Just a quick thought to go along with tonight's devotional on John 15 from the Awakening e-mails...
We do not fast to get God to do something.
We fast so we can recognize that God is doing something.
So... what's He up to these days?
Monday, January 25, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
When Fasting Becomes Easy
There are days when the busy is more noticeable than the fast. When you begin to slide into the routine of what you're eating/not eating, there can be a shift in your brain that says, "I've got this, I'm good."
That's a dangerous place. Because suddenly you are no more reliant on God than you were in "normal" life before fasting. And the entire point is to spend more time in the Presence of God.
And by "you"--I mean me.
So a challenge to all of us, is when the fasting becomes easy, it suddenly becomes harder. Let's press in!
That's a dangerous place. Because suddenly you are no more reliant on God than you were in "normal" life before fasting. And the entire point is to spend more time in the Presence of God.
And by "you"--I mean me.
So a challenge to all of us, is when the fasting becomes easy, it suddenly becomes harder. Let's press in!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Philippians 2:3-5
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
I was first introduced to Francis Schaeffer in college. We had to read True Spirituality and if you've ever taken a study I was teaching at Mars, I've probably quoted it at some point. Along with the quote I would have told you that it "kicked my spiritual booty." Certain theologians who are also artful writers, such as Schaeffer, have a way of just cutting into my very mind and heart.
Anyway, Schaeffer asserts that all sin - from a child stealing an extra cookie from the counter, to murder, to disobeying God's call, to adultery, to lying, all has the same root. Vanity.
Being self-centered allows you a lot of leeway. Just go through that list of sins I gave:
And one more way to help yourself be humble - ask for prayer. Remember there is a community alongside you who is spending a lot of extra time with God. Share your needs with a friend, share your struggle with a friend, and then share your faith with a friend.
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
I was first introduced to Francis Schaeffer in college. We had to read True Spirituality and if you've ever taken a study I was teaching at Mars, I've probably quoted it at some point. Along with the quote I would have told you that it "kicked my spiritual booty." Certain theologians who are also artful writers, such as Schaeffer, have a way of just cutting into my very mind and heart.
Anyway, Schaeffer asserts that all sin - from a child stealing an extra cookie from the counter, to murder, to disobeying God's call, to adultery, to lying, all has the same root. Vanity.
Being self-centered allows you a lot of leeway. Just go through that list of sins I gave:
- Stealing a cookie = What I think I want is a better opinion that what Mommy thinks is best
- Murder = I am able to make a decision to end someone else's life
- Disobeying God's call = I can come up with a better plan for me than God can
- Adultery = I am above God's rules on fidelity, My desire is more important than my spouse
- Lying = I am better than you, and can choose whether or not you know the truth
And one more way to help yourself be humble - ask for prayer. Remember there is a community alongside you who is spending a lot of extra time with God. Share your needs with a friend, share your struggle with a friend, and then share your faith with a friend.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
First Hand Accounts
The following is posted with permission from a fellow minister. Her family is in Haiti as missionaries, and she sent this e-mail from her mother. They are in Leogane (pronounced Lay oh Gone) not Port-au-Prince, which is actually closer to the epicenter yet no aid has yet arrived in their town. Most aid is still stagnated in the capitol. Please be in prayer for the hundreds, thousands injured, the doctors working without gloves, antibiotics or anesthesia. My heart, as a future adoptive mom, also goes out to the adoptive parents I've heard of this week who had their bags packed and were ready to board a plane to go pick up their children in Haiti, only to hear that their children did not survive.
I encourage you to read to the end.
Friendds,
I
Using som,eone’s computer without using a bright screen, so
I cannot tell aoba
Ut my mistakes. I
will send one msg to all, so some information will not mean anything to you.
Hopital Ste. Croix is standing. John and I are fine. The administration collapsed under the
guesthouse, and our apartment collapsed under the story above. We have nothing we brought with us to Haiti, but
since we have done a lot of cleaning in the gusthouse and hospital, we can find
what we really need. Someone who was
here gave me some shoes, and I foiund another pair or reading glasses that will
work, so I have what I need. John was
caught under the wreckage for about 4 hours, but shortlthe roof above was
supported y the lintel of the slinding glass door, which held up te second
floor, so he was uninjured except for a small cut on the top of his head.
