Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem, in Judea, during the reign of King Herod.
At about that time some astrologers from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in far-off eastern lands and have come to worship him.”
Mt 2:1-2
I find it amazing that these men who were so wise, and in this translation (GW) astrologers, came not because of this special astrological phenomenon, but because they recognized it as the sign that the King of Jews was born.
They obviously knew Jewish history very well. They also knew the sky very well. I don't know how far East they came from, but apparently they didn't repeat the mistake with the tower of Babel either, in their quest for knowledge.
But they came - not because there was a NASA convention in Judea, but because they recognized the sign, to come over and bow to the King of Jews.
And this also strikes me as intriguing; that they wanted to worship a king that was not their own, and barely a baby at that.
There are so many questions I don't have answers to, I can only guess and still not know. Like, did Jesus ever have an Egyptian passport? And why does the sky appear blue when in fact it has no color?
But this is what I do know.
The three wise men that came from the far Eastern country to worship a newborn, recognized a sign.
We should all wish to have the eyes of faith, to recognize the signs that God is giving us, for surely He speaks to us the whole time. It was a star they saw on their sky. And they set off on a long journey to bring gifts. Fascinating.
I believe that what made these astrologers wise, was that they also had a relationship with God. I believe that through our individual relationships with the Almighty, we can all come to this stillness and faith to understand Him. And then stand up and go as far as it's necessary to worship the King of Kings.
This weekend, our church celebrated the Birth of Christ, and a part of the program were performances. It was moving to see people step out and show their talents, given by God, to contribute to nothing but a celebration for no other purpose but Jesus' birth. People served with preparing food, decorating the room, setting the equipment, and of course individual performances. Just because once a year, we celebrate Jesus' birthday. We also sang to Him a few German Christmas evergreens. Apparently He's not a fan of "Happy Birthday".
There was children running around, there were candles, warm and loving atmosphere, people exchanging cards and gifts. We celebrated Jesus' birthday.
A year and a half ago, I followed my star to Germany. It was a long journey, but this celebration reminded me that I have come to worship the King. So I did. It made my Christmas.
But that's easy because we've read the book and we know that this birth took place 2000 years ago. At times, we don't need to do a service to people, or read the Bible. Sometimes we need to have the eyes of faith to recognize God's handwriting, and follow the star, with gifts ready for when we reach the spot.
May The Almighty grant you this stillness and faith to understand His signs, and much joy when we reach every destination God calls us to.
Merry Christmas.
Silvija P., Düsseldorf
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
El Roi: The GOD Who Sees... Me, You
Sigh. Sometimes this life can get a little much, non?
But then I hear GOD saying 'take heart'... I see you. Yes you. There in your random city, in your office, at your desk, in your room, on your bike, in your car, in the bathroom, at the Well (Gen 16:6-7)…wherever it is you go to breakdown and weep and wonder why?
GOD sees you.
“The LORD looks down from heaven; HE sees all [you, me]. From where HE sits enthroned HE watches all [of us]...” Ps. 33:13, NIV
The reality, truth that GOD sees me is something I have to come to know and cherish on a deeper level this year and I pray it grows even deeper. This reality can and will help when we need that energy, support, super-natural power that only HE gives to tend to our seeds and our plants as we live this life. See Sil’s previous entry here for more.
We are all here for a purpose. To love and worship GOD. We also have a mission. To be obedient to HIS will and also love others as HE has loved us. That manifests in many, many ways. One of those ways is to seek and save those who do not know or understand our GOD. I confess this is not always the easiest for me--even though people describe me as a people-person. Sometimes, I do think that not all people need GOD, and sometimes I believe satan’s lies that their lives are better than mine and that I have nothing to offer. And you know most of the time, some of these people’s lives are better than mine. But what is NOT true is that I have nothing to offer in terms of who GOD is and why HIS love matters.
Like Sil challenged last week, I need to not only remember where I planted this seed of faith for my non-believing friends and family, I also need to do the work of tending to it. I need to believe that with GOD all things are possible (Mark 11:24) and that “all have sinned” and all do need GOD (Romans 3:23), even those perfect people. And I need to believe and remember that HE sees me.
I guess another challenges for me is that I feel and see that no matter what I do everything still seems to go wrong. How can I be an effective Christian with so many catastrophes?! Oh, you feel me? Can you relate?
Our GOD does see me, you, us and HE loves us and HE will always keep his hand on us (Ps. 139:1-5). And to those discouraging questions of why me? He will provide answers and blessings (Gen. 16:13). These answers may not always be fun or easy to accept and the blessings may not even look like blessings, but they are. Just look at Hannah’s life (1 Sam. 1-2), Joseph’s life (Gen.37-48 ) or Daniel’s (Dan. 6), or the whole story of David before he became King.
You and I have great examples in the lives and actions of our spiritual ancestors, these people mentioned above. I am especially inspired by Hagar. Who found the strength to be obedient even as she was pregnant. From what I’ve heard pregnant women are not the most reasonable of people--all those raging hormones and the fact that you have another person sucking away at your life-force can make it almost impossible to think properly. I digress. Sorry.
Hagar is teaching me that no matter how trapped I might be or feel in my circumstances, I always have a way out (1 Cor. 10:13)...I can choose to obey GOD and be humble, just as Hagar did (Gen 16:8-16).
So...go ahead and sigh. Tis ok. Life is often tough. But then again life is sooo beautiful I have no words to describe it... I could try... then this entry would be too long and you might think, ‘Peju is crazier than I thought :)
Life is beautiful because it is tough and life is tough because it is beautiful. Think about things you find even more special and beautiful think about how you got them or how they came to be. Now compare it to the things that were much easier and didn't have as much challenges. Beautiful? I’ll let you figure that one out.
El Roi. The GOD who sees you and I. El Roi the GOD who loves you more than you can comprehend needs you to always choose HIM. Please do. And see the blessings come. Amen.
- El Roi sees my heart and all that's in it, and HE's ok with it. Does HE see more than I do?
- Am I ok with that?
Monday, November 25, 2013
Where's your 'stache?
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Mt 17:20
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Mt 13:31-32
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
Mr 4:30-32
He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
Lk 17:6
Where do you keep your mustard seed?
Take any of the verses that refer to the mustard seed - whether it is your faith or the Kingdom of God, - it is a seed. That means:
It is very comforting to know that all we need is a "small faith"; it can be a size of something tiny that, if handled properly, will grow.
The danger #1 with this small faith is that we may forget where we planted it, and then some thankful sheep eats it for second breakfast. Think about it. Have you ever prayed for something, and forgot about it, only to be reminded when you see the exact thing happening for somebody else?
