"But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again: though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everything and in all things I have both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phillippians 4: 10-13
For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content . . . These words haunt me. I am discontent. Perhaps I am alone in this, but I doubt it.
I want more than I have. While I surely have more than I've had, I still want more.
I have a great marriage. I want it to be better. I have a nice home, I want a larger one. I drive a nice car - that I dinged on the garage door - I want a newer one. I have a good job. I want a great career. I have good children - all factors considered. I want them to be great.
I have a good relationship with God. I want to live completely in God's will for my life.
So now what?
Can I want all these things and still remain - like Paul - content in where I am?
Paul's statement about contentment was not a conclusive one. He does not suggest that because he is content, that he will remain in that state. He goes on to say, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
So, no matter at what state he currently exist, he knows he can survive it because Christ stengthens him. We hear that last statement a lot in church. We repeat it. We stake our lives as Christians on it - but do we believe it? Do we surrender to it?
Paul says he can do all things. Not just some things or a few things, but all things.
If that is the case, and we believe it is the case - then the discontentment that I'm facing is my own fault.
John 10:10, another often repeated scripture, tells us that Jesus came so that we might have life and have it "more abundantly." Perhaps it is this promise of abundance that makes contentment so difficult to imagine. If we are, indeed, going to have life and have it more abundantly then why be content where we are?
The two ideas are connected by the statement, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." In the moments when we have less than we desire for ourselves (which for me is almost always), we can find comfort and rest knowing that no matter where we are, Jesus is there too. And if He is there, there is nothing to stop us from pushing forward.
My husband has a reminder that comes up on his phone - PUSH - Pray Until Something Happens. As long as I am PUSHing toward the abundance that I was promised, then "where I am" shouldn't bother me. I should be just as content when I have little as when I have much.
And I know that is easier said than done. I know this because even as I write this - I wonder whom I'm trying to convince, you or me. I type this sermon from my head and I know it's serving as a pep talk to myself. I remind myself that "where I am" is not a bad place. And that even if it were a bad place - it wouldn't always be bad. I remind myself to PUSH and that unless I am PUSHing, I might always be where I am. I remind myself that all things - ev, er, y thing is possible through Christ who strengthens me.
I'll challenge you not to take my word for it. Try PUSHing and see what happens.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
There Was a Little Hole
We used to sing a song in Vacation Bible School called, "There Was a Little Hole." You may remember that song as well.
In case you don't know the song, it's a sing and repeat song that begins: There was a little hole, the prettiest little hole, that that you ever did see. Well, the hole's in the ground and the green grass grows all around, all around. The green grass grows all around.
And in that hole, there was a little seed, the prettiest little seed, that you ever did see. Well, the seed's in the hole and the hole's in the ground and the green grass grows all around, all around. The green grass grows all around.
The song continues until that seed has grown into a tree with branches and leaves and fruit. And of course, in the fruit are more seeds, so this is the kind of song that could continue forever. And it does continue - every day, somewhere there is some seed being planted and there is something growing from that seed.
Our youngest son, Caden, has taken up the hobby of seed collecting. Perhaps it is because his class at school has an interactive garden, so he's fascinated by thing that grow. I'm fascinated by his fascination; the wonder in his face when he asks a question like, "Do bananas have seeds?"
Even at five years old, I think Caden would understand the statement my father made to me on many days of my adolescence - "You can't grow a pine tree from a cactus seed." What you plant is what will grow. What you put in, is what you will get out.
Matthew 17: 16-20, says it this way:
16.You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17.Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18.A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19.Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20.Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Every thought, word and deed represents a seed. What are we planting?
The things that we think are seeds we plant in ourselves. Did I wake up this morning believing God for my best? Did I fall asleep angry and wake up carrying that same pain? Do I look at myself in the bathroom mirror and see someone I love? Or even still, do I see someone I like? Do I face the day with passion or with fear? What type of fruit will my thoughts bear today?
The things that we say are seeds that we plant on the hearer. Folks who know me, know I take words very seriously. I irritate the people closest to me because sometimes it takes me a long time to get things off my chest. I strive to say things properly the first time, so that I won't want, later, to take them back - to regret having said something. That's not always easy - to hold my tongue. To, in the words of Rudyard Kipling, "Keep [my] head when all about [me] people are losing theirs and blaming it on [me]."
When we look at the words we use - with our loved ones, with our friends, our co-workers, with strangers - what do we hope will come from them? Are the words we use spoken in a spirit of love and in the best interest of the recipient? Will those words inprove or worsen the situation? Are they words of life, or words or death? Are they meant to build up or tear down? What fruit will our words bear today?
