LISTICLE
I am a “list” person. I have sticky Post-it notes of every color in my notebooks, with my calendar, on my dashboard. Lists. We use them for all sorts of things. There’s the “to-do” list, the list of baby names, menu items and recipes, the list of accomplishments and lists of books. I have my shopping list and I could list a thousand reasons why I’ve been blessed.
A “listicle” is a story or article written in the form of a list or that includes a list. We love to organize, to tick off our list and list the “do’s and don'ts.” The bible is full of lists: plants, names, sins, virtues, genealogies, instruction, prayers and even names of Jesus. The bible even talks about recording the names of His followers in the Book of Life. What a list that will be and what a privilege to have our names included! Luke 10:20 reads:
Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”
At the end of 2 Samuel Chapter 23, David gives a list of his mighty men, whose deeds were recorded. The list of names is not really inspiring, but reminds us that every passage of the Bible is written for our benefit. What we can know is that these men were dedicated to King David. All Scripture is provided, inspired by God, and given to us so that we might learn from it.
It reminds me of my father’s binders of genealogy and a recent incident that my son shared. My father recorded hundreds and hundreds of names in his research. Each bears significance to our history but we were looking for a common name that a colleague of his shared. After comparing records, we discovered the name that connected us. And we all live in the same community just as our ancestors did at one time! Scripture also has a guiding list as we continue to grow on our spiritual journey.
The qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit serve as a list for how we should act toward one another. Galatians 5:22-23 tell us to focusing on:
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control
Hopefully, the list above would inspire us to live out our faith in a way that reflects God’s character to the world around us so their names may be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life with us.
ALACRITY
“A cheerful readiness, willingness or briskness; sprightliness” is how I try to start each day.
When the storm clouds gather in angry puffs of grey; when the darkness envelopes our thinking and the discouragements of life weigh heavy on our hearts, being cheerful is easy to be doused like water on a candle. Can we be ignited? In our broken world, can we perceive God’s divine nature? Did you know that “the Lord is good and his faithful love endures forever; his faithfulness, through all generations”? (Psalm 100:5)
There are some days when we get “stuck in the muck”. Maybe it’s a fear, trepidation or anxiety about something in the future; maybe it’s physical or mental depression; maybe it’s distraction, doubt, bitterness, apathy or even laziness. But when we get rooted in the negative, it sucks us under and rains on the umbrella of praise and positive thinking. Those are the times when we can praise God with our entire beings and let “my mouth be filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.” (Psalm 71:8)
Recently, my grandson made a gift for me. It is a macaroni flower work of art. He asked if we could hang it up. Even though it doesn’t really “go with my decor” I adore the fact that this treasure is a beautiful reminder of sharing his love. It’s not going to be hung in any art gallery and it’s probably only worth the canvas it’s on, but it represents something I treasure. God sees us that way too. Maybe our life is a little messy sometimes, but we can come to him with a joyful heart, sadness in our souls and just the way we are.
“He forgives all your iniquity; he heals all your diseases, He redeems our life from the Pit; he crowns you with faithful love and compassion. He satisfied you with good things; your youth is renewed like the eagle.” (Psalm 103:3-5)
Isn’t alacrity, the way you want to start your day?
ELECTRIFY
The current times seem to terrify some people - economy and finances, world chaos and war, dismantling and destruction of what we once knew was honest, secure and safe. The fear of the future descends upon them like a dark, gloomy cloud ready for the storm. Thunder echoes in the heavens as the lightning flashes and we get a very small glimpse of the power of the storm. And yet…
The damage has been done. It’s time for healing, awakening and revival. Electrify your life! Harness the energy and create new circuits in our minds. The curtain was torn.
Passover, called Pesach in Hebrew, commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt - a miracle in itself that included the parting of the Red Sea. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, he was among many who came to observe the annual feast of Passover. As many as 250,000 lambs would have been sacrificed and millions of people would have come to celebrate. John the Baptist declared that Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Jesus knew what awaited him: betrayal, arrest, mocking, beating and crucified but He was there to fulfill prophecy. He is the King who sacrificed death on the Cross for us. He defeated Death. 1 John 2:2 says “He [Jesus] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” Jesus died at the exact moment that the sacrifice for Passover was held. Luke tells us in Luke 23: v 44-46
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
But that is just the beginning for us as believers! We can go directly to God through Christ. If that doesn’t “electrify” us, set us on fire for the Lord and give us a new energy, then we need to revisit the story of the cross.