Everyone connected with the hospital is alive except that we
have not heard from Mario.. Several people lost members of extended
family. Alber’s daught was injured but
is fe, will recover fully. He saddest
news is tat Marie Yves has died. In the earthquake. Motr and Chrislet are fine. The Ste. Croix church is cracked, I don’t
know how badly. Eye clinic looks fine. Pere Kerouin’s house looks OK, Pere FanFan’s
house looks OK with some damage, Pere Pierre’s house is damaged, but stll
standing. Doctor’s quarter’s and
penthouse are fine. If we can get it
open, John and I may try to move in there for a while. At
At night we sleep in the yard behind the hospital where the
bandstand was. It has fallen, as has theEpiscopal
school. Thee are 2-300 people who sleep
in that field at night. Thy sing ymns
until almost midnight, andn we wake up to a church service, with hymns, a
morning prayer, and the apostle’s creed.
The evening sky is glorious. In
the field there is a real sense of community.
Of course, we are the only blancs there.
A group from FondWa arrived in Leogane today and will sleep there
tonight. Janine the head cook brought John
and me spaghetti from her home in Darbonne 8 miles away. We shared with the group from FondWa. They have some money so they went out and
bought rice, etc, and we will eat tonight.
People have shared with us and we are getting a chance to feel how the
Haitians really live.
The injuries we have seen at the hospital are enormouse,
skulls exposed, one woman died in the yard. Another women’s leg was cut vertically to the
bone, with muscles showing. Doctors
worked and saw over 300 people with cuts, fractures, etc. Today they are not, but worked hard every
day since the quake.
Of course, we have seen looting. The end wall of the guesthouse by the shared
drugs fell and it was open to the outside. My friends can imagine how I shouted down
about 20 looters in the guesthouse. Righteous
indignation works wonders, as does a tiny bit of pushing people to get out.
John and I do not know our plans. We need to talk with the board, but have no
phone. We have Joey’s phone, with
battery that needs charging. Our idea is
to stay as long as we can b helpful, then get out of the way.
I have never understgood joy in the midst of suffering, but
now I do. The caring I have seen, the
help we have received from the Haitians, the evening songs and prayers. Are wonderful.
The people will survive, though
many will die. Please pray for us. And pray that we and the hospital can be of
help to the people here.
Suzi
I encourage you to read to the end.
Friendds,
I
Using som,eone’s computer without using a bright screen, so
I cannot tell aoba
Ut my mistakes. I
will send one msg to all, so some information will not mean anything to you.
Hopital Ste. Croix is standing. John and I are fine. The administration collapsed under the
guesthouse, and our apartment collapsed under the story above. We have nothing we brought with us to Haiti, but
since we have done a lot of cleaning in the gusthouse and hospital, we can find
what we really need. Someone who was
here gave me some shoes, and I foiund another pair or reading glasses that will
work, so I have what I need. John was
caught under the wreckage for about 4 hours, but shortlthe roof above was
supported y the lintel of the slinding glass door, which held up te second
floor, so he was uninjured except for a small cut on the top of his head.
Everyone connected with the hospital is alive except that we
have not heard from Mario.. Several people lost members of extended
family. Alber’s daught was injured but
is fe, will recover fully. He saddest
news is tat Marie Yves has died. In the earthquake. Motr and Chrislet are fine. The Ste. Croix church is cracked, I don’t
know how badly. Eye clinic looks fine. Pere Kerouin’s house looks OK, Pere FanFan’s
house looks OK with some damage, Pere Pierre’s house is damaged, but stll
standing. Doctor’s quarter’s and
penthouse are fine. If we can get it
open, John and I may try to move in there for a while. At
At night we sleep in the yard behind the hospital where the
bandstand was. It has fallen, as has theEpiscopal
school. Thee are 2-300 people who sleep
in that field at night. Thy sing ymns
until almost midnight, andn we wake up to a church service, with hymns, a
morning prayer, and the apostle’s creed.
The evening sky is glorious. In
the field there is a real sense of community.
Of course, we are the only blancs there.
A group from FondWa arrived in Leogane today and will sleep there
tonight. Janine the head cook brought John
and me spaghetti from her home in Darbonne 8 miles away. We shared with the group from FondWa. They have some money so they went out and
bought rice, etc, and we will eat tonight.
People have shared with us and we are getting a chance to feel how the
Haitians really live.
