I miss him. There are so many things I want to tell him, get his feedback on, hear his voice sooth my tears. I know he's gone and I weep a little weep every now and then. But when Skype tells me he's online, I can't help but wonder if he's playing tricks on me just to see me squirm. He did that, you know.
Okay, I'm not superstitious, I don't believe in zodiac crap, the local psychic is just a charlatan. I know in my heart that one of his family has turned on his computer and hasn't turned off Skype (log in when Windows starts).
But David was full of mischief. He kept me laughing for hours, partly because I loved to hear his voice and partly because he loved me as an audience. His favorite things lately were a penchant to turn TV and movies into Irish - "CSI: Fethard"; Star Trek: The Wrath of Dougal; Star Wars with Jawas who were from Kilkenney.
He was irreverent, smart and loved his fellow Irishmen with mixed emotions, but proud to be an Irishman and willing to fight anyone who thought he was "Briddish". I loved him so very much and miss being with him on Skype every day.
So I think the message from David is, "I love you, you're stronger than you think," and "This is only a computer glitch you silly cow!" I love you too, My David.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Monday, January 27, 2014
My David
It's been just about a month since My David
died unexpectedly. It gets a bit easier every day, but as someone
lately put into words for me, I still feel very much alone. I cannot
speak to him every day, I cannot run to him with my problems,
I cannot laugh with him when I watch something stupid on the telly.
But I know he is with me in my heart, and stays alive through my memories and love. I wish I could still share my grandbabies, my kids and my choir directing with David, but God knows best and I'm sharing all of them with Him now. My love for David will never end, but my love for My Lord is even more eternal. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
But I know he is with me in my heart, and stays alive through my memories and love. I wish I could still share my grandbabies, my kids and my choir directing with David, but God knows best and I'm sharing all of them with Him now. My love for David will never end, but my love for My Lord is even more eternal. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Holiness
Holiness is something that has always been slightly more difficult for me than for other people. Or, at least that's my perception. Yet, when I try to be "holy" I always feel somewhat at a disadvantage to the people around me.
It's not just the church people - I have a lot of friends and aquaintances who seem to just be good people. And there I am, cursing at the traffic or being critical of <everything> and wondering why I can't seem to get a real handle on things.
So when Pastor Les preached about holiness this past Sunday, I was surprisingly surprised.
Being 51 and a church brat, I have probably heard it all, or so I thought.
Here's a link to the sermon if you get a chance to listen to it:
https://ia801002.us.archive.org/35/items/02GodsPlanForAHolyYou/02%20God'sPlanForAHolyYou.mp3
One thing that hit me was his statement about people who know they're saved, who love and trust the Lord, but they can't seem to climb up to the next level of spirituality. He said it's about holiness. And I cringed.
Because I know all the right words. And the right things to do. And I know that Jesus is my Savior and I'm off to heaven when I'm done here. I know all these things. But then life comes, circumstances veer off into the oncoming traffic, and I sit and wonder why I can't be like everyone else.
To which you say, everyone else has their stuff too.
In any case, we're beginning a study in the Epistles of John on Sunday nights, and I'm kind of excited, because that's one set of books I haven't really delved into much. And the first thing that 1John says is, "I have seen it, I have heard it, I have experienced it."
I know "Try not, do or do not." But still I try. My prayers this week, along with kids and grandkids and extended family and David and how to pay the rent, are more like looking for victories, no matter how small.
I woke up on time; I have a job to go to and a bus pass to take me there; I got to spend some time with my younger granddaughter yesterday; I got to talk to David today. All things which help me remember that God is with me and I can be more of a glass-half-full kind of girl.
Step by step, I'm trying holiness.
It's not just the church people - I have a lot of friends and aquaintances who seem to just be good people. And there I am, cursing at the traffic or being critical of <everything> and wondering why I can't seem to get a real handle on things.
So when Pastor Les preached about holiness this past Sunday, I was surprisingly surprised.
