noiseless

“Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning sun can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day - like writing a poem or saying a prayer.” Anne Morrow LIndbergh

There are always lists of things to get done in a day. There are always trips to take, weights to lift, things to buy, but hustle and bustle doesn’t quiet the spirit. As winter is kicked aside with the odd howl, spring makes her way into this season. LIttle buds on trees, robins nesting, green shoots popping their heads into the sunlight are certainly signs that she’s ready and we get that antsy feeling of getting back into the full swing of life. Even today was like a summer day with temperatures soaring and roaring in the 20’s!

Jim Berg wrote a book called “Quieting a Noisy Soul” where he explains that often the “noise in our soul” is experienced because of pressures in our lives. These are things like despair, anger, fear, frustration, guilt, shame, position or possessions, recreation, obsessions, addictions, lust, hatred or even entertainment that want to budge in and take their place in our lives by making enough noise that we notice them. These “sources of noise” are in marriages, church communities, families, hobbies, and any place where we have relationships. The garden just isn’t growing the way it’s supposed to in our everyday life. We can’t be as fruitful with junk in our spiritual walk.

And so, what are we mere mortals supposed to do about the discontent in our souls? Why are so many willing to cave to pressure? Where are we finding time to spend time alone, reflecting, meditating, praying and praising the God of creation? As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, there was a crowd of disciples joyfully praising God “in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.

Luke 19: 37-40

And even in the quiet moments, the bible tells us in Psalm 62: 5

“My soul, be quiet before God,
    for from him comes my hope.”

So, whether it’s praising Him loudly or praying to Him softly, we can find contentment in our souls. Not the noise that the world offers, but the adoration, worship and peace that only the Holy Spirit can give us.

finifugal

Afraid of finishing anything? Afraid to wake up to yet another dreary day? Afraid of failure? Afraid of feelings, circumstances or stepping into something new? Afraid of obedience and leaving the security, safety and soundness of a space? Afraid of death itself? Why?

It is hard to face fears and have faith when you face disappointments. You play the mistakes you made like a skipping record that can’t find the grove to sing to. You feel disqualified, kicked off the team, no longer able to do the things you once were passionate about. You can’t see the ending.

But there is one! After death there is eternity. For believers, eternity starts the moment we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. For some it will be heaven and for others hell. Our hope is in Jesus who is faithful. Romans 5:3-4 tells us to press on.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers, he discusses the "10,000‐Hour Rule", and shares that the key to success in any field is a matter of practicing a specific task for a total of around 10,000 hours. As an example, he brings up that The Beatles performed live in Hamburg, Germany alone over 1,200 times from 1960 to 1964, collected more than 10,000 hours of playing time and we can see that they are still a popular group to this day. Basically, practicing for 10,000 hours of anything would probably include failures, frustrations and possibly falling short of goals at times, but as the bible tells us, perseverance produces character, which produces hope.

As Christians, our hope is in Jesus! Reading scripture, praying, worshiping and pressing on in this life for those 10,000 hours will produce a connection with the creator of the universe. It’s key to success. Press on, good and faithful servant. It’s worth it!

skandalon

What’s your trigger? What’s the cage that holds the action, the word, the thought that sets you off? What’s the hunter’s trap? We become captive when we take the bait of offense and build walls to protect ourselves; whether mentally or emotionally so we can stop the pain. It’s the stumbling block that stops us from healing. Sometimes it’s the behavior or attitude that keeps us from love, kindness and care. Other times, it causes others to fall into a defence mode and attack us.

Skandalon was the stick that was used as the trigger for a snare trap.  Eventually, the word evolved into meaning a thing that trips up a person or causes them to stumble and fall, not just literally, but figuratively. The bible even talks about this:

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this – not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. Romans 14:13

In Matthew 18: 6-9, Jesus taught that skandalon is a terribly serious offense and warned that anyone who caused the “little ones who believe” to stumble will face God’s anger.  In fact, that person should have a millstone hung around his neck and be thrown into the Sea of Galilee! When the disciples argue on the way to Jerusalem about who was the greatest, Jesus welcomed a child, and invited them to see the value of the least among them.

But what about our stumbling blocks and triggers? Our hearts and emotions are the biggest places, capable of creating an endless supply of skandalons that have us stumbling, bumbling and tripping all over the place. Perhaps it’s time to call on self-control, mercy and love to keep us upright.

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” With the Holy Spirit inside of us, we are able to possess self-control and demonstrate love, kindness, care or the fruits of the Spirit. We are able to live in a way that honors God.

bumfuzzel

I just don’t get it! I don’t understand! I am confused and perplexed. I’m bumfuzzeled! I am wandering the hallways of my mind trying to find a doorway. I am searching the forest for the buried treasure hidden deep in the damp and musky ground with no map or key. I am calling out in the wilderness of my soul. Many are lost in the chaos and confusion of our world today. We have forgotten that the fear of God is the beginning of understanding.

