Last week was absolutely crazy at our house. Early in the week I began hearing what sounded like birds chirping in our attic, but I really only heard it in the mornings and when I would go upstairs to investigate, the chirping kind of stopped. On Wednesday evening, I mentioned it to my husband and we both heard a little chirping before we put our son to bed, but didn't think much of it.
Thursday morning, I sat down in the living room and heard what sounded like something falling behind the curtain on the office window. Thinking my 3 year old daughter had been playing in there and left something on the window sill, I sent her in to see what it was. The next thing I know my precious daughter comes running back to the couch screaming, "It's a bird! It's a bird!" (I know Mom of the Year Award goes to me).
My first thought was to get the kids out of the house and then go get my neighbor to help me. We started to go out the front door and the bird started flying towards us, so out the back door we went. My neighbor was not home, so I called my husband who was able to leave work an hour later to come home and deal with the bird situation.
We discovered that afternoon that we not only had a bird in house, we had a FAMILY of birds in our attic.To give a little explanation, our home has a finished attic with two rooms, which are perfect for our kids bedrooms. My son's room has been completely remodeled, but my daughter's room has only been demoed, which means there are no walls and the birds were able to freely move about the room. My husband and I even got to watch one of the baby birds hop around the room before hopping back to the nest. We knew then that this was more than we could handle.
I like to think that my husband and I are pretty humane people, so we knew we did not want to kill the birds. We called around to several animal removal places for assistance. Pretty much everyone we called could not come out until the following day, which was worrisome to say the least, but we finally found one guy who was willing to come out late that afternoon.
The wonderful man came out to our house and did a thorough inspection identifying 3 or 4 holes in the exterior of our home through which all sorts of fun wild life could enter. The guy told us that he would be able to remove the birds and the nest, fix up the holes (although not until the next week) and spray a special cleaner that would get rid of any germs the birds might have brought in along with taking care of the bird mites that had begun to form. This was exactly the assurance we needed, until he informed us of that all of this would cost us just $2 shy of $1000.
I am not ashamed to say that I felt physically ill at that point. We did not have an extra $1000 lying around, heck we did not have $1000 at all. Thankfully we were able to split it up into 2 payments, paying half that day and the rest when the job was done. We knew that we had to at least get the birds out and the mites taken care of that day and we agreed to deal with the holes in the house for a week until we could get paid and get the guy back out to the house.
Later that evening, I made the comment about going to the store to pick up a few things when my husband informed me that there was no money. He had already paid several bills that morning and the $500 we had to pay for the bird removal would completely wipe out our bank account. As I stood in our kitchen staring at our very empty shelves, fear set in. I took a silent inventory of the food we had in the house: a partial box of rice, a box of mac and cheese, a can of corn and two cans of whole potatoes, a box of cereal, some chicken nuggets, and a partial package of hot dogs. That was it, there was no other food.
It felt like I was punched in the gut as I realized I did not have enough food to feed my kids for the week. I went into the bathroom and had a full on meltdown. I sobbed for several minutes and hyperventilated as the fear fully set in. I cannot remember a time that I have been so afraid. We have been in tight financial situations before, but there was always something there: a little bit of money in the savings, a visit from family that would result in extra money being left on the table, something. This time, there was nothing.
I went to bed that night still afraid and feeling very dejected. The next morning, I simply did not want to get out of bed. Everything just seemed too much to handle. I was not trusting God and I was afraid.
The kids and I ended up spending the day at the seminary where my husband manages a coffee shop due to Mama Bird still flying around some. The hubby and I were very transparent with our friends, telling them exactly what was going on and just how much money we were having to pay. Several people offered us encouragement and prayed with us. One of the many benefits of working on a seminary is that everyone puts you to the only real provider, God!
Over the next 48 hours God showed up for us in really big ways. We found an envelope with $300 on the windshield of our car that afternoon. The next day, a friend and I were talking about all that happened and how we were having to deal with the Mama Bird still flying in because of having to wait for payday to patch the holes. This friend without missing a beat, offered to lend us $500 so we could get the holes taken care of sooner. Then another friend completely took us by surprise by giving us another $100. Needless to say there have been a lot of tears of joy and repentance over the last few days.
I don't trust God like I should. When things are going good, I can talk about all the times that God has shown up and provided in the past, but when the circumstances get tough, I cannot seem to recall those times. I don't believe that God is going to show up this time, even though he has never failed me in the past. I believe that I am in control and when God reminds me that I am not, I get upset and throw a tantrum like a toddler. I think I am strong, and when God reveals my weakness, I fight back and get mad.