Being 51 and a church brat, I have probably heard it all, or so I thought.
Here's a link to the sermon if you get a chance to listen to it:
https://ia801002.us.archive.org/35/items/02GodsPlanForAHolyYou/02%20God'sPlanForAHolyYou.mp3
One thing that hit me was his statement about people who know they're saved, who love and trust the Lord, but they can't seem to climb up to the next level of spirituality. He said it's about holiness. And I cringed.
Because I know all the right words. And the right things to do. And I know that Jesus is my Savior and I'm off to heaven when I'm done here. I know all these things. But then life comes, circumstances veer off into the oncoming traffic, and I sit and wonder why I can't be like everyone else.
To which you say, everyone else has their stuff too.
In any case, we're beginning a study in the Epistles of John on Sunday nights, and I'm kind of excited, because that's one set of books I haven't really delved into much. And the first thing that 1John says is, "I have seen it, I have heard it, I have experienced it."
I know "Try not, do or do not." But still I try. My prayers this week, along with kids and grandkids and extended family and David and how to pay the rent, are more like looking for victories, no matter how small.
I woke up on time; I have a job to go to and a bus pass to take me there; I got to spend some time with my younger granddaughter yesterday; I got to talk to David today. All things which help me remember that God is with me and I can be more of a glass-half-full kind of girl.
Step by step, I'm trying holiness.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
The New Testament - John 16-19
The New Testament - John 16-19
Did you know the Gospel of John has more chapters about the Passion Week than any other Gospel? I think John wanted to give everyone as much of Jesus' teaching as possible, and my oh my! wasn't that last week chock full of God's love for us!
He was also saying goodbye to His disciples. They were a motley crew, to be sure, but they had been His constant companions for the better part of three years. Jesus was a human being after all, with all the emotions, distractions, temptations and frustrations that I have. This is why John's Gospel is directed to all people - every single one of us has all of this inside us, and Jesus understands, sympathizes, empathizes. He felt everything we feel, and he hasn't forgotten it since then. He's eternal, He always was and always is and always will be. So no, God hasn't forgotten you, nor what it feels like to be lonely, angry, sad, happy, hungry, tired - you name it, He knows exactly what you're going through every moment.
John, at this point, is narrating pretty much everything Jesus taught throughout His ministry. When the Holy Spirit gave John the words, it didn't really matter whether he heard them at the Last Supper or the Cross or the Tomb. The words were the truth - The Word is Truth - and Jesus is The Word.
Chapter 17 is one long prayer to the Father for mercy - the strength to carry out what had to be done, and the love to remember who He was doing it for; basically everyone. Jesus' heart was crying out for mercy from the Lord. John 17 is a Master Class in prayer for anyone who has trouble with it.
Changing the subject abruptly . . . I really feel for Pilate. He's been sent out to the backwaters of the empire, relegated to arbitrating the endless petty squabbles of a people who believed themselves to be God's chosen ones. He doesn't want to get involved with this one - it's a religious matter, and Pilate's not about to stir them up even further.
Too late he realizes that these stiff-necked people are noisy, disruptive, arrogant and just plain rioting in the streets. "I have tested this man, I see no wrong-doing." Scripture says he was afraid. I believe Pilate was afraid for his own soul at this point, not just politically scared of being punished by Rome.
"What I have written I have written."
That statement tells quite a story, at least to me.
Five Weeks Later:
I apologize to anyone who has been reading this blog. It's been an eventful summer, during which I was settling into a new apartment, watched my granddaughters for a week while my son and daughter-in-law went on a cruise, organized and executed a Church Choir Retreat, helped at VBS and other numerous things. This past week, I've been sorting through several bags and boxes of quilting supplies one of my dear older ladies at church gave me; and my oldest daughter is on a volunteer medical/dental trip to Honduras. I'm a little distracted.