The danger #2 is that we focus too much on the fruit we are trying to grow, and keep replanting the seed... In spiritual sense, this is what I call asking from God in disbelief. Once we ask, we need to shift to believing, and praying with this faith (providing sun, water and protection), lest it can't grow.
The danger #3 could be that, it takes so long for the seed to sprout, that we forget what kind of tree we've planted. We need to recognise it when it starts growing. We need to be grateful for the early signs and not accept them as a grown tree. We need to stick with our little plant until the birds can find shade in its branches (unless you planted a tomato or red bell peppers, in which case you will find different animals in the leaves).
If you keep coming back to the place where you planted the seed and protecting it - keep reminding yourself what you asked of God and how amazing He is in His power and love;
if you stay patient in the time of growth - and not fall into doubt just because it's taking time;
if you take courage in how amazing God is in making things grow, and recognize that He is working in your life, through your faith, and know exactly when your dream has become a full grown tree,
... it will.
Because God is faithful. Because we need to trust first and then receive. Because this is the amazing life we've signed up for when we gave Jesus the throne over our lives.
Mt 17:20
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Mt 13:31-32
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
Mr 4:30-32
He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
Lk 17:6
Where do you keep your mustard seed?
Take any of the verses that refer to the mustard seed - whether it is your faith or the Kingdom of God, - it is a seed. That means:
- tiny
- needs to be planted (preferably in good soil - Mt 13:1-9)
- needs sun and water to sprout
- needs to stay rooted and not be torn out, maybe needs protection from sheep that thinks that God had brought it to a good pasture.
It is very comforting to know that all we need is a "small faith"; it can be a size of something tiny that, if handled properly, will grow.
The danger #1 with this small faith is that we may forget where we planted it, and then some thankful sheep eats it for second breakfast. Think about it. Have you ever prayed for something, and forgot about it, only to be reminded when you see the exact thing happening for somebody else?
The danger #2 is that we focus too much on the fruit we are trying to grow, and keep replanting the seed... In spiritual sense, this is what I call asking from God in disbelief. Once we ask, we need to shift to believing, and praying with this faith (providing sun, water and protection), lest it can't grow.
The danger #3 could be that, it takes so long for the seed to sprout, that we forget what kind of tree we've planted. We need to recognise it when it starts growing. We need to be grateful for the early signs and not accept them as a grown tree. We need to stick with our little plant until the birds can find shade in its branches (unless you planted a tomato or red bell peppers, in which case you will find different animals in the leaves).
If you keep coming back to the place where you planted the seed and protecting it - keep reminding yourself what you asked of God and how amazing He is in His power and love;
if you stay patient in the time of growth - and not fall into doubt just because it's taking time;
if you take courage in how amazing God is in making things grow, and recognize that He is working in your life, through your faith, and know exactly when your dream has become a full grown tree,
... it will.
Because God is faithful. Because we need to trust first and then receive. Because this is the amazing life we've signed up for when we gave Jesus the throne over our lives.
- What EXACTLY have you already planted and you need to go back to check up on the progress and if the baby-plant is still there?
- What do you need to plant in the good soil and claim ownership and responsibility for believing in?
- Which dream needs to be replanted?
Tuesday, November 05, 2013
Practicals On Mountain Moving
“Truly
I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into
the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they
say will happen, it will be done for them.
Mr 11:23
It doesn't matter how difficult it is to believe this promise, because believing is in the center of it. Jesus didn't say we must move a mountain, but believe we must. (Heb 11:6)
Now why exactly would a mountain be?
Sin in our life, sin in another person's life, bad situation at work, or at home, or in the church, weak health, struggle with finances... you name it.
What happens if a mountain changes it's position?
It's funny that the mountain doesn't disappear in this case, just moves. And that means a change in landscape on two locations. If a mountain tumbles into the sea, it could involve an earthquake, or even a volcano eruption. I can't imagine This happening quietly. (maybe God can...)
Why would we want to move it?
This is a question that in my opinion needs a little more attention, because it has to do with the motivation in our hearts. Is it because you want things differently, or so God can work his plan through you? Because I need a proof that God is with me?
Where do we move this mountain to?
Jesus suggests the sea. I may not care, as long as this mountain is out of my way. But what if there are people on this mountain - that suddenly becomes an island (Mountain ---> sea = island)? What if it causes a tsunami on the shore?
Thinking like this complicates things a little. And nevertheless, we have this option. For me, when I'm sure I want this mountain to move, I can see no reason not to ask for it. But then I face my lack of faith. This is God's promise. Believe, and it will happen. Also, Jesus suggests to talk to the mountain, not to complain about it to God.
Be careful - don't move the wrong mountain!
God promised us wisdom. Through His eyes, we can understand better what is really in the way. Often in life, things look different after a closer examination. So name your mountains. Know what they are.
I've learned that for a while now (too long) I have been using the prayer as an excuse to complain (thank you, J.O.). My life is so hard, this person is not supporting me, things are so complicated --- whine, whine, whine. While I do believe God has the love and patience to hear my thoughts, I don't think this is what He enjoys. He already knows my heart anyway, and all He can see is me ignoring His promises, His help, assurance and power; complaining about His plan.
I'm changing my prayer.
I'm deciding today, that instead of whining about the mountains in my way, I will spend personal time with God, and then encouraged by His power and love, go talk to the mountains, and expect earthquakes. And not get scared when they happen.
Lord, increase my faith. I only have a mustard seed, but you said it is enough. (Mt 17:20)
Thoughts?
Silvija P., Düsseldorf
Mr 11:23
It doesn't matter how difficult it is to believe this promise, because believing is in the center of it. Jesus didn't say we must move a mountain, but believe we must. (Heb 11:6)
Now why exactly would a mountain be?
Sin in our life, sin in another person's life, bad situation at work, or at home, or in the church, weak health, struggle with finances... you name it.
What happens if a mountain changes it's position?
It's funny that the mountain doesn't disappear in this case, just moves. And that means a change in landscape on two locations. If a mountain tumbles into the sea, it could involve an earthquake, or even a volcano eruption. I can't imagine This happening quietly. (maybe God can...)
Why would we want to move it?
This is a question that in my opinion needs a little more attention, because it has to do with the motivation in our hearts. Is it because you want things differently, or so God can work his plan through you? Because I need a proof that God is with me?
Where do we move this mountain to?
Jesus suggests the sea. I may not care, as long as this mountain is out of my way. But what if there are people on this mountain - that suddenly becomes an island (Mountain ---> sea = island)? What if it causes a tsunami on the shore?
Thinking like this complicates things a little. And nevertheless, we have this option. For me, when I'm sure I want this mountain to move, I can see no reason not to ask for it. But then I face my lack of faith. This is God's promise. Believe, and it will happen. Also, Jesus suggests to talk to the mountain, not to complain about it to God.
