Georgia and I went on a walk/ hike through the Chattahoochee National Land Reserve by the river yesterday, and aside from getting some endorphins pumping and a little vitamin D and serotonin from the sun, I learned a little something about our perspective and God's.
As Georgia and I were walking along the banks of the river, she was sniffing fervently about and around the path. And she was learning a lot. I can only imagine: scents of people, smells from animals, warmth from the earth, squishy mud between her toes and who had come immediately before her--finding meaning in all of it and connecting the dots in her head. But I looked up over the water and saw geese lighting on the river surface, having flown down in a perfect V formation. They were beautiful and majestic and their amazing transition from the air to the water was actually quite breath-taking. I tried to get Georgia to pay attention, because I knew she would LOVE to see this, but she couldn't. She was too preoccupied with the mud, with the earth, with the tangible stuff right in front of her, to look up. As I took in this moment and (try as I might) as Georgia completely missed it and finally looked at me with an annoyed expression of "Geez, mom, what?!", a thought hit me:
this must be what it's like for God as He tries to direct our gaze upward and show us His amazing reality.
Wow. I'd hate to miss it, but often times I think we do. I know I do. I can get pretty interested in the physical, tangible, "real" stuff of this world and forget to lift my gaze, even for a moment. It doesn't keep the beautiful reality from happening, but there are times that I definitely miss it; afterwards, when I feel my heart strings tug at me over and over, I turn to God, confused, and ask: "WHAT?" But by then I've missed it. My reaction was delayed and I was not quite paying attention to the right reality.
I want to pay attention. I want to see the beautiful things God has for us. I want to have a heart and a mind that's attuned to the Holy Spirit, so that when God says, "Look!" I can see it and receive it fully. I want to lift my eyes up off the mud of my path and see the foreign elements of sky and water and beauty. I want so much more. Lord, help me. Amen.
28 January 2010
20 January 2010
favor
I've been thinking a lot lately about Joseph. His story goes something like this:
First born to his father (Jacob's) beloved (Rachel), he is the favorite of the family and his other brothers hate him. They decide to kill him, but a group of slave traders come up (hated nemesis: Ishmaelites) just in time and they instead sell him into slavery in Egypt. The brothers take his multi-colored patch-work coat, dip it in animal's blood and go home to tell Jacob that Joseph is dead. Joseph is traded into the house of Potiphar (the captain of the guard for Pharaoh). Joseph rises from the ashes and quickly moves up in the ranks from slave to personal assistant to Potiphar, "in charge of Potiphar's entire household and everything he owned" (Gen 39:4). God's favor is so obvious on Joseph that even a pagan army guy notices it and acts accordingly. How does Potiphar's wife react? She attempts to seduce him "day after day" but to no avail--Joseph cites that it is a sin against Potipahr and against God. She attacks Joseph, he runs, but she keeps his cloak, insisting that he had, in fact, tried to rape her. Joseph is slandered, falsely accused of rape, and thrown into prison--this is Pharaoh's prison, more like a federal penitentiary than a jail. "But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his unfailing love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden" (Gen 39:21). Joseph rises from the ashes yet again, and the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners. Then two once-powerful men are thrown into prison: the Baker and the Cup Bearer. Joseph interprets their dreams in prison and asks the men to remember him to Pharaoh; one dies as prophesied in the dream and the other "[forgets] all about Joseph, never giving him another thought" (Gen 40:23). But God is faithful and finds favor with Joseph. Two years later Pharaoh has a dream and the Cup Bearer remembers Joseph, who interprets the dream correctly and truthfully. Pharaoh notes that Joseph is "so filled with the spirit of God" and that "no one is as intelligent or wise as" Joseph (Gen 41:38-39). Pharaoh puts Joseph as VP under him, so that "only I [Pharaoh], sitting on a throne, will have a rank higher than yours" (Gen 41:40). That's not where the story ends--Joseph saves his family from famine, is gracious and merciful with his brothers when they come begging for help, and is reconciled to his father who eventually moves the whole klan to the Egyptian region of Rameses in an area called Goshen (Gen 47:11;27)--but that's where my study ends because I want to have a better understanding of favor.
Joseph is "favored" by his father, and it results in jealousy and hatred.
Joseph is "favored" by Potiphar, and it results in the lusty come-ons of his wife.
Joseph is "favored" by the warden, and it results in a contentedness in the warden that keeps Joseph in prison unjustly.
Joseph is "favored" by the two dreamers, and it results in forgetfullness that keeps him in prison 2 more years.
