God must have thought highly of Mary to select her as the one who would raise His Son. I've often wondered what on earth Mary must have felt when, well, for example when there was no room in the inn.
Now, me? Well, I would have freaked. "Joseph!" I'd say. "Are you nuts?!?! We cannot have the Son of God being born in a BARN! You have GOT to find us a place to stay! God will surely be mad at me if I birth this child next to a cow!"
But not Mary. I'm sure God would have put that in the Bible if she did.
The one time she did "freak out" was when she couldn't find Jesus when they'd left the temple. I think this was God's way of letting us parents know that even Mary & Joseph lost track of their child.
I know we are to be like Jesus, but I think that Mary is a good source for women to look to - after all, she was chosen by God. So, let's take a look at Mary.
Mary cared for others & showed compassion:
She visited Elizabeth, her cousin, who was also with child. In fact, she stayed with her, after she found out Elizabeth was going to have a baby, for 3 months. I feel as women that God wants us to be compassionate. So many times things "happened" in the Bible when Jesus had compassion. "...he had compassion on them and healed their sick." "...Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him." Let us realize that compassion toward each other shows more than just emotion - it is followed by, and should be followed by, great acts of love and mercy and miracles.
Mary accepted other's compassion and care:
Ladies, how many times have you told another that you didn't need help? How many times have you tired to do things - physically, spiritually, emotionally - on your own. Mary accepted other's compassion and care for and to her. First, she accepted help in anointing her "dead son's" body: "When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body." This, in itself, is a huge statement. Notice the women were the ones who were taking care of people, even while they were "dead." Notice also that in Mary's time of grief, she accepted help. I'm sure this help brought her much comfort. Second, Mary accepted that John would take care of her after Jesus left the earth. Jesus, in fact, was the one who "ordained" John to be Mary's caretaker. Oh, if we would but see that accepting help, care, and compassion is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of accepting a blessing ordained from God.
Mary knew when to keep her mouth shut - even when she had Godly news:
I'm sure you're thinking I'm going to talk about gossip here, right? Wrong. This one is hard and involves discernment. Discern means (according to crosswalk.com) To examine, prove or test; scrutinize. Mary had just been told that she was going to have a baby.
Let me stop here and point out that if this were me, the first thing I'd do is worry about what people would think when my belly began to grow. Here I'd be, not even married, and pregnant. With who? Oh, just God's child. C'mon. If you lived in Bible days, would you have believed Mary? What did her family think? What about her neighbors? God hadn't "spoken" to someone for years. Now, out of the blue, this teenage girl is visited by an angel?!
Mary was surely bursting - wanting to tell someone, anyone. I'm sure she had questions. What was pregnancy like? What would it be like to have a baby? Did she need a special saddle to ride the donkey with? What would Joseph think? Would they need to add a room on to the house?
But what did she do? She pondered these things in her heart.
Ladies, I want to point out here that God may give you news. God may give you life-changing, world-changing news, but, you must discern when He wants you to tell this news. I strongly believe that God often reveals things to us that we are to ponder in our hearts. That may be a prayer for a husband, a word about a co-worker, or even an impression on our minds of a loved one in the middle of the night.
We have our best friends. But, don't forget that God is your best friend of all. Ponder what He gives you and test yourself and your motives before sharing his news.
Mary sought the Savior:
"And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren..." Mary no longer had an earthly son. When Jesus died & rose again, He was now her Savior. She didn't comprehend exactly what she was seeking, but she knew she wanted more of Him.
I think looking at the characteristics of Mary can open our eyes to what God expects of us. And, you know, I think it's a lot less that what we expect of ourselves. Many times we build ourselves up as dependant, busy women who haven't the time to accept and even sometimes give help. But, Mary, the chosen of God, was compassionate and able to accept others' help and compassion. She knew when to keep things to herself - even Godly things. And, Mary sought her savior. Did I mention she found him when she sought him?
Praise the Lord!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Sending Flowers to God
I'm a note sender. I send get-well notes and missed-you notes and especially thank-you notes. I love the latter. I hope that my tiny inscription brightens someone's day as much as they brightened mine when they did whatever it was that made me feel special. When someone goes that extra mile(s), I send a gift like flowers.
Yesterday I was overwhelmingly blessed by God in a visible way. (I know we are blessed all the time by things we just don't notice or don't even know about). I mean, it was if God was just pouring and pouring and pouring out more than my mind could hold.