The injuries we have seen at the hospital are enormouse,
skulls exposed, one woman died in the yard. Another women’s leg was cut vertically to the
bone, with muscles showing. Doctors
worked and saw over 300 people with cuts, fractures, etc. Today they are not, but worked hard every
day since the quake.
Of course, we have seen looting. The end wall of the guesthouse by the shared
drugs fell and it was open to the outside. My friends can imagine how I shouted down
about 20 looters in the guesthouse. Righteous
indignation works wonders, as does a tiny bit of pushing people to get out.
John and I do not know our plans. We need to talk with the board, but have no
phone. We have Joey’s phone, with
battery that needs charging. Our idea is
to stay as long as we can b helpful, then get out of the way.
I have never understgood joy in the midst of suffering, but
now I do. The caring I have seen, the
help we have received from the Haitians, the evening songs and prayers. Are wonderful.
The people will survive, though
many will die. Please pray for us. And pray that we and the hospital can be of
help to the people here.
Suzi
Heightened Senses - Or Not?
It's like every single beat of worship is reverberating, buzzing even, through my body. I not only hear each note of the bass, I can honestly, truly, feel them. My senses are incredibly heightened.
I only wish that were from the fast. The fact of the matter is, I'm sitting in my office on Sunday morning while the worship team is rehearsing, and there is absolutely zero sound barrier between the platform and me. The t-bar and lights above me really are buzzing, and if you put your hand on any of my dark teal walls - you'd feel it too.
But a lot of people do talk about and experience heightened senses during a fast. This is especially if you are doing a fast of all solid food, and are drinking water and pure juices / broths only. So not only do things begin to clarify spiritually, the start to clarify physically as well.
For others, you may be heading into a season akin to what John of the Cross named "The Dark Night of the Soul." It's a season of your spiritual walk that feels isolated, dim, and distant. I want to reassure you that this is also very normal. Remember - the night is always darkest before the dawn. Our verse of focus today reminds me that even Jesus felt that isolation. In the garden He asked His Father to take the cup of suffering (his coming crucifixion) away... but He also yielded His own will to the Father's and knew this is what He came for. What a beautiful reminder.
So if today you're feeling a little 3:00am-ish all day, remember that God has placed you in this experience for a reason. He has not forgotten about you along the way, and the rewards... ahh, the rewards. May the anticipation of God's best resonate in your body like the sound of a Mars Hill worship team sound-check. :o)
With you.
I only wish that were from the fast. The fact of the matter is, I'm sitting in my office on Sunday morning while the worship team is rehearsing, and there is absolutely zero sound barrier between the platform and me. The t-bar and lights above me really are buzzing, and if you put your hand on any of my dark teal walls - you'd feel it too.
But a lot of people do talk about and experience heightened senses during a fast. This is especially if you are doing a fast of all solid food, and are drinking water and pure juices / broths only. So not only do things begin to clarify spiritually, the start to clarify physically as well.
For others, you may be heading into a season akin to what John of the Cross named "The Dark Night of the Soul." It's a season of your spiritual walk that feels isolated, dim, and distant. I want to reassure you that this is also very normal. Remember - the night is always darkest before the dawn. Our verse of focus today reminds me that even Jesus felt that isolation. In the garden He asked His Father to take the cup of suffering (his coming crucifixion) away... but He also yielded His own will to the Father's and knew this is what He came for. What a beautiful reminder.
So if today you're feeling a little 3:00am-ish all day, remember that God has placed you in this experience for a reason. He has not forgotten about you along the way, and the rewards... ahh, the rewards. May the anticipation of God's best resonate in your body like the sound of a Mars Hill worship team sound-check. :o)
With you.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
To Talk or Not to Talk
If you know me at all, the answer to that line is almost always, 'Yes!' :o) Talking is not something I mind. (I am my father's daughter.) But when it comes to the Church and fasting, the generally consensus has been to not talk.
The other night I was doing some more research online and discovered something that really caught my interest. There are not a lot of Christian resources talking about the experience of fasting, and more specifically, going on a liquid or water fast. There are several new-age or eastern philosophy pages that include the same basic info over and over. A few people have posted daily video blogs through day 16 - I did find one on day 21, but none were believers.
I think this may be from a combination of two issues at work:
Just as what you are fasting is between you and God, how you discuss your fast is also between you and God. But, here are some things to think about:
Your thoughts?