Joseph is "favored" by Pharaoh, and it finally works out over the next several decades.
Obviously, "favoritism" by man is not always a good thing, and our idea of instant gratification grossly skews Biblical principles of waiting and patience and hope in the Lord.
But being "favored" by God is completely different. God does not sit in heaven with lightening bolts and decide--"favor!" "blessing!" "failure!" "humiliation!" "favor, favor, fail!"--like a primitive form of Zeus. He is much better and kinder and just. Favor in God's eyes is brought on by obedience and given with love.
Favor is what happens when you are doing exactly what God has given you to do, working towards a purpose to fulfill, or placing at His feet a thing (good or bad, person, or other thing) He has given simply for the purpose of you surrendering it back to Him. When you are doing what God has specifically purposed for your life in obedience to Him and out of fear and love of the Lord, then He favors you. This means that you are 1) so in tuned with the Holy Spirit within you that you are able to listen to what He wants for you in your prayer life, 2) looking, listening, and waiting as you expectantly search God's word for His heart and His truth, and 3) are willing to be obedient and say yes to whatever He's asking you to do. This may seem overwhelming--how do I even begin to figure out what God wants me to do? am I listening? Is He listening? How do I pray? How do I pray in accordance with the Holy Spirit? What is the Holy Spirit, again? What if I'm not willing to go and do? What if I don't like what God has for me? What if it's uncomfortable? etc--but it's not. The more time you spend in the word, especially the Psalms, Proverbs, and Acts, the more you KNOW who God is and what desires He's put in your heart--and the more you connect to what He's done in the past, which fuels your hope for what He'll do in the future. God never changes. Ever.
The reason I began this study was because people like to say, "Well, I think God wants us to all be missionaries, sell everything, and move to the desert somewhere; but I don't want to do that, so I'm just continuing on in whatever I'm doing, not particularly listening for what God has to say about my day-to-day life and work."
The answer to that is: God does not want us to all be missionaries. He does, however, have a calling on our lives--be it teaching, writing, film production, media, market place, government, social justice, etc--and when we are doing what He's asked us to do from the beginning (in our field, where we are, with the desires He's given us in the first place) we find favor. It's so different from the idea of God "playing favorites"--that's not it at all. He's pleased with our obedience and honors it; that's all. No game. No special treatment. Nothing like what it is here on earth, and certainly not like any human-given favoritism that results in negative consequences (like those listed above).
Another matter of importance in all this, is what we can learn from Joseph:
At times his circumstances were horrible! But He looked at God and who he knew Him to be, not at people and surroundings of this world.
At times, God ordained it that His beloved and favored Joseph would be almost killed, traded, slandered, wrongly-accused, thrown into prison, disregarded, and forgotten... for YEARS! and yet still God loved him and yet still he knew it. what faith. All of these things HAD to happen for Joseph's story to be the extraordinary example that it is; all of it prepared him to face his brothers with love and mercy; all of it prepared him to save a nation from starvation; all of it prepared him to lead his people into Egypt, to fulfill an even earlier prophesy. It's all part of the process, and if we're wise enough, we'll see it in exactly that light.
I think people today would see a modern-day "Joseph" in those circumstances and would say "No way is he "favored" by God! People who are favored live in big mansions and fund non-profits. They don't spend time rotting in jail. God wouldn't allow such discomfort! He's been separated from his family for how many years?? God's hand is not in that! God wants reconciliation and love, God is merciful and just, God wants us to be dressed like lilies of the field!"--To which I would say: sure! But God also prepares us in many ways and we must find joy in the journey, not simply in the destination. We assume that God doesn't want us to be unhappy or poor or jailed or uncomfortable or pained or sick or anything unpleasant. But sometimes that is the only way to reach the destination God has for us. And what a destination it can be!
People also love to say: "Joseph did nothing wrong, made no decisions to bring this on himself, an doesn't deserve this!" which is true, but Joseph never made excuses or placed blame (if he had, the Bible would not describe him as "favored by God" but "complaining and blaming"). And in the end, as VP of Egypt, rich, fed, happy, and reconciled with all of his family, I think he got more than he deserved. He'd probably tell you that, in the end, he got the better end of the deal anyway.
