Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A Disciple
Funny how I am all good and well with the word disciple until I have to apply it to my own life. Suddenly I begin thinking things like, "Weren't almost all of those guys tragically killed somehow?"! Me - a disciple? Are you sure?
Oh, I know. We are all called to be one. None of us is given the job of just sitting quietly on the sidelines.
Once while studying Holy Week, one of my beloved teachers posed the question, "Which crowd would you be in? The one who praised him on Sunday during the palm procession or the one who cried for his crucifixion later in the week?" It took me a while to come to an answer, but I finally said, "Neither. I want to be one of the disciples."
And so I find myself stumbling through life. Sometimes hearing some really great teaching and totally missing the point. Sometimes being the one who argues with a brother about who Jesus loves the most. Sometimes being the one who loses my cool and lops off some poor guy's ear. Sometimes being the one who loses sight of the plan. Sometimes being the one who says, "Hey, I wasn't with him - you have me mistaken for someone else!"
And then sometimes, just on occasion, I have those "ah ha" moments that must make the Father and Son shake theirs heads and smile to each other saying, "You know, that one is not always the brightest, but we sure do love it when she gets it!"
Loved whether I always get it or not.
simple faith
Funny how I am all good and well with the word disciple until I have to apply it to my own life. Suddenly I begin thinking things like, "Weren't almost all of those guys tragically killed somehow?"! Me - a disciple? Are you sure?
Oh, I know. We are all called to be one. None of us is given the job of just sitting quietly on the sidelines.
Once while studying Holy Week, one of my beloved teachers posed the question, "Which crowd would you be in? The one who praised him on Sunday during the palm procession or the one who cried for his crucifixion later in the week?" It took me a while to come to an answer, but I finally said, "Neither. I want to be one of the disciples."
And so I find myself stumbling through life. Sometimes hearing some really great teaching and totally missing the point. Sometimes being the one who argues with a brother about who Jesus loves the most. Sometimes being the one who loses my cool and lops off some poor guy's ear. Sometimes being the one who loses sight of the plan. Sometimes being the one who says, "Hey, I wasn't with him - you have me mistaken for someone else!"
And then sometimes, just on occasion, I have those "ah ha" moments that must make the Father and Son shake theirs heads and smile to each other saying, "You know, that one is not always the brightest, but we sure do love it when she gets it!"
Loved whether I always get it or not.
simple faith
Labels: life team
Monday, September 28, 2009
Life Team Question
Share an experience of an opportunity to respond to Christ's call to be his disciple.
Pondering.
simple faith
Share an experience of an opportunity to respond to Christ's call to be his disciple.
Pondering.
simple faith
Labels: life team
Friday, September 25, 2009
Elohim
Several years ago I did a Kay Arthur Bible study on the book "LORD, I Want to Know You." It was one of those things that over the years I continue to return to - actually to seek and run to - during trying times.
The study takes you through the Hebrew names for God. Elohim is the name for God as Creator.
Parenting seems to bring with it trying times - the positive spin on that would say "opportunities for growth" the negative spin would say "no one escapes this with their sanity." Often these "opportunities for growth" have driven me to my knees and searching for something to bring direction and solace. And often I find myself recognizing God as Elohim - my child's Creator.
Reading Psalm 139:13-18 and putting my child's name in the verses reminds me that God truly created this child to be exactly as he fashioned him. Whatever trial that day has brought, it was no surprise to God.
Elohim - The Creator - my Creator - my children's Creator.
Choosing to worship, not wallow.
simple faith
Several years ago I did a Kay Arthur Bible study on the book "LORD, I Want to Know You." It was one of those things that over the years I continue to return to - actually to seek and run to - during trying times.
The study takes you through the Hebrew names for God. Elohim is the name for God as Creator.
Parenting seems to bring with it trying times - the positive spin on that would say "opportunities for growth" the negative spin would say "no one escapes this with their sanity." Often these "opportunities for growth" have driven me to my knees and searching for something to bring direction and solace. And often I find myself recognizing God as Elohim - my child's Creator.
Reading Psalm 139:13-18 and putting my child's name in the verses reminds me that God truly created this child to be exactly as he fashioned him. Whatever trial that day has brought, it was no surprise to God.
Elohim - The Creator - my Creator - my children's Creator.
Choosing to worship, not wallow.
simple faith
Labels: life team
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Quiet
It was my first real ski trip. I was in my mid-twenties and a new mom, so the idea of a few days away was much welcomed. We journeyed with several friends to Colorado to ski at Monarch.