Yesterday at church we began a 14 week series studying revivals in the Old Testament. The first sermon was about Hannah in 1 Samuel. Our pastor said something that was really profound and kind of hit me in the gut.
"God uses brokenness as a building block for Revival. God doesn't meet us when we put our best foot forward-he meets us in the midst of our weakness." Daniel Montgomery
Daniel spoke on how the pattern for revival is the same throughout the Bible: humble yourself before the Lord. My husband looked over at me and asked, "is that what is going on with us right now?" We are not a very humble couple. In fact, we take pride in our ability to scheme and provide for our family and we like to believe that we are in control. We are not good at being transparent with our community and being honest and humble about our struggles. It is hard for us, especially me, to remember that everything we have comes from God. I can speak the truth to others and even be moved by a song that calls me to remember all I have is Christ, but deep down I don't believe it.
It is amazing the things God can use to teach us more about himself. For me, he used a bird nest and a creepy Mama Bird flying around my house to show me that he is trustworthy. God is showing me my weakness so that I will humble myself before him. God is meeting me in the midst of my chaos and feelings of incompetence and fear and showing me how incomparable and trustworthy he truly is.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Happy Mother's Day
It's Mother's Day and like so many others, I want to take a few minutes to remember the amazing moms in my life. *Disclaimer: I will be reposting this later with a lot of pictures, but I wanted to get this out there early to let all the Mommas in my life know that I am thinking about them this morning, so check back later for the pictures.
My very own Momma, who has loved me and be my biggest fan and honestly the best mom a girl could ask for over the past 32 years. Also, a woman who has simply excelled at the job of "G-Momma"!
My grandmothers, JoAnna Harrison and Dannette Taylor, who showed me what selfless, sacrificial love looks like. Also, I am so thankful for the children they raised who would become my parents-they did a good job there. I am thankful for the hours spent playing kitchen at GrannyJo's house and the days spent playing in the upstairs at Grandma's house. Their homes were always open to me and I always felt loved there.
My mother-in-law, Anne Basden, who has loved me and welcomed me into her family. I am so grateful everyday for the way she raised the man who became my husband. She is always a wonderful Mama-B whom my kids adore.
Gwen Cox, who I still consider my other mother-in-law. She has been a precious voice of encouragement, especially in the years I have been a mom, and has always opened her home to my children. She is a great GiGi.
Debbie Perry, the woman who may not be my mother through birth, but she is my Momma all the same. Debbie became Momma to me during my years at Elon and has been Momma ever since. She has opened her home to me many, many times over the years, she has always been a voice of encouragement and reason, and she is a great Granna to my babies. Heck, she was seated as my mother at my wedding while my own mom walked me down the aisle.
My sweet little sister Mandy who is an amazing mom to her own son and daughter and who has truly become my best friend. She is constant source of encouragement, a great sounding board, and an ever role model to me.
My amazing friends who are doing this mom journey with me. They remind me that I am not alone in my daily struggles of motherhood and they give me hope that it will get better.
The two precious lives that made me a mom. My kids are amazing and I can't help but be extra thankful for them on Mother's Day.
Today I am also burdened however for those women who face Mother's Day with a heavy heart:
My very own Momma, who has loved me and be my biggest fan and honestly the best mom a girl could ask for over the past 32 years. Also, a woman who has simply excelled at the job of "G-Momma"!
My grandmothers, JoAnna Harrison and Dannette Taylor, who showed me what selfless, sacrificial love looks like. Also, I am so thankful for the children they raised who would become my parents-they did a good job there. I am thankful for the hours spent playing kitchen at GrannyJo's house and the days spent playing in the upstairs at Grandma's house. Their homes were always open to me and I always felt loved there.
My mother-in-law, Anne Basden, who has loved me and welcomed me into her family. I am so grateful everyday for the way she raised the man who became my husband. She is always a wonderful Mama-B whom my kids adore.
Gwen Cox, who I still consider my other mother-in-law. She has been a precious voice of encouragement, especially in the years I have been a mom, and has always opened her home to my children. She is a great GiGi.
Debbie Perry, the woman who may not be my mother through birth, but she is my Momma all the same. Debbie became Momma to me during my years at Elon and has been Momma ever since. She has opened her home to me many, many times over the years, she has always been a voice of encouragement and reason, and she is a great Granna to my babies. Heck, she was seated as my mother at my wedding while my own mom walked me down the aisle.
My sweet little sister Mandy who is an amazing mom to her own son and daughter and who has truly become my best friend. She is constant source of encouragement, a great sounding board, and an ever role model to me.