How do I thank God for that? I felt I needed to thank Him an equal amount as was the blessing. But, that seemed impossible.
God, how do I thank you?
I can't send you flowers - You created them.
I can't write you a note - You inspired the very Word.
I can't bake you cookies - You are the Bread of Life.
Lord, what do you want from me to show you just how overwhelmed I am? I know you don't give us blessings to bribe us to do something for you, but if I can do anything, let me know!
Yesterday I was overwhelmingly blessed by God in a visible way. (I know we are blessed all the time by things we just don't notice or don't even know about). I mean, it was if God was just pouring and pouring and pouring out more than my mind could hold.
How do I thank God for that? I felt I needed to thank Him an equal amount as was the blessing. But, that seemed impossible.
God, how do I thank you?
I can't send you flowers - You created them.
I can't write you a note - You inspired the very Word.
I can't bake you cookies - You are the Bread of Life.
Lord, what do you want from me to show you just how overwhelmed I am? I know you don't give us blessings to bribe us to do something for you, but if I can do anything, let me know!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Okie Verse
Tower:
Eiffel Tower?
Sears Tower?
Leaning Tower of Pisa?
Somehow I don't think that's what God had in mind when he commissioned the Proverbs scribe to write The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (18:10).
No, in those times, towers were a place of refuge, of security. No armies could defeat you. The walls were impenetrable. I picture men, women, families running to the tower - knowing that once they reach its stone wall they can rest and know they are completely secure.
I picture a modern storm cellar. Here in Oklahoma, it's the only real place I feel safe when the sirens of the city sound. Thunder crashing, lightning. If you're in the path of a tornado, the only thing stopping it from hitting you (other than Divine intervention, of course) is being underground.
Once, my husband and I heard the sirens and dove for the bathtub (if you live in the South, you'll understand). Pillows and blankets stuffed around us, we hoped the walls of the tub would keep us safe. Michael had his weed-eater helmet on and I doubled up the stuffing around myself. (I should also throw in that we put the dog in his kennel and the kennel in the cabinet under the bathroom sink - I'd hate for you not to have a clear picture).
When I want to feel completely safe in a literal storm, I want a cellar. No pillows or stuffing or helmets. Only a cellar will do. Living in Oklahoma during one of the worst tornadoes in the nation's history, I know that bathtubs and closets many times just hide the fact that a storm is outside. Often, it can't stop the storm from burrowing through.
So, while it's not very pretty, my version is
The name of the Lord is a storm cellar; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Eiffel Tower?
Sears Tower?
Leaning Tower of Pisa?
Somehow I don't think that's what God had in mind when he commissioned the Proverbs scribe to write The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (18:10).
No, in those times, towers were a place of refuge, of security. No armies could defeat you. The walls were impenetrable. I picture men, women, families running to the tower - knowing that once they reach its stone wall they can rest and know they are completely secure.
I picture a modern storm cellar. Here in Oklahoma, it's the only real place I feel safe when the sirens of the city sound. Thunder crashing, lightning. If you're in the path of a tornado, the only thing stopping it from hitting you (other than Divine intervention, of course) is being underground.
Once, my husband and I heard the sirens and dove for the bathtub (if you live in the South, you'll understand). Pillows and blankets stuffed around us, we hoped the walls of the tub would keep us safe. Michael had his weed-eater helmet on and I doubled up the stuffing around myself. (I should also throw in that we put the dog in his kennel and the kennel in the cabinet under the bathroom sink - I'd hate for you not to have a clear picture).
When I want to feel completely safe in a literal storm, I want a cellar. No pillows or stuffing or helmets. Only a cellar will do. Living in Oklahoma during one of the worst tornadoes in the nation's history, I know that bathtubs and closets many times just hide the fact that a storm is outside. Often, it can't stop the storm from burrowing through.
So, while it's not very pretty, my version is
The name of the Lord is a storm cellar; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Degrees of Prayer
In all honesty, let's think of how hard we'd pray for the following situations. I'm going to base my answers on what I've seen of "church folk" over my 28 minus 4 days years. I'm considering how long people will pray, how "hard," how deeply, how sincerely, etc. Scale of 1-10 with 10 being praying so hard, fasting and weeping and begging, and 1 being barely praying at all - if any.
So, let's talk here. Why would we not pray as much if we had a cold or a headache? Well, probably because we know that it will go away "on its own" if God doesn't intervene. Personally, I don't think many people think God will intervene. Why waste God's time on praying for a headache that an aspirin can cure anyway?
