Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Being crucified with Christ is a pretty gruesome picture but what comes after is pretty cool. After I am crucified and come back to life Christ lives in me. Is that cool or what? The Colossians metaphor was me living in Christ and this one is Christ living in me.
You the great God of the universe; creator of the Galaxies, this earth, and me, reducing yourself to live inside of me. You coursing through my veins, becoming a very part of what you created. You entering into the filth, damage and sickness of me? Why would you want to do that? I don’t understand it but I want it. I want it.!!!!
Papa Father,
Please come and live in me today. Clean away the filth, the putrefying sores and the damage of me. Heal what is sick and recreate what is broken and damaged. If you live in me, you can’t help but do these things. Just having you inside of me, will heal and repair, because that is who you are! You can’t help yourself. The essence of who you are is creative, restorative, healing and joy filling. Oh I love you! However, I must confess that I love myself more. I don’t want to, but that is also who I am. Please heal that as well.
Help me to love you MOST and me LEAST. THAT, I think is what surrender is; loving you most.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Hidden in Him
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Hid
2928 krupto {kroop'-to}
a primary verb; TDNT - 3:957,476; v
AV - hide 11, hide (one's) self 2, keep secret 1, secretly 1, hidden 1; 16
1) to hide, conceal, to be hid 2) escape notice 3) metaph. to conceal (that it may not become known)
I like that metaphor, “hid with Christ in God”. I get a picture of me tucked away in a little pocket or pouch inside Jesus. Much like a baby kangaroo is tucked away inside of her mommy’s pouch. No one knows that she is there unless she chooses to pop her fuzzy little head out. The pouch is a part of the mommy kangaroo, not some external appendage but a part of her made for the express purpose of holding her little one. Baby is warm, feels secure and is safe as long as she stays hidden in the little pocket or pouch. That is how I want to be. Hidden in Jesus all safe and warm.
Hid
2928 krupto {kroop'-to}
a primary verb; TDNT - 3:957,476; v
AV - hide 11, hide (one's) self 2, keep secret 1, secretly 1, hidden 1; 16
1) to hide, conceal, to be hid 2) escape notice 3) metaph. to conceal (that it may not become known)
I like that metaphor, “hid with Christ in God”. I get a picture of me tucked away in a little pocket or pouch inside Jesus. Much like a baby kangaroo is tucked away inside of her mommy’s pouch. No one knows that she is there unless she chooses to pop her fuzzy little head out. The pouch is a part of the mommy kangaroo, not some external appendage but a part of her made for the express purpose of holding her little one. Baby is warm, feels secure and is safe as long as she stays hidden in the little pocket or pouch. That is how I want to be. Hidden in Jesus all safe and warm.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
benefits of meditation
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
The benefits are amazing!!! The benefits of meditation are just what I want! The benefits are the fruits of the Spirit;
love (who doesn’t want to love and be loved)
joy (I want to live a joyous life, regardless of my external circumstances)
peace (to have a peaceful spirit even in the midst of storm) Yea!!!
Longsuffering (boy, I want/need that for sure) something that I am not long on
Gentleness (I want to be a gentle soul, treat others with compassion and gentleness)
Goodness (You KNOW I want to be good, but so often am bad)
Faith (I want to have faith in You that cannot be shaken;
faith that you will finish the work you have begun,
faith that you are working in the lives of those I love and don’t love,
faith to know that ALL things work together for good,
faith to know that you will give me the strength and courage to do what you ask me to do.
-Meekness (now THAT is a big need J
Temperance (YES!; to live a balanced life is always a struggle and something I continually strive for)
More fruits of the spirit are to think about and focus on things that are:
o true,
o honest,
o just,
o pure,
o lovely,
o of good report,
o think about praise for You and others.
Whew! Quite a list! Impossible! Impossible if I have to do and be all of that on my own. But you and I together can do it. Yea! Ha! Like right! I get the mental picture of the proverbial elephant and mouse going over the bridge. Mouse says in his squeaky little voice. “WE sure did make that bridge shake.” As in big YOU little I.
O You GREAT, BIG, WONDERFUL, AWSOME GOD! All I have to do is meditate on YOU in my little squeaky mousey way and you will do the rest.. I can count on it, because you said so. I love you soooooo much, but not nearly as much as I want to or am going to. I love you with all of my mousey little heart and that is enough.
Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
The benefits are amazing!!! The benefits of meditation are just what I want! The benefits are the fruits of the Spirit;
love (who doesn’t want to love and be loved)
joy (I want to live a joyous life, regardless of my external circumstances)
peace (to have a peaceful spirit even in the midst of storm) Yea!!!