My amazing friends who are doing this mom journey with me. They remind me that I am not alone in my daily struggles of motherhood and they give me hope that it will get better.
The two precious lives that made me a mom. My kids are amazing and I can't help but be extra thankful for them on Mother's Day.
Today I am also burdened however for those women who face Mother's Day with a heavy heart:
- The woman who faces her first or fifteenth Mother's Day without her mom.
- The woman who had motherhood snatched from her through miscarriage or stillbirth or a failed adoption
- The woman who is separated from her children through death or poor choices
- The woman who desperately wants to be a mother, but years of infertility make that seem impossible
- The single woman who wants to be a mom, but has yet to find the man to help make that possible
Friday, April 25, 2014
I Need to Stop Being a Quarrelsome Wife
It's been a while since I last posted because life got in the way. This particular post has been bouncing around in my brain since Wednesday and this is the first moment that I have taken to actually sit down and write it.
It all began on Tuesday. The hubby and I were having a bad day. We were both in some physical pain (his back, my neck), we were both tired and really irritable. The kids and I met up with the hubby after he got off work and I felt like I could do not say or do anything right. Instead of talking to my husband, I simply shut down and gave him the silent treatment. When I did speak to him, it was terse and short. The silent treatment lead to me thinking really mean thoughts about my husband. Things like, "he never helps me with the kids" (which he does quite a lot) and "I hate that stupid phone, he is always on it" (which he's not and I am just as bad about). Once we got home, he and I spent the rest of the night in separate rooms not talking. It was a long and miserable evening.
The next morning, I texted him with an apology and when we saw each other again after work we had a good talk about what had upset each of us and exchanged more apologizes and offered up forgiveness. Want to know the really bad thing about all of this? The whole time I was mad, I knew I was being ridiculous. The Holy Spirit kept prompting me to love my husband and talk to him, but I chose to ignore the Spirit. Instead, I fed myself several lies that I believe that we all, but especially women, tell ourselves when our man (or woman) hurts us.
The first lie is "if he's gonna be nasty, than so am I." We believe that karma (even if we don't use that name) is at play. We tell ourselves that what goes around comes around and he is only getting what he deserves. But there is no place for karma in the Christian life or the Christian marriage.
Proverbs 24:29 - "Do not say, 'I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.'"
Romans 12:17 - "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all."
When we claim Christ, we claim his word and all that he is about. Because I claim Christ, it is not okay for me to "get back" at my husband or to "teach him a lesson," I am called to more than that; I am called to leave the idea of karma behind. Karma says "I get what's coming to me," but Christianity says "I get what's coming to Christ, glory and honor." I am to replicate the love and grace shown to me by God in all areas of my life, but especially in my marriage.
Along with the first lie, the second lie tells me that I am justified in my anger. Because my husband has done something to hurt or wrong me, I am allowed to wallow in hurt and anger and to hold it all against him. However, Scripture tells me something very different.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things."
1 Peter 4:8 - "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
Even when the world, or my own pride, tells me that I am justified in my anger and resentment, God's word tells me that real love is contrary to that. Because of my love for my husband, there is no more "I"m justified." When I am focused on the sin, or perceived sin, of my husband, I am incapable of loving him well. When I am loving him earnestly, I am able to see my love for him as opposed to the sin. Because I love him I do not hold his sins against him. When sin does need to be addressed, I do not approach the sin with justice and anger, but instead I approach the sin with love and grace.
A final lie that I believe is that my husband "knows." That is a big lie that we women like to believe. Our man says or does something that hurts our feelings and instead of telling him, we sulk and let it stew and wait for him to realize what he did. We like to believe that he knows what he did, but sometimes, he honestly does not know. Many times in my marriage, I have had to bring to my husband's attention times when he speaks harshly or makes a comment that he meant in jest, but in fact cut deep. It's not that my husband is an oblivious moron, it's that we perceive things differently and he is not in my head. It is not fair for me to stay mad at my husband without talking to him and telling him why I am mad.
Mark 10:7-9 - "'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."
Colossians 3:13 - "bearing with one another and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has also forgiven you, so you must also forgive."
My husband and I are now one. There is no longer two separate individuals, but rather two parts to one whole. It is not fair for me to shut down on my husband and treat him poorly, because that is like shutting down on myself. He is a part of me now. I can't just expect him to figure it out and come groveling to me for forgiveness. I have been told that I must bear with my husband, and that includes bringing my complaints to him. But most importantly, I have been called to forgive my husband. Those of us who are in Christ have experienced forgiveness that is unfathomable. We all deserve death and hell, and yet God in his infinite grace, through the death and resurrection of his son, has shown us all forgiveness. Not only does God forgive us, he no longer holds our sins against us. And just like God has forgiven me, I am called to forgive my husband and to not hold things against him.
