So Tuesday has come and gone...I kept wondering, 'why am I in such a funk today?' Well, I finally realized what was missing...you and our Lively discussion!!!
This week I was reading my Daily Bread devotional and read something I'd never heard before. The words whole and heal are used synonymously in scripture. Hmmm...whole = heal. It makes me think differently after so many of our discussions about what healing is. What do you think? Of course, I'm no scholar when it comes to scripture...just found it interesting and profound.
The following passages compared are very good examples of this. Check it out.
John 5:1-15 KJV
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%205:1-15&version=KJV
John 5:1-15 NLT
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%205:1-15&version=NLT
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Mister Rogers...you gotta love him.
I was drinking my yummy coffee this morning and reading something a little light-hearted -Mister Rogers' quotes. You gotta love that guy! I'd like to share, as it pertains to forgiveness.
One summer, midway through Seminary, I was on a weekend vacation in a little town in New England. I decided on Sunday to go hear a visiting preacher in the little town's chapel. I heard the worst sermon I could have ever imagined. I sat in the pew thinking, "He's going against every rule they're teaching us about preaching. What a waste of time!" That's what I thought until the very end of the sermon when I happened to see the person beside me with tears in her eyes whispering, "He said exactly what I needed to hear." It was then that I knew something very important had happened in that service. The woman beside me had come in need. Somehow the words of that poorly crafted sermon had been translated into a message that spoke to her heart. On the other hand, I had come in judgment, and I heard nothing but the faults.
It was a long time before I realized it, but that sermon's effect on the person beside me turned out to be one of the great lessons of my life. Thanks to that preacher and the listener-in-need, I now know that the space between a person doing his or her best to deliver a message of good news and the needy listener is holy ground. Recognizing that seems to have allowed me to forgive myself for being the accuser that day. In fact, that New England Sunday experience has fueled my desire to be a better advocate, a better "neighbor," wherever I am.
~Excerpt from The World According To Mister Rogers~
One summer, midway through Seminary, I was on a weekend vacation in a little town in New England. I decided on Sunday to go hear a visiting preacher in the little town's chapel. I heard the worst sermon I could have ever imagined. I sat in the pew thinking, "He's going against every rule they're teaching us about preaching. What a waste of time!" That's what I thought until the very end of the sermon when I happened to see the person beside me with tears in her eyes whispering, "He said exactly what I needed to hear." It was then that I knew something very important had happened in that service. The woman beside me had come in need. Somehow the words of that poorly crafted sermon had been translated into a message that spoke to her heart. On the other hand, I had come in judgment, and I heard nothing but the faults.
It was a long time before I realized it, but that sermon's effect on the person beside me turned out to be one of the great lessons of my life. Thanks to that preacher and the listener-in-need, I now know that the space between a person doing his or her best to deliver a message of good news and the needy listener is holy ground. Recognizing that seems to have allowed me to forgive myself for being the accuser that day. In fact, that New England Sunday experience has fueled my desire to be a better advocate, a better "neighbor," wherever I am.
~Excerpt from The World According To Mister Rogers~
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
What an amazing night last night -- again! God continues to meet us --right where we are, not where we think we should be, or how we think we should be, or where we are not, currently -- He is gentle, and pursues us gently, nudging, opening our eyes a little more, then someitmes giving us great "Aha!" moments. He continues to bring into our midst others who are on their own journey -- and offering grace, through each of us, to each other. We are so blessed!
I loved the Henri Nouwen devotional, and the Shel Silverstein quote. (And if you remember -- he was a personal friend of Brennan Manning!).
One verse that has kept coming to my mind of late is from Isaiah 61:3: about Jesus it is said that "he has sent me to bring good news to the poor / oppressed, to heal the brokenhearted, to announce freedom to all captives, and pardon all prisoners; . . .to comfort those who mourn, to give bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of JOY and gladness instead of news of doom and mourning, a praising heart instead of a faint / languid spirit. They (the hearers) will be called / renamed "Oaks of Righteousness," planted by God to display His glory.
What appropriate verses to keep in mind over the couple of weeks before we meet again.
You are all such a blessing to me!
Kathy
I loved the Henri Nouwen devotional, and the Shel Silverstein quote. (And if you remember -- he was a personal friend of Brennan Manning!).