The other night I was doing some more research online and discovered something that really caught my interest. There are not a lot of Christian resources talking about the experience of fasting, and more specifically, going on a liquid or water fast. There are several new-age or eastern philosophy pages that include the same basic info over and over. A few people have posted daily video blogs through day 16 - I did find one on day 21, but none were believers.
I think this may be from a combination of two issues at work:
- Talking about fasting, or more specifically your own fast, has become taboo in the church. As we discovered through our own church's preparation and fasting classes, many people have been told fasting, but very very few have been taught fasting.
- Perhaps Christians are rarely fasting for extended periods, and since it has become a more rare discipline, those who do fast are not able to do a liquid/water fast, and more commonly use a Daniel-type fast. There are large amounts of information on this type.
Just as what you are fasting is between you and God, how you discuss your fast is also between you and God. But, here are some things to think about:
- The only rebuke of people talking about fasting comes from Jesus, to the Pharisees, who were hypocrites, and going around saying "Oh woe is me!" to show off how spiritual they were with their pride of fasting and tithing.
- Scripture records many, many stories of people fasting. It's clear not only that it was common, but normal for groups to fast together. Here is a comprehensive list of fasts, including whether they were individual or corporate. If no one was allowed to know about it, why were they recorded?
- There is help in community. I'm not proposing we shout to the world around us, or sit and have a corporate pity party, but discussing the ups and downs within the community that is fasting with you, does not seem to be against Scripture. I'm willing for my mind to be changed on this, but so far I haven't found that.
- When you are talking about fasting - what is your pride doing? Is it welling up inside you or not? Ask God to make this clear to you.
- If you start the discussion, will it cause undue attention towards you or end up in any sort of self-promotion? If it does, it would be best to avoid this.
- Is the conversation drawing attention to the difficulty of fasting or how spiritual you are for fasting, or is the attention on what God is doing in your life, despite the discomforts?
- Will you walk away from the conversation feeling good about yourself for fasting, or will you walk away feeling good about God and His work? There is only answer to that question that would give me an "okay" in my heart to proceed.
Your thoughts?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Mountain Movers
Matthew 17:20 "...you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move..."
Yesterday there was a 7.+ earthquake in Haiti. A few days before one in Humbolt County. Before that a small one in the Bay Area. There's a lot of moving and shaking going on in the earth. And trust me, I'm not claiming it as prophetic, but it certainly is applicable.
Faith enough to move mountains is impressive. I want mountains to be moved. I want the spiritual ground to shake because I have faith and am allowing God to use me.
Are you ready for that? Are you ready for God to increase your faith? Are you ready to see mountains moved?
Reminder - prayer meeting tonight at 7:00pm.
Yesterday there was a 7.+ earthquake in Haiti. A few days before one in Humbolt County. Before that a small one in the Bay Area. There's a lot of moving and shaking going on in the earth. And trust me, I'm not claiming it as prophetic, but it certainly is applicable.
Faith enough to move mountains is impressive. I want mountains to be moved. I want the spiritual ground to shake because I have faith and am allowing God to use me.
Are you ready for that? Are you ready for God to increase your faith? Are you ready to see mountains moved?
Reminder - prayer meeting tonight at 7:00pm.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Annoying Vesses & Not-So-Empty Hands
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.
It's annoying to me when God uses things that I'm not a fan of to speak to me. Yesterday, when I was driving home there was a song on Christian radio that to many may be very, very poignant. To me, though, it's just over-played at this point, since it was never really in my top list anyway. No offense to the artist or those who love it, it's just not my perfect cup of tea... ohh... tea... even tea sounds nice right now, and I don't even like tea... Day 2 - Stay strong! Where's my water?
"Empty hands held high // Such small sacrifice..."
And then I hear something other than the radio. I hear the louder than audible noise from the depths of me... "Excuse me, but this IS a sacrifice."
The response was immediate, but it wasn't from the depths of me, it was much deeper than I could ever be. "That's because your hands aren't empty."
"That's a good thing, right?" Even as the mental argument left the processors I knew how truly wrong I was. The "I have a lot to offer" defense came out of my heart-brain with much more pride and vanity than I would have preferred.
Oww. That hurt harder than fasting hunger.
"Keep listening, Kathy - hear My voice."
You see, hearing His voice isn't just about being able to repeat back the words, it's to understand, to consider what has been said. And the longer I consider, the more I realize how well He really does know me, and how far I have to go in following Him.
