Monday was my day to post at InScribe Writers Online. I shared some thoughts on expectant living, inspired by Joseph of Arimathea.
Expectant Living
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Category Archives: Christian Living
“Wondering Imaginitively”
Over at the Something About the Joy blog, Canadian writer and teacher Ginny Jaques has a great post about “wondering imaginitively”:
What if imagination is actually a gift from God, designed to allow us to “see” the unseen. To “see” Him? What if we were designed to use our imaginations to picture and better understand (and more readily believe in) unseen realities?
Click here to read the rest of Ginny’s post, “Godly Imagination”.
God’s Promises
Over at the Leading Women in Fearless Faith blog, Grace Fox writes:
God’s Word is filled with amazing promises He’s made to those who follow Him. Psalm 57 contains three of them:
* God will fulfill His purpose for us (v. 2). Whatever His specific purpose for our lives is, He takes responsibility for ensuring that it happens. We only need to say yes to whatever He asks, and He looks after the rest.
To read the other two promises in this Psalm, and Grace’s examples of how they’ve been proved true in her life, visit Leading Women in Fearless Faith.
Marriage as Art
Today’s my day to post over at InScribe Writers Online, and I’m tallking about “Marriage as Art.”
Holy Week
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.’ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him.
Jesus replied, ‘Friend, do what you came for.’
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?’
Holy Week.
We count down to tragedy… and triumph. We remember the events that led to our Saviour’s cruel death on a rough-hewn cross, disfigured and despised.
For us.
Sunday’s coming, and we’ll celebrate His glorious resurrection, perhaps the pinnacle moment in God’s mind-boggling plan.
But first comes Thursday: the Last Supper, Gethsemane’s agony, the betrayal. Friday: the mockery, the abuse, the physical torture of crucifixion. Saturday: the quiet before the storm nobody knew was coming.
It’s tempting to skip all the hard stuff, move right into the celebration. But look what Jesus did for us.
I’ll never be able to wrap my head around it, but He gave Himself intentionally, the perfect Lamb of God foreshadowed in the Old Testament sacrifices, despite the unimaginable agony of body and spirit. Because He loves us.
He.
Loves.
Us.
Hallelujah, what a Saviour.
Have a blessed Holy Week. Our song is an extended version of the Newsboys‘ “I Am Free.” Listen to the Scriptures about ¾ of the way through. This is the Gospel. He came to set us free.
*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Submitting to God
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you… Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:7,8,10 NIV*
Submission… our independent natures bristle at the word, and it conjures images of weakness, humiliation, subservience. I think that’s because of how the powerful have abused their status.
The NIV titles the bulk of James 4 “Submit Yourselves to God,” and there’s no connotation of abuse at all. If we stop and think about it…
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He laid down His life for us. We can trust His love.
The Prophet Jeremiah and the Apostle Paul speak of God’s plan to work all things out for good for those who love Him. We may not see how this will happen, but we can trust His intentions.
Our God is the one who spoke the universe into being, sent and stopped Noah’s flood, and who through Jesus calmed the storm, healed the sick, and raised the dead. We can trust His ability to look after us. (Yes, He sometimes allows His people to be martyred, but even there He has a purpose and we can be sure He carries their spirits safely into His healing presence.)
Sovereign Lord, help me start each day by submitting myself to You and committing to listen for Your leading and to obey in trust. You know the end from the beginning, and You are good. Remind me when I try to go my own way, and when I falter help my unbelief. My spirit finds its rest and true purpose in You.
Let this week’s song be our prayer: “Creator King” by Irish worship leader Kathryn Scott.
*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Fear… or Trust?
The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1, NIV*
Take fear out of the equation, and how much differently would we act?
Some upstanding citizens would become successful criminals without a healthy fear holding them back.
Most of us would be calmer, not so guarded. We could trust and not feel the need to protect our interests. We could be ourselves without being concerned about mockery. We could tell others about this wonderful Jesus who rescued us, and not worry about rejection.
In this world, dangers abound and a healthy fear can keep us safe. Grace Fox points out in Moving from Fear to Freedom that the upside to fear is how it can point us to active trust in God.
As we learn to trust God, get to know His character and prove His trustworthiness, the challenge is to let Him be our protector instead of protecting ourselves. Not that we’ll abandon common sense and start walking in front of buses or into dark alleys, but will we drop the barriers we’ve learned to hide behind?
Will we concentrate more on others’ unspoken needs and less on our own security? More on how God might be nudging us to get involved, and less on what it would cost?
Swindling, mockery and rejection happen, and we’re to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves“. Jesus wasn’t blind to the dangers He faced, but He “entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly” and did what the Father had for Him to do. We need to do the same.
Father, You are our strong tower, our shelter and our refuge. Nothing and no one can snatch us from Your hand. Give us courage and grace to live Your rescue, not shrinking back but trusting our hearts and souls to You and following where You lead. Teach us to hear and obey Your voice, because of Jesus.
Our song for the week is “Strong Tower,” by the group Kutless.
*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Voice of Truth
This week was my turn to post over at InScribe Writers Online. You can read “The Voice of Truth” here.
Why Go to Church?
Yesterday was my day to post at InScribe Writers Online. If you’re interested, the post is “Why Go to Church?“
Glory and Peace 2008 East Coast (Canada) Christmas Tour
Violinist Trevor Dick and the 5th String Blvd band are doing a “Glory & Peace” Christmas Tour in PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, NEW BRUNSWICK and ONTARIO, Canada. They’ll also be the special guests and house band for the large east coast production of The Living Christmas Tree – The Cradle that Rocked the World at Moncton Wesleyan Church in Moncton, NB. In total, they expect to play for over 20,000 people during the Christmas season in these three provinces.
Dates are from Nov. 23 through Dec. 21. Full concert dates and locations are on Trevor Dick’s website.
Hannah Briggs (Dancer) and Tina Newlove (Artist and Live Performance Painter) will once more be special guests during the Ontario leg of this tour. Trevor is also partnering with Compassion Canada for many of these events.
Those of us who, sadly, aren’t in the concert tour path, can order the Glory and Peace Christmas double cd online through CD Baby. The cd features electric and acoustic violins in a fresh fusion of pop, urban, jazz and even a bit of Celtic fiddling.
I have Trevor’s 5th String Blvd cd and love it. But I’d rather hear him live.