Suffice to say, I've been putting off finishing even this post. I have been reading my Bible in the mornings, tho - not every morning, I must confess, but doing my best to be diligent. I will update more about what I'm reading another time - I wanted to let everyone know that I haven't given up, and I know the Lord hasn't given up on me. Much loves.
Did you know the Gospel of John has more chapters about the Passion Week than any other Gospel? I think John wanted to give everyone as much of Jesus' teaching as possible, and my oh my! wasn't that last week chock full of God's love for us!
He was also saying goodbye to His disciples. They were a motley crew, to be sure, but they had been His constant companions for the better part of three years. Jesus was a human being after all, with all the emotions, distractions, temptations and frustrations that I have. This is why John's Gospel is directed to all people - every single one of us has all of this inside us, and Jesus understands, sympathizes, empathizes. He felt everything we feel, and he hasn't forgotten it since then. He's eternal, He always was and always is and always will be. So no, God hasn't forgotten you, nor what it feels like to be lonely, angry, sad, happy, hungry, tired - you name it, He knows exactly what you're going through every moment.
John, at this point, is narrating pretty much everything Jesus taught throughout His ministry. When the Holy Spirit gave John the words, it didn't really matter whether he heard them at the Last Supper or the Cross or the Tomb. The words were the truth - The Word is Truth - and Jesus is The Word.
Chapter 17 is one long prayer to the Father for mercy - the strength to carry out what had to be done, and the love to remember who He was doing it for; basically everyone. Jesus' heart was crying out for mercy from the Lord. John 17 is a Master Class in prayer for anyone who has trouble with it.
Changing the subject abruptly . . . I really feel for Pilate. He's been sent out to the backwaters of the empire, relegated to arbitrating the endless petty squabbles of a people who believed themselves to be God's chosen ones. He doesn't want to get involved with this one - it's a religious matter, and Pilate's not about to stir them up even further.
Too late he realizes that these stiff-necked people are noisy, disruptive, arrogant and just plain rioting in the streets. "I have tested this man, I see no wrong-doing." Scripture says he was afraid. I believe Pilate was afraid for his own soul at this point, not just politically scared of being punished by Rome.
"What I have written I have written."
That statement tells quite a story, at least to me.
Five Weeks Later:
I apologize to anyone who has been reading this blog. It's been an eventful summer, during which I was settling into a new apartment, watched my granddaughters for a week while my son and daughter-in-law went on a cruise, organized and executed a Church Choir Retreat, helped at VBS and other numerous things. This past week, I've been sorting through several bags and boxes of quilting supplies one of my dear older ladies at church gave me; and my oldest daughter is on a volunteer medical/dental trip to Honduras. I'm a little distracted.
Suffice to say, I've been putting off finishing even this post. I have been reading my Bible in the mornings, tho - not every morning, I must confess, but doing my best to be diligent. I will update more about what I'm reading another time - I wanted to let everyone know that I haven't given up, and I know the Lord hasn't given up on me. Much loves.
Monday, July 29, 2013
The New Testament in 90 Days - A successful failure - July 29, 2013
Yeah, so.
I started this adventure with so much enthusiasm. Unfortunately, it's me - attention-deficit, highly sensitive, possibly high-functioning Asbergers - and even at age 51 I'm still learning how to make things happen that other people seem to accomplish so very easily. Like a daily Bible study.
I even had a piece of paper printed out with all 90 days of readings - can't go wrong with that! I love lists, lists make things happen and re-focus me. Usually.
Given the fact that I was diligent with Matthew, skimmed over Mark and glanced at Luke . . . I started the Gospel of John this morning. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God."
I memorized the first 5 verses of Chapter 1 when I was a kid (in King James, of course), and I've never forgotten the words about the Word. It's my favorite passage in the Bible, I think. Even "The Lord is my shepherd" doesn't do it for me, although it's a lovely and relevant Psalm for most of my life's circumstances. And the Lord's Prayer is lovely, concise and applicable, but since becoming half-Catholic/half-Protestant, it sometimes confuses me whether there are those extra words at the end or not.