I want to end on something that really convicted me as I searched the Scripture, something that is not comfortable to talk about and something that I honestly wish wasn't in the Bible. Four times in Proverbs it talks about how bad it is to have a quarrelsome wife.
Proverbs 27:15 - "A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are the same."
Proverbs 19:13 - "A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain."
Proverbs 21:9 and 25:24 -"It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife."
Dude, these verses suck! When I was younger I used to think how archaic and sexist these verses were. I mean what kind of jerk would write such a thing. I bet the wife had every right to be "quarrelsome" because the husband probably sat on his butt all day barking orders. Then I read these verses on Wednesday after I spent the better part of the previous evening being a quarrelsome wife, and it was like a sucker punch to the gut. Maybe I didn't verbally fight or argue with my husband, but I definitely brought him misery. I treated my husband like dirt and believed the lie that I was justified in doing such. It is hard to admit when we are being quarrelsome women.
These verses not archaic or even sexist. These verses speak truth into the marriage relationship. Wives are called to bring their husbands joy, not misery (and vice versa). It would break my heart if my husband ever felt that I was a quarrelsome wife.
It is important to remember that a Christian marriage should not reflect the world, it should reflect Christ. Jesus was not quarrelsome and he most definitely did not bear any resentment towards the throngs of people who wronged him. When I take hold of the banner of Christ, I am claiming him as my identity and I am trusting in the Spirit to sanctify me daily to be more like my Jesus. In those moments when I want to give into my anger and resentment, I have to lean on the truth of Scripture and remember that I am called to more than that. I am called to love my husband well and to allow that love to cover his sins. I am called to be a source of joy for my husband. I don't have all of this down yet, but thankfully I have a lifetime with my man to get better at it.
It all began on Tuesday. The hubby and I were having a bad day. We were both in some physical pain (his back, my neck), we were both tired and really irritable. The kids and I met up with the hubby after he got off work and I felt like I could do not say or do anything right. Instead of talking to my husband, I simply shut down and gave him the silent treatment. When I did speak to him, it was terse and short. The silent treatment lead to me thinking really mean thoughts about my husband. Things like, "he never helps me with the kids" (which he does quite a lot) and "I hate that stupid phone, he is always on it" (which he's not and I am just as bad about). Once we got home, he and I spent the rest of the night in separate rooms not talking. It was a long and miserable evening.
The next morning, I texted him with an apology and when we saw each other again after work we had a good talk about what had upset each of us and exchanged more apologizes and offered up forgiveness. Want to know the really bad thing about all of this? The whole time I was mad, I knew I was being ridiculous. The Holy Spirit kept prompting me to love my husband and talk to him, but I chose to ignore the Spirit. Instead, I fed myself several lies that I believe that we all, but especially women, tell ourselves when our man (or woman) hurts us.
The first lie is "if he's gonna be nasty, than so am I." We believe that karma (even if we don't use that name) is at play. We tell ourselves that what goes around comes around and he is only getting what he deserves. But there is no place for karma in the Christian life or the Christian marriage.
Proverbs 24:29 - "Do not say, 'I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.'"
Romans 12:17 - "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all."
When we claim Christ, we claim his word and all that he is about. Because I claim Christ, it is not okay for me to "get back" at my husband or to "teach him a lesson," I am called to more than that; I am called to leave the idea of karma behind. Karma says "I get what's coming to me," but Christianity says "I get what's coming to Christ, glory and honor." I am to replicate the love and grace shown to me by God in all areas of my life, but especially in my marriage.
Along with the first lie, the second lie tells me that I am justified in my anger. Because my husband has done something to hurt or wrong me, I am allowed to wallow in hurt and anger and to hold it all against him. However, Scripture tells me something very different.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things."
1 Peter 4:8 - "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins."
Even when the world, or my own pride, tells me that I am justified in my anger and resentment, God's word tells me that real love is contrary to that. Because of my love for my husband, there is no more "I"m justified." When I am focused on the sin, or perceived sin, of my husband, I am incapable of loving him well. When I am loving him earnestly, I am able to see my love for him as opposed to the sin. Because I love him I do not hold his sins against him. When sin does need to be addressed, I do not approach the sin with justice and anger, but instead I approach the sin with love and grace.
