It was Dec 2010 that I went up to KC to visit my friend Sean at IHOP. It was over a year ago and still I’m pondering the powerful words I heard there. I found some of them I wrote down on my blog here. How very powerful! And they are really meaning a lot to me right now. Holy crap I’m feeling a great deal of pain right now. It is almost unbearable.  Some lines from Mysty Edwards’ words that really struck were:

You’ve only just begun and I know where you are going
And all you can see in the moment is that your hurting.
And all you can see in the moment is that your aching.

Boy that is really true…all I can see right now is my hurt and pain.  All the aching and the emptiness.  But all the while God is saying that He loves me and called me.   If I don’t give up I win. So I will carry on. I will fight on. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  He has never left me or forsaken me.  Though people have failed me he never has nor ever will.  I will trust in Him.

We so desperately want to see revival in our area. It’s so dry and dead. What can we do to see revival? I’ll tell you exactly how it will come about. You go home. Lock yourself in your bedroom. Take a piece of chalk. Put a circle on the floor of your bedroom. Kneel in that circle and pray fervently and brokenly that God will start revival in that circle. – Gipsy Smith

We don’t need to invite people to a service, we need to invite them to a revolution. But first we have to live it ourselves. Far from being a sad little world, it becomes a wonderful, joy filled, and also tragic world, bigger than can be imagined, as it is not bound by the physical.

come and join the revolution – John Jensen

John Jensen’s recent blog post really struck me! Great insight there. Much to ponder. This is something that has been stewing in my soul again for some time. The Christian faith and discipleship is by no means tame! It is not a religion or an institution. It is a wild adventure where many twists and turns are probable. And all the while we follow our Amazing God into His great mission. His great purpose.
For me this is MUCH more than a discussion of evangelism or some other stale theological topic. It’s more whole than that. More full, and vibrant, and visceral, and life essential. It’s like opening a portal and discovering a whole new vast world that you never new existed deeply intertwined with our own. And somehow, ingeniously, you also discover that everyone and everything was always a part of some immense sweeping/deep plan. And further, the planner/Creator is not only knowable, He became part of the Creation to save it all!! He became one of us and we can now be know Him as much as we dare to. Wait! What? That’s startling!! That’s astonishing!! God Himself…almighty creator and sustainer of all that exists wants to do life with us. WOW! And even deeper than that….He invites us to be part of His plan. Part of this great adventure. And we awaken to realize that worship is what we were made for. It fulfills our greatest hopes and dreams. That’s approaching what we should be inviting people into. A whole new life. Not a club. Not a dead institution. It’s all about God! It’s all about his great adventure!!
AND, as John said we need to live it ourselves. That’s our own faith life. Our own discipleship. It’s child to Parent obedience. It’s the journeying and living and growing and loving and forgiving…seeking to be like our Teacher Jesus.

I’m reading Isaiah right now. And there is a passage from that book that says (Is 26:3, NIV):

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

It got me to thinking how relevant this is during this frenzied time of year. All of the emphasis on shopping, and presents, more rushing, more stress etc. It isn’t a time that naturally conducive to inner peace. The message advent really is watching and waiting. Advent and Christmas commercialism always seem antithetical to me. And I have really tried to stem the tide against this tyranny of hurry. But I have to say I was not always successful.

But I remembered today that the peace that Isaiah talking about is not the absence of strife (or in this case hurry). It is the God’s SHALOM, the very presence of God.  And the point here really is diligent seeking of God.  It reminds me of the famous passage from the Gospel of Matthew which says “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all these things will be added to you”.   Seeking God first in all things is key.  Christmas is all about seeking!  We would do well follow in the footsteps of those ancient shepherds and wisemen.  Perhaps in the seeking comes the steadfastness that brings this peace.  The shalom, the God life comes.  It comes and we are lifted above all the lifeless hustle and bustle.  Released from the frenetic oblivion that can be the result of Christmas aquisition.  But it need not be this way.  We can be in the world and not of it.  We can give gifts, and light our houses and trees, sing our carols, and do our shopping and not lose sight of the real reason for Christmas.  For it is a wondrous time of year.  For it is nothing less than the celebration of coming of the Savior King.  And that is a glorious reason to have a party.  Joy to the World indeed!

From today’s advent devotional at following the star.

Lord, shake me from my apathy and steer me away from the trivial. Wake me up to your presence. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Let us begin Advent, waiting.
Not the “going back to sleep” kind of waiting.
Not the impatient pacing, or the wasted anxiety of waiting.
Not even the passive-aggressive waiting that says, “Really? We’ll see.”