Be careful - don't move the wrong mountain!
God promised us wisdom. Through His eyes, we can understand better what is really in the way. Often in life, things look different after a closer examination. So name your mountains. Know what they are.
I've learned that for a while now (too long) I have been using the prayer as an excuse to complain (thank you, J.O.). My life is so hard, this person is not supporting me, things are so complicated --- whine, whine, whine. While I do believe God has the love and patience to hear my thoughts, I don't think this is what He enjoys. He already knows my heart anyway, and all He can see is me ignoring His promises, His help, assurance and power; complaining about His plan.
I'm changing my prayer.
I'm deciding today, that instead of whining about the mountains in my way, I will spend personal time with God, and then encouraged by His power and love, go talk to the mountains, and expect earthquakes. And not get scared when they happen.
Lord, increase my faith. I only have a mustard seed, but you said it is enough. (Mt 17:20)
Thoughts?
Silvija P., Düsseldorf
Monday, October 28, 2013
Reject Good Conscience, Suffer A Shipwreck
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Pr 4:23
And why is everything you do so important?
...everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Rom 14:23
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Heb 11:6
To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Eccl 2:26
OK, so it's good to please God. Where do I start if everything is meaningless?'
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jer 29:11-13
How do I seek God with all my heart?
They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.
Rom 2:15
Wow, this is almost the Wikipedia definition of conscience! and the conection between heart and conscience?
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1 Tim 1:5
Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.
1 Tim 1:18-19
Btw, the command here is to stop people in the church from teaching false doctrine.(1 Tim 1:3-4)
Guard your heart, your actions come from it.
If your actions don't come from faith, you're missing the point of God's grace.
But you need faith to please God,
and then he gives you cool stuff like wisdom and stuff.
So there's a reward for God-seekers, but it takes your whole heart.
That's when you need to listen to your conscience.
You know your conscience is a valid guide if it produces love in you.
But you need to fight to keep your heart pure, conscience food and faith strong, because life can get difficult.
So - guard your heart - find God.
Reject good conscience and suffer a spiritual shipwreck.
Shipwrecks are not fun. In fact, people would rather throw a prophet overboard than suffer a shipwreck. Not fun. Ask Jonah (Jonah 1:1-17)
Pr 4:23
And why is everything you do so important?
...everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Rom 14:23
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Heb 11:6
To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Eccl 2:26
OK, so it's good to please God. Where do I start if everything is meaningless?'
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Jer 29:11-13
How do I seek God with all my heart?
They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.
Rom 2:15
Wow, this is almost the Wikipedia definition of conscience! and the conection between heart and conscience?
The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
1 Tim 1:5
Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.
1 Tim 1:18-19
Btw, the command here is to stop people in the church from teaching false doctrine.(1 Tim 1:3-4)
Guard your heart, your actions come from it.
If your actions don't come from faith, you're missing the point of God's grace.
But you need faith to please God,
and then he gives you cool stuff like wisdom and stuff.
So there's a reward for God-seekers, but it takes your whole heart.
That's when you need to listen to your conscience.
You know your conscience is a valid guide if it produces love in you.
But you need to fight to keep your heart pure, conscience food and faith strong, because life can get difficult.
So - guard your heart - find God.
Reject good conscience and suffer a spiritual shipwreck.
Shipwrecks are not fun. In fact, people would rather throw a prophet overboard than suffer a shipwreck. Not fun. Ask Jonah (Jonah 1:1-17)
- Do your actions come from faith that God rewards you for seeking Him?
- Does your conscience lead you to understand and love people more deeply?
- What does your conscience lead you to?
- What - or whom - would you throw overboard to avoid a spiritual shipwreck?
Monday, October 21, 2013
Have You Met The God Of Abraham? Part 1
Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
I confess that most of the time when I read about Abraham's life and walk with God, I don't see it as anything special. Weird, yes, but not special. But thinking a little deeper, I realized he didn't have a book to read about God, like I do. God didn't introduce himself as "God of Abraham", because he was talking to the man himself. (I am the God of you? Not likely.) In fact, the Bible never accounts for God introducing Himself to Abram at all. Their first recorded interaction is a mission to an unknown.
So as they started out, God was not Abram's God. This is just my two cent, but I believe He became the God of Abraham. (After He changed the man's name). I will tell you why I see it so.
God tells Abram to move to another country - he goes. (Gen 12: 1, 4)
Whenever God promises something to him, he builds an altar and worships. (Gen 12:7-8, 13:3-4, 13:14-18)
And then after a debate of struggling faith, Abraham decides to believe God, and God counts it as righteousness... (Gen 15:6)
I find it amazing that this man had such clarity without reading the Bible, or any other books, for that matter; that he knew that it is safe to put his doubts before the Almighty. I read it (The Book) and I wish I had this clarity. I wish I could just know that it is God talking to me, and believe without wavering.
Now, by the time Moses first encounters The Lord, he already knows something about Him. Also, God is already God of Abraham. Maybe Moses was a little more difficult to talk to, and that's why he needs a formal introduction AND a burning bush. I guess he knows enough to cover his face.
By the time I met God, He was already God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, and Daniel (and everybody else listed in Heb 11), not to mention the Father of the Son of God. And yet, even after knowing all of these stories, I need a formal introduction, Bible, a stack of other books that talk about the Bible, a struggling experience of fighting against God, a bunch of incredible spiritual people in my life --- and I still sometimes need a burning bush to come out of my hiding place when I mess up.
I had to ask myself: What am I missing? Why is this relationship with God so difficult? Why do I lose sight of His reality?
I realized that these people were unique. They can only inspire me to get to know God personally, like they did. But they can't teach me how to have a relationship with God. If anything, from their lives I can learn about the greatness and depth of God's love, and take it from there. I want to see how God loves me. How His love manifests in my life. I want to see how it changes me and how it makes me feel and respond.
I want to meet God on my own. I want to live my life according to Him, praising him along the way. And then maybe, somebody will see the God of Silvija, and recognize His love, and will want to experience it themselves. I want to know what it feels like to have the scary kind of faith that only God can start in us. But then I also want a new, better job, more time, a good camera, and sometimes ice cream. Some of those things can cloud the view of what is really important in life.
Here is what Paul wanted.
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Ex 3:6
I confess that most of the time when I read about Abraham's life and walk with God, I don't see it as anything special. Weird, yes, but not special. But thinking a little deeper, I realized he didn't have a book to read about God, like I do. God didn't introduce himself as "God of Abraham", because he was talking to the man himself. (I am the God of you? Not likely.) In fact, the Bible never accounts for God introducing Himself to Abram at all. Their first recorded interaction is a mission to an unknown.