A final lie that I believe is that my husband "knows." That is a big lie that we women like to believe. Our man says or does something that hurts our feelings and instead of telling him, we sulk and let it stew and wait for him to realize what he did. We like to believe that he knows what he did, but sometimes, he honestly does not know. Many times in my marriage, I have had to bring to my husband's attention times when he speaks harshly or makes a comment that he meant in jest, but in fact cut deep. It's not that my husband is an oblivious moron, it's that we perceive things differently and he is not in my head. It is not fair for me to stay mad at my husband without talking to him and telling him why I am mad.
Mark 10:7-9 - "'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."
Colossians 3:13 - "bearing with one another and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has also forgiven you, so you must also forgive."
My husband and I are now one. There is no longer two separate individuals, but rather two parts to one whole. It is not fair for me to shut down on my husband and treat him poorly, because that is like shutting down on myself. He is a part of me now. I can't just expect him to figure it out and come groveling to me for forgiveness. I have been told that I must bear with my husband, and that includes bringing my complaints to him. But most importantly, I have been called to forgive my husband. Those of us who are in Christ have experienced forgiveness that is unfathomable. We all deserve death and hell, and yet God in his infinite grace, through the death and resurrection of his son, has shown us all forgiveness. Not only does God forgive us, he no longer holds our sins against us. And just like God has forgiven me, I am called to forgive my husband and to not hold things against him.
I want to end on something that really convicted me as I searched the Scripture, something that is not comfortable to talk about and something that I honestly wish wasn't in the Bible. Four times in Proverbs it talks about how bad it is to have a quarrelsome wife.
Proverbs 27:15 - "A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are the same."
Proverbs 19:13 - "A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain."
Proverbs 21:9 and 25:24 -"It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife."
Dude, these verses suck! When I was younger I used to think how archaic and sexist these verses were. I mean what kind of jerk would write such a thing. I bet the wife had every right to be "quarrelsome" because the husband probably sat on his butt all day barking orders. Then I read these verses on Wednesday after I spent the better part of the previous evening being a quarrelsome wife, and it was like a sucker punch to the gut. Maybe I didn't verbally fight or argue with my husband, but I definitely brought him misery. I treated my husband like dirt and believed the lie that I was justified in doing such. It is hard to admit when we are being quarrelsome women.
These verses not archaic or even sexist. These verses speak truth into the marriage relationship. Wives are called to bring their husbands joy, not misery (and vice versa). It would break my heart if my husband ever felt that I was a quarrelsome wife.
It is important to remember that a Christian marriage should not reflect the world, it should reflect Christ. Jesus was not quarrelsome and he most definitely did not bear any resentment towards the throngs of people who wronged him. When I take hold of the banner of Christ, I am claiming him as my identity and I am trusting in the Spirit to sanctify me daily to be more like my Jesus. In those moments when I want to give into my anger and resentment, I have to lean on the truth of Scripture and remember that I am called to more than that. I am called to love my husband well and to allow that love to cover his sins. I am called to be a source of joy for my husband. I don't have all of this down yet, but thankfully I have a lifetime with my man to get better at it.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
The Prayer of Jesus Before He Was Betrayed
Today I studied John 17. A lot of people like to look at Jesus' prayer in the garden as recorded in Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, and Luke 22:39-46 as they remember the cross. Jesus' prayer in the garden is a beautiful reminder of Christ's humanity and his unfaltering obedience to the Father and his plan of salvation. I myself have looked Jesus' prayer in the garden in preparation of Easter to remind myself of the great sacrifice made for me, but this year I am doing things differently.
John 17 is the prayer that Jesus prays after he has finished his speech to the disciples. In the very next chapter, Jesus is betrayed by Judas and begins the final stage of his journey to the cross. Jesus knew what was getting ready to happen and in this chapter we see another dimension of what was on Christ's mind as he headed towards the cross. This is not to negate the prayer recorded in the other gospels, I feel it just gives us more insight into the magnitude of what Jesus did for us on the cross.
As I read through this prayer today I asked myself three questions which I am going to share with you along with the answers I found.
1. What does Jesus pray for in John 17?
John 17 is the prayer that Jesus prays after he has finished his speech to the disciples. In the very next chapter, Jesus is betrayed by Judas and begins the final stage of his journey to the cross. Jesus knew what was getting ready to happen and in this chapter we see another dimension of what was on Christ's mind as he headed towards the cross. This is not to negate the prayer recorded in the other gospels, I feel it just gives us more insight into the magnitude of what Jesus did for us on the cross.
As I read through this prayer today I asked myself three questions which I am going to share with you along with the answers I found.
1. What does Jesus pray for in John 17?
- He prays that all will know eternal life which is in Jesus Christ, who was sent by God
- He is asking that he (Jesus) will be glorified (and thus glorify God) and that he will experience the glory he had with the Father before the world existed.