Many Jews celebrate Passover, which is also called Pesach. This celebration is about the Biblical story of the Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt. This year it starts tomorrow - Wednesday, April 5th until Thursday April 13th. Over two thousand years ago, Jesus also celebrated this time with his parents growing up.

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. LUKE 2:41-52

And so now, in our world today, we have the opportunity to ponder those words and we can know why Jesus had to be in His Father’s house. We get to look back over 2,000 years, read the scriptures and contemplate what it means to have Jesus in our lives. Many did not understand then and many do not understand now, but for those of us who are believers, we do! Celebrating Passover and Easter takes on a new meaning other than egg hunts, bunnies and chocolate. Can we really fathom all that Jesus did on that cross for us? Perhaps it’s time to realize how important that is.

He is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Happy Easter!

Labefy

Walls of castles decay. Older bodies become more apt to break. Negative thoughts creep into psyche and try to weaken or impair our goals and opportunities, sometimes wounding our very souls. Tsunamis of destruction seems to crash into our lives and destroy.

In 2 Chronicles 29, Hezekiah was set on turning the people back to the God they had forsaken, as well as rededicating and restoring the temple. The bible tells us in v. 3 that, “he in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.” Hezekiah made serving God his first priority when he began to reign. Later in the scripture, we find that it took just over two weeks or 16 days to complete the restoration of the temple vessels and its services. (v. 17)

In the summer of 2005, I journeyed with a group of teenagers and a few adults to Banda Ache, Indonesia. Many people may recall that just six months prior to that on Boxing Day of 2004, a tsunami destroyed many people’s lives, coastlines and homes and was considered the deadliest tsunami in history. The 200 foot wave affected 14 countries and killed over 200,000 people, yet many survived. We were one group went to restore a village that had been destroyed by the water and give people a home to live in. It was amazing to hear of their stories of survival. From a pregnant woman sitting in a palm tree for days to the man who ran to higher ground and waited until the waters receded, they were determined to live and they cried out to God.

It doesn’t matter what our background, talents or obstacles are. If we put God first, there is no limit to what He can do. When God gives us an opportunity, He can help to defy expectations and make the impossible, possible. Jesus demonstrated this numberous times.

He turned water in wine at a wedding. He healed the sick and raised the dead. The crowd of 5,000 was fed with a few loaves of bread and fish and he died for humanity defying death. So, as we prepare for Palm Sunday and Easter, we remember that God makes all things impossible, possible. That’s the God we serve!

instead of

… of a gumble - a grin. Instead of a sad face - a song in our hearts. Instead of depressed with the world - deepen our faith in God. Instead of hurts - the healing. Instead of hammers - helping hands. Instead…

Instead of reading a book alone, read with a group of students; Instead of taking a vacation and spending $2000 dollars, give $500 of groceries to 4 hungry families; Instead of sitting at home complaining about being lonely, go visit a senior home for an afternoon.

Instead of living a life with emptiness, ask Jesus to come into your heart; Instead of suffering in sin and shame, ask Jesus to forgive you and tell him you repent of your wrongdoings; Instead of wondering about your future, trust that God has control of your life.

There was a monastery in a small village up in the mountains.

One day, a rich man approached the monastery and knocked on the gate. A monk opened the gate and was handed a bunch of grapes.

The rich man said the gift was his way of giving thanks because the monastery was always there when he needed help. Now that he came across a good fortune, he wanted to give back. After the rich man left, the monk contemplated what to do with the grapes. At first, he thought about eating them. But he thought better and decided INSTEAD - to give it to the monastery’s abbot for he had taught him about kindness.

The abbot liked the grapes. But he thought there was someone more deserving of this gift — a sick monk. The abbot thought that the grapes would bring joy to the sick monk. So INSTEAD of eating them, he took them to the sick monk.

The sick monk was given the grapes and was thankful for them. However, he thought the cook who prepared his meals throughout his ordeal would appreciate them more.

It was now the cook’s turn to admire the grapes. He couldn’t bear to eat them, though. The cook wanted the monastery’s sexton—the one who tended the churchyard every day—to have the grapes as a sign of appreciation for everything he’d done.

The sexton was happy when given the grapes. But he gave it to his apprentice so that he could appreciate the beauty of God’s creation.

The apprentice was honored by the gesture. However, he recalled that it was the monk who opened the gates who welcomed him with open arms the first time he stepped foot in the monastery. So he gifted the grapes to the monk, not knowing the grapes were his, to begin with. The monk, who found the whole thing amusing, thought the grapes might be his. He also realized that if he started giving happiness, it was bound to come back. So, INSTEAD of keeping happiness, time, resources for yourself, share and bless others.

In reference to the Macadonean churches, Paul writes:

In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.  For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own…

2 Corinthians 8:2-3

How are you going to bless others this week?