I thought you all might enjoy this beautiful prayer by Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1703-1791). His words are rich and deep, inspiring and challenging...
"Lord, when my eye confronts my heart, and I realize that You have filled my heart with Your love, I am breathless with amazement. Once my heart was so small in its vision, so narrow in its compassion, so weak in its zeal for truth. Then You chose to enter my heart, and now in my heart i can see you, I can love all your people, and I have courage to proclaim the trust of Your gospel to anyone and everyone. Like wax before a fire, my heart has melted under the heat of Your love."
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
My Leader and Provider
Enjoy this excerpt from the daily This Day with the Master by Dennis Kinlaw. It will encourage, inspire, and challenge you as you enter the summer months. Regardless of where you find yourself over the next few months, remember that God is leading you. You are not alone. He is with you and longs to love you and love others through you in whatever you do this summer.
"One of the happiest things that occurs in salvation is that suddenly we find we are not alone. The Lord Jesus comes into our life, and he is present there in the same way he was in the boat with the disciples when the storm came. He delivered the disciples from their fears and from the threat of the storm. After our conversion we find that he is not only present but also at work in us and in our circumstances.
There ought to be evidences in a person's life when Christ is in residence. Other people ought to be able to sense the presence of the risen Christ. When Israel followed Yahweh, there were certain evidences of God's leadership. Likewise, when Jesus told his disciples to follow him, their lives became set apart from the rest of the world because of that primary relationship with him. This is the essence of the Christian life. When we turn our attention to Christ, we turn away from our own desires, plans, and purposes. We hear the call of Christ, and we follow. Christ's purposes then become our purposes.
When we allow Christ to separate us from all else in order to be in his presence, then God is able to provide for us in ways comparable to his provision for the people of Israel. When they were hungry, God provided food. When they were thirsty, God provided drink. When they needed protection, God provided deliverance. When they needed guidance, he provided a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to lead them. When we enter into a relationship with God, he becomes our Guide, our Leader, or Provider, and our Protector."
"One of the happiest things that occurs in salvation is that suddenly we find we are not alone. The Lord Jesus comes into our life, and he is present there in the same way he was in the boat with the disciples when the storm came. He delivered the disciples from their fears and from the threat of the storm. After our conversion we find that he is not only present but also at work in us and in our circumstances.
There ought to be evidences in a person's life when Christ is in residence. Other people ought to be able to sense the presence of the risen Christ. When Israel followed Yahweh, there were certain evidences of God's leadership. Likewise, when Jesus told his disciples to follow him, their lives became set apart from the rest of the world because of that primary relationship with him. This is the essence of the Christian life. When we turn our attention to Christ, we turn away from our own desires, plans, and purposes. We hear the call of Christ, and we follow. Christ's purposes then become our purposes.
When we allow Christ to separate us from all else in order to be in his presence, then God is able to provide for us in ways comparable to his provision for the people of Israel. When they were hungry, God provided food. When they were thirsty, God provided drink. When they needed protection, God provided deliverance. When they needed guidance, he provided a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to lead them. When we enter into a relationship with God, he becomes our Guide, our Leader, or Provider, and our Protector."
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
A Journey Without Maps
"Faith is better understood as a verb than as a noun, as a process than as a possession. It is on-again-off-again rather than once-and-for-all. Faith is not being sure where you're going but going anyway. A journey without maps." - Frederick Buechner
Journey. I really love that word. It awakens something in me that I cannot explain. It seems so...infinite and inviting.
Infinite because it seems to capture the endless possibilities and lessons to be learned in this life. Also because as Christians we know that we are not Home yet, but we're ever on our way. Sometimes that way is treacherous. Sometimes it is wondrous. Most of the time it falls somewhere in between.
