When my kids were little we played Hide & Seek, but the standard version was too tame for us. When the kids went to "seek" dad it was dangerous b/c if you found me I would jump out and scare the living daylight out of them just before they discovered me. It was scary and joyful @ the same time. The kids would yell in fear and then in delight and beg me to go hide again! LOL
I truly believe this is a great example of how I experience Jesus in my life. I get up every morning and ask God to show me where He is @ work so I can join Him. It's so amazing how Jesus "shows up" in my day and in the people I come in contact w/. That's how Jesus is, one minute I'm trying to find Him and the next minute it's like He sneaks up behind me and startles me w/ His presence! Some examples: in a husband who serves his wife dispite illogical emotional tantrums, or the soccer player who encourages another less skilled player so she has the courage to try again, or the teacher who prayed for 2 days @ a Prayer Retreat for every student in her classes, or well... the list could go on.
When these moments happen I have no problem recognizing Jesus, just like my kids had no problem recognizing me when they "found" me. Jesus doesn't talk in some secret code to me, He shows up in the people around me and teaches me from their lives (and even mine sometimes). I'm constantly reminded that serving is more important than looking religious; sacrificing for others is a priviledge not a duty; that patience is a lost art in America but must be found in a Jesus follower; and every kid I work w/ or coach wants me to focus on relationships first rather than rules.
How do you experience Jesus in you life?
MessyMid
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Circle ("490" - part 2)
I talked to a good friend yesterday about the guy I wrote about in "490" and he gave me some really good advice. All of us have an invisible circle in our lives, it's the Circle of Influence and we have to be careful who we allow into that circle. The advice of my friend was that I should be careful about allowing this guy into that place b/c people I allow into here speaks truth into my life. Instead, I need to be nice and cordial (not avoiding him). I've tried it and it seems to be working! So... I'm working on my circle!
MidBrad
MidBrad
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Hands
I came across something today that has me thinking (which can be a dangerous thing). I saw this in
Isaiah 49:16 "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." The idea that God has engraved His people on His hands sounds... well,... weird. Why would God say something like that?
Good question. I think I may have stumbled on the answer by accident. An author that I sometimes read had a statement along the lines that men in the cultures around Israel sometimes engraved the names of their kids into their hands to show how close they held their kids to them. This could mean that when it says that God craved the names of His people into His hands He is simply saying, "I'm showing you how close I hold you". If that's how God treated Israel as His covenant people then how much closer does God hold me who He calls a "son" and a "joint-heir w/ Jesus"? WOW!
Messy
Isaiah 49:16 "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." The idea that God has engraved His people on His hands sounds... well,... weird. Why would God say something like that?
Good question. I think I may have stumbled on the answer by accident. An author that I sometimes read had a statement along the lines that men in the cultures around Israel sometimes engraved the names of their kids into their hands to show how close they held their kids to them. This could mean that when it says that God craved the names of His people into His hands He is simply saying, "I'm showing you how close I hold you". If that's how God treated Israel as His covenant people then how much closer does God hold me who He calls a "son" and a "joint-heir w/ Jesus"? WOW!
Messy
Sunday, September 21, 2008
"490"
I have a guy that I don't really like, but I have a relationship w/. I don't hate him or think he's disgusting or anything like that, we just don't see eye to eye. I believe life is lived by making "spaces of grace" for the people around me. I try to give the people around me space to "blow it" and still find acceptance from me. Having been aquainted w/ this guy for a long time he has required a lot of space b/c, in my mind, he's all about a Christian intimidator, a person who lives by different rules than he teaches,a guy who doesn't give others a true picture of who God is b/c he really seems to have such little grace and someone who seems to not want to be a hard worker.
I've really started wondering how much more space I should give him and still offer him acceptance. In fact, Over the past year I've kindda shut myself off from him and avoided him whenever I could. I realize now that wasn't a good plan. But how do I accept him when I don't like him and his actions? Honestly, I'm still figuring that out, but I did stumble on something that has made me keep on rethinking my approach.
There's a story in the Bible about a guy named Peter who was a very passionate follower of Jesus and he asked Jesus, "How much should I forgive my brother, 7 times?" I found out that Peter was not talking about a relative but about someone he knew and 7 times was what the Law of Moses (which Peter followed) said should be the max amount of forgiveness to give! Jesus' answer is, "70 times 7". I found out that Jesus is using exaggeration here, he really means offer forgiveness in unlimited quantities. So in my case, I can't just ignore this guy and be in the right. I have to make the "space of grace" a little bit bigger. I'm not sure that it ends there, I really think there's more for me to do, but that's my starting point w/ him.