That's the faith I yearn for:
the one that says, "Yes, Lord!" before I know the question
the one that says, "I'm listening and waiting for You!"
the one that says, "I'm ready for You to have Your way!"
the one that says, "Write my story--all of it--for Your glory alone, Lord."
the one that says, "Let it be so, Lord, when hardships come."
the one that says, "You give and take away, but blessed be Your Name, for you are good and faithful and true."
the one that says, "I KNOW who You are, Lord, and I am not consumed with circumstances, but instead with a love of my Savior--I seek only to know You better, come what may."
the one that says, "I seek the favor of the Lord, through my fear and obedience here on earth--right here, right now.
First born to his father (Jacob's) beloved (Rachel), he is the favorite of the family and his other brothers hate him. They decide to kill him, but a group of slave traders come up (hated nemesis: Ishmaelites) just in time and they instead sell him into slavery in Egypt. The brothers take his multi-colored patch-work coat, dip it in animal's blood and go home to tell Jacob that Joseph is dead. Joseph is traded into the house of Potiphar (the captain of the guard for Pharaoh). Joseph rises from the ashes and quickly moves up in the ranks from slave to personal assistant to Potiphar, "in charge of Potiphar's entire household and everything he owned" (Gen 39:4). God's favor is so obvious on Joseph that even a pagan army guy notices it and acts accordingly. How does Potiphar's wife react? She attempts to seduce him "day after day" but to no avail--Joseph cites that it is a sin against Potipahr and against God. She attacks Joseph, he runs, but she keeps his cloak, insisting that he had, in fact, tried to rape her. Joseph is slandered, falsely accused of rape, and thrown into prison--this is Pharaoh's prison, more like a federal penitentiary than a jail. "But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his unfailing love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden" (Gen 39:21). Joseph rises from the ashes yet again, and the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners. Then two once-powerful men are thrown into prison: the Baker and the Cup Bearer. Joseph interprets their dreams in prison and asks the men to remember him to Pharaoh; one dies as prophesied in the dream and the other "[forgets] all about Joseph, never giving him another thought" (Gen 40:23). But God is faithful and finds favor with Joseph. Two years later Pharaoh has a dream and the Cup Bearer remembers Joseph, who interprets the dream correctly and truthfully. Pharaoh notes that Joseph is "so filled with the spirit of God" and that "no one is as intelligent or wise as" Joseph (Gen 41:38-39). Pharaoh puts Joseph as VP under him, so that "only I [Pharaoh], sitting on a throne, will have a rank higher than yours" (Gen 41:40). That's not where the story ends--Joseph saves his family from famine, is gracious and merciful with his brothers when they come begging for help, and is reconciled to his father who eventually moves the whole klan to the Egyptian region of Rameses in an area called Goshen (Gen 47:11;27)--but that's where my study ends because I want to have a better understanding of favor.
Joseph is "favored" by his father, and it results in jealousy and hatred.
Joseph is "favored" by Potiphar, and it results in the lusty come-ons of his wife.
Joseph is "favored" by the warden, and it results in a contentedness in the warden that keeps Joseph in prison unjustly.
Joseph is "favored" by the two dreamers, and it results in forgetfullness that keeps him in prison 2 more years.
Joseph is "favored" by Pharaoh, and it finally works out over the next several decades.
Obviously, "favoritism" by man is not always a good thing, and our idea of instant gratification grossly skews Biblical principles of waiting and patience and hope in the Lord.
But being "favored" by God is completely different. God does not sit in heaven with lightening bolts and decide--"favor!" "blessing!" "failure!" "humiliation!" "favor, favor, fail!"--like a primitive form of Zeus. He is much better and kinder and just. Favor in God's eyes is brought on by obedience and given with love.
Favor is what happens when you are doing exactly what God has given you to do, working towards a purpose to fulfill, or placing at His feet a thing (good or bad, person, or other thing) He has given simply for the purpose of you surrendering it back to Him. When you are doing what God has specifically purposed for your life in obedience to Him and out of fear and love of the Lord, then He favors you. This means that you are 1) so in tuned with the Holy Spirit within you that you are able to listen to what He wants for you in your prayer life, 2) looking, listening, and waiting as you expectantly search God's word for His heart and His truth, and 3) are willing to be obedient and say yes to whatever He's asking you to do. This may seem overwhelming--how do I even begin to figure out what God wants me to do? am I listening? Is He listening? How do I pray? How do I pray in accordance with the Holy Spirit? What is the Holy Spirit, again? What if I'm not willing to go and do? What if I don't like what God has for me? What if it's uncomfortable? etc--but it's not. The more time you spend in the word, especially the Psalms, Proverbs, and Acts, the more you KNOW who God is and what desires He's put in your heart--and the more you connect to what He's done in the past, which fuels your hope for what He'll do in the future. God never changes. Ever.