EVERYWHEN
This isn’t a typo; it means “always” or “all the time.”
What comes to mind when you consider time? Maybe it's regret over the past; something that transpired that you would love to go back and change. Maybe it’s anxiety about the future and not knowing where your path is taking you. Or maybe it’s feeling disconnected spiritually in the present. God is sovereign and if we trust in His eternal presence, we know that He is in control of everywhen.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:18
So many of us get consumed by the temporary. Recently, my flight was cancelled and I lost a day of holiday, but the blessing is that God had a bigger plan and things worked out even better than what I expected. We get caught in the circumstance and instead of “considering it pure joy… when you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2 NIV) we forget that there may be value in what we could learn. Instead of “why” is this happening, we could reframe and see “what’s” being asked or tested of our character. When we shift our perspective, and fix on eyes on eternity, things don’t seem so bad. God always operates in everywhen.
In this world of constant change - I mean just watch the news for two minutes - Jesus is the unchanging anchor of our faith. His love, truth and promises remain constant and have across all of history and to the future. Politicians can make promises, leaders rise and fall, but Jesus told us, “…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
The beauty of God’s presence doesn’t have to be contained in moments of joy, times of worship or even unexpected crisis. He is with us everywhen; in everyday life. He is faithful. That’s what I need to remember all the time in the little moments of the day.
meraki
“Do something with soul, creativity, or love, leaving a piece of yourself in the work you do.”
Isn’t that what God did with each of us, besides every flower, bird, creature and landscape of nature? There is beauty within and without. The world looks through the lens of affirmation, popularity and culture. Our eyes become inflamed with the movie stars on the screen or the music or sports icons. We crave what lacks in us because it is a constricting form and deceiving enchantment. But God, shows us beauty beyond. Just look at heavens or stand gazing at a sunrise or sunset and you feel the power of beauty that reaches to your innermost core.
Then bring me the sound of a chorus of instruments, the laughter of children, storytelling of sages. I gaze in wonder at pieces of art or ponder the Word of God. The world bases creativity on a set of values, credentials and cuteness but God transmits his love with delight. As believers, we encounter God and are changed, blessed and loved. There is beauty in us. When we are in the company of those who display God’s love, we are blessed and it encourages us to want to share that same infection. Singing, fellowship, reading the bible and studying His Word are all ways to praise God and add beauty to our personal lives.
The most amazing beauty is the love of sacrifice. I’m not talking about Romeo and Juliet romantic love; I’m talking about humanity. Such a love was never, has never and never will be so powerful as what Jesus did on that cross. The beauty of that love is that is transcends human understanding. And that He rose again, is seated at the right hand of God and is going to return to this ugly mess we have created here on earth, is the beauty of the gospel. If you don’t know Jesus personally, it’s okay to ask him now to come and live in your heart to experience all the beauty He has for you. He’s knocking. Will you answer the door?
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20
brush
I recently had the opportunity to enter a 53 word story contest using one word. That word is both a noun and a verb; has many connotations, elements of physicality, but also alludes to an advent scenario.
To quote Dr. Martin Shaw, “you can have a sacred experience out in the bush, but the second vulnerability is quite what to do with it on the return… the wild’s not the problem, it’s the return.”
During this Advent Season, I couldn’t but help think of Mary. Yes, Jesus’ mother - that Mary. She was a virgin who had a brush with the angel, Gabriel who told her she would become pregnant - the a brief encounter with someone or something unpleasant or notable - and that she would give birth to the Son of God. Reading in Luke 1:26-38, Mary was startled, but she believed and it came to pass.
Maybe many of us have have that sacred experience, but we fail to do anything with it. We pass it off. We leave it sitting out there where it happened. But some of us have mulled over our encounter and reflected, questioned and wondered - what does or could it mean?
When the birth of Jesus was announced by the chorus of angels, “all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them…” Luke 2: 18-20
After that night and as the new day dawned, smearing colors into the sky and a new hope for mankind, baby Jesus, like strokes on the canvas of the world, meshed hope and love. Every choice we make is the bristle, shaping the artistry of our lives. We are all portraits left unfinished, but God’s hand is the artist of our souls when we give Him our lives to paint. This season, may you have a brush with the Divine. Merry Christmas.