Vision Blockers

Thoughts taken from (and added to) a recent newsletter.... 

Lately I've been plowing through the issue of cloudy vision. Without clear vision we just go through life aimlessly and without true growth or direction. Our efforts are either misdirected and we end up somewhere completely different than what we thought we were aiming for, or are blocked and we find ourselves in relatively the same position as before. Either is a sad dilemma. I know I have definitely experienced both but at the moment for me it's more of the block. And it's not a block prohibiting forward movement in the natural but rather a hindrance in moving forward in the spiritual which THEN affects the natural as well. Everything is connected, ya know.

So what clouds our vision? Blocks our path? Inhibits us from seeing what is truly going on and then addressing the real problem? These are vital questions because, I believe, the enemy would love to have us running around wasting all our energy on something that isn't the REAL problem. If you address something not the issue then you'll never solve the real problem, you'll just have an answer for a question no one ever asked. And that would be sad.

So what blocks us? Well for my situation I found more than a few answers that all can fit in some way or combination. "Judging" was the first to be found. (It kind of came to me like a lightning bolt to the head....rather obvious, I guess.) When I judge others I block the way of mercy to come into my life (because mercy triumphs over judgment and you can't have mercy in the presence of judgment. You either walk in mercy OR you walk in judgment. No sitting on the fence on that one. And trust me, mercy is always better.). I need to get rid of my critical/judgmental eyes and thoughts before I can see clearly into what God is doing in my life and around me. 

"Fear", "Doubt", and "Unbelief" also blocks vision. When I have any of these spirits in me, my eyes have turned from being focused on God and are instead focused on them, my problems, or simply myself. As soon as I take my eyes and trust off God or look to Him through a filter of fear, doubt, and unbelief, any vision from Him (vision/direction that He gives me) also gets clouded with the fear, doubt, and unbelief, and the result is that confusion abounds. We then run around like chickens with our heads cut off on Doomsday unable to see what is going on and having no clue how to interpret what is going on. 

It's definitely time for "judging" and all it's buddies to hit the road, I do believe. I'd rather see clearly and tackle the real issues at hand head-on. So let's cut through the curtain (whatever guise it has on) which is most certainly based on pride, and learn to see in the Spirit with all clarity.

Peace. 

There is always hope...

Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for your because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you....

...Nothing is compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? 

I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland...Yes, I will make rives in the dry wasteland so my chose people can be refreshed...

...For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants and my blessing on your children.


Peace.                                                                               Isaiah 43:1-4, 18-20, 44:3

Adventures in...

...the produce business. I must say the only downside to my produce job is the looming question that comes to the forefront at the start of every Wednesday: what rotten produce am I going to be met with today? The pungent odors of mushy rotten and oddly colored tomatoes and red peppers and fuzzy squash and cucumbers are enough to make you forget you ever liked vegetables. Gross! Why must I deal with these, you ask? Well, the leftover produce from Saturday would be dealt with sooner but on Wednesdays, several people from church go down town and pass out food to those in a rough neighborhood. Go Local donates it's leftovers...after I sort through all the grossness of course. Looking at it and picking it out, yes, even touching it (with gloves) would not be too bad if I didn't have to smell it. But then on Fridays the cycle starts again and I am blessed to smell all the fresh new fruits and veg and Wednesdays are soon forgotten. Unless they make a good story. 

...on the road bike. I know I have to apologize to my bike when I attach the air pump and the pressure gauge says 40psi! It's supposed to be 100 and if it gets as low as 40 you can tell I haven't been riding it in a very long time. So something came over me as I set out and instead of doing my normal ride on Buffoloe Road I turned and went... somewhere. Had no clue where I was going and finally came out on a busy road; not this biker's fave. I decided to go straight as to not merge on the traffic-ridden highway but soon realized it was a truck access road. Bummer. Back to the big road. I would have just gone back the way I came but with no car to trip the sensor I thought I'd give it a go and try to make a U-turn up the way. It eventually happened and I finally got back to where I started, but it was not a leisure, care-free ride by any means. Amazing how some cars give you a mile of space and others a foot. Guess it makes you work on riding in a straight line so you don't get mowed over by a dump truck. Ha.

Peace.

Disappointment & Excitement All in One

Today I cooked up some eggplant, of the NC Machiaw variety, and it tasted like fish. Now, I like fish, but this was disgusting and a bit discomforting. Definitely not what I was expecting. Next time I will stick to the other kinds I think.

On a happier note I get to board a plane in about 15 hours to venture north to the homeland again. Quite excited, to the point of dancing when I think about it.


Peace.

