SILENT NOT SILENCED

There’s a lot of talk about the treatment, or lack of treatment of women in the Bible, especially the New Testament where Paul resides.  I don’t find that true.  Some say women’s voices are silenced and see that as suppression.  I see the women, not silenced, but being silent.  Their witness of God is more like the witness of God through nature.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.  Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.  There is no speech, nor are their words, whose voice is not heard.  Their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the earth” (Psalm 19: 1-4).

The women in Jesus’ life are written about very clearly and respectfully; they followed him and loved him; they simply responded differently than the men.  Unlike the shepherds and wise men who responded to the birth by going out and proclaiming the event, his mother Mary simply treasured those things in her heart.  Unlike the other disciples who got caught up in power struggles after hearing Jesus teach, Mary of Bethany simply sat at his feet and listened to him.  Unlike the other disciples who hid together in an upper room after Jesus was crucified, Mary Magdalene tended quietly to his burial and went early to his tomb, enabling her to be the first one to see the resurrected Jesus.

There are more of these quiet women throughout the New Testament and in the history of the church; women, not silenced as some may say, but quietly making noise and an impact in the world.  These women are role models for me.  Their depth of love and commitment to God, to Jesus, and to the faith is heard loudly in their silence, and observed clearly in their actions of obedience, devotion, and adoration.

The Christmas Story

The Greatest Story Ever Told

It’s not about doctrine

It’s not about gifts

It’s not about finding my authentic self

It’s all about Him.

Be it a woman married to a carpenter

Be it a shepherd watching over his flock

Be it a wise man, a king from the east bearing gifts

Be sure He comes to all who watch and wait.

Open eyes, open ears

Open mind, open heart

Open soul, waiting still

Open and filled by God,

The fountain of living water.

A PEOPLE & PLACE PREPARED

The Christmas Story is about God coming to earth, the earth that he created, to dwell among people, people that he created.  He didn’t come here as one would think the Almighty God of all Creation would come, in splendor and majesty.  He came as an infant born in a stable, to people of no reputation.  He came to people who were in one way or another expecting him; Mary, waiting for the coming Messiah spoken about by the holy books, shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks but believed the words the angels said, wise men from the east who had been watching the star they knew to be a sign, Simeon, a righteous and devout man waiting for the consolation of Israel, and Anna, who spent years in the temple fasting and praying for the One who would come and redeem Jerusalem.

The advance promotion of this significant event was written hundreds of years before, in the ancient dusty books of law and prophecy.  The sign was a star in the sky, one of thousands that was easily missed, except by those with eyes to see.  The great angelic announcement was made to lowly shepherds to lowly shepherds out in a field far from town.

An insignificant event in the eyes of the world occurred that night; but to those righteous, devout, and waiting people the event of eternity had been revealed, an event that changed the world and the people in it forever.

This first coming of Jesus was to make a people prepared to dwell with God.  His second coming will be to gather those people and take them to a place he has prepared for them to dwell with God.  The ultimate end of all that has come before is that “where I am you may also be” (John 14:1-3).  From the beginning of time to the end of time it has been ALL about a loving God wanting to dwell with the people he created and breathed the breath of life into.

All that I can do is be like Mary and humbly receive this most treasured gift.

THE HOST IS PREPARED

God must have graduated from Waverly School.  My parents graduated from there and I went to first grade there.  Over the entrance door was a saying,

“Plan your work and work your plan.”  It has been a mantra for me these many years and helps me see things that have been well planned and things that have not.  My humble opinion is that God is an awesome planner, one who prepares well for all that he wants to accomplish.  That is why I think he may have graduated from Waverly School.

Before Jesus, God sent John.  “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a ‘PEOPLE PREPARED’.” (Luke 1:16,17).  “And you, child will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to PREPARE HIS WAYS…” (Luke 1:76-79).

John was sent to prepare the way for Jesus.  As Jesus was nearing the end of his time on earth he comforted his disciples by telling them that he was going to “PREPARE a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also”

(John 14:1-3).

In the end it’s all about being where he is; being in his Presence.  In his Presence all else fades; all my work, all my accomplishments, all my trying to be someone or something…it all fades and melts away when I am with him.

My preparing is really just being able to receive.

God prepares me to receive him.  Sometimes I get so wrapped up in preparing myself for God that I lose the focus of what I am preparing for.  Like Martha I worry and strive about the elements of hospitality and it makes me inhospitable.  Spiritual formation, deepening meetings, discipleship and stewardship are all fruits that will grow from SIMPLY BEING in his Presence.  He is the Host and he has prepared a place for us to be with him; now and forever.

“Cease striving and know I am God.  Relax, let go and know…”

COME & SEE

“And Jesus said to them, Come and you will see.”

John 1:39

The flesh sets boundaries; certain things are good and certain things are harmful.  The written word sets boundaries; certain things are right and certain things are wrong.  Boundaries are helpful as guides to right living; boundaries are harmful as walls of judgment and condemnation.  God made boundaries are rooted in love and produce freedom of choice.  Human made boundaries are rooted in law produce control of choice.  Inner boundaries of love and freedom of choice will inspire love and obedience; external boundaries of law and control will induce fear and rebellion.

I believe in the concept of discipleship that includes a sense of apprenticeship, a sitting at the feet of one wiser then me and learning from that person.  It was the Way that Jesus chose to seed what was to replace his actual walk on this earth, what came to be called Christianity and Church.  His Way was simple and pure; “Come and see.”  His disciples walked with him, lived in his Presence, and learned his Way of living life as God intended.  He never coerced, condemned, or controlled them.  He simply loved them and that love inspired and produced their obedience.

Love of God and obedience to God’s Way are the roots of what true discipleship is to be. As I love and walk in obedience to God and to the teachings of Jesus, hopefully others will be encouraged to “Come and see.”

Come and you will see

All I have for thee

I’ll give you life and set you free

So come and follow me.

Behold the precious lamb

Behold his nail scarred hands

Behold his tear stained face

Those eyes so full of grace.

He’s come to show the Way

To change our night to day

He’s beaconing to thee

Oh come and follow me.