So as they started out, God was not Abram's God. This is just my two cent, but I believe He became the God of Abraham. (After He changed the man's name). I will tell you why I see it so.
God tells Abram to move to another country - he goes. (Gen 12: 1, 4)
Whenever God promises something to him, he builds an altar and worships. (Gen 12:7-8, 13:3-4, 13:14-18)
And then after a debate of struggling faith, Abraham decides to believe God, and God counts it as righteousness... (Gen 15:6)
I find it amazing that this man had such clarity without reading the Bible, or any other books, for that matter; that he knew that it is safe to put his doubts before the Almighty. I read it (The Book) and I wish I had this clarity. I wish I could just know that it is God talking to me, and believe without wavering.
Now, by the time Moses first encounters The Lord, he already knows something about Him. Also, God is already God of Abraham. Maybe Moses was a little more difficult to talk to, and that's why he needs a formal introduction AND a burning bush. I guess he knows enough to cover his face.
By the time I met God, He was already God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, and Daniel (and everybody else listed in Heb 11), not to mention the Father of the Son of God. And yet, even after knowing all of these stories, I need a formal introduction, Bible, a stack of other books that talk about the Bible, a struggling experience of fighting against God, a bunch of incredible spiritual people in my life --- and I still sometimes need a burning bush to come out of my hiding place when I mess up.
I had to ask myself: What am I missing? Why is this relationship with God so difficult? Why do I lose sight of His reality?
I realized that these people were unique. They can only inspire me to get to know God personally, like they did. But they can't teach me how to have a relationship with God. If anything, from their lives I can learn about the greatness and depth of God's love, and take it from there. I want to see how God loves me. How His love manifests in my life. I want to see how it changes me and how it makes me feel and respond.
I want to meet God on my own. I want to live my life according to Him, praising him along the way. And then maybe, somebody will see the God of Silvija, and recognize His love, and will want to experience it themselves. I want to know what it feels like to have the scary kind of faith that only God can start in us. But then I also want a new, better job, more time, a good camera, and sometimes ice cream. Some of those things can cloud the view of what is really important in life.
Here is what Paul wanted.
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Phlp 3:10-14
What do you really want?
What do you want to know about God?
How will you ask Him about that?
Monday, October 14, 2013
OMG!!! J divorces I !!!
The biggest love story of all time.
I'm not talking about Romeo and Juliet - come on, they were teenagers who never tried the reality of a relationship.
No, not Brad and Angelina either. They're still together. I think.
I'm talking about J and I. J is totally, completely, head-over-heels in love with I, does anything and everything for her. I honestly loves J, but has the attention span of 3 minutes and is always getting in trouble. J keeps finding -sometimes miraculous - ways to get her out of trouble. I is grateful, aaaaaaaaand then she messes up again. Big time. And J comes to her rescue, again. After all the trouble they have been through, you know that whatever I does, J will always be there for her. THEY are the real deal.
Then, today, reading J's blog, it becomes apparent that this incredible, immesurable, burning love has met a limit after all. J divorced I, and I can't believe it. We know she's cheated on him before, so what's the deal? It's right there, in J's blog, and it feels like this shlould be old news, but it only hits when it hits home.
Confused? So was I !!! Haha.
So what would Jesus do in this situation? He would explain the parable, of course.
J is our Lord, Jehova. I is not me in his case (although as we will see later it might as well be), it is Israel.
Jehova chose the nation of Israel to be his bride. Israel couldn't really commit long-term, and they (she) kept going against the marriage agreement, seeking other gods. The Lord always took them back. So we know it was always a tough relationship, with sabbaticals in the desert and cold shoulder sessions, but a divorce? That God of unconditional love would divorce His beloved?
He did. By the way, J's Blog is of course the Bible. And I know you want to know just where in this holy Blog says that The Almighty would ever do such a thing. I'll tell you in a second.
First, I would like to say that the I from the story might as well be me. Somewhere along the way, I slipped into the "unconditional love trap". Confess, be forgiven. Regret, be forgiven. Apologize, be forgiven. How about really repent, like in my heart, making the kind of adjustment that would start on the inside, making its way out and manifest in different behavior? How about forgive and be forgiven? It's so easy to harbor anger at your lazy colleagues... (Why do I have to do their job?!). It's so easy to get swayed by worry when I have a negative balance on my bank account... Feeling justified... I have a note above my desk that says "When you worry you pray to yourself" - talk about idolatry...
It's easy to just quickly move on and in the name of avoiding wallowing in guilt and sorrow. But although God loves all people - so much he gave his only son for us (Jn 3:16), it seems that his love has ...limits? conditions?
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Surely, he loves everyone. But that doesn't mean he'll just go soft on people who don't acknowledge Jesus, when believing in him is exactly what saves us.
So yes, I know how amazing God is (or at least in part, but enough to know what is good for me), I have agreed to commit my life to him, and yet in daily life I forget what this commitment means for specific situations. I worry. I wallow in self-righteous anger. I know I will confess and God will forgive. In this sense, J is the Lord, Jehova, and I is me. It almost becomes a way of life where J's love is taken for granted. (Although it hurts me when I's (my) love is taken for granted.)
Now I'm ready to give away the passage.
This is what the Lord says:
But if J's love for I has limits... OMG! It means that His love for me has limits?!?!
Ok, I panicked when I read this passage. I don't know about you, but suddenly my sin was much clearer to me. Also, some creative ways of repentance (Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom rang in my head).
Then, studying a little deeper, reading also other translations, I understood that it was my sins that separated me from my Love, because they were making the relationship impossible. My commitment was weak, not His. When I get myself together, and long for Him again, he will bring me out of the desert and speak softly to me. I love it already. This is what he says:
Israel, I will make you my wife forever.
I will be honest and faithful to you.
I will show you my love and compassion.
I will be true to you, my wife.
Then you will know the Lord.
I'm not talking about Romeo and Juliet - come on, they were teenagers who never tried the reality of a relationship.
No, not Brad and Angelina either. They're still together. I think.
I'm talking about J and I. J is totally, completely, head-over-heels in love with I, does anything and everything for her. I honestly loves J, but has the attention span of 3 minutes and is always getting in trouble. J keeps finding -sometimes miraculous - ways to get her out of trouble. I is grateful, aaaaaaaaand then she messes up again. Big time. And J comes to her rescue, again. After all the trouble they have been through, you know that whatever I does, J will always be there for her. THEY are the real deal.
Then, today, reading J's blog, it becomes apparent that this incredible, immesurable, burning love has met a limit after all. J divorced I, and I can't believe it. We know she's cheated on him before, so what's the deal? It's right there, in J's blog, and it feels like this shlould be old news, but it only hits when it hits home.
