Table of Olives

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

I wrote down a question in my journal the other morning about faith. I wondered if we are not living by faith, are we truly living? If every need is met, we experience unity in all relationships and we have nothing we are hoping changes, are we living or just self sufficient? Thinking through this question turned my mind to many opportunities. It is a choice I must make to have hope.

Maybe when we become more transparent with our hopes, we become more approachable. Doesn’t it always encourage your heart when you talk with someone who is choosing to have faith, expectant hope in the midst of hard things? Their life is not perfect, but their source of hope is. They somehow seem more alive and have peace to spare. Fear does not seem to be a word they know. I want to be more like that and I am telling God about this desire. Conviction comes to mind, settles into my heart and I feel much lighter. Yes, He will not stop working on growing me up. He is that good.

“And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.” Luke 23:45

The question popped in my head the other morning as to what tore my curtain? What event took down the separation in my heart between God and I, making Him approachable? Another way to say it, I guess is what changed our relationship from me knowing about God to trusting Him? It made me stop and think. The answer would be that it was a gradual tear, one event after another where my thoughts, desires, words and actions began to change. With each event the “false gods” I had depended on were taken away and each time I found God to be trustworthy and loving. Pretty soon the curtain was gone and the invitation to “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) became real.

One of the hard things about being a mom is knowing each of our children have moments in their lives where they need grace and mercy. They always have a choice to go with confidence to their Heavenly Father’s throne or cover their need with worldly things and damaging behaviors. We can lead them, but I am seeing that showing them is best. And each time they run to their dad or give him a hug, I catch a glimpse of the choice they will make as they get older.

Yesterday morning I was praying and telling the Lord how it feels like our community is in such a mess. Maybe you feel the same way too about where you live. What came to mind was this huge ball of tangled blue threads. Can we untangle what appears so knotted up in anger, fear and blindness to truly seeing people? You do not hold a knot up and admire it that is for sure. So what do we do? I did the only thing I know to do, I handed it to the Lord. He has been known to do the impossible. Thread by thread I watched, in my imagination, as each thread was sewn into the hem of His robe. The process was slow as most stitches are, but the result was beautiful.

I read the story of the woman who had heard about Jesus and thought if she could just touch Him, she would be healed. She reached out her hand in faith, touched the hem of His robe and was instantly made well. An idea came to mind. Maybe these tangled threads, when surrendered into His hands, can be used for healing. And maybe when we’ve each been made well and whole, we can tell others. Who knows? Maybe where we live will become known for a place of wellness because we know the source of healing. We have reached out in faith, with our tangled threads and watched Him do the impossible. And this I know with all my heart, when He heals, you are never the same. Praise God!

I was talking with one of the kids today and asking how they were feeling about school. Because of what I heard when he prayed, I wondered if he was feeling anxious. He said it wasn’t what was in front of him at school that worried him, it was what was behind him that did. He said it was the words spoken behind his back, that made school hard. We talked about what scripture says about things behind us and that was new to him. We talked about ways to stand up for yourself, without firing back with hurtful words that will only keep the exchange going. We talked about what was true. If something is said that does not match the identity God gave you, you let it slide right off.

I was thankful for this conversation because our community witnessed first hand this past week the power of our words. A few kids hurt many and the ramifications are big. I have wondered what it would be like to sit down with these kids and hear their reasoning behind their words. All words have roots, where did these come from? It could be these kids are insecure, not knowing who they were created to be. Immaturity plays apart too I would assume, but seeing a person as less than human has a source.

My prayer is that at this low point, that God will meet these young kids. This is not the end of their story and good will come. I know this full well. And we can all be reminded that our words have the power to speak life or death. Let us all choose life and never for a minute stop seeing people.

*mural by Amy Young Art

“Love is patient…” 1 Corinthians 13:4

Are some people born patient or do we become patient? Does waiting ever get easier? As a kid you wait for holidays, birthdays and summer vacation. As adults you wait for change, reconciliation or whatever should come next in life. How do we wait well and not lose hope? I am starting to think it is where we place our hope that is the key. Hope in a person becomes quite a heavy burden for them to bear. Hope in an object feels empty quickly. Hope in a place here on earth is not sustainable and grows old. So if it isn’t these, then what? It is to be placed in God, in love Himself. And the most remarkable thing happens when we hope in what God gives, allows and withholds; we become patient.