Inviting because it seems so...communal. The idea of journey seems to imply that there are others on the road with us. Oh sure, sometimes it seems as if we are all alone on our journey. Like we are being asked to walk this endless road by ourselves. We feel lonely, abandoned, and utterly isolated. But this is all an illusion. There is at least that Eternal Someone there beside us and often countless others surrounding us seeking to walk the same path. On our best days there's a tangible person or two with whom we can share the ups and downs of the journey who has chosen to take the journey, too.
This is what a life of faith is: a journey without maps. There have been times in my life when that thought might have caused me to shudder. These days I am in the more enthusiastic camp. I like the idea that there is no real blueprint for the journey...only endless possibilities and a God who has promised to go before me and with me all the way (Deuteronomy 31:8). And because I am a part of the greater communion of saints - past and present - I have a community of people who love and support me along the way.
This journey without maps is the way of the person of faith. And what an amazing journey it can be if we simply surrender to it! My prayer for you is that you'll embrace it. Walk the path with holy confidence. Whether you find yourself simply closing another semester or actually graduating, just give yourself to the journey. You'll find a lot of unexpected things along the way. There are some things you can count on through it all: the hand of God to hold you, His love to sustain you, and companions for the journey.
Journey. I really love that word. It awakens something in me that I cannot explain. It seems so...infinite and inviting.
Infinite because it seems to capture the endless possibilities and lessons to be learned in this life. Also because as Christians we know that we are not Home yet, but we're ever on our way. Sometimes that way is treacherous. Sometimes it is wondrous. Most of the time it falls somewhere in between.
Inviting because it seems so...communal. The idea of journey seems to imply that there are others on the road with us. Oh sure, sometimes it seems as if we are all alone on our journey. Like we are being asked to walk this endless road by ourselves. We feel lonely, abandoned, and utterly isolated. But this is all an illusion. There is at least that Eternal Someone there beside us and often countless others surrounding us seeking to walk the same path. On our best days there's a tangible person or two with whom we can share the ups and downs of the journey who has chosen to take the journey, too.
This is what a life of faith is: a journey without maps. There have been times in my life when that thought might have caused me to shudder. These days I am in the more enthusiastic camp. I like the idea that there is no real blueprint for the journey...only endless possibilities and a God who has promised to go before me and with me all the way (Deuteronomy 31:8). And because I am a part of the greater communion of saints - past and present - I have a community of people who love and support me along the way.
This journey without maps is the way of the person of faith. And what an amazing journey it can be if we simply surrender to it! My prayer for you is that you'll embrace it. Walk the path with holy confidence. Whether you find yourself simply closing another semester or actually graduating, just give yourself to the journey. You'll find a lot of unexpected things along the way. There are some things you can count on through it all: the hand of God to hold you, His love to sustain you, and companions for the journey.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Being is Desiring...
"Desire is often talked about as something we ought to overcome. Still, being is desiring: our bodies, our minds, our hearts, and our souls are full of desires. Some are unruly, turbulent, and very distracting; some make us think deep thoughts and see great visions; some teach us how to love; and some keep us searching for God. Our desire for God is the desire that should guide all other desires. Otherwise our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls become one another's enemies and our inner lives become chaotic, leading us to despair and self-destruction.
Spiritual disciplines are not ways to eradicate all our desires, but ways to order them so that they can serve one another and together serve God."
- Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey
I have gone through extended phases in my life where I believed (or was led to believe) that all my desires were wrong. This led to a false sense of fear and and overwhelming feeling of worry. This idea that all desires were wrong desires led to me to believe that if I was content or happy doing something, it was not of God. I got this warped idea that if it wasn't difficult, it wasn't the right path. These things are simply not true and not of God.
Our desires can be a really good thing. A desire to please God that permeates our existence will redeem and reorder other desires that are, as Nouwen put it, a little "unruly" and slightly irrational. The desire and the need for love and community and support is not a bad thing. A desire to make a lasting impression in the world is not a bad desire. Even the desire for another person is not a bad thing. When all of our desires come under our ultimate desire to love God and love people, they are generally good and most certainly of God. God does desire to give us "the desires of our heart" as long as those desires are in keeping with His one desire for us (Psalm 37:4). And what is that but that we know Him and make Him known to others? Far better than we do, He knows our heart's desires and what we need. Let us trust Him to guide us and, in turn, trust ourselves to walk.