The things we do are seeds we plant on those who witness our actions. Are we fast moving, or slow as molasses? Do we set out after things with purpose, or let life happen to us? Do we create moments for kindness - giving to those in need in whatever way we can? Or are we standing around waiting for the world to give us our due? Have we done anything to impact the world in a positive way? That could be an act as simple as smiling at someone, "just because." We never know what kind of day that person was having before our smile and the impact that one act could have on the rest of their day or the rest of their life. What fruit will our deeds bear today?
And once we have our seeds, where do we plant them?
One of the most well known of Jesus' parables is retold in the 4th chapter of the Gospel of Mark. We learn in this parable that seeds must be properly planted and properly nourished. Verses 3 through 8 say:
3."Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.
4.And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.
5.Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.
6.But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.
7.And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8.But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."
Further along in the chapter, verses 14-20, we get an explaination of the parable. Seeds are likened to God's word.
14.The sower sows the word.
15.And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16.These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17.and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.
18.Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,
19.and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20.But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."
Where have we planted our seeds and what has grown from them?
In case you don't know the song, it's a sing and repeat song that begins: There was a little hole, the prettiest little hole, that that you ever did see. Well, the hole's in the ground and the green grass grows all around, all around. The green grass grows all around.
And in that hole, there was a little seed, the prettiest little seed, that you ever did see. Well, the seed's in the hole and the hole's in the ground and the green grass grows all around, all around. The green grass grows all around.
The song continues until that seed has grown into a tree with branches and leaves and fruit. And of course, in the fruit are more seeds, so this is the kind of song that could continue forever. And it does continue - every day, somewhere there is some seed being planted and there is something growing from that seed.
Our youngest son, Caden, has taken up the hobby of seed collecting. Perhaps it is because his class at school has an interactive garden, so he's fascinated by thing that grow. I'm fascinated by his fascination; the wonder in his face when he asks a question like, "Do bananas have seeds?"
Even at five years old, I think Caden would understand the statement my father made to me on many days of my adolescence - "You can't grow a pine tree from a cactus seed." What you plant is what will grow. What you put in, is what you will get out.
Matthew 17: 16-20, says it this way:
16.You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17.Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
18.A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
19.Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20.Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Every thought, word and deed represents a seed. What are we planting?
The things that we think are seeds we plant in ourselves. Did I wake up this morning believing God for my best? Did I fall asleep angry and wake up carrying that same pain? Do I look at myself in the bathroom mirror and see someone I love? Or even still, do I see someone I like? Do I face the day with passion or with fear? What type of fruit will my thoughts bear today?
The things that we say are seeds that we plant on the hearer. Folks who know me, know I take words very seriously. I irritate the people closest to me because sometimes it takes me a long time to get things off my chest. I strive to say things properly the first time, so that I won't want, later, to take them back - to regret having said something. That's not always easy - to hold my tongue. To, in the words of Rudyard Kipling, "Keep [my] head when all about [me] people are losing theirs and blaming it on [me]."
When we look at the words we use - with our loved ones, with our friends, our co-workers, with strangers - what do we hope will come from them? Are the words we use spoken in a spirit of love and in the best interest of the recipient? Will those words inprove or worsen the situation? Are they words of life, or words or death? Are they meant to build up or tear down? What fruit will our words bear today?
The things we do are seeds we plant on those who witness our actions. Are we fast moving, or slow as molasses? Do we set out after things with purpose, or let life happen to us? Do we create moments for kindness - giving to those in need in whatever way we can? Or are we standing around waiting for the world to give us our due? Have we done anything to impact the world in a positive way? That could be an act as simple as smiling at someone, "just because." We never know what kind of day that person was having before our smile and the impact that one act could have on the rest of their day or the rest of their life. What fruit will our deeds bear today?
And once we have our seeds, where do we plant them?
One of the most well known of Jesus' parables is retold in the 4th chapter of the Gospel of Mark. We learn in this parable that seeds must be properly planted and properly nourished. Verses 3 through 8 say:
3."Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.
4.And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.
5.Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.
6.But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away.
7.And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. 8.But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."
Further along in the chapter, verses 14-20, we get an explaination of the parable. Seeds are likened to God's word.
14.The sower sows the word.
15.And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16.These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17.and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble.
18.Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word,
19.and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20.But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."
Where have we planted our seeds and what has grown from them?
