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Posts Tagged ‘way of Jesus’

Power of Story

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost, tagged , , , , , , , , on May 26, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 4:42
They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

It all begins with a story. The Samaritan woman ran back to her town and told them what had happened to her at the well with the man, clearly a prophet, who revealed truth to her. Her story drew their curiosity and eventually, they too believed in the Christ, through direct encounters with Him.

I used to think that evangelizing or “bringing others to Christ” meant I had to know the “Four Spiritual Laws” or master the script from “Evangelism Explosion.” And although these programs work for some folks, they have not worked for me.

Meeting Christ and choosing the Way of Jesus transformed my life. When I met Jesus, I was flirting with the dark side in a major way: drugs, alcohol, filthy speech habits, and casual sex. It was ultimately just another young man’s story that made me curious enough to read the New Testament. This was my direct encounter with the Lord and I could not say “no” to His invitation. I asked to become his disciple the night of December 24, 1979.

I wish I could say that I was as enthusiastic as the Samaritan woman and ran to tell all of my friends that I had made a decision to follow Jesus. Instead, I was still embarrassed, worried about what they would think or say. And yet, they heard about it anyway. I was changed and people noticed. They asked questions. They wanted to know how I, one of the depraved, could have met Jesus. Like the woman at the well or the woman who washed Jesus feet with her hair, I was renewed by His acceptance and love.

But what about today? After 30 years, is there still power in my story?

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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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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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Beginnings

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost, tagged , , , , , on May 13, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 1:1-2
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

It’s a strange time to have a beginning, the middle of May, but that’s just how it has worked out. Last year, I had just finished facilitating the Seeking Him bible study and felt convicted to dedicate myself to the discipline of a daily devotion time. I have not been perfect, but I have also not given up my quest, which for me, is all good!

Today is the beginning of my second year and I consider the importance of beginning with the Word. He is my source and my strength. He is the One with whom I want a primary relationship. It is in Him I hope and trust.

Last year my theme was based on Ps 25:1, “To You O Lord I lift up my soul.” But this year, I believe I will be pursuing discernment (…And this is my prayer: that [my] love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that [I] may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ… (Philippians 1:9-10).

May the meditations continue in this light and my thanks to those who share this journey with me.

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Grace and Truth

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost, tagged , , , on May 7, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Grace is a good thing. Always. We can never get too much grace. Like mercy, it is a safe gift. Grace is forgiveness. Grace is forgetfulness. Grace is patient and kind.

Truth on the other hand carries some extra weight. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for truth. But it takes courage to practice truth, particularly truth about oneself. As I see myself more clearly, I am often appalled at what I see. I am grateful for grace that tempers truth.

Truth today: I’m floundering a bit. I’m feeling edgy and I think I’m missing something important. Instead of more centered on Christ, I feel less so. I want to escape. I want to hide. When my kids don’t want to hear me, they cover their ears and say, “blah, blah, blah” over and over again. That’s I feel today. I don’t want to care about anything today.

Grace today: This too shall pass.

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Born of God

Posted in Time Up to Pentecost, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 6, 2009| Leave a Comment »

John 1:12, 13b
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God … born of God.

This is the gift of Christ Jesus, to have the flame within ignited by the Spirit of God. We are born… or reborn… this is the root of the saying, “born again.”

As I mentioned before, we all have the light, but our personal light needs to be linked to the Source.

And once that happens, as Paul tells Timothy (2 Timothy 1:6), “… I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…” We do this through the personal devotion, koinonia [community], and connecting with the flame of others.

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