Longsuffering (boy, I want/need that for sure) something that I am not long on
Gentleness (I want to be a gentle soul, treat others with compassion and gentleness)
Goodness (You KNOW I want to be good, but so often am bad)
Faith (I want to have faith in You that cannot be shaken;
faith that you will finish the work you have begun,
faith that you are working in the lives of those I love and don’t love,
faith to know that ALL things work together for good,
faith to know that you will give me the strength and courage to do what you ask me to do.
-Meekness (now THAT is a big need J
Temperance (YES!; to live a balanced life is always a struggle and something I continually strive for)
More fruits of the spirit are to think about and focus on things that are:
o true,
o honest,
o just,
o pure,
o lovely,
o of good report,
o think about praise for You and others.
Whew! Quite a list! Impossible! Impossible if I have to do and be all of that on my own. But you and I together can do it. Yea! Ha! Like right! I get the mental picture of the proverbial elephant and mouse going over the bridge. Mouse says in his squeaky little voice. “WE sure did make that bridge shake.” As in big YOU little I.
O You GREAT, BIG, WONDERFUL, AWSOME GOD! All I have to do is meditate on YOU in my little squeaky mousey way and you will do the rest.. I can count on it, because you said so. I love you soooooo much, but not nearly as much as I want to or am going to. I love you with all of my mousey little heart and that is enough.
Thirsty for you
Psa 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Psa 42:2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
A dear, hot and thirsty for water.
Thirsty for God.
O Father,
Make me thirsty for you. Make that the focus of my life.
A deer that is really hot and thirsty is totally focused. That is all it can think about, water. Where is the water, gotta get to the water. Everything else is ignored, even food becomes secondary.
Papa Father,
Help me to know how much I need you, how thirsty I am, how helpless I am without you. I am so hard hearted and blind to my need. Sometimes I know my need but feel lost and too ashamed to reach out.
I still come back to the metaphor of you holding onto me and my holding onto you. My arms wrapped tight around your neck, face buried in your sweet smelling hair. You’re strong and protective arms are wrapped around me, holding me tight and safe. That is what I always see, when I long for you.
You put me down immediately when I struggle to get out of your arms. But You are always there when I want to come back. In fact, you go with me, even though I may not be with you. You are always there waiting for me to run back into your arms.
O Papa Father, help me to learn to want to stay within the circle of your protection and care. Bind my heart to yours with your chords of love.
Psa 42:2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
A dear, hot and thirsty for water.
Thirsty for God.
O Father,
Make me thirsty for you. Make that the focus of my life.
A deer that is really hot and thirsty is totally focused. That is all it can think about, water. Where is the water, gotta get to the water. Everything else is ignored, even food becomes secondary.
Papa Father,
Help me to know how much I need you, how thirsty I am, how helpless I am without you. I am so hard hearted and blind to my need. Sometimes I know my need but feel lost and too ashamed to reach out.
I still come back to the metaphor of you holding onto me and my holding onto you. My arms wrapped tight around your neck, face buried in your sweet smelling hair. You’re strong and protective arms are wrapped around me, holding me tight and safe. That is what I always see, when I long for you.
You put me down immediately when I struggle to get out of your arms. But You are always there when I want to come back. In fact, you go with me, even though I may not be with you. You are always there waiting for me to run back into your arms.
O Papa Father, help me to learn to want to stay within the circle of your protection and care. Bind my heart to yours with your chords of love.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Press toward HIM
Phi 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Phi 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
I get several different pictures when I read these verses.
One, the obvious one, is that of an athlete running a race; Every muscle, tendon and nerve is straining toward the goal, the finish line. The brain is fully engaged in the one purpose. My problem with this is that a runner has a finite amount of drive and energy. He will run out of steam. He will eventually have to quit. He will eventually fall to the ground in exhaustion. That kind of, intense, driven absorption cannot last for a lifetime. I know that I can’t live my life with that kind of intensity. I can do that only in short spurts.
Another picture is that of being in the yoke with Christ. He and I are running along together and he gives me the focus, energy and endurance that I need. He shows me what I need to do to keep going, to endure. He is always, always by my side encouraging me, believing in me. But even with that it is I who am doing the running, straining, focusing, and enduring. He just encourages me to keep going.
My other picture has to do with the word “apprehend” and “press”. It is totally not what is meant in the scripture but I think it can fit, at least for me. I picture myself. V.12 uses the word “apprehend” to hold on to. The verse gives the impression that I am holding on to him and He is holding onto me. That creates a picture of my arms wrapped tightly around His neck, legs wrapped around his chest in a full body press. His arms are wrapped tightly around all of me. We press on. Me pressed tight up against him, his arms tightly holding me. We press on. He walks on and on, holding onto me. I press up against as He walks on. Sometimes I walk and hold onto his hand, when I am tired he carries me, but we/he keeps walking; pressing on. On and on we go. Always moving, always forward. He never gets tired or weary. He has infinite strength, infinite endurance. That is the only way that I can press on to the goal. I simply don’t have the strength or endurance to keep going myself. But I can, if He carries me, when needed.