But John 1:1-5 speak to me of a real God, someone who is absolutely perfect and God the Son, Jesus, who lived and died and rose again just for me. Well, for all of us, but this is personal. Isn't that great tho? That everyone can make the Gospel a very personal thing?
I stand in awe that the actual Word of God, the creator of the universe who dwelt in our midst - that this same Lord knows me personally and loves me unconditionally.
I'm not always on target in my life. I lose focus so easily, get angry very quickly and lose sight of the big picture most of the time. Everything that happens to me seems to be personal and under the word "paranoid" in the dictionary is my picture. They really ARE all out to get me.
Not really, but some days my mouth gets me into incredible trouble and I wonder if everyone around me is hearing to all the crap that comes flowing out and judging me. I think I'm the only church choir director who lets out the (more than) occasional F-bomb. Don't tell my choir members, some of them are really old ladies!
I don't like not being in control, but that's what seems to be the way my life goes most of the time. Even when I make serious plans, everything else crowds in around me. I ask for help, God gives it to me, then I'm distracted by that shiny thing over there and I forget that I'm supposed to be letting God help me.
But the God of the Universe - the Living Word - the God who is More than Enough - He loves me. He will never leave me. He is good to me, no matter how everyone else is treating me - He is NOT out to get me.
I love the Gospel of John. Of all the Gospels, this one is the one that speaks so deeply to my heart. Maybe because it was written by Jesus' closest friend on earth, the man He trusted the care of His mother to when He left. John was not a perfect man - he got into trouble just like Peter, wanted Jesus to give him a seat at His right hand, was frightened when they took Jesus away, hid in the upper room until Pentecost - all of this is John, the one they call Beloved.
I am such a rotten Christian some days. I run and hide. I talk before I think. I can curse like a sailor given half the chance. I judge others on sight and rarely take the time to reflect on my own foibles. But God loves me. He will never leave me. He cries and laughs and picks me up when I fall. I am glad.
I started this adventure with so much enthusiasm. Unfortunately, it's me - attention-deficit, highly sensitive, possibly high-functioning Asbergers - and even at age 51 I'm still learning how to make things happen that other people seem to accomplish so very easily. Like a daily Bible study.
I even had a piece of paper printed out with all 90 days of readings - can't go wrong with that! I love lists, lists make things happen and re-focus me. Usually.
Given the fact that I was diligent with Matthew, skimmed over Mark and glanced at Luke . . . I started the Gospel of John this morning. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God."
I memorized the first 5 verses of Chapter 1 when I was a kid (in King James, of course), and I've never forgotten the words about the Word. It's my favorite passage in the Bible, I think. Even "The Lord is my shepherd" doesn't do it for me, although it's a lovely and relevant Psalm for most of my life's circumstances. And the Lord's Prayer is lovely, concise and applicable, but since becoming half-Catholic/half-Protestant, it sometimes confuses me whether there are those extra words at the end or not.
But John 1:1-5 speak to me of a real God, someone who is absolutely perfect and God the Son, Jesus, who lived and died and rose again just for me. Well, for all of us, but this is personal. Isn't that great tho? That everyone can make the Gospel a very personal thing?
I stand in awe that the actual Word of God, the creator of the universe who dwelt in our midst - that this same Lord knows me personally and loves me unconditionally.
I'm not always on target in my life. I lose focus so easily, get angry very quickly and lose sight of the big picture most of the time. Everything that happens to me seems to be personal and under the word "paranoid" in the dictionary is my picture. They really ARE all out to get me.
Not really, but some days my mouth gets me into incredible trouble and I wonder if everyone around me is hearing to all the crap that comes flowing out and judging me. I think I'm the only church choir director who lets out the (more than) occasional F-bomb. Don't tell my choir members, some of them are really old ladies!