Spiritual disciplines are not ways to eradicate all our desires, but ways to order them so that they can serve one another and together serve God."
- Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey
I have gone through extended phases in my life where I believed (or was led to believe) that all my desires were wrong. This led to a false sense of fear and and overwhelming feeling of worry. This idea that all desires were wrong desires led to me to believe that if I was content or happy doing something, it was not of God. I got this warped idea that if it wasn't difficult, it wasn't the right path. These things are simply not true and not of God.
Our desires can be a really good thing. A desire to please God that permeates our existence will redeem and reorder other desires that are, as Nouwen put it, a little "unruly" and slightly irrational. The desire and the need for love and community and support is not a bad thing. A desire to make a lasting impression in the world is not a bad desire. Even the desire for another person is not a bad thing. When all of our desires come under our ultimate desire to love God and love people, they are generally good and most certainly of God. God does desire to give us "the desires of our heart" as long as those desires are in keeping with His one desire for us (Psalm 37:4). And what is that but that we know Him and make Him known to others? Far better than we do, He knows our heart's desires and what we need. Let us trust Him to guide us and, in turn, trust ourselves to walk.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Unshakable Confidence
The title for the blog comes from a phrase I picked up from our reading of The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning. Those two words have been following me around for the last several days. I cannot escape that phrase - unshakable confidence - and everything it implies. To have a confidence that cannot be shaken requires a great deal of trust and belief. Unshakable implies that this confidence is unwavering, unchanging, unswerving, unflinching, immovable, and steadfast. All of these words seem impossible until we consider that our confidence comes from one whose love for us was/is all of those things.
Manning also shared this quote from Marjorie Kemp, "More pleasing to me than all your prayers, sacrifices, and good works is that you would believe that I love you." And I would add to that simply this: Believing with unshakable confidence that God truly loves us will always call forth love in our lives. We have not fully received God's love if it does not grow in us a desire to share that love with others. Love calls forth love...always.
Manning also shared this quote from Marjorie Kemp, "More pleasing to me than all your prayers, sacrifices, and good works is that you would believe that I love you." And I would add to that simply this: Believing with unshakable confidence that God truly loves us will always call forth love in our lives. We have not fully received God's love if it does not grow in us a desire to share that love with others. Love calls forth love...always.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Words...
In case you haven't noticed, most of the blogs posted here are inspired by other people's words. I have a deep appreciation for prayers and quotes from saints - past and present. I also like the occasional movie or television quote that makes me think or laugh. I am relatively sure I can call up a quote for just about any occasion. In fact, as I talk to people I often find myself thinking of quotes, verses, or songs that describe them (or what they are talking about at the moment).
All of this got me thinking that it might be fun for us to word-share. This is your opportunity to share a quote, prayer, poem, or passage that inspires you or brings you joy. Share anything (tasteful, of course) - sacred or secular.
All of this got me thinking that it might be fun for us to word-share. This is your opportunity to share a quote, prayer, poem, or passage that inspires you or brings you joy. Share anything (tasteful, of course) - sacred or secular.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Wisdom from Thomas à Kempis
"Love is a mighty power, a great and complete good. Love alone lightens every burden, and makes the rough places smooth. Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God, and can rest only in God, above all created things.
Love flies, runs, and leaps for joy; it is free and unrestrained. Love gives all for all, resting in One who is highest above all things, from whom every good flows and proceeds. Loved does not regard the gifts, but turns to the Giver of all good gifts."
- The Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis (1380 - 1471)
Love flies, runs, and leaps for joy; it is free and unrestrained. Love gives all for all, resting in One who is highest above all things, from whom every good flows and proceeds. Loved does not regard the gifts, but turns to the Giver of all good gifts."
- The Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis (1380 - 1471)
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