Do you have someone like that in your life? If we're going to be a true follower of Jesus in our relationships w/ others then it means that sometimes people are going to need some extra "grace space". And b/c it's grace it won't be something they deserve! Maybe you can offer me the next step! How can I be honest about how I see him hurting others w/ his attitudes? When do you have a right to end such a relationship (doesn't the "490 rule" prohibit that)? If I try to correct his actions in a loving way and he blows it off - what then?
I've really started wondering how much more space I should give him and still offer him acceptance. In fact, Over the past year I've kindda shut myself off from him and avoided him whenever I could. I realize now that wasn't a good plan. But how do I accept him when I don't like him and his actions? Honestly, I'm still figuring that out, but I did stumble on something that has made me keep on rethinking my approach.
There's a story in the Bible about a guy named Peter who was a very passionate follower of Jesus and he asked Jesus, "How much should I forgive my brother, 7 times?" I found out that Peter was not talking about a relative but about someone he knew and 7 times was what the Law of Moses (which Peter followed) said should be the max amount of forgiveness to give! Jesus' answer is, "70 times 7". I found out that Jesus is using exaggeration here, he really means offer forgiveness in unlimited quantities. So in my case, I can't just ignore this guy and be in the right. I have to make the "space of grace" a little bit bigger. I'm not sure that it ends there, I really think there's more for me to do, but that's my starting point w/ him.
Do you have someone like that in your life? If we're going to be a true follower of Jesus in our relationships w/ others then it means that sometimes people are going to need some extra "grace space". And b/c it's grace it won't be something they deserve! Maybe you can offer me the next step! How can I be honest about how I see him hurting others w/ his attitudes? When do you have a right to end such a relationship (doesn't the "490 rule" prohibit that)? If I try to correct his actions in a loving way and he blows it off - what then?
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Papa
I have a great dad. The thing that stands out about him is that he's always been a student, always willing to learn new things. He's a man of great character and integrity and he's been a true example of a man to me in many ways. But my dad comes from the old school of keeping his feelings bottled up and not really saying what's bothering him. Our relationship has had its ups and downs, even long silence, but just last week he wrote me an email telling me how I was such an inspiration to him. It totally blew me away - I just stared @ the screen in incredible joy and finally knowing how my dad FELT!
I also have a great Papa. The things that stand out about Him is His ability to patiently teach me about relationships. His character is beyond compare yet He never flaunts it in my face and degrades me w/ it. Papa always lets me know how he feels about me and that doesn't change - even when I blow it or mess up. Our relationship has had its ups and downs, many long silences, but He has patiently worked, waited, and worked on me again so that I could grow in my understanding of where He is and where He's heading. Papa and I talk more more my dad and I. Just when I'm sure I understand Him, Papa shows me a whole new level on our relationship.
One thing that Papa is teaching me right now is how to rely on Him. I thot I should do my very best and ask Him to do the rest. Nope. Papa wants me to rely on Him 1st to last. When I do that my ego isn't involved, I don't secretly (or publicly) take credit b/c I know who empowered me to make it thru my day. In fact, this idea has rubbed off on some of my people relationships and freed me to not worry so much about what others think about me. This is truly why (when my dad wrote me the email) I could only say, "Look what Papa did this time!"
In His Hands,
MidBrad
I also have a great Papa. The things that stand out about Him is His ability to patiently teach me about relationships. His character is beyond compare yet He never flaunts it in my face and degrades me w/ it. Papa always lets me know how he feels about me and that doesn't change - even when I blow it or mess up. Our relationship has had its ups and downs, many long silences, but He has patiently worked, waited, and worked on me again so that I could grow in my understanding of where He is and where He's heading. Papa and I talk more more my dad and I. Just when I'm sure I understand Him, Papa shows me a whole new level on our relationship.
One thing that Papa is teaching me right now is how to rely on Him. I thot I should do my very best and ask Him to do the rest. Nope. Papa wants me to rely on Him 1st to last. When I do that my ego isn't involved, I don't secretly (or publicly) take credit b/c I know who empowered me to make it thru my day. In fact, this idea has rubbed off on some of my people relationships and freed me to not worry so much about what others think about me. This is truly why (when my dad wrote me the email) I could only say, "Look what Papa did this time!"
In His Hands,
MidBrad
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