That’s when his words touched her wounded soul. “You are right in saying, ’I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” That was to personal so she asked a question about religion. However, Jesus kept it personal when he referred to God as Father. “The Father’, said Jesus,’ is seeking people to worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Her heart was pounding now she could hardly form the words,” I know the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her,” I who speak to you am he.” Her wounded soul was touched. Her thirst was quenched.
Lord Jesus, you know my wounded thirsty soul as well. You alone see the hidden hurts your word reaches in to touch what only you can see. Your words of truth bring healing and the refreshment of living water.
The book of Isaiah says," He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sickness." Throughout the Scriptures I see Jesus healing by reaching out His hand and touching the one who is sick. When the leper came to Jesus in Mark 1:40 he knelt before Jesus and said," If you will, you can make me clean." Jesus was moved with compassion and He reached out and touched him and said," I will, be clean."
Blindness, deafness, leprosy, these were not the only infirmities Jesus bore. There is also an infirmity of the heart and a sickness of the soul. It is often hidden from the eye but it cripples just the same.
When she reached the well she saw him there. She was startled when he asked for a drink. Jews didn't talk to Samaritans. Then he offered her the gift. He said," If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you,' Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." She was intrigued," Sir, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water."
She was surprised when he told her to get her husband. She replied honestly,” I don’t have one.” That’s when his words touched her wounded soul. “You are right in saying, ’I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” That was to personal so she asked a question about religion. However, Jesus kept it personal when he referred to God as Father. “The Father’, said Jesus,’ is seeking people to worship him in spirit and in truth.”
Her heart was pounding now she could hardly form the words,” I know the Messiah is coming. When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her,” I who speak to you am he.” Her wounded soul was touched. Her thirst was quenched.
Lord Jesus, you know my wounded thirsty soul as well. You alone see the hidden hurts your word reaches in to touch what only you can see. Your words of truth bring healing and the refreshment of living water.
Monday, August 1, 2011
True intimacy and the intimacy of truth
The first blog I wrote was,"Sarah, you are the most arrogant person I know." Hearing those words spoken by one of my brothers sent me on a journey. My first question was,"How dare he say something like that to me?" My next thought was,"Is there truth in what he said?"
In response to my brother's words I have begun to pray for humility on a regular basis. It has been an interesting journey. One of the things I have discovered is that my intimacy with another person can be measured by the level of truth in our relationship.
Several times since I have been consciously praying for humility people have said very hurtful things to me. My first response is always the same, ANGER. My next response is that I want to defend myself and point out something I don't like about them in the process. Lastly, I want to put distance between myself and that other person so they won't be close enough to hurt me again.
What I am finding is that pride causes me to put walls around my heart so that people can't hurt me. The end result is that I am safe at last! I am safe,safe and very much alone. I think God created me with a desire to know and to be known. I think I was created with a desire to be understood and to understand. I think I was created for intimacy yet intimacy is very risky.
One of the by products of praying for humility this year is that I have found my relationships with the people around me deepening. At times it has been painful yet in the end it has been worth it.I realized that not only had I ceased to hear truth about myself I had also stopped caring enough to risk telling the truth. The end result was that my relationships had become superficial.
Lord Jesus, please teach me to be humble. Open my heart to give and receive the truth.
In response to my brother's words I have begun to pray for humility on a regular basis. It has been an interesting journey. One of the things I have discovered is that my intimacy with another person can be measured by the level of truth in our relationship.
Several times since I have been consciously praying for humility people have said very hurtful things to me. My first response is always the same, ANGER. My next response is that I want to defend myself and point out something I don't like about them in the process. Lastly, I want to put distance between myself and that other person so they won't be close enough to hurt me again.
What I am finding is that pride causes me to put walls around my heart so that people can't hurt me. The end result is that I am safe at last! I am safe,safe and very much alone. I think God created me with a desire to know and to be known. I think I was created with a desire to be understood and to understand. I think I was created for intimacy yet intimacy is very risky.
One of the by products of praying for humility this year is that I have found my relationships with the people around me deepening. At times it has been painful yet in the end it has been worth it.I realized that not only had I ceased to hear truth about myself I had also stopped caring enough to risk telling the truth. The end result was that my relationships had become superficial.
Lord Jesus, please teach me to be humble. Open my heart to give and receive the truth.
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