The reason I began this study was because people like to say, "Well, I think God wants us to all be missionaries, sell everything, and move to the desert somewhere; but I don't want to do that, so I'm just continuing on in whatever I'm doing, not particularly listening for what God has to say about my day-to-day life and work."
The answer to that is: God does not want us to all be missionaries. He does, however, have a calling on our lives--be it teaching, writing, film production, media, market place, government, social justice, etc--and when we are doing what He's asked us to do from the beginning (in our field, where we are, with the desires He's given us in the first place) we find favor. It's so different from the idea of God "playing favorites"--that's not it at all. He's pleased with our obedience and honors it; that's all. No game. No special treatment. Nothing like what it is here on earth, and certainly not like any human-given favoritism that results in negative consequences (like those listed above).
Another matter of importance in all this, is what we can learn from Joseph:
At times his circumstances were horrible! But He looked at God and who he knew Him to be, not at people and surroundings of this world.
At times, God ordained it that His beloved and favored Joseph would be almost killed, traded, slandered, wrongly-accused, thrown into prison, disregarded, and forgotten... for YEARS! and yet still God loved him and yet still he knew it. what faith. All of these things HAD to happen for Joseph's story to be the extraordinary example that it is; all of it prepared him to face his brothers with love and mercy; all of it prepared him to save a nation from starvation; all of it prepared him to lead his people into Egypt, to fulfill an even earlier prophesy. It's all part of the process, and if we're wise enough, we'll see it in exactly that light.
I think people today would see a modern-day "Joseph" in those circumstances and would say "No way is he "favored" by God! People who are favored live in big mansions and fund non-profits. They don't spend time rotting in jail. God wouldn't allow such discomfort! He's been separated from his family for how many years?? God's hand is not in that! God wants reconciliation and love, God is merciful and just, God wants us to be dressed like lilies of the field!"--To which I would say: sure! But God also prepares us in many ways and we must find joy in the journey, not simply in the destination. We assume that God doesn't want us to be unhappy or poor or jailed or uncomfortable or pained or sick or anything unpleasant. But sometimes that is the only way to reach the destination God has for us. And what a destination it can be!
People also love to say: "Joseph did nothing wrong, made no decisions to bring this on himself, an doesn't deserve this!" which is true, but Joseph never made excuses or placed blame (if he had, the Bible would not describe him as "favored by God" but "complaining and blaming"). And in the end, as VP of Egypt, rich, fed, happy, and reconciled with all of his family, I think he got more than he deserved. He'd probably tell you that, in the end, he got the better end of the deal anyway.
That's the faith I yearn for:
the one that says, "Yes, Lord!" before I know the question
the one that says, "I'm listening and waiting for You!"
the one that says, "I'm ready for You to have Your way!"
the one that says, "Write my story--all of it--for Your glory alone, Lord."
the one that says, "Let it be so, Lord, when hardships come."
the one that says, "You give and take away, but blessed be Your Name, for you are good and faithful and true."
the one that says, "I KNOW who You are, Lord, and I am not consumed with circumstances, but instead with a love of my Savior--I seek only to know You better, come what may."
the one that says, "I seek the favor of the Lord, through my fear and obedience here on earth--right here, right now.
17 January 2010
college!
remember when these decisions were civil...? before facebook??
http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1789446
you're welcome ;)
http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1789446
you're welcome ;)
04 January 2010
Happy New Year
here is a fun, easy blog post to get the ball rolling again in the New Year :D
everyone do it!
1. Where is your cell phone? in the catch-all @home, in the cup-holder in the car, and in my purse any other time. off after 9.
2. Your hair? long. long. lovely long.
3. Your mother? best friend, brilliant, funny, awesome inspiration, has a book hiding up her sleeve just waiting to be born
4. Your father? incredibly smart, wonderful role model, probly the reason i'm a christian, tender lionhearted hero
5. Your fave food? anything italian or mexican
6. Your dream last night? i dream just about every night. last night it was about getting a hair cut and making georgia laugh (what if you could tickle dogs and they could laugh uncontrollably? )