I don't like not being in control, but that's what seems to be the way my life goes most of the time. Even when I make serious plans, everything else crowds in around me. I ask for help, God gives it to me, then I'm distracted by that shiny thing over there and I forget that I'm supposed to be letting God help me.
But the God of the Universe - the Living Word - the God who is More than Enough - He loves me. He will never leave me. He is good to me, no matter how everyone else is treating me - He is NOT out to get me.
I love the Gospel of John. Of all the Gospels, this one is the one that speaks so deeply to my heart. Maybe because it was written by Jesus' closest friend on earth, the man He trusted the care of His mother to when He left. John was not a perfect man - he got into trouble just like Peter, wanted Jesus to give him a seat at His right hand, was frightened when they took Jesus away, hid in the upper room until Pentecost - all of this is John, the one they call Beloved.
I am such a rotten Christian some days. I run and hide. I talk before I think. I can curse like a sailor given half the chance. I judge others on sight and rarely take the time to reflect on my own foibles. But God loves me. He will never leave me. He cries and laughs and picks me up when I fall. I am glad.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
The New Testament in 90 Days - Somewhere in July
Some
days I hate that I'm growing older. Usually I'm fairly happy being
over 50 and being called Grandma and knowing more about rock music than
most kids these days. And I can sing the Yogi Bear theme song
word-for-word.
But today I'm dozing at my desk, trying to get my work done, after a long weekend filled with the State Fair and my granddaughter's birthday party and cooking for the week and on and on. On days like this, middle age sucks.
So you can imagine how much I really wanted to get out of bed this morning. Because I have been keeping up with my quiet time. It's not so much a requirement to the start of my day as it is a blessing I'm totally missing out on if I miss a morning.
Ninety days is entirely too short to read the entire New Testament, not if you're going to get anything really out of it. So it's more like The New Testament in my own time, with some days not happening, and some days only one chapter instead of three; but with it sinking in just a bit more.
The Book of Luke presents Jesus the Man to the Greeks. Luke was a Greek physician, a Gentile, and someone who liked to put things down in order so they made sense. Luke also wrote the Book of Acts, and both of these chronicle the life of Jesus and events in the Early Church in relation to the era of history that surrounded them.
He gives a lot of facts and figures, being the rational Greek he was, and makes sure names of places and people are accurate. Luke also makes sure that Jesus and the Apostles are seen as rational, intelligent people who also accepted the miraculous in their midst and remained faithful to God. I like that. I'm an intelligent, if somewhat attention deficit person who likes patterns and habits and routine and explanations. However, I do accept that God made me in His image and that, being God, can make anything and everything happen in my life, sometimes without explanation.
I just finished up the book of Luke today. It's the same story as Matthew and Mark, just with a different twist to it. Like Robert Heinlein writing Pride and Prejudice. Same story, same characters, even the same setting possibly, but an entirely different view of things. Maybe Mr. Darcy is a Roman and Elizabeth is a Jewish girl but they both find Jesus in common.
Hmm, I may have to write this story sometime . . .
Meanwhile, I haven't given up on my quiet time. And God hasn't given up on me, not by a long shot. It's just that blogging about it has gone by the wayside the past couple of weeks. I'll be starting the book of John tomorrow, one of my favorites, and I think I might have a bit more to say . . .
But today I'm dozing at my desk, trying to get my work done, after a long weekend filled with the State Fair and my granddaughter's birthday party and cooking for the week and on and on. On days like this, middle age sucks.
So you can imagine how much I really wanted to get out of bed this morning. Because I have been keeping up with my quiet time. It's not so much a requirement to the start of my day as it is a blessing I'm totally missing out on if I miss a morning.
Ninety days is entirely too short to read the entire New Testament, not if you're going to get anything really out of it. So it's more like The New Testament in my own time, with some days not happening, and some days only one chapter instead of three; but with it sinking in just a bit more.
The Book of Luke presents Jesus the Man to the Greeks. Luke was a Greek physician, a Gentile, and someone who liked to put things down in order so they made sense. Luke also wrote the Book of Acts, and both of these chronicle the life of Jesus and events in the Early Church in relation to the era of history that surrounded them.