Confused? So was I !!! Haha.
So what would Jesus do in this situation? He would explain the parable, of course.
J is our Lord, Jehova. I is not me in his case (although as we will see later it might as well be), it is Israel.
Jehova chose the nation of Israel to be his bride. Israel couldn't really commit long-term, and they (she) kept going against the marriage agreement, seeking other gods. The Lord always took them back. So we know it was always a tough relationship, with sabbaticals in the desert and cold shoulder sessions, but a divorce? That God of unconditional love would divorce His beloved?
He did. By the way, J's Blog is of course the Bible. And I know you want to know just where in this holy Blog says that The Almighty would ever do such a thing. I'll tell you in a second.
First, I would like to say that the I from the story might as well be me. Somewhere along the way, I slipped into the "unconditional love trap". Confess, be forgiven. Regret, be forgiven. Apologize, be forgiven. How about really repent, like in my heart, making the kind of adjustment that would start on the inside, making its way out and manifest in different behavior? How about forgive and be forgiven? It's so easy to harbor anger at your lazy colleagues... (Why do I have to do their job?!). It's so easy to get swayed by worry when I have a negative balance on my bank account... Feeling justified... I have a note above my desk that says "When you worry you pray to yourself" - talk about idolatry...
It's easy to just quickly move on and in the name of avoiding wallowing in guilt and sorrow. But although God loves all people - so much he gave his only son for us (Jn 3:16), it seems that his love has ...limits? conditions?
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mt 7:21
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Mr 16:16
Surely, he loves everyone. But that doesn't mean he'll just go soft on people who don't acknowledge Jesus, when believing in him is exactly what saves us.
So yes, I know how amazing God is (or at least in part, but enough to know what is good for me), I have agreed to commit my life to him, and yet in daily life I forget what this commitment means for specific situations. I worry. I wallow in self-righteous anger. I know I will confess and God will forgive. In this sense, J is the Lord, Jehova, and I is me. It almost becomes a way of life where J's love is taken for granted. (Although it hurts me when I's (my) love is taken for granted.)
Now I'm ready to give away the passage.
This is what the Lord says:
“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce
with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
did I sell you?
Because of your sins you were sold;
because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
did I sell you?
Because of your sins you were sold;
because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.
Is 50:1
But if J's love for I has limits... OMG! It means that His love for me has limits?!?!
Ok, I panicked when I read this passage. I don't know about you, but suddenly my sin was much clearer to me. Also, some creative ways of repentance (Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom rang in my head).
Then, studying a little deeper, reading also other translations, I understood that it was my sins that separated me from my Love, because they were making the relationship impossible. My commitment was weak, not His. When I get myself together, and long for Him again, he will bring me out of the desert and speak softly to me. I love it already. This is what he says:
Israel, I will make you my wife forever.
I will be honest and faithful to you.
I will show you my love and compassion.
I will be true to you, my wife.
Then you will know the Lord.
Hos 2:19-20 (GW)
You know, know the Lord. I don't know about you, but something about this wedding arrangement makes sounds really exciteing, and I want to reconsider my own faithfulness. Not out of fear of divorce, but out of fear of losing sight of His love again. Love that's better than any man's, any parent's, any sister's any friend's. If I stick with Him, I will know the Lord. =)
- ____________ (<< insert your name), will you marry Jehova, the Lord of hosts, in honesty and faithfulness, so he can show you his love and compassion?
- Even if that means following His plan for yor life? Forever?
- And make him more important than marrying a human being?
- Is this idea exciting? Why?
Monday, October 07, 2013
Have You Met Abraham? Part 1
In my home country, when a person turns 50, we say that they have "met Abraham" or are "celebrating Abraham". It is supposed to stand for the wisdom that we accumulate with time. I find that funny for two reasons; one, because in the Bible, Abraham stands for faith rather than for wisdom; and, people who use this expression don't know that. The other reason why I find this expression funny is because Abraham was neither faithful nor wise at 50 years of age. In my opinion. Have I written about him yet? Very interesting character.
But his journey is a long one. And he has the patience to do it.
Did you ever stop to think that Abraham was still Abram when God told him to move out and start traveling, and 75 years old? It was on this trip that he first introduced his beautiful wife Sarai as his sister.
And I can already hear the critics shouting "He didn't lie, they WERE related!" But hear my point.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
Gen 12:1-5
I admit, I also wanted to show that at the age 50 nothing special happened to Abraham... But it is never too late for an adventure.
75th birthday comes with a surprise: you're moving but I will tell you later where. And, I will bless your family (that you don't have yet as a 75 years old man).
I can't imagine many people who would be happy with this situation. But he did it.
11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”
Gen 12:11-13
OK, so their marriage was a little dysfunctional. According to the rest of chapter 12 Sarai plays along, the pharaoh actually takes the 65 years old beauty to be his wife (!!!) and realizes something had gone wrong when the plague starts. They are asked to leave, of course.. It may be that this is where they picked up Hagar, the woman who would be Sarai's maid, and later the mother of a great nation.
All the while, God is encouraging Abram, repeating and proving that he will have a child. But there is no child.
Ten years later, Sarai gives up on hoping to have children and Abram has another surprise waiting on him for his birthday. He is 85 years old and Sarah wants him to sleep with the maid, Hagar, and conceive a child. Surely enough, for his 86th birthday Abram receives a son by Hagar! Surely, he thinks, this is the son that God had in mind! Sarai is beating herself up for suggesting this strange alliance to her husband, because now the maid has grown conceited, she thinks back to the point when she took her on staff...
So life goes on for another 13 years. The boy is growing, and so is his mother's pride. And Abraham's and Sarah's desperation.
Then one day God speaks to Abram again, changes his name and gives him more specific instructions.
17 Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”
19 Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. 21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” 22 When he had finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.
Gen 17:15-22
And by his next birthday, Sarah delivers a baby boy.
I don't know about you, but I don't want to imagine a 90-year-old pregnant lady. I also don't like the dynamics in their marriage - it seems they both had commitment issues.
But Isaac's father responded to God's instructions. I had over 6 months to prepare to move to another country, and it still took me a year to recover. How suddenly do you want to move when you retire? Maybe to a place where you don't know anyone? To a mission field where a church is yet to be planted? He did it. He packed up and took off, praising God all the way. Every time God spoke to him, he worshiped. And when he lost hope, he believed.
about 2500 years later, it is written of him:
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Rom 4:18
I have been trying to worship God in the moments when things don't go my way. It's difficult. But try it, something great happens to your heart. I don't want to wait until I'm 75, or even 50, to have faith. The last time I was at an "Abraham celebration", I was the child of the birthday girl. This last weekend, I was a friend. Time goes quickly, and we don't live as long as people used to back in the days. I don't want that "meeting Abraham" means being 50. I want it to mean that I have the true faith that God likes, now.