It was probably the second day of our outing. We woke up to cloudy weather, but nothing too concerning. As we made our way up to the ski area it seemed as if the entire mountain had been swallowed by a cloud. At some point during the day it began to snow - those big, fat, fluffy snow flakes. I was loving it! A great base was already in place and fresh snow just meant more cushion for my frequent falls.
On the lift I was thinking how much I loved the snow, even though it was incredibly cold that day. I began to notice something I had not really experienced before - complete quiet. The clouds and snow had created this incredible sound barrier around me. It was almost as if God had wrapped my world with a prescence of His stillness and quiet. It was one of those times you realize just how amazing He truly is.
I am one of those people who seeks quiet. And although I find it in different ways in my current busy life, nothing has ever compared to that day when God revealed himself to me on the mountain.
Amazed by Him.
simple faith
It was my first real ski trip. I was in my mid-twenties and a new mom, so the idea of a few days away was much welcomed. We journeyed with several friends to Colorado to ski at Monarch.
It was probably the second day of our outing. We woke up to cloudy weather, but nothing too concerning. As we made our way up to the ski area it seemed as if the entire mountain had been swallowed by a cloud. At some point during the day it began to snow - those big, fat, fluffy snow flakes. I was loving it! A great base was already in place and fresh snow just meant more cushion for my frequent falls.
On the lift I was thinking how much I loved the snow, even though it was incredibly cold that day. I began to notice something I had not really experienced before - complete quiet. The clouds and snow had created this incredible sound barrier around me. It was almost as if God had wrapped my world with a prescence of His stillness and quiet. It was one of those times you realize just how amazing He truly is.
I am one of those people who seeks quiet. And although I find it in different ways in my current busy life, nothing has ever compared to that day when God revealed himself to me on the mountain.
Amazed by Him.
simple faith
Labels: life team
Monday, September 21, 2009
Life Teams
So, our church has a cool new program going titled "Life Teams." I think it was began as a way to encourage us to purposefully explore what is going on in our lives and the lives of others spiritually. Basically you become part of a life team and somehow during the week your team discusses the question of the week. My life team is a texting group.
Last week was our launch. Honestly I was not sure what type of a spiritual experience texting would be - no face to face contact, short messages - you know. . .how Godly does that sound?
Wow! Was I completely blown away. The whole week was full of messages and realizations that really "stoked my spiritual fire." And this week is off to an incredible start also.
But here is my problem - I have so much flying around in my head that I cannot possibly put it in a text and I am pretty sure all my facebook friends are not interested in long, rambling things either. Where to put my thoughts that others could also put theirs - my long unused blog!!!
That would be where you now find me. Trying to set up something to share my thoughts on the question for the week and hoping like crazy that others will respond - because that is where God really starts revealing himself in new ways. If you want to play - awesome! If not, I'm good with that too.
I will post the question on Sunday or Monday and probably ramble throughout the week. The only kicker may be that I think you will have to create an account to reply. But, hey, I could be wrong about that.
Please also be aware that I may post random stories that have nothing to do with the life team thing. I will label all life team posts as such, that should help you find them.
Life team question of the week:
When do you experience, or have experienced, God's presence in creation?
Because life is good.
simple faith
So, our church has a cool new program going titled "Life Teams." I think it was began as a way to encourage us to purposefully explore what is going on in our lives and the lives of others spiritually. Basically you become part of a life team and somehow during the week your team discusses the question of the week. My life team is a texting group.
Last week was our launch. Honestly I was not sure what type of a spiritual experience texting would be - no face to face contact, short messages - you know. . .how Godly does that sound?
Wow! Was I completely blown away. The whole week was full of messages and realizations that really "stoked my spiritual fire." And this week is off to an incredible start also.
But here is my problem - I have so much flying around in my head that I cannot possibly put it in a text and I am pretty sure all my facebook friends are not interested in long, rambling things either. Where to put my thoughts that others could also put theirs - my long unused blog!!!
That would be where you now find me. Trying to set up something to share my thoughts on the question for the week and hoping like crazy that others will respond - because that is where God really starts revealing himself in new ways. If you want to play - awesome! If not, I'm good with that too.
I will post the question on Sunday or Monday and probably ramble throughout the week. The only kicker may be that I think you will have to create an account to reply. But, hey, I could be wrong about that.
Please also be aware that I may post random stories that have nothing to do with the life team thing. I will label all life team posts as such, that should help you find them.
Life team question of the week:
When do you experience, or have experienced, God's presence in creation?
Because life is good.
simple faith
Labels: life team