Are we even giving any thought to this? Are we planting good seeds - good thoughts, good words, good deeds - on good ground where it will bear good fruit?
Are we planting unhealthy seeds - unhealthy thoughts, unhealthy words, unhealthy actions - on good ground? Won't those things also bear an abundance of fruit? And would it be fruit that we'd want to feed anyone? Better still, would it be fruit we'd want to consume ourselves?
How about good seeds on unfertile ground? Have you ever done something that you thought, or knew was great, just to feel later like you'd wasted your time? Like your effort was in vain? Maybe you counseled someone on leaving an abusive relationship and they stayed. Maybe you suggested that someone go back to school and although they listened attentively, they didn't enroll. Perhaps you paid someone's car note, rent or phone bill in a month when they were down and the next month - well, they were in the same spot.
Should you not have done these things? Should you not have spoken these words? Or were they just not left fertile ground? There are possibly thorns and weeds: the receivers own words, thoughts or deeds that are in the way of receiving. It could be Satan -as verse 15 suggests - the minute your good word is planted - someone else comes along to crush it.
Maybe someone else saw what you did or heard what you said and was touched to be better to themselves or for someone else. Perhaps your action or word lasted long enough to cause that person to smile - however briefly it might have been. And wouldn't that make it worth it?
My hope and my prayer for everyone that is reading this, is that we are planting good seeds -good thoughts, good words and good deeds. And that those seeds are on good ground - an open heart, a willing listener, a grateful recipient. That those who taste our fruit, will say that it came from a good tree and that they will take seeds from our fruit and continue to plant.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
It'll Be All Over in the Morning
Thursday morning, a gentleman approached my desk and asked how I was doing. His next question was, "Busy week?" Well, I work at a church, so that's a fair question seeing as it was Holy Week. I answered, "Yes," and his response was, "It'll all be over on Monday."
I know his point was that, Easter is Sunday and the week would be behind us and the "busy-ness" would be over. But will it?
Isn't the whole point of Easter, that things don't have to end? Don't we take the time to celebrate - not just Jesus' death, which is a great and significant event in the history of our world - but also, and perhaps more importantly, His resurrection?
Let's suppose, just for argument's sake, that the resurrection details were omitted from the Bible.
So we would have the story of Jesus's birth. We would have His challenging of authority as a young child. We would have His miracles and acts of faith. We would have the stories of the folks who chose to follow Him along the way. We would have His tempation in the garden, His last meal, His last walk, and His scoundrel's death. And what if that were the end of the story?
What if we read stories of this great man and all His great works, but at the end of the story, He dies just like the rest of us. Would that make Him any less a role model? Would that make Him any less admirable? Would that make his contribution to history or to the world any less significant? Perhaps in some ways, no.
Oh, but since we have the benefit of seeing all of that stuff and added to that, His absence from the sealed grave and His reappearance to those who watched Him die - doesn't that make knowing Him that much better?
Isn't it awesome to know that death doesn't have to be the end?
In the opening paragraph of Sue Monk Kid's book, Dance of the Dissident Daughter, she asks the question, "Once you wake up, can you wake up again?"
It's much the same question as - how many lives can you have? Can you be born again? Can you be resurrected from death?
I know you can think back over your life to a place where something (perhaps everything) was falling apart. Well, I can speak for me - I can look back over my life at places where things - all things - seemed to be falling apart.
Did it seem perhaps that there were those in the background plotting your demise? Was there anyone in your immediate circle of friends who betrayed you? Did you feel like, all the way, there were folks mocking you? Was there a Simon of Cyrene in your life who could not take the death from you, but at least helped you carry the load? How about a Joseph of Armithea - a silent, behind the scenes cheerleader who wanted to care for you after your struggle had ended and it seemed all hope was lost?
And let's not forget the Marys - watching, praying, praying and watching - all the while continuing to believe when everyone else has left.
How great then, to rise from the dead and appear to all those who watched as you walked slowly to your death and watched as you died and mourned your death. How great that Jesus lived that example for us. How great that is doesn't have to be all over in the morning. How great that in the morning - on the third morning - or the 185th morning it can be just beginning.
And the people of God said, "Wow."
I realized just recently that one of my least favorite phrases is, "Well, we used to . . ." This seems to be the beginning of the sentence anytime you make changes that affect a body and the changes don't have the desired affect. I've found that that phrase usually comes from someone who was doubtful of the change in the first place.
