this lenten journey has been about self-discovery. 40+ days of learning as the Holy Spirit has guided my thoughts and words.
right now i am Peter. that is my discovery. and yet - through my repeated study of 1,2 + 3 John I want to be like John. well, i want to be like Jesus - but i am drawn to John's humanness and through which the Spirit guided him to teach and lead through love.
But i am seeing that i am a pre-Pentecost Peter. bold at times - but cowardly at the times when i need to be vocal. i guess deep down i don't like confrontation. But the Spirit is working within me and has given me words that in time i will share with those who need to hear it. it will be a challenge that i willing accept.
God has placed some words on my heart. I anxiously await the time when he wants me to share them.
and so this journey of self-discovery has brought out new revelations.
I am drawn to the dust of Jesus. I am excited to learn more and more what it means to be his disciple - so that my garment will be covered with his dust.
the Spirit has been faithful even when i have not.
my last goal of this lenten season is to focus not on myself - but on Jesus and His sacrifice that will be remembered this weekend. for that, i don't have words...
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
one week
in one week...
you retreat to the desert - if you are found - you will be arrested.
you share in a meal prepared in your honor... teaching others a lesson in what it truly means to honor.
you are celebrated by the masses with cheers of gladness and hope. and yet you remain humble.
the turmoil and stress of knowing what is about to happen begins to creep into your mind.
you foreshadow the inevitable. but they don't understand.
you show your deep love and appreciation to your closest friends. you serve them in the most humble of ways by washing their feet.
you answer questions and offer comfort. "I am the Way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." you remind them that the Counselor will be coming and that they will all be equipped to do great and mighty thing. You empower them.
always teaching... always looking for a chance to share Gospel truth... you use everyday things... a vine...a branch... remain in me... stay connected with me - like a branch to the vine... and bear much fruit.
you have chosen those that will carry Your message the masses in the weeks, months + years to come.
you share in a final meal. a meal of remembrance. a meal shared with friends... a connection... a communion takes place.
you prepare your disciples for what is about to come. they don't get it. but you give the words that they need to hear.
in the dark moments on a dark evening before the darkest of days you retreat. you pray for yourself, for your disciples and for all believers.
and then the betrayal comes. one who walked beside for years... one who ate next to you the evening before... betrays you. stabbed in the back, you tell him 'do what you came here for.'
you are turned over to the authorities and arrested.
your most loyal follower denies knowing you... all the while you are being questioned. you remain humble... all while being humiliated.
they take you to the Governor. he tries to sort of free you, but his pride gets in the way. deep down he is afraid of you. you say little as he gives the option of your freedom to the people. the people, many whom were the same ones cheering your entry into Jerusalem a few days before are now asking that another criminal be freed.
you are given a sentence.
death.
agonizing pain. difficult to breathe. flesh and bone stripped away. words can not express...
'it is finished' you say as you willingly gave up your Spirit...
you GAVE up your Spirit.
what a gift...
in one week...
you retreat to the desert - if you are found - you will be arrested.
you share in a meal prepared in your honor... teaching others a lesson in what it truly means to honor.
you are celebrated by the masses with cheers of gladness and hope. and yet you remain humble.
the turmoil and stress of knowing what is about to happen begins to creep into your mind.
you foreshadow the inevitable. but they don't understand.
you show your deep love and appreciation to your closest friends. you serve them in the most humble of ways by washing their feet.
you answer questions and offer comfort. "I am the Way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." you remind them that the Counselor will be coming and that they will all be equipped to do great and mighty thing. You empower them.
always teaching... always looking for a chance to share Gospel truth... you use everyday things... a vine...a branch... remain in me... stay connected with me - like a branch to the vine... and bear much fruit.
you have chosen those that will carry Your message the masses in the weeks, months + years to come.
you share in a final meal. a meal of remembrance. a meal shared with friends... a connection... a communion takes place.
you prepare your disciples for what is about to come. they don't get it. but you give the words that they need to hear.
in the dark moments on a dark evening before the darkest of days you retreat. you pray for yourself, for your disciples and for all believers.
and then the betrayal comes. one who walked beside for years... one who ate next to you the evening before... betrays you. stabbed in the back, you tell him 'do what you came here for.'
you are turned over to the authorities and arrested.
your most loyal follower denies knowing you... all the while you are being questioned. you remain humble... all while being humiliated.
they take you to the Governor. he tries to sort of free you, but his pride gets in the way. deep down he is afraid of you. you say little as he gives the option of your freedom to the people. the people, many whom were the same ones cheering your entry into Jerusalem a few days before are now asking that another criminal be freed.
you are given a sentence.
death.
agonizing pain. difficult to breathe. flesh and bone stripped away. words can not express...
'it is finished' you say as you willingly gave up your Spirit...
you GAVE up your Spirit.
what a gift...
in one week...