One verse that has kept coming to my mind of late is from Isaiah 61:3: about Jesus it is said that "he has sent me to bring good news to the poor / oppressed, to heal the brokenhearted, to announce freedom to all captives, and pardon all prisoners; . . .to comfort those who mourn, to give bouquets of roses instead of ashes, messages of JOY and gladness instead of news of doom and mourning, a praising heart instead of a faint / languid spirit. They (the hearers) will be called / renamed "Oaks of Righteousness," planted by God to display His glory.
What appropriate verses to keep in mind over the couple of weeks before we meet again.
You are all such a blessing to me!
Kathy
Email from Henri Nouwen Society
I love seeing God's hands in ALL things......this came in my inbox this AM:
The Unfinished Business of Forgiveness
What makes us cling to life even when it is time to "move on"? Is it our unfinished business? Sometimes we cling to life because we have not yet been able to say: "I forgive you, and I ask for your forgiveness." When we have forgiven those who have hurt us and asked forgiveness from those we have hurt, a new freedom emerges. It is the freedom to move on.
When Jesus was dying he prayed for those who had nailed him to the cross: "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34). That prayer set him free to say, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
Monday, May 17, 2010
Shel Silverstein
We've been talking about forgiveness vs. unforgiveness and how it relates to freedom vs. bondage. As we are going to be moving into the 'transformation' part of our discussions in a couple weeks, I couldn't help sharing this quote I came across today by Shel Silverstein.
To me, freedom entitles you to do something, not to not do something.
~Shel Silverstein~
To me, freedom entitles you to do something, not to not do something.
~Shel Silverstein~
Reflections from Sunday
Over the past year I have redefined what I think "church" looks like. I would say that this beautiful group of ours has contributed to helping me see that I was even putting "church" in a nice and neat little box on the shelf. With this new working definition of church I have surprisingly been enjoying my time in church more! I have always liked being at church, but something is different now. I wish I could easily pin-point it, but I cannot.
I love truly KNOWING that God is in the midst of all things. Here we are...this little (yet strong) group in Casa Grande studying forgiveness, healing, and transformation and God places this message about the Ups and Downs of Life on a Pastor's heart in Phoenix. God, you are good. He spoke about David....I enjoy teachings on David's life because he is a man who for many years I thought was invincible and more God-like than most. Seeing David as he really was-someone like all of us who fall short-adds beauty to him. He was human. I will not share the whole message with you-though it was wonderful-but rather a few points that occurred to me during this powerful message.
Pastor Barnett said something so powerful that I want to quote him. He is 72 years of age now and he said for the first time it really occurred to him that, "if we are alive it is God keeping us alive!" WOW! I am here because of God and I am kept here because of God. A truth I think we all know, but a reminder that speaks right to my heart.
I know the verse from Psalm 30:5 (weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning). The Pastor pointed out in Genesis 1:31 that it was evening first, then morning. So often we think of morning then evening. He said that many of us are living in the evening of our lives. Morning is to come!
Just two little excerpts from a wonderful sermon, but that was not the best part. Many gave their lives to Christ yesterday. After years of watching others dedicate their life to Christ "we" can forget that this is AMAZING!! A man stood in the row in front of David and I and Pastor asked those Christians around someone to lay hands on and pray with those who stood. In those moments I kept hearing that beautiful whisper.....'do not take even one life for granted. Someone is declaring that I am King of Kings and that is celebrated in heaven and should be on earth.' It was like a renewing of my spirit as I prayed for this man I did not know.
The service was ended with a GREAT reminder....God is STILL on the throne!!! You may be living in your "evening", your marriage may be in turmoil, your kids may have fallen, your finances may be upside down, but He is still on the throne! Nothing changes that. Glory!!!
May your week turn to morning and be overflowing with joy! See you Tuesday night.
Jennifer
I love truly KNOWING that God is in the midst of all things. Here we are...this little (yet strong) group in Casa Grande studying forgiveness, healing, and transformation and God places this message about the Ups and Downs of Life on a Pastor's heart in Phoenix. God, you are good. He spoke about David....I enjoy teachings on David's life because he is a man who for many years I thought was invincible and more God-like than most. Seeing David as he really was-someone like all of us who fall short-adds beauty to him. He was human. I will not share the whole message with you-though it was wonderful-but rather a few points that occurred to me during this powerful message.