- He prays for his disciples and all those who believe because they will be left in this world. He prays for their protection, not that they will be removed from this world, but that they will be protected from the evil one, Satan.
- He prays that the disciples will be sanctified in truth.
- Jesus prays that as he gives himself over to die on the cross that we can be sanctified in the truth
- Jesus prays for us, those who will become Christians because of the apostles teachings
- He prays that we will be unified just as he and the Father are one
- He prays that we will be with Jesus and see him in his glory
2. What does this teach me about my Jesus?
- Jesus is not a passive participant-he goes willingly to the cross knowing full well the extent of the salvation plan. He is not being forced or coerced or manipulated to the cross.
- Jesus is eternal! Multiple times Jesus refers to returning to the Father and experiencing the glory and love that he had with the Father before the world ever existed.
- Jesus' love for us in unimaginable, unfathomable, and never-ending!
3. What does this teach me about me?
- I am chosen!
- I am saved by Christ alone-I do nothing!
- We are called to love each other and be unified!
The command to love each other and be unified is something that we see all throughout the New Testament. The world will know that we are his disciples by his love (John 13:35). We are to love each other as Christ loved us (John 15:12). Peter, John, and Paul all talk about our command and call to love each other throughout their letters to the church. Loving each other is not a suggestion, it is a command and we are expected to do it. The greatest act of love we can do for another person is to tell them about the salvation that comes only through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. As we prepare to remember the crucifixion tomorrow and celebrate the resurrection on Sunday, let us remember that in our call to love one another, we are called to tell the world about Jesus!
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Preparing for Easter: Looking At Jesus' Final Words to His Disciples
So often I forget how much actually happened during Jesus' final 48 hours. So often when we study the final days of Jesus we break it up into little parts and teach the sections separately. We will look at the last supper or look at Jesus washing the disciples feet or look at part of his final speech to the disciples, but we rarely look at all of it together.
Today I took the time to study John 13:13-35 and John chapters 14, 15, and 16. I studied this large section together because all of these sections comprise Jesus' final speech to his disciples. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus knew that it would not be long until he was no longer going to be with his disciples. He knew that his death was imminent and he knew that the disciples still didn't really have a clue as to what was going to happen. He was leaving them with some final words that were meant to bring clarity later and also provide comfort. These men were Jesus' friends and he had so much he wanted to say to them.
There is so much in these chapters of scripture. It is here that we read of how Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches, those who abide in him will produce much fruit. It is also here that we read of how Jesus will send the Holy Spirit when he is gone as a Helper and Guide. The disciples are told that just as the world hates Christ, the world will hate them because they are in Christ. Jesus' last words before praying and then going to the garden to be betrayed are some of my favorite words of comfort:
John 16:33 - "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
Today I am going to do things a little differently than I have the past two days. I don't want to overwhelm you with an excessively long post. Today I am going to simply share some of the "take aways" I gleaned from reading Jesus' final words to his disciples and I encourage to also go and read these words for yourself.
Today I took the time to study John 13:13-35 and John chapters 14, 15, and 16. I studied this large section together because all of these sections comprise Jesus' final speech to his disciples. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus knew that it would not be long until he was no longer going to be with his disciples. He knew that his death was imminent and he knew that the disciples still didn't really have a clue as to what was going to happen. He was leaving them with some final words that were meant to bring clarity later and also provide comfort. These men were Jesus' friends and he had so much he wanted to say to them.
There is so much in these chapters of scripture. It is here that we read of how Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches, those who abide in him will produce much fruit. It is also here that we read of how Jesus will send the Holy Spirit when he is gone as a Helper and Guide. The disciples are told that just as the world hates Christ, the world will hate them because they are in Christ. Jesus' last words before praying and then going to the garden to be betrayed are some of my favorite words of comfort:
John 16:33 - "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
Today I am going to do things a little differently than I have the past two days. I don't want to overwhelm you with an excessively long post. Today I am going to simply share some of the "take aways" I gleaned from reading Jesus' final words to his disciples and I encourage to also go and read these words for yourself.
- Jesus is God-believing in him means believing in God!
- The only way to God is Jesus-he is the way, the truth, and the life.
- We show our love for Jesus by obeying his commands-our obedience does not earn us his love or earn our righteousness-it is simply an outward expression of our love
- We are commanded to love one another sacrificially as Jesus loved us-this is not a suggestion, it is a command that Jesus expects us to follow
- Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit as a Helper, Guide, and Convicter
- None of what happened to Jesus was outside of God's plan!
- Victory is Won!
