Matthew 19:16 "Good Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" G. K. Chesterson once said "We are all seasick together." Just tell me what I have to do to obey you, God, and I'll work out a way to go do it. I'll crawl on glass for you. I'll walk a tightrope. Oh my. We so want the Bible to be a road map to get us there. We silently scream: Give me the plan and we will do it. Along comes a very young wealthy ruler. He kneels and addresses the Son of Man as "Good Teacher," a very respectable title. Jesus' answer jolts me. He didn't rebuke him! My mind goes to raising my children and how way-too-quickly I would rebuke them for what they said wrong, did wrong. Rather than love them by finding out what is really going on in their hearts. The Gospel of Mark says that Jesus looked and loved the Young Fella. Oh for eyes to look and love not rebuke our young people. Jesus looked past his measured dutiful obedience and asked the Young Fella to "let go" of his wealth. Let go of your worldliness. You see, the problem was not owning wealth but the ruler's demanding love of the wealth. What is it that we cannot "let go" of? What does God bring to our minds? We don't have to dig for it. Let's be more concerned about loving well than seeking out sin. Let Him speak to the recesses of our mind, the creases on our face. What must I do? Why do you ask about that?
You and I have need of the strongest spell
that can be found to wake us from
the evil enchantment of worldliness which
has been laid upon us for nearly a hundred years.
C. S. Lewis The Weight of Glory
"Hardness of heart" just blazes at me as I read today's verses.
ReplyDeleteJust imagine how life could change if we didn't have to deal with a hard heart in our relationships.
Jesus sets the example here, as He is being tested. He goes back to Moses and the law, but then He goes back even further to the book of Genesis.
God planned male and female, just the two of them, to leave every other relationship in the dust and to become one. It doesn't take a lot for the physical act of oneness to be completed, but it is a lifelong pursuit of 2 softened hearts that creates the oneness of the mind and soul in a marriage relationship.
That is God's plan for marriage. And it is perfect.
Divorce brings the hidden heart that has been hardened into public display.
My heart has always chosen to love.
I pray that God will soften my husband's heart and allow the best for us to take place. Thy will be done is my prayer. Not mine, but Thine.
God is really fine-tuning the Pearls. Bev and Twinkle, you share the struggles inside your hearts, and as we are sailing through this life, we are seasick, or shall I say, sinsick.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I had a series of unfortunate events. I took my frustration out on a young man who tried to be sympathetic and helpful. This morning, first thing, I woke and remembered the story in Matthew 18:21 Yesterday's reading. It hit me! Woww, I just read this, didn't I get it?
I, who have been forgiven much, can't forgive someone for a little thing.
First thing this morning, I called the young man, who I don't personally know, by the way, and left a sincere apology.
Reading the Message is one thing,
living it is quite another.
Books and Blogs are like having a conversation with you except you don't answer me back. Just LOVE coming here to hear your hearts.
ReplyDeleteAnd again this morning here's Twinkle letting the Word read her heart as she reads it. Always. God's Will Be Done in her. The cries of her heart are so inviting. We are carrying you on a mat to Jesus---but actually I think you are standing quite well. A Dependent Child. Humble. Holy. Hanging on to Truth that "it's what's happening in you that matters." Your wrestle with your very Good God comes so genuine.
And Jan, your story of living the Word, the Living Word in you, hits home over here. Homerun. Sin-sick homer. Seasick. Sin-Sick. You are a poet and a painter!
Since books and blogs are like having conversations, I thought I would answer you back. Smile! Love you both! Good Morning!
A Thought:
ReplyDeleteThere are 11 of us whom I know who are reading with us this year (I know I know, I can't get the FOLLOWERS off from last year.)
You may want to go to the day-before COMMENT section to read additional comments cause some of us (me) post awful late in the day. Take yesterday for example. Listen to THIS...these are the thoughts that showed up...
That JHpainter girl painted an amazing picture of her RENTAL BODY!
The Word PIERCING Hearts came out of Michele Hurst Mom again!
Our Loyal Faithful Friend Mary Lou is always PRESENT!
Annette Annie's Girl brought us all to SPACIOUS PLACES!
Sylvia sang her SONG of Mercy Triumphing Judgment!
Annette Abba's Girl gave us a gift in words to WEEP with those weep REJOICE with those rejoice!
Twinkle Deborah opened her mouth again & God filled it with MUSTARD SEED FORGIVENESS!
Bob never posts (no not once) but said to me yesterday: If you're really SUCCESSFUL in one area, it's easy to pretend we're competent in many areas. What's going on inside of me?
AngB---who could have written the post herself about childlike faith cause she's got IT probably showed up yesterday but I didn't see her.
Jean, if she posts, you'll know it. She's full of wisdom & kindness & suffering & love.
And Me. Penned manana about ~The~GOD~of~my~TIGHT~PLACES~
50+ more read this blog every day accdg to the SITE METER. So if you're one of the fifty, we'd love to know who you are and share in your name, your story, your struggle, your life---if you so choose. You are welcomed here to this seasick string of pearls.
And it's not the same when even just one is missing here. Just like family at the dinner table. Your place is empty and we miss you!
ReplyDeleteLet me tell you something. This morning was so peaceful here. I am blessed and blessed and blessed. In the middle of this drama storm there is so much quiet and peace. I don't know what tomorrow holds, but God is amazingly present in my days.
This morning I made a Baked Apple from my Susan Branch "Days" Daily Calendar. The aroma was a delight. And Betty Crocker Banana Nut Muffins baked right alongside the apple stuffed with Steel Oats, brown sugar, Meyer's lemon juice, walnuts and spices. Lovely.
I washed off a center-slice of ham and placed it in the oven to bake for some home-made bean soup (cannellini beans, carrots, potatoes, a dash of Hunt's ketchup and a spoon of brown sugar).
And I read a tiny book from our local flea market (99 cents).
Soar As The Eagle by Sheryl Lynn Hill
Listen to these words by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman from Streams in the Desert
"One of the first rules of aerodynamics is that flying into the wind quickly increases altitude. The wings of the airplane create more lift by flying against the wind. How was this lesson learned? It was learned by watching birds fly. If a bird is simply flying for pleasure, it flies with the wind. But if it senses danger, it turns into the wind to gain altitude and flies up toward the sun."
I literally was able to see this in action when I went to Rapid City, South Dakota last November. The eagle was flying in an area where warnings were placed on the road about dangerous crosswinds. High up was an eagle flying in those powerful crosswinds. I could see her hitting them and they would raise her up into the heights. Where she could soar. Up to the sun.
Such a beautiful message to me in this drama of my life. I felt God give me an Indian name there. Deborah Soars With Eagles. That is the difference He makes in our lives when we are lifted up toward Him, our Sun.
This is better than a good book here. Each of your hearts turn so purely toward Him and reflect His glory in your words.
ReplyDeleteAnd ashamedly, I still ask the question, "What must I do?" I so want a 1-2-3 formula how-to book for getting by. The map, the map! And yet we are to wing it with Him by the purity of His Grace, a tiny mustard seed of belief, a simple philosophy of not borrowing tomorrow's trouble. His Name "I AM" to me is partly to say live in this moment. Be present with Me and I will be present in this now with you. I can just smell that apple baking in Deborah's oven even as some of you wait in what seems to be the too-much-to-bear category. No rule books or secret formulas.Each day has just enough grace for that day, and we must wait for new manna in the morning. Our tight fists prevent us from receiving. Help us to let go, Lord.
He is the Gift. He is the blessing. May you all bask in His very present now, our Great I Am.