Let us begin Advent, waiting.
Getting up and joining the adventure,
Even when we don’t know where it will take us.
Shifting the impatient waiting to expectant living.
Boldly claiming the Good News that we know will come.
Waiting with joy as we reach out with the grace of God that is so much more than amazing.

Let us begin Advent.

This comes as very welcome news. Very insightful. Not only are we living in a ADD, over-stimulated, instant gratification society, but there is the challenges of day to day life. My own shortcomings. Today was a great day. And yet a small turn of events challenged my temper this afternoon. But that’s ok, joy is a choice. We are not perfect. But it is the discipline of constantly turning our eyes to Jesus in expectant waiting on Him. Again, this joy and peace is not defined by a absence of strife. No, our ability to focus on God is strengthened by hardship. The discipline of ceasing striving. Ceasing trying to control my situation. It is resting God. Being still and confident in His power to protect and provide. This is a very, very good message.

I was just reading the Beatitudes of Jesus (Matthew 5), and was struck by v. 5:8 which says “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God”. And this reminded me of the insight that I received on purity of heart 2 years ago and I wrote about it here.

Without purity of heart we will be unable to harmonize with others and in dealing with conflict. And going deeper, the Matthew passage is really relating (in a positive way..as a benefit) the pure of heart will see God. And God is the source of this harmony. The one who does the directing and the handling…and the push/pulling that needs to be done in life. We move in His channeling. We flow with Him and through Him. And it is this purity that gives us the ability to harmonize with God and eventually with others.

A friend and I were discussing what an insidious trap pride and arrogance in religiosity (or otherwise can be). And that, made me think of comedian Emo Phillips’ excellent quote on the topic. So, here it is and it’s LONNNNNG overdue:

“Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, “Don’t do it!” He said, “Nobody loves me.” I said, “God loves you. Do you believe in God?”

He said, “Yes.” I said, “Are you a Christian or a Jew?” He said, “A Christian.” I said, “Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?” He said, “Protestant.” I said, “Me, too! What franchise?” He said, “Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?” He said, “Northern Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?”

He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region.” I said, “Me, too!”

Northern Conservative†Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?” He said, “Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912.” I said, “Die, heretic!” And I pushed him over.
- Emo Phillips”

I had a really hard day. Had some unexpected demands come. Some unexpected demands for revision of some of the work that I have done recently. And I got pretty angry and frustrated. I had to suck up my pride and go to my boss and explain the situation. I was very concerned that it would look like I screwed up (when in actuality I didn’t). Well, long story made short, my boss was mostly cool, and said that it would be ok. And it does look like it won’t be the end of the world I was fearing earlier. Major phew!
But I have a couple aftermath thoughts. First of all is, fear is just going to happen. I really, really, really think the “be anxious for nothing” Paul talks about in Philippians is best taken as a kind of “when you are afraid” kind of response. Iow, what to do when you get afraid, or angry, or depressed or any other dark emotion. And that is PRAY. The believer turns to God at times like that. Remember, we are not superhuman! But God IS beyond human means. And He can enable us. When we are weak He is strong the Bible says. So, that brings me to the 2nd thought, I am experiencing peace now after the fact. And I think that’s ok. I did turn to God and did turn to a trusted friend and confidante during the crisis time. And then I dug in and worked. And God saw me through. Not me….God…capiche’?! He is the vine, I am the branch, cut off from Him I can do nothing. But with Him…I do…everything? Philippians goes on to say so. But I think today was a good example of the “everything” works. We get a God sized problem in front of us and we turn to God. We are confounded and cry out to the Most High. Suffering is a very good teacher. It teaches dependance upon God. We learn very quickly what we are truly capable of and what God is capable of. And that is a very, very good thing.

Proverbs 4:23
Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that’s where life starts.

I’ve been meditating on this verse today. And there is much about it that I could say. There is certainly a boundaries issue to it. And that is to say we don’t just trust anyone with our thoughts and feelings and dreams. These are only for those who are safe and whom we can trust. And foremost among those I can trust is Yahweh. Hard times come along and test this. There are various types of testings. But they all come down to loving and trusting God. We can trust Him with our heart. With our innermost selves. Sure, we do need others. But it’s a “both and” response. For those closest to us can be as Christ to us. He works in amazing ways.

And now a prayer

Oh God, be my strength and my fortress,
Be my song and my full desire
My peace and my bright hope.
Holy friend, lover of my soul,
Speak your words to me,
I will hear you and be restored.
I will listen to you.  I will obey your words and be renewed.
I cry out to you, from the depths of me I cry.
Not of sorrow, now Father, but of joy!!
Thank you for delivering me! Thank you for this new hope!  This new happiness!  This new life that …which I do not deserve. Not even close. Gracious! You are so gracious to me. Why, God? Why? I don’t understand. But I am so very thankful.

Selah