The Beatitudes

Currently, I'm reading The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey; recommended to me by a friend, which I now recommend to anyone else. Part one gives context to Jesus' time on earth explaining Jewish traditions and why Jesus would've acted in a certain way or done certain things. Now I'm on Part two which is one why Jesus came in the first place, what His message was, etc.

So we begin with the Beatitudes. I don't think I have thought of the Beatitudes lately at all. The Sermon on the Mount, I find, is the core message of Christ; the teachings here lay the foundation of everything that God wants us to know, understand, and live out. This is His true heart. Yet I can't remember the last time I contemplated "blessed are the poor in heart." And what does that even mean? It's sad that when a concept is out of my realm of understanding I often shy away from digging to find meaning....because that would be too hard now wouldn't it? So often these days, the message I hear is "the favor of God, the favor of God, the favor of God" as if life is now to be easy once you tap into the correct theology. Now I totally believe and have experienced the unmerited favor of the Lord, but can we be falling into one extreme and forgetting the other side of balance?

No doubt the Beatitudes is a hard message to swallow anyway, but place it next to the "teachings" of the world and one's mind swims. The world screams, "Blessed are those who work hard, get ahead, are successful, etc"   
J.B. Philips rendered the Beatitudes that apply in the kingdom of this world:
Happy are the "pushers": for they get on in the world.
Happy are the hard-bioled: for they never let life hurt them.
Happy are they who complain: for they get their own way in the end.
Happy are the blase: for they never worry over their sins.
Happy are the slave-drivers: for they get results.
Happy are the knowledgeable men of the world: for they know their way around.
Happy are the trouble-makers: for they make people take notice of them.

How true is that! I can see that all over our culture and especially having studied Business, it feels like these worldy "Beatitudes" are just accepted as principle. If you want to fully participate in society you must follow these rules, and if you don't you won't last very long. Jesus on the other hand teaches, "Blessed are the losers and those who are grieving a loss. How lucky are the unlucky! Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the desperate, the persecuted, the hungry, the thirsty, the down-and-out, the ridiculous." It doesn't make much sense to me, but if this is the group of people who God delights to bless then I know I am blessed beyond compare!!


"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."


God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of GOd.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for doing right, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. 
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

It's all about the heart.

Compilation

On my delivery drive today I passed a church sign that said, "Hell is hotter than this Sunday worship." I didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or just pray. Must admit I am rather confused; is this a good thing? This makes me think that their Sunday worship is a bucnh of monotone singers putting the congregation to sleep with their songs of perhaps good words and meaning but no heart, soul, or spirit. What has worship come to? I definitely want my worship to be hotter than hell. We are supposed to be one with God who is the all-consuming fire which I imagine is rather hot. Can anything be hotter? I doubt it. Therefore, MY God is hotter than hell. So there.

God=hot. Hell=not.

Today our delicious produce package included sprite melons which I had never tried before. I was somewhat wary because I dispise honeydew and cantelope, but this was a sweeter melon and, as the discription said, with a slight pear flavor.

Got the news this week that my sister will be going to Toronto to do the school that I did last year!!!! I am so so so so very excited and, of course, extremely proud. Can't believe that it was only a year ago that I was there. Sending her off makes me miss it and wish I could go back and live in an unattractive building with questionable food but with 50 other passionate young people crazy about the Holy Spirit and not worry about anything "real life". To each time a season, I know. It was great and now is too. It's going to be awesome to see her transformed under the intimate love of Abba!! Yay yay yay!

Speaking of my fabulous sister, tomorrow is her birthday and I get to see her on Wednesday!!! Get to go to Indy for a week and I'm stoked, especially to go to church. Last time I was there I missed out, but not this time! Looking forward to some lovely birthday celebrations, raspberry picking, and family time.

Peace.

All things work together

God is amazing...whenever I take the time to think about life in a wider scope I marvel every time at how God orchestrates things and causes all things to work for my good. Because He loves me.

Just think about it...about five months ago I moved to Raleigh knowing next to no one and went without a job for three months. Now, because I stepped out in the direction I knew He was pointing me (though seeing not much of the path beneath me) and He lined up everything else I have two reputable job titles that I would be pleased to put on my resume and I'm in two positions that I both love and learn from. Not to mention it will be nice to have an income where I can pay for food, bills, debts, etc. Sweet.

And I know it's not all about the resume and honestly I would be happy never to have to use one again, but being a business student who had to compile one for every class and had its "importance" pounded in my head, it's nice to know I am strengthening it as I go. Cool how God knows what is important to us and likes to bless us in those ways as well.

Peace.