He gives a lot of facts and figures, being the rational Greek he was, and makes sure names of places and people are accurate. Luke also makes sure that Jesus and the Apostles are seen as rational, intelligent people who also accepted the miraculous in their midst and remained faithful to God. I like that. I'm an intelligent, if somewhat attention deficit person who likes patterns and habits and routine and explanations. However, I do accept that God made me in His image and that, being God, can make anything and everything happen in my life, sometimes without explanation.
I just finished up the book of Luke today. It's the same story as Matthew and Mark, just with a different twist to it. Like Robert Heinlein writing Pride and Prejudice. Same story, same characters, even the same setting possibly, but an entirely different view of things. Maybe Mr. Darcy is a Roman and Elizabeth is a Jewish girl but they both find Jesus in common.
Hmm, I may have to write this story sometime . . .
Meanwhile, I haven't given up on my quiet time. And God hasn't given up on me, not by a long shot. It's just that blogging about it has gone by the wayside the past couple of weeks. I'll be starting the book of John tomorrow, one of my favorites, and I think I might have a bit more to say . . .
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
The New Testament in 90 Days - Week 2.5
July 9
Mark chapters 1-12
Yeah yeah, I know. I really REALLY wanted to keep up with this. Not that I haven't been reading - I've been getting up faithfully at 4:30am and reading my Bible before I even shower or eat breakfast.
But the heat has only slightly subsided, and my laptop decided to trick me into believing the hard drive had crashed. I hooked up the desktop, ancient workhorse that it is (it even has an ancient monitor, weighs about 25lbs) and then the network card in that crashed.
Excuses, excuses.
Mark has been less interesting to me than Matthew was. I understand that the Gospels are all telling the same stories, but so soon after reading all of Matthew, it's hard not to skim through Mark.
Mark, however, presents Jesus as a servant, and really, it's Peter's narrative that Mark wrote down. Perhaps that's why there's not so many references to Peter's big mouth, probably because he was a little embarrassed.
And it doesn't start with the Nativity story. It starts when John is prophesying and baptising, which is also around the time Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John off their boats.
It seems to me that Peter is telling his own story, trying not to be self-serving and yet accurate at the same time.
The thing I really love about Mark, though, is the presentation of Jesus as a servant. In Matthew we heard all about the Kingdom and the King. but Mark tells of a man, who despite being the God of the Universe, was also perfectly humble and willing to go to great lengths for the people who surrounded Him.
In the context of service, Mark tells us that Jesus was continually hounded by the public, by the religious leaders, even by His own disciples. And He never said no, not really. God's perfect love, living as Jesus, opened His earthly heart to encompass everyone around Him. Everyone.
The rich man who didn't want to leave his possessions to gain the kingdom. The woman with a flux who believed that even a touch of Jesus' garment would heal her. The children who flocked around Him and even sat in His lap while He spoke to the crowds. The Pharisees who were trying their best to entrap Him - yes, He loved them, but He didn't put up with their nonsense. And of course, His disciples, especially the twelve very ordinary men whom He had called.
Sometimes I feel like all of the above. I'm trying to talk myself into turning off the cable tv. "But Lord, I need a place to rest my brain!" "Come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest" (paraphrase)
"I need a miracle Lord, I am growing older and less able to do all the things I used to. Please, can't you just take 20 lbs away, it'll do my back and knees so much good!" Don't wait for Jesus to come to me, just get on with what needs to be done, which is to touch Him as best as I can. He'll do the rest.
"Lord, you know the worship music at church does nothing for me at all - it makes me want to do exactly the opposite sometimes! It's just not spiritual enough for me." Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul, Dorinda. Don't wait to be led, just worship.