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Embracing Grace
embrace.grace.
what does it look like?
grab hold of the morning.
seek the warmth of the sun.
close your eyes.
listen.
can you hear it?
behind the distraction of automobiles and exhaust
just past the dull roar of morning hustle
and beyond man-made disorder.
grace is speaking.
we often don't listen or hear it.
we reject it - thinking that its message can not possibly be for us.
it's chaos over clarity.
'i am not worthy.'
worry + fear + regret + poor self-image
trump grace.
and so i wallow.
"do not worry about tomorrow."
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
So if He feeds them so,
Why is my faith so low?
He speaks. Grace flows down.
it covers me.
like a warm blanket.
and I'm dripping wet no more.
grab hold of the morning.
seek the warmth of the son.
close your eyes.
listen.
can you hear it?
grace.
what does it look like?
grab hold of the morning.
seek the warmth of the sun.
close your eyes.
listen.
can you hear it?
behind the distraction of automobiles and exhaust
just past the dull roar of morning hustle
and beyond man-made disorder.
grace is speaking.
we often don't listen or hear it.
we reject it - thinking that its message can not possibly be for us.
it's chaos over clarity.
'i am not worthy.'
worry + fear + regret + poor self-image
trump grace.
and so i wallow.
"do not worry about tomorrow."
"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them."
So if He feeds them so,
Why is my faith so low?
He speaks. Grace flows down.
it covers me.
like a warm blanket.
and I'm dripping wet no more.
grab hold of the morning.
seek the warmth of the son.
close your eyes.
listen.
can you hear it?
grace.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
John 8:11
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Where are you dirty? Where in your life are you committing "Adultery of the Spirit" What other God's are you serving? Lent is about conversion and the one of the meanings of conversion is "the act of change" and so this day is symblized by a "U-turn" symbol.
Where are you dirty? Where in your life are you committing "Adultery of the Spirit" What other God's are you serving? Lent is about conversion and the one of the meanings of conversion is "the act of change" and so this day is symblized by a "U-turn" symbol.
I realize in my life there are many other Gods... as evident by my lack of posting on this blog. I allow life to get ahold of me and take me away from Him. I know I need to make more time for Him and spend more time on other things and I am really working at it. Some days it goes well and others... well... not so well. I will continue this process and keep pushing forward as we march closer and closer to Easter day.
Monday, March 26, 2007
John 8:7
"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."
As many of you know, slowly but surely, everyone stepped away... b/c NO one, other than Jesus himself, is sinless. How do you treat people? Are you quick to point out other's faults while you yourself are wallowing in filth? "Good Christians are expected to point out and condemn the sin, to judge the sin and love the sinner." The question is... can this really be done? I pray we all instead are able to follow in Jesus' manner as recorded in John 8:10, 11 where he says,
"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?
May we also be able to follow his example in our daily encounters with others.
As many of you know, slowly but surely, everyone stepped away... b/c NO one, other than Jesus himself, is sinless. How do you treat people? Are you quick to point out other's faults while you yourself are wallowing in filth? "Good Christians are expected to point out and condemn the sin, to judge the sin and love the sinner." The question is... can this really be done? I pray we all instead are able to follow in Jesus' manner as recorded in John 8:10, 11 where he says,
"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?
"No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
May we also be able to follow his example in our daily encounters with others.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
the choice is yours
You can get with this, or you can get with that.
I think I'll get with this, for this is where it's at.
your either a disciple of Christ or your not.
you can't 'sort of' follow Him. the light doesn't follow us around it follows Him.
in order to remain in light we must follow.
the lenten season is a few weeks from completion. the next few are pivital. now is the time for truth. seek truth eith your whole heart. seek Christ with everything inside of you.
no room for lazy* Christians here.
the choice is yours.
I think I'll get with this, for this is where it's at.
your either a disciple of Christ or your not.
you can't 'sort of' follow Him. the light doesn't follow us around it follows Him.
in order to remain in light we must follow.
the lenten season is a few weeks from completion. the next few are pivital. now is the time for truth. seek truth eith your whole heart. seek Christ with everything inside of you.
no room for lazy* Christians here.
the choice is yours.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Light.
John the disciple... the apostle... the revelator... he gave us so many rich images of Jesus... the greatest (and most used) was the image of Jesus as Light. (23 or so times...)
may these scriptures inspire you today... as you walk along your lenten journey, may you remain in light.
- John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
- John 1:7
He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe.
- John 1:8
He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
- John 1:9
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
- John 3:19
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
- John 3:20
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
- John 3:21
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
- John 5:35
John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.
- John 8:12
[ The Validity of Jesus' Testimony ] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
- John 9:5
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
- John 11:9
Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light.
- John 11:10
It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."
- John 12:35
Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.
- John 12:36
Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
- John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
- 1 John 1:5
[ Walking in the light ] This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
- 1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
- 1 John 2:8
Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. - 1 John 2:9
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.
- 1 John 2:10
Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. - Revelation 21:23
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
- Revelation 21:24
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.
- Revelation 22:5
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
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