Pastor Barnett said something so powerful that I want to quote him. He is 72 years of age now and he said for the first time it really occurred to him that, "if we are alive it is God keeping us alive!" WOW! I am here because of God and I am kept here because of God. A truth I think we all know, but a reminder that speaks right to my heart.
I know the verse from Psalm 30:5 (weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning). The Pastor pointed out in Genesis 1:31 that it was evening first, then morning. So often we think of morning then evening. He said that many of us are living in the evening of our lives. Morning is to come!
Just two little excerpts from a wonderful sermon, but that was not the best part. Many gave their lives to Christ yesterday. After years of watching others dedicate their life to Christ "we" can forget that this is AMAZING!! A man stood in the row in front of David and I and Pastor asked those Christians around someone to lay hands on and pray with those who stood. In those moments I kept hearing that beautiful whisper.....'do not take even one life for granted. Someone is declaring that I am King of Kings and that is celebrated in heaven and should be on earth.' It was like a renewing of my spirit as I prayed for this man I did not know.
The service was ended with a GREAT reminder....God is STILL on the throne!!! You may be living in your "evening", your marriage may be in turmoil, your kids may have fallen, your finances may be upside down, but He is still on the throne! Nothing changes that. Glory!!!
May your week turn to morning and be overflowing with joy! See you Tuesday night.
Jennifer
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Chew on this...5/4
The quote of last Tuesday's discussion that seemed to move us all...
(I don't have a person to site. Maybe someone else who remembers could site the person who said this)
When you compare, you compete.
When you compete, you crucify.
If you just take a moment right now and repeat it over and over again, it is amazing how it speaks to us all. Not that I'm over generalizing...I just think it defines the culture by which we are engulfed, truly. So I've asked myself this week. How, then, am I to be different in this culture?? The thought has crossed my heart that being different means I may be that one "crucified". Can I stand that thought?? Just my tidbit to chew on for the week.
Kathy gave us another handout. Be sure to ask for one next week.
Some questions to absorb in your heart from the discussion:
What is the relationship between forgiveness and healing
What is the difference between healing and cure?
What needs healed?
What am I healed of...relationships? my body? my mind? etc...
Do I need to forgive God?
(I don't have a person to site. Maybe someone else who remembers could site the person who said this)
When you compare, you compete.
When you compete, you crucify.
If you just take a moment right now and repeat it over and over again, it is amazing how it speaks to us all. Not that I'm over generalizing...I just think it defines the culture by which we are engulfed, truly. So I've asked myself this week. How, then, am I to be different in this culture?? The thought has crossed my heart that being different means I may be that one "crucified". Can I stand that thought?? Just my tidbit to chew on for the week.
Kathy gave us another handout. Be sure to ask for one next week.
Some questions to absorb in your heart from the discussion:
What is the relationship between forgiveness and healing
What is the difference between healing and cure?
What needs healed?
What am I healed of...relationships? my body? my mind? etc...
Do I need to forgive God?
Sunday, May 2, 2010
More than a rock
I wanted to let you all know that let go of my rock. It has been sitting on the island of my house until last Wednesday evening. I spoke with my sister and was shocked at where the Lord led me. I asked her for forgiveness.....she was shocked. I wish I could tell you that there will be great restoration in this relationship, but there are life decisions my sister is making that keep a wall between us. I am happy to say that I installed a window in that wall on Wednesday. One that can be open and more importantly, one that can be clearly seen through.
As for the rock itself...I was going to throw it away-just toss it outside somewhere. However, when I looked up there was the jar full of Mayah and Chiara's "special" rocks. Just rocks they (mostly Mayah) find and want saved. Each one is brought in with love and thought. Each one is unique. Mayah has told me a story with each rock she has added to the jar. I asked the girls if I could add my rock to their jar. They were so excited that Mommy would contribute to their collection. What a perfect place for this beaten up, ugly rock. Surrounded by beauty, uniqueness, love, joy, and innocence.
Thank you Mary for following the Spirit. I did not know this is where the rock would lead me, but when I took it I knew He did.
Blessings,
Jennifer
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