7. Your fave drink? 1/2 and 1/2: coke and diet coke! so good.
8. Your dream/goal? be a loving wife and mother. teaching @ the academic level would be awesome, too, maybe.
9. What room are you in? our den (watching weeds... don't tell grant!)
10. Your hobby? dance, arts and crafts, remembering birthdays and anniversaries, camping
11. Your fear? idk.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? working toward a PhD? and mother of... 2?
13. Where were you last night? driving back from huntsville by way of bass pro shop ;)
14. Something that you aren’t? drug dealer (watching weeds... again)
15. Muffins? LOVE muffins. much better than bagels
16. Wish List Item? nice camera
17. Where did you grow up? hunts-vegas
18. Last thing you did? watched tv and read a book
19. What are you wearing? sweats, wool socks, thrift store tshirt, a homemade sweater gma made me
20. Your TV? no cable, just dvds ;)
21. Your Pets? georgia is my little bunny girl--she is beautiful and perfect
22. Friends? freaking awesome.
23. Your Life? is in transition: very exciting time. may move, may involve more schooling, may involve change. God is good.
24. Your Mood? terrible. period + late rent fee + talking to automated voice response = feels like i'll never get this day right
25. Missing Someone? family
26. Vehicle? mercury mariner. love it.
27. Something your not wearing? earrings
28. Your fave store? forever 21/ sam's/ target
29. Your fave color? brown (so deliciously warm)
30. Last time you laughed? this morning with grant
31. Last time you cried? earlier today after dealing with difficult bank person #467
32. Your best friend? grant
33. One place that I go to over and over? the lake. such a place of wonderful peace.
34. One person who emails regularly? mama and daddy; small group
35. Fave place to eat? cooking here @ home
36. Facebook? on and off again; it comes in spurts
37. Who do you owe an apology? mama and a customer service rep (I said a cuss word.)
38. Favorite TV show? Dexter. love it for life ;)
39. Favorite time of the day? Twilight (not just because of the series) because that dusky darkness is met best with a good book and a cup of coffee
40. When is your next birthday? may 3rd
everyone do it!
1. Where is your cell phone? in the catch-all @home, in the cup-holder in the car, and in my purse any other time. off after 9.
2. Your hair? long. long. lovely long.
3. Your mother? best friend, brilliant, funny, awesome inspiration, has a book hiding up her sleeve just waiting to be born
4. Your father? incredibly smart, wonderful role model, probly the reason i'm a christian, tender lionhearted hero
5. Your fave food? anything italian or mexican
6. Your dream last night? i dream just about every night. last night it was about getting a hair cut and making georgia laugh (what if you could tickle dogs and they could laugh uncontrollably? )
7. Your fave drink? 1/2 and 1/2: coke and diet coke! so good.
8. Your dream/goal? be a loving wife and mother. teaching @ the academic level would be awesome, too, maybe.
9. What room are you in? our den (watching weeds... don't tell grant!)
10. Your hobby? dance, arts and crafts, remembering birthdays and anniversaries, camping
11. Your fear? idk.
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? working toward a PhD? and mother of... 2?
13. Where were you last night? driving back from huntsville by way of bass pro shop ;)
14. Something that you aren’t? drug dealer (watching weeds... again)
15. Muffins? LOVE muffins. much better than bagels
16. Wish List Item? nice camera
17. Where did you grow up? hunts-vegas
18. Last thing you did? watched tv and read a book
19. What are you wearing? sweats, wool socks, thrift store tshirt, a homemade sweater gma made me
20. Your TV? no cable, just dvds ;)
21. Your Pets? georgia is my little bunny girl--she is beautiful and perfect
22. Friends? freaking awesome.
23. Your Life? is in transition: very exciting time. may move, may involve more schooling, may involve change. God is good.
24. Your Mood? terrible. period + late rent fee + talking to automated voice response = feels like i'll never get this day right
25. Missing Someone? family
26. Vehicle? mercury mariner. love it.
27. Something your not wearing? earrings
28. Your fave store? forever 21/ sam's/ target
29. Your fave color? brown (so deliciously warm)
30. Last time you laughed? this morning with grant
31. Last time you cried? earlier today after dealing with difficult bank person #467
32. Your best friend? grant
33. One place that I go to over and over? the lake. such a place of wonderful peace.
34. One person who emails regularly? mama and daddy; small group
35. Fave place to eat? cooking here @ home
36. Facebook? on and off again; it comes in spurts
37. Who do you owe an apology? mama and a customer service rep (I said a cuss word.)
38. Favorite TV show? Dexter. love it for life ;)
39. Favorite time of the day? Twilight (not just because of the series) because that dusky darkness is met best with a good book and a cup of coffee
40. When is your next birthday? may 3rd
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