How is your faith evident in your life?
Have you ever decided to believe when you had no more hope?
What would happen if you took a hopeless situation in your life and decided to have faith in God's promises?
God bless you,
Silvija P., Düsseldorf
Monday, September 30, 2013
One Thing I Know
I've been reading Ps 27 for the last few days. It just so happens that I only now understand this piece of writing. It is when I decided to get actively involved in the spiritual war that is raging all around me anyway, that the psalm became relatable. I have paraphrased it into a more reader-friendly language and want to share it with you, but with a disclaimer that it is merely an interpretation of God's word, much like a sermon or devotional.
The reason why I find it so incredible is... Well read it first, and I will come back to my point. Feel free to follow the link above to NIV and read publicly approved translation (and correct me if you think I misunderstood).
Here is Psalm 27 (Latest Silvija's Version)
1 The Lord guides me through life,
but he saves me even when I mess up.
Verse 13 is almost arrogant. It's like saying, 'Fine, we can fight, but you're already defeated.'
or
'No, I won't mention you in my speech when I get the Coolest General Award.'
or even
'Hey, I'm writing my speech to address my armies upon the triumphant return home. Of course, that means you will lose.'
David is not afraid of armies, liars, his own mistakes, or bad parents. He doesn't pray that God would take them away or change things. He faces the facts and is sure of victory. Now, he still goes out to fight, but what a difference it makes to fight with the knowledge of success. He does not worry about the threats.
Here is what he does pray for:
- that he would always be with God and be able to keep Him in sight (v.4)
- that God would hear his cry for help and his praise (v.7)
- that God would not reject him, but accept him (v.9)
- to learn more about walking with God (v.11)
His only worry is that he would not be pleasing to his God. ...
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
David understood this principle some 1000 years before it was written. He wasn't "in it" for the blessings. He was in it for God.
I believe (I can't talk out of experience) that this kind of pure motivation is a good way to foster faith this strong. When you're really just seeking God in everything you do, then it's natural to say 'You can laugh, Goliath, but you're already dead!'
or
'I may have to run, but I am a king already.'
or
'You can bring my friend down temporarily, Satan, but Jesus has already defeated you.'
When I take this attitude into prayer, it changes everything. I feel much stronger resistance, but I also have more determination to fight in my prayers. Satan hates this kind of things, to be sure. And yet, he has already lost. Jesus has beaten him and all Satan has to blind us with are lies. But we have the God of truth, that's one thing I know.
Does the God you believe in love you ...regardless?
What lies has Satan been telling you? What is the truth?
Are you willing to fight for the truth and for other people?
When things get scary, what is the one thing that you know?
Silvija P., Düsseldorf
The reason why I find it so incredible is... Well read it first, and I will come back to my point. Feel free to follow the link above to NIV and read publicly approved translation (and correct me if you think I misunderstood).
Here is Psalm 27 (Latest Silvija's Version)
1 The Lord guides me through life,
but he saves me even when I mess up.
There is no need to ever be afraid.
2 Who ever tries to harm me, will fail.
3 In fact, I am so confident in God's help,
that even an attacking army doesn't scare me.
3 In fact, I am so confident in God's help,
that even an attacking army doesn't scare me.
4 There is just one thought that scares me:
not being close to God.
I always want to be on good terms with Him.
5 As for the rest, He has uncountable ways of saving and protecting me.
not being close to God.
I always want to be on good terms with Him.
5 As for the rest, He has uncountable ways of saving and protecting me.
6 I know I'm safe from haters even when they are still alive and plotting.
I am so sure God will save me,
that I'm already thanking him for making me the winner.
I am so sure God will save me,
that I'm already thanking him for making me the winner.
7 God, when I'm in trouble, hear me out.
8 When I feel like worshiping you, I do so readily.
9 So then be ready to help me, God, when I need your help,
and hear my praise as well.
10 You love me more perfectly than my parents do,
so I know I can count on you.
11 Help me understand your ways, Lord;
guide me, because your way surely leads to safety.
12 Don't let me waver and fall because of slander and lies, (God of truth).
8 When I feel like worshiping you, I do so readily.
9 So then be ready to help me, God, when I need your help,
and hear my praise as well.
10 You love me more perfectly than my parents do,
so I know I can count on you.
11 Help me understand your ways, Lord;
guide me, because your way surely leads to safety.
12 Don't let me waver and fall because of slander and lies, (God of truth).
13 One thing I know.
I will live to tell of your goodness
from the victory stand.
14 God's timing is worth waiting for.
Suck it up and be patient.
He knows what He's doing.
This confidence comes from a man who knows what it means to have one's life in danger on regular basis.
I will live to tell of your goodness
from the victory stand.
14 God's timing is worth waiting for.
Suck it up and be patient.
He knows what He's doing.
This confidence comes from a man who knows what it means to have one's life in danger on regular basis.
Verse 13 is almost arrogant. It's like saying, 'Fine, we can fight, but you're already defeated.'
or
'No, I won't mention you in my speech when I get the Coolest General Award.'
or even
'Hey, I'm writing my speech to address my armies upon the triumphant return home. Of course, that means you will lose.'
David is not afraid of armies, liars, his own mistakes, or bad parents. He doesn't pray that God would take them away or change things. He faces the facts and is sure of victory. Now, he still goes out to fight, but what a difference it makes to fight with the knowledge of success. He does not worry about the threats.
Here is what he does pray for:
- that he would always be with God and be able to keep Him in sight (v.4)
- that God would hear his cry for help and his praise (v.7)
- that God would not reject him, but accept him (v.9)
- to learn more about walking with God (v.11)
His only worry is that he would not be pleasing to his God. ...
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Mt 6:33
David understood this principle some 1000 years before it was written. He wasn't "in it" for the blessings. He was in it for God.
I believe (I can't talk out of experience) that this kind of pure motivation is a good way to foster faith this strong. When you're really just seeking God in everything you do, then it's natural to say 'You can laugh, Goliath, but you're already dead!'
or
'I may have to run, but I am a king already.'
or
'You can bring my friend down temporarily, Satan, but Jesus has already defeated you.'
When I take this attitude into prayer, it changes everything. I feel much stronger resistance, but I also have more determination to fight in my prayers. Satan hates this kind of things, to be sure. And yet, he has already lost. Jesus has beaten him and all Satan has to blind us with are lies. But we have the God of truth, that's one thing I know.
Does the God you believe in love you ...regardless?
What lies has Satan been telling you? What is the truth?
Are you willing to fight for the truth and for other people?
When things get scary, what is the one thing that you know?