Next week I get the opportunity of asking the questions in Bible study. In preparation today, I read the scriptures we will be examining. It is so timely for the days we are living in. Read a few with me, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6). Take any issue that divides us and run it through this verse, not missing what our attitude of mind is to be. Our example is Christ, who we just celebrated His sacrificial death on our behalf. Are we willing to die to ourselves, opinions and all, for others? This is not easy to do for me on my own. I have to have the endurance and encouragement from God.

With so many points of division and opinions, I see an opportunity where we can be a beautiful example of humility, dying to our desires for the sake of others. Perhaps then maybe we can get back to inviting others into the Kingdom, leading the way with one voice and mind in glorifying God. Sounds a bit like heaven, doesn’t it?

“When the Chest of the Covenant of God entered the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, was watching from a window. When she saw King David dancing ecstatically she was filled with contempt.” 1 Chronicles 15:29msg

Our teacher challenged us yesterday in Bible study to not look out the window at other people, but look in the mirror. The concept is easy to grasp, but much harder to live out. Finding fault in others comes almost without thinking, but looking at the faults in ourselves becomes painful. Maybe that is why we avoid it. When I read this verse this morning, I found another woman that seemed to struggle with this very thing. She exchanged an opportunity of worship and celebrating for window watching.

When I choose to judge, it gives me a false sense of elevation; lifting me up above whomever I have put on trial. How much are we missing because of this lofty position? Who might we help, befriend, offer hope, invite into the Kingdom, worship and celebrate beside? Window watching is a place of isolation and division. Perhaps we will all get tired of the view and join in worship, for it is what we were made for.

What if we raised fearless kids? Can you even imagine the possibilities of who they could become and the things they might do? It is possible you know. I heard this statement, but wanted to verify the research myself. Did you know that there are only two fears, the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling, that we are born with? The other fears we collect along the way. With that being brought to light, how do we raise children without teaching them to be afraid? Even more challenging, how do we not transfer our fears onto them?

We can go to the scriptures and look up verse after verse on fear. We can read about people who should have caved in fear, but did not. What is their secret? How can we go another way, unlearn fear and find our way out? Perhaps it is where our eyes are focused. These days a headline can send us into fear mode, but where did this come from? Maybe somewhere along the way we lost sight of who is in control.

King David was very familiar with situations that could cause great fear and he penned words to help us refocus. “I will lift up my eyes to the hills- from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2). He is our help and we can lift our eyes, hearts and minds above the fear. If not, we will become dizzy spinning in reaction to all the fear opportunities that bombarded us everyday. If we spin, we do not move forward. I know this all too well. Sounds like a strategy right out of the enemies playbook, don’t you think?

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NLT

Today is the day after the resurrection and this verse keeps coming to mind. The concept of our old self dying with Christ, is hard to grasp, much less live out. Maybe one question we could ask ourselves in regards to this old and new life is who does the world see, me or Christ? If I am honest, you have seen much of me because I did not always choose to live “trusting in the Son of God”. How misguided one can become in thinking God would give his Son to die for our sin, but no more. Like he would just leave us humans to figure out this mess by ourselves. That is not the loving Father I know.

As we celebrated yesterday, I thought about Jesus leaving the borrowed tomb and his grave clothes too. What if we asked the Lord what old self still remains that needs to be left behind? After all, we are loved, our sins are forgiven and we have been given a new life. We are free to live loved and whole. What keeps us from trusting His love and death? For me, I would say I was asking the wrongs things to give me life. What would you say keeps you from living?

Today we celebrate Good Friday, the day Jesus died on the cross. Knowing the Resurrection did indeed happen on Sunday, does not change the significance of this day, but I have missed it so many times. This year feels different. The weight of the day is real. My mind keeps dwelling on the helplessness of those that watched who love him. Maybe you know that feeling too, of watching someone you love suffer. Will there ever be a good day again? On this side of suffering, I can say with all honesty, yes, there will be many.

I am learning suffering does not need to be qualified or compared; it is not a contest any of us wants to win. It is part of being a human and something we all have in common. Perhaps the difference is what we do with what we now know because of the suffering, a decision each must make.

Maybe today if you know someone in the middle of their Friday, you can give the gift of listening and offer the reassurance that Sunday will come. Each experience is different and a good friend knows this too. When the room feels dark, a gentle word or even silence, cast a soft light, almost like a candle. May the Lord use our glow from suffering to bring him glory this Easter weekend.