Fasting is a process of emptying. And here I thought I'd be starting with my stomach.
Lifesong, by Casting Crowns
Empty Hands held high
Such Small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight
May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you
Chorus:
Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign your name
to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You
LORD, I give my life
A Living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be your hands and feet
So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Let my lifesong sing to You
It's annoying to me when God uses things that I'm not a fan of to speak to me. Yesterday, when I was driving home there was a song on Christian radio that to many may be very, very poignant. To me, though, it's just over-played at this point, since it was never really in my top list anyway. No offense to the artist or those who love it, it's just not my perfect cup of tea... ohh... tea... even tea sounds nice right now, and I don't even like tea... Day 2 - Stay strong! Where's my water?
"Empty hands held high // Such small sacrifice..."
And then I hear something other than the radio. I hear the louder than audible noise from the depths of me... "Excuse me, but this IS a sacrifice."
The response was immediate, but it wasn't from the depths of me, it was much deeper than I could ever be. "That's because your hands aren't empty."
"That's a good thing, right?" Even as the mental argument left the processors I knew how truly wrong I was. The "I have a lot to offer" defense came out of my heart-brain with much more pride and vanity than I would have preferred.
Oww. That hurt harder than fasting hunger.
"Keep listening, Kathy - hear My voice."
You see, hearing His voice isn't just about being able to repeat back the words, it's to understand, to consider what has been said. And the longer I consider, the more I realize how well He really does know me, and how far I have to go in following Him.
Fasting is a process of emptying. And here I thought I'd be starting with my stomach.
Lifesong, by Casting Crowns
Empty Hands held high
Such Small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight
May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you
Chorus:
Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign your name
to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You
LORD, I give my life
A Living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be your hands and feet
So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
Let my lifesong sing to You
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Don't take a shower to get ready for a bath.
I'm not sure where the saying came from. "You don't take a shower to get ready for a bath." It's always reminded me of the "fixin' to get ready to..." saying from the South. As if "fixin'" (which translates "getting ready to") wasn't enough, that you have to be redundantly redundant. You're getting ready to get ready. What does that mean? Sitting on the couch thinking about it? Anyway, I digress.
You don't need to take a shower to get ready for a bath. Soaking in the bath will make you clean. Why hurry up and get a shower first? That's just plain ridiculous.
But that's what we do. We think we have to prepare ourselves for a time of preparation.
Our church (Mars Hill Community) is entering into a season we're calling Awakening. It's a 21 day fast, and I have to be honest... I've been really looking forward to it. Until today.
Today is when it finally hit me what I'm not going to have. So then my brain starts going through lists of things that I should take care of with God before I let God take care of all of the stuff in me. And the lack of logic here--trust me, it doesn't go unnoticed. And don't get me wrong - I'm all about keeping short accounts with God. But do I really think He doesn't notice that I'm laying here on the couch, fixin' to get ready for what He has for me?
As we head into this time together, let's remember that the journey also matters to God. He is preparing us for something great. So let's just soak this part in. No fast showers for me. I'm lighting the candles, grabbing the salts and bubbles, and even that little plastic-backed-inflatable-pillow-thingy. 'Cause God and me have a bunch of cleaning to do, and pruned as I might be at the end... it's definitely going to be worth it!
You don't need to take a shower to get ready for a bath. Soaking in the bath will make you clean. Why hurry up and get a shower first? That's just plain ridiculous.
But that's what we do. We think we have to prepare ourselves for a time of preparation.
Our church (Mars Hill Community) is entering into a season we're calling Awakening. It's a 21 day fast, and I have to be honest... I've been really looking forward to it. Until today.
Today is when it finally hit me what I'm not going to have. So then my brain starts going through lists of things that I should take care of with God before I let God take care of all of the stuff in me. And the lack of logic here--trust me, it doesn't go unnoticed. And don't get me wrong - I'm all about keeping short accounts with God. But do I really think He doesn't notice that I'm laying here on the couch, fixin' to get ready for what He has for me?
As we head into this time together, let's remember that the journey also matters to God. He is preparing us for something great. So let's just soak this part in. No fast showers for me. I'm lighting the candles, grabbing the salts and bubbles, and even that little plastic-backed-inflatable-pillow-thingy. 'Cause God and me have a bunch of cleaning to do, and pruned as I might be at the end... it's definitely going to be worth it!
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