Silvija P., Düsseldorf
Monday, September 23, 2013
The Prayer of Hannah
9Once
when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up.
Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
Let's admit it, it's a weird situation. Imagine a dinner party. Just after dessert, when everyone is still drinking coffee, a woman stands up at the table and starts talking to herself... crying. It evokes this reaction from the host:
(vv.14) “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
It was probably quite well intended. But he couldn't have guessed how deeply troubled Hanna was. Maybe she overheard a conversation at the table about babies. Maybe there was a pregnant lady in the company. Maybe her rival was giving her a hard time with sneaky comments again (v 7). Maybe the atmosphere reminded her of a family that she so desperately wanted. She already had a wonderful marriage (vv 4-8), and it was primal and natural that she also wanted a baby.
What would drive a sensible, mature, content woman to make a fool of herself at a dinner party?
You can fill in your own answer here. But what would it take for you to do this, to only offer an underbreath prayer to God not even taking into consideration that people will misunderstand.
I laugh often with a friend of mine, because we notice a lot of people on public transportation talking to themselves. It's funny, but sad at the same time; I think this posh, high-paced city has a big hole in its heart that hungers for quality relationships.
But in Hannah's case, she was at a dinner party. She didn't have to invent a friend to talk to. Something was so heavy on her heart, that in the second when the glass spilled over, she had to stand up and pray. Regardless. Crying.
I love the conversations with Eli that follows:
15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
She offers a very simple, heart-breaking, honest explanation (doesn't explode in self-defense). Eli seems so moved, that he gives her a blessing for her request, although he doesn't have the slightest clue what it's about.
And in v.18 comes the punchline moment. She took that blessing so seriously... I can see her widening her eyes open in pleasant surprise, and saying 'Thank you', as if Eli himself had already granted her prayer. She took it so seriously that 'her face was no longer downcast'.
19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,[b] saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
I've read and heard many sermons and devotionals on Hannah's faith. But here is the simple beauty of the case that stands out to me:
She was very much in touch with her inner life, her feelings and desires. Quite honestly, I think she over-did it. But when she received the blessing from Eli, she took it as an answer to her prayer. That's faith. It brought her peace, joy, and a healthy appetite. The peace cleared her heart so that she could focus on worship, and later on her husband, and these two are of utmost importance to God.
I love it! She believed so much it gave her peace like she'd already received the response. She didn't need a "fleece-sign", like some people. She didn't need a rational explanation why God will deliver. Haha, she didn't even need a sermon on Abraham's faith, who was in a similar situation. She heard the priest giving her a blessing, for her prayer out of a deeply troubled soul.
How much persuasion do we need from God, ladies?
How many people does it take to convince us of God's faithfulness?
How seriously do we take God's promises when we read them alone, behind the closed door?
Hannah's fragile trust puts my disbelief to shame. At the same time, she gives me hope. It seems faith is much simpler than I thought.
Silvija P., Düsseldorf
check 1 Samuel 1 for all references
Let's admit it, it's a weird situation. Imagine a dinner party. Just after dessert, when everyone is still drinking coffee, a woman stands up at the table and starts talking to herself... crying. It evokes this reaction from the host:
(vv.14) “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
It was probably quite well intended. But he couldn't have guessed how deeply troubled Hanna was. Maybe she overheard a conversation at the table about babies. Maybe there was a pregnant lady in the company. Maybe her rival was giving her a hard time with sneaky comments again (v 7). Maybe the atmosphere reminded her of a family that she so desperately wanted. She already had a wonderful marriage (vv 4-8), and it was primal and natural that she also wanted a baby.
What would drive a sensible, mature, content woman to make a fool of herself at a dinner party?
You can fill in your own answer here. But what would it take for you to do this, to only offer an underbreath prayer to God not even taking into consideration that people will misunderstand.
I laugh often with a friend of mine, because we notice a lot of people on public transportation talking to themselves. It's funny, but sad at the same time; I think this posh, high-paced city has a big hole in its heart that hungers for quality relationships.
But in Hannah's case, she was at a dinner party. She didn't have to invent a friend to talk to. Something was so heavy on her heart, that in the second when the glass spilled over, she had to stand up and pray. Regardless. Crying.
I love the conversations with Eli that follows:
15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
She offers a very simple, heart-breaking, honest explanation (doesn't explode in self-defense). Eli seems so moved, that he gives her a blessing for her request, although he doesn't have the slightest clue what it's about.
And in v.18 comes the punchline moment. She took that blessing so seriously... I can see her widening her eyes open in pleasant surprise, and saying 'Thank you', as if Eli himself had already granted her prayer. She took it so seriously that 'her face was no longer downcast'.
19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,[b] saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
I've read and heard many sermons and devotionals on Hannah's faith. But here is the simple beauty of the case that stands out to me:
She was very much in touch with her inner life, her feelings and desires. Quite honestly, I think she over-did it. But when she received the blessing from Eli, she took it as an answer to her prayer. That's faith. It brought her peace, joy, and a healthy appetite. The peace cleared her heart so that she could focus on worship, and later on her husband, and these two are of utmost importance to God.
I love it! She believed so much it gave her peace like she'd already received the response. She didn't need a "fleece-sign", like some people. She didn't need a rational explanation why God will deliver. Haha, she didn't even need a sermon on Abraham's faith, who was in a similar situation. She heard the priest giving her a blessing, for her prayer out of a deeply troubled soul.
How much persuasion do we need from God, ladies?
How many people does it take to convince us of God's faithfulness?
How seriously do we take God's promises when we read them alone, behind the closed door?
Hannah's fragile trust puts my disbelief to shame. At the same time, she gives me hope. It seems faith is much simpler than I thought.
Silvija P., Düsseldorf
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Remember: God Is Close
I’ve been reminded of this for a while now. That our GOD, our
Abba-Father does hear (Heb. 5:7). For me, it is critical
(life-saving) to think about it and remember this truth because I am
writing. And when I say “writing” I mean it is an essential part
of my work and in a way an extension of myself. Unfortunately, it has
been almost impossible to write. I am going through yet another
frustrating inconvenience with my phone and I am fighting the
emotional Armageddon that all those hours trying to set-up the (new)
phone so that I can hit-the-ground-running for Tuesday (Sept. 3)
morning was, is a total waste. I am trying not to start singing my
sad-song about my life being sooo hard and nothing ever seems to go
my way. But I won’t deny that I can taste and smell that the
temptation is right here, there. I mean the reality, right now, even
after another hard-reset (total wipe-out of info) of the phone, is
that it still has problems. You should see my face right now (it is
weirdly funny, so I will lol).
But y’all know that tis not just (about) the phone, you know…it is sooo much more…hard-fought-battles that…oooohh, do you know that I just experienced a computer freeze?! Sigh… Amen.