There was this guy at church who would say, "Hello, how are you." If you said anything but "Good" he'd immediately take your hands and start praying. I stopped talking to him for a while...
Why would we pray harder for an 80 year old than an 8 year old? Eh, the 80 year old has lived her life. It's her time to go.
Why do we pray harder for the money to buy a car than for making the right choice on a car? We know only God can work in "impossible" situations. And, while I'm sure that's flattering to God, He still wants to be consulted on the other parts of life.
Why do we limit God? Why do we lack faith or sometimes not even care if we have faith at all?
My husband once prayed at night, "Lord, please help me to feel a little better in the morning." Why? Why do we limit God and ask to feel "a little better?" Do we feel the need to punish ourselves for all the things we did during the day that God should deduct from his blessings & healings?
I strongly feel that how "hard" we pray coincides with how difficult we think the situation is to remedy without God's help. A head cold will be remedied in a few days "on its own." Cancer could kill us - whew, better call God.
I suppose my sarcasm can be better understood as realization. A realization that God answers our prayers in spite of us. In spite of our "little better" prayers. In spite of our lack of faith over the headaches and over abundance of desperation for the impossible.
- 1=Personally having a cold
- 4=Child or Grandchild having a cold
- 3=An 80 year old with cancer
- 9=An 8 year old with cancer
- 1=Personally having a headache
- 2=Buying a red car or a blue car
- 8=Not having money to buy a car
So, let's talk here. Why would we not pray as much if we had a cold or a headache? Well, probably because we know that it will go away "on its own" if God doesn't intervene. Personally, I don't think many people think God will intervene. Why waste God's time on praying for a headache that an aspirin can cure anyway?
There was this guy at church who would say, "Hello, how are you." If you said anything but "Good" he'd immediately take your hands and start praying. I stopped talking to him for a while...
Why would we pray harder for an 80 year old than an 8 year old? Eh, the 80 year old has lived her life. It's her time to go.
Why do we pray harder for the money to buy a car than for making the right choice on a car? We know only God can work in "impossible" situations. And, while I'm sure that's flattering to God, He still wants to be consulted on the other parts of life.
Why do we limit God? Why do we lack faith or sometimes not even care if we have faith at all?
My husband once prayed at night, "Lord, please help me to feel a little better in the morning." Why? Why do we limit God and ask to feel "a little better?" Do we feel the need to punish ourselves for all the things we did during the day that God should deduct from his blessings & healings?
I strongly feel that how "hard" we pray coincides with how difficult we think the situation is to remedy without God's help. A head cold will be remedied in a few days "on its own." Cancer could kill us - whew, better call God.
I suppose my sarcasm can be better understood as realization. A realization that God answers our prayers in spite of us. In spite of our "little better" prayers. In spite of our lack of faith over the headaches and over abundance of desperation for the impossible.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
...Had many sons... many sons had father...
Abraham.
So, I'm suppose to have his faith because, well, we all know that Jesus had faith, duh. So, when he was talking about faith in the Bible, he couldn't really use himself as an example. So, he used Abraham, for one.
Have you seen those cholesterol commercials where people walk around wearing signs with their cholesterol level? Well, that's how names were in biblical days. Adam means "man." The every popularized Jabez, for example, meant sorrowful things for poor ol' J. (Too bad he's not around to benefit from the profits his name has created today!) Abraham walked around as "father of many."
Shame. Embarrassment. If I were Abe, I'd feel horrible every time someone asked my name.
"Thank you for dining at Red Lobster, sir. Your name, please?"
"Father of many."
"Great! And how many will be at your table tonight?"
"Just me and Sarah."
"'Left the kids with a sitter?"
"Um, no. No children" (head down, embarrassed)
Let's liken it to my painting skills. I have none. I can't paint a picture to save my life. It would be like a museum hearing that I was a great artist & asking to display my art. Then, me giving them my best work, which consisted of connect-the-dot and paint-by-number pieces.
God promised Abraham many children. Abe didn't know when where or how & was sick of waiting. He was sick of being embarrassed, ashamed of the "lie" his name was telling.
Let's skip many parts of the story & fast forward to Issac - the promised son.
So, after years of mental torment (as I see it anyway), Issac was born.
"Why, here's one of "father of many's" sons right now! Hey, Issac!"
