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Archive for the ‘Time Up to Pentecost’ Category

Afraid of Healing

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost, tagged , , , , , on May 23, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Mark 5:15
When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

I’ve been contemplating what it would mean to me to see someone transformed before my eyes. Why do we fear miracles?

In some ways, I think it’s similar to growing up in a dysfunctional family (who hasn’t?) and recreating those patterns in our adult life. It’s what we know. It’s our little norm. Healing, then, is not part of the norm.

I think about my daughter’s recent diagnosis of fibromyalgia. She has had pain in her body as long as she can remember. She never knew that people didn’t hurt to get out of bed or pick up clothes off the floor. Would she recognize her body without the pain and with full range of motion? She can’t even imagine it or vision it.

And, I think about the people who surround those who want to change. I remember some years ago when I joined Weight Watchers and the group leader warned us about our friends: the very ones who might sabotage our efforts. “Oh, you can have just one cookie, can’t you?” “Oh come on, it’s my birthday!” and so on. I understand that alcoholics run into similar sabotage if the loved ones are not on board with the program. Enablers don’t like change.

Lord, don’t let me sabotage anyone who is trying to change! Don’t let me fear transformation… in myself or in others. (Mark 9:24b “…I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”)

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If Only I Had Known

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost, tagged , , , , , on May 22, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 4:10
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

How many times have I said this in hindsight: “If only I had known…” I have made a lot of stupid choices coming up. For instance, I think back to my senior year in high school (which I’m going through again with my son). Our family was very poor but I was such a really good student, I could have gone to any university, but I didn’t think it was an option, so I stayed in-state. If only I had known….

When I was working toward becoming a professional actress/model in my twenties, I had a zillion head shots taken, but I never even considered getting my hair and make up done professionally. It would have made a huge difference. If only I had known….

When we adopted our children, in first and second grade, one of them really struggled with basic concepts. It took over 3 years for us to figure out that he had a learning disability. He lost much valuable time. If only I had known…

My mother, who was extremely difficult and “eccentric,” came to live with us her last three years. It was during this time we discovered that she was bi-polar and probably had been all of her adult life. I can’t help but think how her quality of life (and ours) would have been improved with proper medical attention. If only I had known….

The Samaritan woman was faced with a choice and an opportunity to “know.” She could have walked away and ignored this Jewish man. Instead, she asked the next question. To know, we must ask. To learn, we must listen. To discover, we must look. To create, we must experiment. To love, we must risk.

Then, we too, can drink “living water.”

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Heaven’s Gifts

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost, tagged , , , , on May 21, 2009| 1 Comment »

John 3:27
… John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven….”

There are many gifts that we receive from heaven…. that is, from God. These are our natural gifts. And it is with these “gifts” that we are challenged to create within our world.

So often, we look outside ourselves and say, “If only I had more money” or “If only I was prettier” or “If only I could sing like that [small tribute the American Idol finale, which I didn’t even watch ;-)]” … then we could accomplish this or that. But the truth is, we have everything we need already.

In the same spirit as the metaphor about the church being like a “body” (I Cor 12:14-16), where the hand and foot have different functions, so it is with our natural gifts. Each of us is gifted in particular ways to contribute to the world. Each of us is given raw materials to work with. Each of us can work with what we have been given.

I think I have spent a good deal of my life chasing after other people’s gifts, hoping those gifts would be my ticket to happiness or contentment … well, I should be honest, what I’ve really wanted the most has been fame! That’s embarrassing to say.

It’s only in recent years that I have started letting go of this “temptation” and started nurturing the gifts I already have: speaking, writing, and connecting the dots for others. I am the energizer bunny. Each day is becoming more and more of an adventure. I’m curious how these gifts will manifest today. I give thanks.

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Spending Time Together

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost, tagged , , , , , on May 20, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 3:22
… Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.

It’s really very simple. To get to know someone, you have to spend time together. If we want to be known, then we have to spend the time. But, our contemporary life is making the spending of time with others more and more difficult. We are busy… too busy to “spend” time. We will spend money before we will spend time. We will rush from place to place, event to event, workday to workday, phone call to phone call… but is it really spending time together?