Yes. Amen. What else shall I, we say, that I continue on this trajectory that is only leading me to anger, bitterness and fits of rage (2Cor.12:20; Gal. 5:20; NIV)?! No. I can hear Paul’s voice—or what I think is his voice --reminding me to NOT do give in to sin—stop getting so angry and impatient.
So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not!—Romans 6:1, The Message
‘Peju, stop swearing in your head; ‘Peju, stop punching people in your mind and having violent massacres. Ok, now that you know how dark my mind can get, I shall stop. All I remember is Paul saying that I shouldn’t give myself the argument of grace as an excuse to sin (See Romans 6:1-3, NIV). But you know what is cool, when I reach for the Word and read Paul’s charge to me in context; I also see that he had offered me a way out of this horrible nightmare. He challenges my angry and sinful thoughts with his wisdom:
“…You can readily recall, cant you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about GOD—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? … you didn’t have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. … But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to GOD telling you, …[you have] A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way!” –Romans 6:19b, 20, 22; The Message
There is a lot in there, isn’t there?! Ok, I’ll take it slow.
First, I see it as a mirror to my recent trials. One of my major sins, fits of rage, has been awoken this year and has been plaguing me a lot (!) and often times taking me to lows of depression. So I totally get what Paul is saying. Not caring about others, not caring about GOD, because even as recent as Sunday night I was fully in this state. And as the Holy Spirit fights to be the ruler of my body, soul, mind, I see that I have to constantly remember and choose to listen to the Spirit, to care about GOD and be right with HIM.
I tell you as I write this I don’t feel like my life is whole, healed or even put-together. I mean there is ALWAYS something going wrong—my Flat has a leak, I am failing at my research/work. But Paul tells me that I DO have a good life and that it is put-together. Huh?! Say what?! Who?!
But it is true. Even with all these trials, I DO have a good and blessed life. Over dinner (with disciples) on Sunday night, my brother remarked that I was blessed. He knows that I have many friends and people that like me, but I think now he also knows that I have people that love me. I need to remember that too. We all need to remember that when we are facing our trails.
Sisters, I know it is not easy out there…but be comforted by the truth that we are not all suffering alone (1Peter 5:9). We are called to resist the devil. Resist him. How?
True life is hard, and for some of us out there it is tragically-hard. But we DO have the Holy Spirit, who IS also our comforter (John 16:7). The Amplified English version also calls him a “Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby” who is “to be in closer fellowship with [me].”
No, I cannot go on sinning. No, even though I feel like I can’t control my emotions, I must remember that that feeling comes from satan, because as I shared above, GOD has given me, us the Spirit and this same Spirit is the very embodiment of power that raised Jesus Christ our Savior from the dead.
To conclude, I want to recall what Kimberly shared with us (Sept. 1), that “it is possible.” Things are sincerely tough for you right now? It will be fine, because you will get through it because “you have the strength for all things in Christ who empowers…[…ready for anything and equal to anything through HIM who infuses inner strength into {you}; {you are} self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency” (Phil. 4:13, AMP).
So having a tough day? Take a minute and find your strength in the Strengthener ;)
Adepeju S., Zürich
But y’all know that tis not just (about) the phone, you know…it is sooo much more…hard-fought-battles that…oooohh, do you know that I just experienced a computer freeze?! Sigh… Amen.
Yes. Amen. What else shall I, we say, that I continue on this trajectory that is only leading me to anger, bitterness and fits of rage (2Cor.12:20; Gal. 5:20; NIV)?! No. I can hear Paul’s voice—or what I think is his voice --reminding me to NOT do give in to sin—stop getting so angry and impatient.
So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not!—Romans 6:1, The Message
‘Peju, stop swearing in your head; ‘Peju, stop punching people in your mind and having violent massacres. Ok, now that you know how dark my mind can get, I shall stop. All I remember is Paul saying that I shouldn’t give myself the argument of grace as an excuse to sin (See Romans 6:1-3, NIV). But you know what is cool, when I reach for the Word and read Paul’s charge to me in context; I also see that he had offered me a way out of this horrible nightmare. He challenges my angry and sinful thoughts with his wisdom:
“…You can readily recall, cant you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about GOD—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? … you didn’t have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. … But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to GOD telling you, …[you have] A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way!” –Romans 6:19b, 20, 22; The Message
There is a lot in there, isn’t there?! Ok, I’ll take it slow.
First, I see it as a mirror to my recent trials. One of my major sins, fits of rage, has been awoken this year and has been plaguing me a lot (!) and often times taking me to lows of depression. So I totally get what Paul is saying. Not caring about others, not caring about GOD, because even as recent as Sunday night I was fully in this state. And as the Holy Spirit fights to be the ruler of my body, soul, mind, I see that I have to constantly remember and choose to listen to the Spirit, to care about GOD and be right with HIM.
I tell you as I write this I don’t feel like my life is whole, healed or even put-together. I mean there is ALWAYS something going wrong—my Flat has a leak, I am failing at my research/work. But Paul tells me that I DO have a good life and that it is put-together. Huh?! Say what?! Who?!
But it is true. Even with all these trials, I DO have a good and blessed life. Over dinner (with disciples) on Sunday night, my brother remarked that I was blessed. He knows that I have many friends and people that like me, but I think now he also knows that I have people that love me. I need to remember that too. We all need to remember that when we are facing our trails.
Sisters, I know it is not easy out there…but be comforted by the truth that we are not all suffering alone (1Peter 5:9). We are called to resist the devil. Resist him. How?
- Well, first start by crying out to our Abba Father, pray like
you are about to die, pray like HE is the only one who can save you
(Heb. 5:7-9).
- And remember HE does hear (v. 7)…HE did it with our savior
Jesus Christ (v. 8), why wont HE do it with/for you?!
True life is hard, and for some of us out there it is tragically-hard. But we DO have the Holy Spirit, who IS also our comforter (John 16:7). The Amplified English version also calls him a “Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby” who is “to be in closer fellowship with [me].”
No, I cannot go on sinning. No, even though I feel like I can’t control my emotions, I must remember that that feeling comes from satan, because as I shared above, GOD has given me, us the Spirit and this same Spirit is the very embodiment of power that raised Jesus Christ our Savior from the dead.
To conclude, I want to recall what Kimberly shared with us (Sept. 1), that “it is possible.” Things are sincerely tough for you right now? It will be fine, because you will get through it because “you have the strength for all things in Christ who empowers…[…ready for anything and equal to anything through HIM who infuses inner strength into {you}; {you are} self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency” (Phil. 4:13, AMP).
So having a tough day? Take a minute and find your strength in the Strengthener ;)
Adepeju S., Zürich
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