I'm sure Abraham loved Issac. He redeemed him to the world. No longer was his name a lie. Issac proved Abraham's faith - like the rain proved Noah's - to the world. Oh, what a precious relationship Issac must have had with his dad.
"Oh, Lord," Abraham must have prayed, "thank you for Issac! He's just perfect. I love him so much. Look at his hair and eyes! He looks just like me. Oh, and Lord, he loves being with me. We have fun together, and... what? What's that, Lord? You want me to sacrifice him?"
Did Abraham cry? Did he doubt God? Did he go to Sarah and ask for advice? Did he pace the floors wondering if he'd missed God? Did he wonder if God was punishing him for something?
No. Genesis 22:2 says "God said..." and verse 3 says that Abraham acted on what God said.
So, it's taken me a while to get to this point, but, here's where I want to be.
So many times we hear God. But, what he tells us seems crazy - even may seem to completely contradict what we heard him say before. It makes no sense. We don't understand.
So, we pace the floor. We ask former Sunday school teachers, the pastor, and the church janitor what they would do. We contemplate if we actually heard God. If we were in Genesis 22, there'd be thousands of verses between verse 2 & 3 telling just what we'd did to figure out if God was really speaking.
It seems so difficult for me to think that God wants me to have that kind of faith. I'll be honest, I just don't see how that kind of faith is possible.
God's never let me down.
God has no record of telling me something to do then failing me.
God has never broken a promise to me.
In fact, God has done so many "impossible" things in my life.
Why shouldn't I have that kind of faith? I can't think of a reason.
______
My name means bringer of truth. While God didn't give me this name, he did give me the name Christian - like Christ. Oh, Lord, please help me to live up to that name! Let me never shy away from it or be ashamed! So many promises come with that name. Praise the Lord! Let me have the faith of a mustard seed - even if I'm only starting out with the faith of the tiniest molecule of life! Birth in me a faith that can move mountains and give me the willingness and even the audacity to act upon that faith.
So, I'm suppose to have his faith because, well, we all know that Jesus had faith, duh. So, when he was talking about faith in the Bible, he couldn't really use himself as an example. So, he used Abraham, for one.
Have you seen those cholesterol commercials where people walk around wearing signs with their cholesterol level? Well, that's how names were in biblical days. Adam means "man." The every popularized Jabez, for example, meant sorrowful things for poor ol' J. (Too bad he's not around to benefit from the profits his name has created today!) Abraham walked around as "father of many."
Shame. Embarrassment. If I were Abe, I'd feel horrible every time someone asked my name.
"Thank you for dining at Red Lobster, sir. Your name, please?"
"Father of many."
"Great! And how many will be at your table tonight?"
"Just me and Sarah."
"'Left the kids with a sitter?"
"Um, no. No children" (head down, embarrassed)
Let's liken it to my painting skills. I have none. I can't paint a picture to save my life. It would be like a museum hearing that I was a great artist & asking to display my art. Then, me giving them my best work, which consisted of connect-the-dot and paint-by-number pieces.
God promised Abraham many children. Abe didn't know when where or how & was sick of waiting. He was sick of being embarrassed, ashamed of the "lie" his name was telling.
Let's skip many parts of the story & fast forward to Issac - the promised son.
So, after years of mental torment (as I see it anyway), Issac was born.
"Why, here's one of "father of many's" sons right now! Hey, Issac!"
I'm sure Abraham loved Issac. He redeemed him to the world. No longer was his name a lie. Issac proved Abraham's faith - like the rain proved Noah's - to the world. Oh, what a precious relationship Issac must have had with his dad.
"Oh, Lord," Abraham must have prayed, "thank you for Issac! He's just perfect. I love him so much. Look at his hair and eyes! He looks just like me. Oh, and Lord, he loves being with me. We have fun together, and... what? What's that, Lord? You want me to sacrifice him?"
Did Abraham cry? Did he doubt God? Did he go to Sarah and ask for advice? Did he pace the floors wondering if he'd missed God? Did he wonder if God was punishing him for something?
No. Genesis 22:2 says "God said..." and verse 3 says that Abraham acted on what God said.
So, it's taken me a while to get to this point, but, here's where I want to be.
So many times we hear God. But, what he tells us seems crazy - even may seem to completely contradict what we heard him say before. It makes no sense. We don't understand.
So, we pace the floor. We ask former Sunday school teachers, the pastor, and the church janitor what they would do. We contemplate if we actually heard God. If we were in Genesis 22, there'd be thousands of verses between verse 2 & 3 telling just what we'd did to figure out if God was really speaking.