Newsflash - things change. And just because the change you made didn't work, doesn't necessarily mean you have to go back to what "we used to" do. Try something else.
The same is true for people. Particularly true for people who have made a major comeback. There will be certain people who will try you. There will be Thomas' in your life who have to poke the places where you were poked before they believe it's a new you - risen - "Show me the wounds." Showing the wounds does not mean you have to open them. No need to bleed again to prove there was a pain. Eight days had passed when Jesus visited the disciples and Thomas stood with them. These were not fresh wounds that Thomas was allowed to touch.
Give yourself the time and the space necessary to heal. Although Mary was excited, being the first to see Jesus, His instruction to her was "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet Ascended to My Father. . . " (John 20:17)
Even Jesus had to spend some time with God the Father after defeating death.
So as we grow, and change and live and died and are resurrected - we have to spend time with God the Father. And once we have, we can and must be willing to share that experience with those whom we encounter - especially those who were there when we died - especially those who doubt.
I know his point was that, Easter is Sunday and the week would be behind us and the "busy-ness" would be over. But will it?
Isn't the whole point of Easter, that things don't have to end? Don't we take the time to celebrate - not just Jesus' death, which is a great and significant event in the history of our world - but also, and perhaps more importantly, His resurrection?
Let's suppose, just for argument's sake, that the resurrection details were omitted from the Bible.
So we would have the story of Jesus's birth. We would have His challenging of authority as a young child. We would have His miracles and acts of faith. We would have the stories of the folks who chose to follow Him along the way. We would have His tempation in the garden, His last meal, His last walk, and His scoundrel's death. And what if that were the end of the story?
What if we read stories of this great man and all His great works, but at the end of the story, He dies just like the rest of us. Would that make Him any less a role model? Would that make Him any less admirable? Would that make his contribution to history or to the world any less significant? Perhaps in some ways, no.
Oh, but since we have the benefit of seeing all of that stuff and added to that, His absence from the sealed grave and His reappearance to those who watched Him die - doesn't that make knowing Him that much better?
Isn't it awesome to know that death doesn't have to be the end?
In the opening paragraph of Sue Monk Kid's book, Dance of the Dissident Daughter, she asks the question, "Once you wake up, can you wake up again?"
It's much the same question as - how many lives can you have? Can you be born again? Can you be resurrected from death?
I know you can think back over your life to a place where something (perhaps everything) was falling apart. Well, I can speak for me - I can look back over my life at places where things - all things - seemed to be falling apart.
Did it seem perhaps that there were those in the background plotting your demise? Was there anyone in your immediate circle of friends who betrayed you? Did you feel like, all the way, there were folks mocking you? Was there a Simon of Cyrene in your life who could not take the death from you, but at least helped you carry the load? How about a Joseph of Armithea - a silent, behind the scenes cheerleader who wanted to care for you after your struggle had ended and it seemed all hope was lost?
And let's not forget the Marys - watching, praying, praying and watching - all the while continuing to believe when everyone else has left.
How great then, to rise from the dead and appear to all those who watched as you walked slowly to your death and watched as you died and mourned your death. How great that Jesus lived that example for us. How great that is doesn't have to be all over in the morning. How great that in the morning - on the third morning - or the 185th morning it can be just beginning.
And the people of God said, "Wow."
I realized just recently that one of my least favorite phrases is, "Well, we used to . . ." This seems to be the beginning of the sentence anytime you make changes that affect a body and the changes don't have the desired affect. I've found that that phrase usually comes from someone who was doubtful of the change in the first place.
Newsflash - things change. And just because the change you made didn't work, doesn't necessarily mean you have to go back to what "we used to" do. Try something else.
The same is true for people. Particularly true for people who have made a major comeback. There will be certain people who will try you. There will be Thomas' in your life who have to poke the places where you were poked before they believe it's a new you - risen - "Show me the wounds." Showing the wounds does not mean you have to open them. No need to bleed again to prove there was a pain. Eight days had passed when Jesus visited the disciples and Thomas stood with them. These were not fresh wounds that Thomas was allowed to touch.
Give yourself the time and the space necessary to heal. Although Mary was excited, being the first to see Jesus, His instruction to her was "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet Ascended to My Father. . . " (John 20:17)
Even Jesus had to spend some time with God the Father after defeating death.
So as we grow, and change and live and died and are resurrected - we have to spend time with God the Father. And once we have, we can and must be willing to share that experience with those whom we encounter - especially those who were there when we died - especially those who doubt.
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