"God, I don't understand. You keep telling me you'll take care of all my needs, but my phone bill is out of this world, and the air-conditioning in the car doesn't work and I can't get to Ireland to be with David, nor he here with me. Why?" Because you aren't seeing the big picture, Dorinda. I AM. Worry about being with Me every minute of every day, and you and David will be together when the time is right.
That last one is the hardest, I think. As I've said before, I'm fairly well-versed (pardon the pun) in Biblical knowledge, but the actual application stymies me most days. "Lord have Mercy on me, a wretched thing whom you love unconditionally and lift up constantly."
Mark is full of Jesus being a servant, loving the people around Him, working to make their lives work, immediately as well as after the Resurrection and all the way down to me. I only hope that I can reflect that to all the people around me too, at least a little bit.
Mark chapters 1-12
Yeah yeah, I know. I really REALLY wanted to keep up with this. Not that I haven't been reading - I've been getting up faithfully at 4:30am and reading my Bible before I even shower or eat breakfast.
But the heat has only slightly subsided, and my laptop decided to trick me into believing the hard drive had crashed. I hooked up the desktop, ancient workhorse that it is (it even has an ancient monitor, weighs about 25lbs) and then the network card in that crashed.
Excuses, excuses.
Mark has been less interesting to me than Matthew was. I understand that the Gospels are all telling the same stories, but so soon after reading all of Matthew, it's hard not to skim through Mark.
Mark, however, presents Jesus as a servant, and really, it's Peter's narrative that Mark wrote down. Perhaps that's why there's not so many references to Peter's big mouth, probably because he was a little embarrassed.
And it doesn't start with the Nativity story. It starts when John is prophesying and baptising, which is also around the time Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John off their boats.
It seems to me that Peter is telling his own story, trying not to be self-serving and yet accurate at the same time.
The thing I really love about Mark, though, is the presentation of Jesus as a servant. In Matthew we heard all about the Kingdom and the King. but Mark tells of a man, who despite being the God of the Universe, was also perfectly humble and willing to go to great lengths for the people who surrounded Him.
In the context of service, Mark tells us that Jesus was continually hounded by the public, by the religious leaders, even by His own disciples. And He never said no, not really. God's perfect love, living as Jesus, opened His earthly heart to encompass everyone around Him. Everyone.
The rich man who didn't want to leave his possessions to gain the kingdom. The woman with a flux who believed that even a touch of Jesus' garment would heal her. The children who flocked around Him and even sat in His lap while He spoke to the crowds. The Pharisees who were trying their best to entrap Him - yes, He loved them, but He didn't put up with their nonsense. And of course, His disciples, especially the twelve very ordinary men whom He had called.
Sometimes I feel like all of the above. I'm trying to talk myself into turning off the cable tv. "But Lord, I need a place to rest my brain!" "Come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest" (paraphrase)
"I need a miracle Lord, I am growing older and less able to do all the things I used to. Please, can't you just take 20 lbs away, it'll do my back and knees so much good!" Don't wait for Jesus to come to me, just get on with what needs to be done, which is to touch Him as best as I can. He'll do the rest.
"Lord, you know the worship music at church does nothing for me at all - it makes me want to do exactly the opposite sometimes! It's just not spiritual enough for me." Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul, Dorinda. Don't wait to be led, just worship.
"God, I don't understand. You keep telling me you'll take care of all my needs, but my phone bill is out of this world, and the air-conditioning in the car doesn't work and I can't get to Ireland to be with David, nor he here with me. Why?" Because you aren't seeing the big picture, Dorinda. I AM. Worry about being with Me every minute of every day, and you and David will be together when the time is right.
That last one is the hardest, I think. As I've said before, I'm fairly well-versed (pardon the pun) in Biblical knowledge, but the actual application stymies me most days. "Lord have Mercy on me, a wretched thing whom you love unconditionally and lift up constantly."
Mark is full of Jesus being a servant, loving the people around Him, working to make their lives work, immediately as well as after the Resurrection and all the way down to me. I only hope that I can reflect that to all the people around me too, at least a little bit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)