It seems so difficult for me to think that God wants me to have that kind of faith. I'll be honest, I just don't see how that kind of faith is possible.
God's never let me down.
God has no record of telling me something to do then failing me.
God has never broken a promise to me.
In fact, God has done so many "impossible" things in my life.
Why shouldn't I have that kind of faith? I can't think of a reason.
______
My name means bringer of truth. While God didn't give me this name, he did give me the name Christian - like Christ. Oh, Lord, please help me to live up to that name! Let me never shy away from it or be ashamed! So many promises come with that name. Praise the Lord! Let me have the faith of a mustard seed - even if I'm only starting out with the faith of the tiniest molecule of life! Birth in me a faith that can move mountains and give me the willingness and even the audacity to act upon that faith.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Men!!
No, I'm not mad at my husband - or any man for that matter. I'm just cracked up at good ol' Paul. You know, "Apostle Paul."
1 Corinthians 1:14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.)
Isn't it great that God, who ordained all scripture, decided to leave this part in? The part that says Paul couldn't remember baptizing someone? Ha! I would think that baptizing someone would be a big deal! Especially if there were only a few from that town. What is up with that!?!?
So, ladies, the next time your husband forgets something (and we all know they do), just remember good ol' Paul... because your husband sure won't. :)
1 Corinthians 1:14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.)
Isn't it great that God, who ordained all scripture, decided to leave this part in? The part that says Paul couldn't remember baptizing someone? Ha! I would think that baptizing someone would be a big deal! Especially if there were only a few from that town. What is up with that!?!?
So, ladies, the next time your husband forgets something (and we all know they do), just remember good ol' Paul... because your husband sure won't. :)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Red Jell-O
"Why do they make Jell-O red?" I whined aloud as my 4 month old smeared Cherry (sugar-free) gelatin across his face. His bib was soaked, his face was tinted, his car seat had red splotches, and his socks were even drenched syrupy red from him reaching for his "little piggies" after he'd chewed on his fingers after every Jell-O slurp.
There was no denying he'd just eaten - and I'm sure it would only take a few guesses for anyone to figure out what he had eaten. He was evidence-soaked!
I wonder if that's how Christians feel? Baby Christians? The Bible compares those who are just saved to babies.
What if, when new Christians mess up, they feel like they are stained with evidence? Do they hide in shame, bearing marks of yesterday's mistakes? Do they feel like everyone is staring at them, as though they just spilled a cup of Jell-O on their once spotless shirt?
Do they cry, "Lord, my clothes were sparkling white after Sunday service! Now look at me! Everyone will know what I did. Surely they can see it all over my face!"?
Or maybe they cry, "Lord, I'll just cover this stain with a coat. No one will see it! I don't have time right now to change anyway!" Do they wear that coat, and then another, and another burdening themselves until their load is too heavy, once again, to bear?
Like David in Psalm 38:4, have they said, "my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me."?
Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you. Psalm 55:22
My version: Give your stained clothes to God (the ones you think everyone is looking at, the ones soaked with yesterday's sins, the ones you've tried to hide with heavy coats of denial), and he will carry you through to make you clean.
In other words, He gets out red Jell-O... :)
There was no denying he'd just eaten - and I'm sure it would only take a few guesses for anyone to figure out what he had eaten. He was evidence-soaked!
I wonder if that's how Christians feel? Baby Christians? The Bible compares those who are just saved to babies.
What if, when new Christians mess up, they feel like they are stained with evidence? Do they hide in shame, bearing marks of yesterday's mistakes? Do they feel like everyone is staring at them, as though they just spilled a cup of Jell-O on their once spotless shirt?
Do they cry, "Lord, my clothes were sparkling white after Sunday service! Now look at me! Everyone will know what I did. Surely they can see it all over my face!"?
Or maybe they cry, "Lord, I'll just cover this stain with a coat. No one will see it! I don't have time right now to change anyway!" Do they wear that coat, and then another, and another burdening themselves until their load is too heavy, once again, to bear?
Like David in Psalm 38:4, have they said, "my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me."?
Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you. Psalm 55:22
My version: Give your stained clothes to God (the ones you think everyone is looking at, the ones soaked with yesterday's sins, the ones you've tried to hide with heavy coats of denial), and he will carry you through to make you clean.
In other words, He gets out red Jell-O... :)
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