I, like some 124 million other people, downloaded and use the YouVersion Bible App. I appreciate the app because it makes it easier for me to locate Scriptures and the Daily Bible Verse helps me start my day with God's Word handy and changing. For the coming year, YouVersion presented a challenge to its users to select a #Verse2014 that would serve as their personal Scripture for the coming year.
While there are many verses that I love and some that I return to often for clarification and encouragement, the verse I selected as my bedrock for the coming year is John 5:8. "Jesus said to him, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk." Jesus speaks these words to a man who has been sitting at the foot of healing pool for 38 years hoping that someone would come along and put him in the water.
He was so close, already, to the healing that he needed. And yet, he sat waiting . . .hoping that someone else could help him get the rest of the way. In my own way, the 365 days of 2013 (and probably some from previous years) were spent at the tail edge of the healing water and rather than muster up one more ounce of strength to fall face first in the healing pool, I prayed and waited for external help.
In walks Jesus - the Saviour I know Him to be, and asks "Do you want to be made well?" And after hearing my excuses of why I'd been stuck in the same place for so long, rather than admonishing me for making excuses, He simply says, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."
No need for you to continue to sit and wait on help. The Calvary is here. Get up. And when you get up, don't prolong this mess by standing in that spot. Walk.
Go somewhere.
Do something.
Who knows what the coming year will bring? Certainly, I don't. I'll set a few goals, make a few plans, but mostly - I'll walk. One foot in front of the other - one step at a time.
May God bless and keep you in this next year. May He "grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ep. 3:16-19)
Happy New Year Family!
Walk with me.
Love first. Always.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Residue of Redemption
I'm aware that when people look at me they see someone whose life seems well pulled together. What they see is true.
Here are some facts:
I'm 40 years old.
I smile a lot.
I'm happily married and I love my children.
I'm gainfully employed and I love my work.
I have a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree.
I'm unapologetically Christian, and not in a Bible-thumping way.
I appreciate friendship.
I value family, justice and trust.
Here are some other facts:
I started having sex when I was 13.
I was pregnant the first time at 17 and chose not to have the baby.
I was plagued with self-esteem issues for most of my teenage years, but am a great actress and hid it well.
I fell in love a lot because I was searching for it in the wrong places.
I married my first husband out of the guilt of being pregnant; not because he was the man for me.
I was depressed a lot in my 20's.
I cheated on my first husband - without remorse.
I was angry with God for a long time.
When people see me, they see the stuff in the first list perhaps without seeing the stuff in the second list. Let me interject the first word of caution here:
1. There are things in everyone's story that contribute to the person you know them to be today.
I offer this word of caution in both directions. People may look at my life today and say they want what I have, but I wonder how much of my story they would have wanted to endure to be who I am. At the same time, people may look at someone who is struggling right now and judge that person without knowing what contributed to that place.
No matter who you encounter on a daily basis, it's safe to say:
2. You don't know the whole story.
Even people you've known your whole life have things about them that only they know. We have a tendency to think we "know" someone because we spend time around them or because they have been in our lives a long time. I invite you to erase that notion from your practice of living and rather than assume you know - assume you don't.
3. Seek to understand.
This statement was made popular by Stephen Covey in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It's also a line from one of my favorite prayers by St. Francis - O Divine Master,grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love.
Every decision someone makes, every thought they have, every word they speak was preceded by a series of events that dictated that result especially for them. Let us be more interested in the "why" than the "what."
I am a sinner - saved by Grace. I know full well that, as Paul tells us by way of Rome, "God shows His love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us." This blog is titled "Residue of Redemption" because although I know the blood of Jesus washed my sins away - occasionally, I still see the blemishes. I see them in decisions I make. I see the blemishes on my children. I see them in the language I use.
When I allow Him, God reminds me that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made." Sometimes it is harder to hear that voice or see myself though God's eyes because my own voice is turned up so loud. And although I have a great life now, I am quite possibly standing in the way of having an even better life by not embracing my freedom completely; by holding on to bits and pieces of the woman I used to be. . .