- It will not be easy following Jesus-we will be hated and persecuted and experience trouble, but we don't have to fear because Jesus has overcome the world!
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Preparing for Easter: Jesus Was Not Caught Off Guard
Today I study John 13:1-20, where Jesus washes his disciples feet. This passage is often used to teach on humble service to others, and that is clearly present in this passage. The thing that has really stuck out to me as I have been studying the book of John though, is how Jesus was always sovereign. Jesus was not caught off guard or surprised by anything that happened. He knew the plan from the beginning and was a willing participant in the Father's salvation plan.
John 13:1-20
Observations:
John 13:1-20
Observations:
- Jesus and the disciples are having supper before the Feast of the Passover
- Jesus knows that the time has almost come for him to be crucified
- Jesus knows all that is about to happen and he is control of the entire situation-it is all part of the plan
- Jesus goes around and washes each of the disciples feet-a lowly servant's job
- Peter, in typical fashion, doesn't get it, even when Jesus says he won't understand until later. At first Peter is appalled-his master will never wash his feet. Then when Jesus rebukes Peter saying, "if I don't do this, you aren't a part of me", Peter becomes over-zealous-"well then wash all of me."
- Jesus says if you are clean already, you only to need to wash your feet to be fully clean
- Jesus shows his authority and dominion in verses 10-11 because he knows who will betray him
- Jesus tells his disciples that he is their Teacher and Lord and that he has just given them an example to follow-they are to serve each other as Jesus has served them
- We are no greater than Jesus, and if Jesus was willing to serve his disciples, then no form of service to to others is beneath us
- Jesus keeps giving the disciples cryptic clues to what will happen so that they will see that Jesus was in control the whole time
Questions I have:
- Why was washing feet a job for the lowest servant?
- Why does Jesus say if the feet are clean, Peter is clean?
Answers I found:
- Feet got really dirty from walking on dirt roads. Tables were low to the ground and people reclined around them to eat meals. Nobody wants to eat with nasty feet in their face. It is obvious in Peter's reaction that people of importance did not wash feet, it was a job for a servant. Due to the filth that accumulated on traveler's feet, it was a disgusting job and assigned to a low servant.
There is also a priestly aspect to the washing of the feet. Priests had to ritually wash before entering the temple. Jesus is establishing himself as the Holy High Priest, but it is possible he is also establishing the disciples as priests who are equipped to enter into holy communication with God and sharing the gospel. - More than likely Jesus is drawing a parallel between the physical and spiritual. If the men had bathed recently then the only thing that would be dirty would be their feet. In parallel, these men are believers and followers of Jesus and they are about to be forever and eternally cleansed of sins, but there is still a place for sanctification.
Insights:
- Nothing Jesus does is coincidental, Jesus has complete control over what is going on and nothing is happening outside of his plan. None of the events catch Jesus off guard
- I love Peter-he is so clueless, just like me. He questions Jesus, claims to know better than Jesus, and then goes overboard with his actions. Jesus is calm and patient with Peter, gently rebuking and correcting him each time. I am so much like Peter and I am grateful that Jesus is calm and patient with me.
- Nothing was beneath Jesus, he set an example of humble service that he expects us to follow. We are no greater than Jesus who performed the task of a low servant so we should not assume that we are better than taking out the garbage or cleaning toys or mopping a dirty floor.
- We are chosen by Christ-it is not an accident or happenstance.
- The disciples still do not fully grasp the idea that Jesus actually is God. Jesus knows that until he dies and is resurrected that they will not fully understand. He keeps telling them things that will only make sense in hindsight, but he is also establishing his divinity and sovereignty.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for this beautiful demonstration of service-help me to serve as you served. Forgive me of the times when I have believed that certain acts of service were beneath me. Forgive me for the times when I question you or claim to know better than you. Thank you for your grace when I am pig-headed. Thank you for your salvation plan. Thank you for loving me, and the world, so much that you died in our place. Help me to meditate on that today. You were not merely killed injustly-you willingly sacrificed yourself in accordance to the Father's beautiful, masterful plan.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Shout "Hosanna!" on Sunday and Cry "Crucify!" on Friday
Yesterday was Palm Sunday, marking the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem and the beginning of what has become known as Passion Week. Passion Week chronicles the final days of Jesus which ended with his sacrificial death on the cross.
I have been a Christian for many years, and I grew up in the church, so the story of Jesus' final week, crucifixion, and resurrection is not new to me. I always loved the sunrise service at my church on Easter Sunday growing up. If you were to ask me to recite the story, I could do so with little trouble.