To me, spending time means giving no thought to my own agenda, but giving that time as a gift to another. If I am more interested in the other person and listening to that person, I am spending my time on him or her. There is a difference.

I confess, I enjoy telling a good story. I can “entertain” anyone or any small group with a series of anecdotes about the Browns… one teen story after another, one work story after another, one random act after another (for instance, I fell out of my shoes at the last Chamber of Commerce luncheon: I landed on the floor and my shoes remained standing like two brave soldiers… a funny story at my expense). But, have I spent time with the person? Have I listened to them? Not really.

The time has come to make a conscious effort to “give” my time, my presence, my heart to others. It’s time to spend the time. And of course, the same is true for the time I spend in prayer and meditation. As I give time to God, I am rewarded with more time to give. “… to him who has, more will be given…” (Luke 19:26)

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Save the World

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 19, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 3:17 (Amplified edition)
For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.

How many of us have forgotten that the Son didn’t come just “to save” us as individuals but for the sake of the world. Just like the world in the time of Noah, we have been on a crash course for ruin. And everything has suffered: the animals, the landscape, the oceans, the weather, the children … everything. So God sent his “only Son” to make a supreme sacrifice so that the law of sowing and reaping could be nullified for anyone who believed in Him. This process is not just so you and I can go to “heaven” when we give our bodies back to the Earth. This “deal” was made for the whole world. This was a supernatural transaction.

Those of us who have believed are in the recovery business…. recovering that which has been lost.
We are in the lighting business… shining in the dark places.
We are in the food business… bringing savor (salt) to the tasteless.
We are in the hydro business… bringing streams of water to the dry places.
We are in the messenger business… bringing the good news that the Kingdom of God is near.

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Stones into Bread

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 18, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Matthew 4:3
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

It wasn’t that Jesus couldn’t turn the stones into bread. He could have done that at any point in his days of fasting and praying. But that was not the point. He was called to fast until he was released from it.

I think this happens all the time. There are things that are not available to us, but not because we are unable to have them. God creates an environment for us that is part of our evolving story.

If I look at my life, there are things I would have changed along the way if I could. For instance, I would have liked to have biological children but then, I would have missed having my wonderful adopted children. While pursuing pregnancy, there were many more steps I could have taken to push the point: more tests, more invasive measures, etc. Probably, I could have turned those stones into bread. But even then, I sensed a different destiny, a purpose if you will, for those circumstances.

Barrenness is part of my story so that God could produce a different kind of fruit. And as a result, not only do I have three wonderful kids, but I also have a sensitivity to the plight of orphans in a way that I would have never had before. I’m glad I trusted the Lord. I pray I can be as sensitive to His Will in my current situation.

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Water and Spirit

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost on May 17, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 3:5
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit…”

These are two strong metaphors that have much to tell us. From the beginning, water was the primary element of the earth. Wars have been fought over access to fresh water throughout the centuries. Water is a huge percentage, up to 65%, of our bodies. Water sustains all living things. Water is also a symbol of cleansing and refreshing. Isaiah says, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3) Streams of water are referenced over and over again as a sign of renewal in a dry place [e.g. Isaiah 35:6]. John baptized with water as a symbol of repentance. Jesus spoke of Himself as Living Water [John 4:10]. And Jesus said if we drank His water, a spring of water would well up within us, even unto eternal life [John 4:14].

But John also said that Jesus would baptize with the Spirit and fire [Matthew 3:11]. And it is through this second baptism, the very presence of God within us, that we are transformed completely. I believe the kingdom within us… our interior landscape … is built by the Holy Spirit.

We are sustained by the water of life, but we grow and mature through the Spirit. It is the Spirit who teaches us [John 14:26], counsels us [John 15:26], gives us power [Romans 51:13], and puts us in direct fellowship with the Christ [2 Corinthians 13:14].

Lord Jesus, water the seed and grow your Kingdom within me. Teach me how to nurture what you have already given

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