Tracie Jae (insert your name here), in the name of Jesus Christ - you are forgiven. Go and sin no more.
Here are some facts:
I'm 40 years old.
I smile a lot.
I'm happily married and I love my children.
I'm gainfully employed and I love my work.
I have a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree.
I'm unapologetically Christian, and not in a Bible-thumping way.
I appreciate friendship.
I value family, justice and trust.
Here are some other facts:
I started having sex when I was 13.
I was pregnant the first time at 17 and chose not to have the baby.
I was plagued with self-esteem issues for most of my teenage years, but am a great actress and hid it well.
I fell in love a lot because I was searching for it in the wrong places.
I married my first husband out of the guilt of being pregnant; not because he was the man for me.
I was depressed a lot in my 20's.
I cheated on my first husband - without remorse.
I was angry with God for a long time.
When people see me, they see the stuff in the first list perhaps without seeing the stuff in the second list. Let me interject the first word of caution here:
1. There are things in everyone's story that contribute to the person you know them to be today.
I offer this word of caution in both directions. People may look at my life today and say they want what I have, but I wonder how much of my story they would have wanted to endure to be who I am. At the same time, people may look at someone who is struggling right now and judge that person without knowing what contributed to that place.
No matter who you encounter on a daily basis, it's safe to say:
2. You don't know the whole story.
Even people you've known your whole life have things about them that only they know. We have a tendency to think we "know" someone because we spend time around them or because they have been in our lives a long time. I invite you to erase that notion from your practice of living and rather than assume you know - assume you don't.
3. Seek to understand.
This statement was made popular by Stephen Covey in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It's also a line from one of my favorite prayers by St. Francis - O Divine Master,grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love.
Every decision someone makes, every thought they have, every word they speak was preceded by a series of events that dictated that result especially for them. Let us be more interested in the "why" than the "what."
I am a sinner - saved by Grace. I know full well that, as Paul tells us by way of Rome, "God shows His love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us." This blog is titled "Residue of Redemption" because although I know the blood of Jesus washed my sins away - occasionally, I still see the blemishes. I see them in decisions I make. I see the blemishes on my children. I see them in the language I use.
When I allow Him, God reminds me that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made." Sometimes it is harder to hear that voice or see myself though God's eyes because my own voice is turned up so loud. And although I have a great life now, I am quite possibly standing in the way of having an even better life by not embracing my freedom completely; by holding on to bits and pieces of the woman I used to be. . .
Tracie Jae (insert your name here), in the name of Jesus Christ - you are forgiven. Go and sin no more.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Broken Ribs
Gen 2: 21-22 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
“A broken rib, or fractured rib, is a common injury that occurs when one of the bones in your rib cage breaks or cracks. The most common cause of broken ribs is trauma to the chest. Many broken ribs are merely cracked. While still painful, cracked ribs aren't as potentially dangerous as ribs that have been broken. In these situations, a jagged piece of bone could damage major blood vessels or internal organs, such as the lungs. In most cases, broken ribs heal on their own in one or two months. Adequate pain control is important, so you can continue to breathe deeply and avoid lung complications.” (Taken from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/broken-ribs/DS00939)
Ribs are designed to protect the heart and lungs – the center of all life and the breath. Ribs are closer to the skin and thus, sometimes feel pains and pressures that other things in the body cannot. Without ribs, a person’s most vital organs would be susceptible to anything that bumped into the skin (flesh). The outside world would have greater access and, thus, more ability to bring damage to the inside world. In a perfect system, the ribs are never damaged and are able to adequately and consistently do the job for which they were designed.
Unfortunately, sometimes ribs are damaged (cracked or broken). When this happens, not only is there an inordinate amount of pain, it also leaves the heart and lung exposed to things that they would not otherwise need to fear. While still painful, cracked ribs aren't as potentially dangerous as ribs that have been broken. Once a rib has been broken, the very thing that was designed to protect the heart and lungs, can create the most damage to them. Not only are outside threats more present, but a wrong move or wrong breath could be potentially life ending. Although broken ribs can and do heal, the recovery process can be long and painful. And the damage that a broken rib can cause to internal organs, can sometimes lead to complications that need additional attention.
