Monday, May 30, 2011

Faith AND Doubt?

I am not a big fan of this new confession that faith and doubt can coexist in a healthy christian belief. Sure, it's normal to be sceptical, but when it comes to our commitment to Jesus, the book of James clearly tells us that the doubter is an unstable person. Doubt is the opposite of the belief and faith we called to have! The enemy is the one who would have us fear that God is not good, just, and powerful.

I read in the LA Times an essay, by a rabbi, who said that "faith is in the questioning." Not having understanding is not the same thing as doubt. (Compare the stories of Mary and Zacharias when they were both told they would have a son. Mary asked the angel how it would work, and the priest asked for a sign.) Exploring and learning about God and how He works means we will have questions. These questions will not be answered in our time, but in God's, for His ultimate glory. If our desire to understand drives us to, and keeps us on, our knees in prayer, then we will be strengthened in our endurance, maintained by Him in our decision to be obedient in belief, and will be gifted with His patience in hope. These are the character traits that will be revealed, as a reflection of His glory, when the heavens open and the Righteous One is revealed to the whole world.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Unanswered Prayer?

What's with that? I protest the terminology! Those two words should be mutually exclusive. They do not belong together. Jesus will refuse His children no good thing (or He will MAKE it good) and that includes those things which are hard to hear or accept. In answering prayer, He utilizes one of three responses: "Yes", "Wait", or, "I have something better in mind". So we observe that prayer either changes things, or it changes us!

God desires this dialog for the purpose of "growing us up". It is how we "wrestle" with God. We are the ones who are developing our agility and stamina in spiritual matters. We are building up our internal strength and toughness in faith. I have learned from combining prayer with my dilemmas. God and I have come to an agreement. I ask for His will to be done and He gives me whatever I ask for.

I have one simple discipline to advocate as an answer to this issue of "unanswered" prayer. Keep a prayer journal. Make sure you keep track of exactly what you've asked Him for. My own journal started out as a list, every day, of what I wanted from Him. Once I saw that He actually answers, the journal then seemed to degenerate into a pathetic, whiny list of complaints about my life. I don't think, when we are in trouble, that we realize our prayers sound this way. It sure was emphasized in a big way when I had to search through page after dreary, angry, pleading, page to put down His answers. It was just too painful reading that stuff. I resolved to use the journal as a vehicle of praise for Him. I asked Him to help me do it. Now some of my best material starts in those pages. I have also learned how exquisite is the pleasure of giving honor and glory to Him!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Keeping Up Appearances

In the neighborhood I frequent every day, I see Jehovah's Witnesses parading around in their "Sunday best" for all to see. The selling point of their religion seems to be how together and righteous they appear to be. Who wouldn't want to be perfect in and of themselves? The real meaning of the gospel (good news) seems to have escaped them entirely. Anyone who is an actual sinner doesn't stand a chance in their organization. At least that"s what their family members tell me. Anyone who can't "fly straight" need not apply.

This is not to pick on them specifically. (But if they impress you, we need to talk some more.) I am pointing out our own tendency to indulge in the behaviors that tell others, without words, that we, ourselves, have arrived. There is no difference between "us" and "them". We are not to think of ourselves as better than others. If we are thinking this, we are disowning part of ourselves. Evil unacknowledged becomes stronger within us, and inaccessible to grace and forgiveness.

Our actions are only symptoms of the real problem. If we do not confess (fess up) to our actual motivations, we cannot be healed of our disease. Honesty before the Savior is a part of salvation. The good news is that, yes, we are broken, but God knows all about it! That's why there is grace! That's why grace is free for the asking! We are all on the same level of absolute poverty in this matter of rightness before God. Just for the asking, He will attribute to us the perfection He requires from us! (Because of the Son.) Now, if you think that you don't need God, as Jesus, then you're still just keeping up appearances......

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

God, Where Are You?