But I have come to realize that I have never actually studied the final days of Christ for myself, I have only been going on commentary I have heard through the years. So this year, I am doing something different. This week as I prepare to celebrate Easter, I am going to study Jesus' final days according to the book of John. I chose the gospel of John because we have been studying this gospel for the past year at church and I have been studying it during my time alone with God, so it seemed appropriate to just skip ahead a few chapters and study John's perspective.
I want to share what I have learned with you here on the blog, not because I think I am awesome at Bible study, but simply because this is my way of sharing with others the truths God has been teaching me. I hope that you will also take the time this week to study the final days of our Savior here on this earth. I pray that you and I will approach this story with fresh eyes, not taking the cross for granted.
To help you follow my process as I study each passage, I will start by sharing my observations into the passage, then I will share any questions I had while reading, followed by the answers I found, next I will share any insights into how the passage applies to my life or what it reveals about me and/or my God, and finally I will share a prayer based on the passage.
John 12:12-19
Observations:
I have been a Christian for many years, and I grew up in the church, so the story of Jesus' final week, crucifixion, and resurrection is not new to me. I always loved the sunrise service at my church on Easter Sunday growing up. If you were to ask me to recite the story, I could do so with little trouble.
But I have come to realize that I have never actually studied the final days of Christ for myself, I have only been going on commentary I have heard through the years. So this year, I am doing something different. This week as I prepare to celebrate Easter, I am going to study Jesus' final days according to the book of John. I chose the gospel of John because we have been studying this gospel for the past year at church and I have been studying it during my time alone with God, so it seemed appropriate to just skip ahead a few chapters and study John's perspective.
I want to share what I have learned with you here on the blog, not because I think I am awesome at Bible study, but simply because this is my way of sharing with others the truths God has been teaching me. I hope that you will also take the time this week to study the final days of our Savior here on this earth. I pray that you and I will approach this story with fresh eyes, not taking the cross for granted.
To help you follow my process as I study each passage, I will start by sharing my observations into the passage, then I will share any questions I had while reading, followed by the answers I found, next I will share any insights into how the passage applies to my life or what it reveals about me and/or my God, and finally I will share a prayer based on the passage.
John 12:12-19
Observations:
- a large crowd gathers when they hear Jesus is coming to Jerusalem
- the people waved palm branches, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"
- Jesus rides in on a donkey-fulfilling Scripture
- at the time the disciples did not understand, but when they looked back on these events later, following Christ's ascension, they realized the significance and understand more what was happening.
- the crowd was there, not necessarily because the believed Jesus was the Messiah, but because they knew Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead-they wanted to see if he would do it again
- the Pharisees are becoming more nervous because as they say, "the whole world" was going after Jesus
Questions I have:
- What is the significance of the palm branches?
- Why are the people crying "Hosanna!"?
- What is the prophecy that Christ is fulfilling?
Answers I found:
- 1 and 2 go together: the people wanted Jesus to be a political savior, not an ultimate one. They wanted Jesus to become their king and overturn the Roman rule. I looked it up and the palm branches signified goodness and victory-the people wanted a political victory, not a spiritual victory. When they shout "Hosanna!" it is not a declaration of Christ's Lordship or divinity, but a plea for him to save them from an oppressive ruler
- The prophecy Jesus is fulfilling is Zechariah 9:9. as I look at the Old Testament verse, I can see the confusion over spiritual savior versus political savior. "Behold, your king is coming, righteous and having salvation"-because I know the whole story, I know that Zechariah is talking about Jesus providing salvation from sins and righteousness before a holy God, but the people, who had been living under oppression for so long, would have been wanting political freedom and I can understand them interpreting the Scripture through that lens.
Insights:
- The people wanted salvation on their terms. They wanted an earthly king to free them from a temporary situation. They wanted immediate gratification. How often am I like that? I want Jesus to save me, but on my own terms and according to my plans and ideas. I don't believe that Jesus' salvation plan is enough or what is necessary to meet my perceived needs.
- When Jesus did not give the people what they wanted they cast him aside and cried "crucify him" just days later. I am like that-childish and impulsive-crying foul and demanding punishment when I don't get my way.
Prayer:
Lord God, help me to remember that I am one who cries "Hosanna!" on Sunday just to turn and cry "Crucify!" on Friday. Help me to remember that your plan of salvation is much greater than any plan I could come up with. Forgive me for wanting salvation on my terms. Help me to rejoice in your ultimate and final victory over sin and death. Help me to rejoice in the assurance that because I am yours, I too share in that victory. Help me to cry Hosanna in the highest declaring you as King of All and the bringer of my true salvation. Give me boldness to declare the truth that you are real Life and through you we can experience eternal victory!
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