O Father,
That is the only way that I can reconcile these verses. Otherwise, I know that I just can’t do it.
Phi 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
I get several different pictures when I read these verses.
One, the obvious one, is that of an athlete running a race; Every muscle, tendon and nerve is straining toward the goal, the finish line. The brain is fully engaged in the one purpose. My problem with this is that a runner has a finite amount of drive and energy. He will run out of steam. He will eventually have to quit. He will eventually fall to the ground in exhaustion. That kind of, intense, driven absorption cannot last for a lifetime. I know that I can’t live my life with that kind of intensity. I can do that only in short spurts.
Another picture is that of being in the yoke with Christ. He and I are running along together and he gives me the focus, energy and endurance that I need. He shows me what I need to do to keep going, to endure. He is always, always by my side encouraging me, believing in me. But even with that it is I who am doing the running, straining, focusing, and enduring. He just encourages me to keep going.
My other picture has to do with the word “apprehend” and “press”. It is totally not what is meant in the scripture but I think it can fit, at least for me. I picture myself. V.12 uses the word “apprehend” to hold on to. The verse gives the impression that I am holding on to him and He is holding onto me. That creates a picture of my arms wrapped tightly around His neck, legs wrapped around his chest in a full body press. His arms are wrapped tightly around all of me. We press on. Me pressed tight up against him, his arms tightly holding me. We press on. He walks on and on, holding onto me. I press up against as He walks on. Sometimes I walk and hold onto his hand, when I am tired he carries me, but we/he keeps walking; pressing on. On and on we go. Always moving, always forward. He never gets tired or weary. He has infinite strength, infinite endurance. That is the only way that I can press on to the goal. I simply don’t have the strength or endurance to keep going myself. But I can, if He carries me, when needed.
O Father,
That is the only way that I can reconcile these verses. Otherwise, I know that I just can’t do it.
Your marvelous work
Hab 1:5 Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
Though it looks like you are not doing anything and the world has gone crazy, you are still at work and when we see what you REALLY have done, it will blow our sox off. It will be unbelievable, blow our minds.
Help me to remember, that even though I can’t see you working, you still are, in a way that if I knew it would blow my mind. If I could see behind the scenes and the larger scheme of things I would be more willing to trust you.
Though it looks like you are not doing anything and the world has gone crazy, you are still at work and when we see what you REALLY have done, it will blow our sox off. It will be unbelievable, blow our minds.
Help me to remember, that even though I can’t see you working, you still are, in a way that if I knew it would blow my mind. If I could see behind the scenes and the larger scheme of things I would be more willing to trust you.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Yoked up with you
Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I get a mental picture of You being the great big Daddy ox that is yoked up with junior, that’s me. You are there to show junior how it is done. Junior doesn’t like having a yoke on him, not one little bit. He balks, jumps, twists and turns, lunging forward and backward until he is exhausted. You, the picture of patience, keep plodding along, while I throw my little tantrum. Finally, I get the idea that throwing myself about isn’t that helpful and I begin to settle down, just a little. Your calm consistency eventually has a calming effect on me and I begin to watch you and learn by your example.
If I yoke up with you every day, you will show me by example how to live, how to treat people; how You live, how You treat people, how You respond to life, how You think about people. If I am yoked up with you that means that you won’t be going anywhere but beside me.
I have always had the mental picture of you turning your back on me and walking off when I do something wrong. My heavenly parent rejecting me, abandoning me if I do something you don't like. The picture of you being yoked up with me means that you can’t go anywhere. You are bound to me and I with you. You don’t even WANT to leave me, to abandon me. You want to stay right by my side teaching me what I need to learn.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
I get a mental picture of You being the great big Daddy ox that is yoked up with junior, that’s me. You are there to show junior how it is done. Junior doesn’t like having a yoke on him, not one little bit. He balks, jumps, twists and turns, lunging forward and backward until he is exhausted. You, the picture of patience, keep plodding along, while I throw my little tantrum. Finally, I get the idea that throwing myself about isn’t that helpful and I begin to settle down, just a little. Your calm consistency eventually has a calming effect on me and I begin to watch you and learn by your example.
If I yoke up with you every day, you will show me by example how to live, how to treat people; how You live, how You treat people, how You respond to life, how You think about people. If I am yoked up with you that means that you won’t be going anywhere but beside me.
I have always had the mental picture of you turning your back on me and walking off when I do something wrong. My heavenly parent rejecting me, abandoning me if I do something you don't like. The picture of you being yoked up with me means that you can’t go anywhere. You are bound to me and I with you. You don’t even WANT to leave me, to abandon me. You want to stay right by my side teaching me what I need to learn.
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