Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Melissa and Jerry

Galatians 6 1-5 The Message.
1-3 Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
4-5 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

This is an interesting expression of Paul's letter to the Galatians. How often when I experience mistreatment  am I quick to forgive? Back to the person who cuts me off in traffic. The immediate response is a critical thought. "You are a jerk". Seriously though, I do not know why I use that example since I do not drive very  much  but many people can identify with it.
A quick little story - 
     Melissa got up late for class. Her alarm did not go off. It is the first day back to school.The weather is frightfully cold. She bundled up, grabbed her books and ran to her car, hopping not to slip on the snow packed  path. Melissa knew that without any problems, she will make it to her psych class before 10:00. The stop light ahead has squeaked yellow to red but she does not stop because it will save the extra minutes she needs. Melissa rushed in front of the man to her left and darted.before the cross traffic started to move.  The gentleman on her left does not look happy.  
    Jerry was the gentleman. Jerry was heading out to  meet a friend for coffee at the new coffee shop that had just opened not many days before.  Jerry realized to his dismay, he was  running late. His car took a long time to warm up. It is very cold outside.  He hated the cold. He hated being late. Jerry had  little patience for people who are late. If someone caused him to be late, anger starts to boil inside his gut. He knew if this car had not barreled in front of him, he would have been able to zip through the intersection before the cross traffic began to move. Jerry did not have nice words for the girl behind the wheel in the other car. 
      
These two people did not know each other before they met at the cross section. They did not  have anything in common except for wanting to move their vehicles at the same time at the same intersection. .  God did see this interaction though.
   This is not uncommon. People who are not at all acquainted with each other ask God to do nasty things to other drivers out of their inconvenience. This is not the  Heart of God.  In verse 1-3, Paul is saying to live creatively.  Take the normal everyday activities and make them into sacrifices. 
       Instead of getting mad at Melissa, what could be another response? Right now Jerry is anxious because he is feeling late. He is blaming Melissa for making him tardy with his friend when his earlier choices had contributing effects on his timing as well.. This anger and anxiousness in Jerry is churning inside. The poor unknowing offending driver, Melissa, received his outburst. 
     When we have a less than Godly thought toward fellow drivers, there could be ten toward us that we are not aware of. I am certain that is the situation when I get behind the wheel. Whether we are behind the slow driver, the fast driver, the one who cuts us off, he is a Child of God.  We are to forgive.

    I do not want to put this only into the situation of drivers. It can apply while checking out at the grocery store with four people ahead of you posing question.It can apply to the times when someone is  walking ahead slowly and you are in a hurry.  We may not have control over the seeming irritants that come our way, but we do have something to put into practice as to how to handle the situation.  If we do not put the Words of the Scripture in our everyday walk, through Jesus in the Power of the Holy Spirit, are they true to live at all?  Put the Words of God into wonderfully creative practices in all of your life.  That will complete Christ's Law. Chances are you and I  will need the same forgiveness before the day is out.


Monday, January 20, 2014

Trust In God

I am writing on January 20.  The day of the pictures, temperature was -17 degrees.(January 8 ) That does not negate a beautiful sunrise. In fact the coldness enhances it. When things get easy, am I unwilling to see the sharp contrast of beauty that God is setting before me?


Fill me. 
New Living Translation

[ Faith and Endurance ] Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
  .
 My life in a day to day confrontation is nothing compared to what the early Christians needed to endure. Just try to imagine the gut wrenching vision of not only you facing a den of hungry lions  or sawed in half but the ones that you love the most are  threatened with that reality too. 
    James ( in his message to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations) was stating a truth that these families had an opportunity to look to the lover of their soul. The One Who is TRULY HOLY  is with them and will  give them the ability to go beyond endurance. JOY
     Today, when someone cuts us off in traffic, when I am disagreed with, if I feel shamed, where are the emotions? Do I consider it Joy?  Do I take all of the horror that is thrown at me to destroy the situation, the other person or myself?
    The One who was able to hold the hands of the family members who walked into the lion's den is the same one who is in my heart as I come into the contacts of my daily life. The fierce roars can be less subtle but no less destructive. 
    Where do the pictures come in? The sharpness of the cold. There is no denying that  trouble comes our way very sharply. Cancer, abuse, (verbal or physical),  even death. Then there are the indirect struggles, -anger, lust, heartache, torment, memories of shame from the past that linger to almost strangulation. 
    In these pictures, God brought beauty through the sunrise of a frigid cold morning. God is the one in charge. 
     To totally give my heart over to God means He takes the frigid or sorrow,anxiety  and will make it into a beautiful sunrise. Why? -  This is a place for trust. It is an opportunity for GREAT JOY.  It Gives God Glory.



Friday, January 10, 2014

Beautiful Morning.

January 8 Will add a couple more pictures but the temperature is a -17 degrees right now. That does not negate a beautiful sunrise. The pictures are from the deckWhen the days are cold, the temptation is to stay in, but God, release in me what it is you want to do. I see the blue shining off the ice that is hanging from our roof. It sparkles. Am I sharing something of you, or just sitting. I see you, Fill me. 
  Here are the pictures from the Morning. 
This was taken at 7:53 in the morning after left for school.
Release Your Glory God.