Ribs should be protected. Try not to fall, or get hit, or run into things. Watch where you’re going and be mindful of your surroundings. Be aware of the threat that a cracked or broken rib places on the rest of the body. If the ribs are cracked or broken, take great care in making sure they heal properly so as not to cause related problems later. The heart and lungs owe a debt of gratitude to the ribs for their protection – seeing as how that is what they were designed for. Hearts and lungs should not underestimate how important that protect is or what would happen if something happened to the ribs.
While we often hear this reference in terms of relationships – let’s broaden our view a bit. If in fact, women were created from the rib with their central purpose being the protection of life, then where does it serve the world to treat women poorly? Even when they are cracked or broken, as long as they are still in their proper place in the body – they take on the brunt of the pain caused by external forces and the heart and lungs are still safer because of their existence.
All of this from a rib that has been broken and caused damage; that has been cracked and still worked to protect; that is still bruised in some places and nervous about being bumped. Our prayer today, Lord is for broken, cracked and bruised ribs everywhere, that they may be made whole and healed properly. That they may not cause any additional damage to the body. That they always serve as a line of defense and that the body will recognize their importance and work to protect them. To the God who makes all things new – we submit this humble prayer. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“A broken rib, or fractured rib, is a common injury that occurs when one of the bones in your rib cage breaks or cracks. The most common cause of broken ribs is trauma to the chest. Many broken ribs are merely cracked. While still painful, cracked ribs aren't as potentially dangerous as ribs that have been broken. In these situations, a jagged piece of bone could damage major blood vessels or internal organs, such as the lungs. In most cases, broken ribs heal on their own in one or two months. Adequate pain control is important, so you can continue to breathe deeply and avoid lung complications.” (Taken from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/broken-ribs/DS00939)
Ribs are designed to protect the heart and lungs – the center of all life and the breath. Ribs are closer to the skin and thus, sometimes feel pains and pressures that other things in the body cannot. Without ribs, a person’s most vital organs would be susceptible to anything that bumped into the skin (flesh). The outside world would have greater access and, thus, more ability to bring damage to the inside world. In a perfect system, the ribs are never damaged and are able to adequately and consistently do the job for which they were designed.
Unfortunately, sometimes ribs are damaged (cracked or broken). When this happens, not only is there an inordinate amount of pain, it also leaves the heart and lung exposed to things that they would not otherwise need to fear. While still painful, cracked ribs aren't as potentially dangerous as ribs that have been broken. Once a rib has been broken, the very thing that was designed to protect the heart and lungs, can create the most damage to them. Not only are outside threats more present, but a wrong move or wrong breath could be potentially life ending. Although broken ribs can and do heal, the recovery process can be long and painful. And the damage that a broken rib can cause to internal organs, can sometimes lead to complications that need additional attention.
Ribs should be protected. Try not to fall, or get hit, or run into things. Watch where you’re going and be mindful of your surroundings. Be aware of the threat that a cracked or broken rib places on the rest of the body. If the ribs are cracked or broken, take great care in making sure they heal properly so as not to cause related problems later. The heart and lungs owe a debt of gratitude to the ribs for their protection – seeing as how that is what they were designed for. Hearts and lungs should not underestimate how important that protect is or what would happen if something happened to the ribs.
While we often hear this reference in terms of relationships – let’s broaden our view a bit. If in fact, women were created from the rib with their central purpose being the protection of life, then where does it serve the world to treat women poorly? Even when they are cracked or broken, as long as they are still in their proper place in the body – they take on the brunt of the pain caused by external forces and the heart and lungs are still safer because of their existence.
All of this from a rib that has been broken and caused damage; that has been cracked and still worked to protect; that is still bruised in some places and nervous about being bumped. Our prayer today, Lord is for broken, cracked and bruised ribs everywhere, that they may be made whole and healed properly. That they may not cause any additional damage to the body. That they always serve as a line of defense and that the body will recognize their importance and work to protect them. To the God who makes all things new – we submit this humble prayer. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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