When I told You I wanted to serve You,
I was welcoming Your authority in my life too.
In Your name, I've spoken to other's hearts,
Shielded the longing where courage starts.
I never knew my own strength would give out.
Knowing Your mercy,You're gonna hear me shout!
Lord, please just show me where You are now!
I know that You care, and I want to see how:
What You do for me when I can't go on?
Change my sighs and tears into a victory song?
When the sun torments me with it's heat,
Sucks out my life so that I feel beat,
the luminosity of the clouds cover me,
Your visible hand for all to see.
Satan's neighborhood makes music an assault.
If I ask for peace, then their anger's my fault.
While I still ask, Your answer's on the way.
It's no longer their home, so they cannot stay.
Who could ever admit a child is a burden?
Protecting him from the hurt of where he's been?
Now he will see Your provision and power,
Be bold with the gospel, in this the last hour.
Symptoms of sickness bring terror and pain
and loss of hope to ever be strong again.
By the buffeting messenger, I learn spiritual warfare.
By God's grace I can fight him, so I'm no longer scared!
In weakness, I know, that I'm not worth much,
Except, I know He uses me to encourage and such!
I find relief in a compassionate spouse.
His kindness makes a refuge, out of my house.
So in my daily life the evidence proves true.
Almighty God, it seems clear, that compassion is what You do!
Obvious is Your signature, written on my walls.
Obvious is the beckoning siren song, of love for me, that calls!
Abundant tender mercies shield me from harm.
The attacks of the enemy, but chase me, into Your arms!
How can fear touch me when all I see is You?
Holding tightly, to me always, so I know I'll make it through!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Interlude (or you could say, what's happnin when nothin's happnin!)

My heart is consumed by restlessness.
There's got to be more to life than this!
I'm in a race for power and things,
Yet no satisfaction do they bring.
I know I'm worth more than these!
Searching for meaning past material disease.
They judge my worth by what I own,
but I need something more than a heart of stone.
The message which resonates to my core
is sacrificial love that makes me more
a part of HIS plan which is so much higher
than anything else to which I could ever aspire.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Lest We Forget

Exaltation Experienced.
Memory of love to carry hence.
Released (for a time) from His embrace.
Sanctifying suffering to face.
Grip fast the image of Savior seen!
Hold tight to the truth of where you've been!
Brave the battle fierce!
The heavy darkness pierce!
Hostile opaque clouds dispersed.
Leaps high the flame of courage nursed!
Consummation of the soul
Who's been rescued and made whole.
Privileged to be so blessed!
Paying our love's cost assessed.
Cherish the memory of His face.
Features protectiveness firmly placed.
Flaming deliverance plucking us
From enemies grip nonplussed.
Soon the sacred war is won
When is sighted Savior and Son
Giving blessed peace and rest
On the other side of the test.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

For Such A Faith As This

The devil is gonna try and talk you out of it. Oh, maybe he won't use words. Maybe he will oppress you in some other way. Then again, words are sharper than swords. Ideologies will always be expressed in words, those containers of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The enemy is around for the express purpose of testing your resolve. The Lord does not want any in His camp who are not sure of where their loyalties should lie. Ample opportunity is provided to defect. It is always, ultimately, our own choice.

He will give you the strength to endure, if that is your desire. He is faithful to us while we work through our issues. Remember that what is at stake is our trust in Him, nothing else. We are saved by our hope in Him. (James 1:12)

If we set aside our hearts for Him, what a beauty of love and grace He develops in us! Grace will have it's full expression in us who choose to belong to Him. By simple faith, we inherit His likeness and glory. Once we have endured our test, we will wear the crown He won the right for us to wear. (Romans 8:24)

Saturday, May 7, 2011

A Gentle Turning

If I do not acknowledge the darkness within me,
I am walled away from the light by my will.
The wall is built of my own unbelief.
The darkness is only the choice to eschew faith.
To admit to myself of the truth
of evil"s presence within me,
is to disarm it and take away it's only weapon.
Evil's only power is in lies and deceit,
it's only strength is my decision to disown it.
What a paradox exists in embracing and acceptance,
then laying it at Your feet.
You have given me permission to forgive myself
through the demonstration of Your great love.
Only in submission am I freed.
Only in humility freely offered
am I lifted up to You.
Of such great strength is faith
born of blood and darkness,
fading into comfort and light.
Ignorance proclaims faith gullible
only from lack of knowledge of it's
bedrock sincerity and reliance on the evidence.
Faith in the Only True is born from understanding,
and given birth by discernment.
If I close my eyes and ears to Life,
there will be nothing left and no strength to guide me.
Only in Your hands is my evil turned into glory
shining out Your image for all to see.