EVERYWHEN

This isn’t a typo; it means “always” or “all the time.”

What comes to mind when you consider time? Maybe it's regret over the past; something that transpired that you would love to go back and change. Maybe it’s anxiety about the future and not knowing where your path is taking you. Or maybe it’s feeling disconnected spiritually in the present. God is sovereign and if we trust in His eternal presence, we know that He is in control of everywhen.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:18

So many of us get consumed by the temporary. Recently, my flight was cancelled and I lost a day of holiday, but the blessing is that God had a bigger plan and things worked out even better than what I expected. We get caught in the circumstance and instead of “considering it pure joy… when you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2 NIV) we forget that there may be value in what we could learn. Instead of “why” is this happening, we could reframe and see “what’s” being asked or tested of our character. When we shift our perspective, and fix on eyes on eternity, things don’t seem so bad. God always operates in everywhen.

In this world of constant change - I mean just watch the news for two minutes - Jesus is the unchanging anchor of our faith. His love, truth and promises remain constant and have across all of history and to the future. Politicians can make promises, leaders rise and fall, but Jesus told us, “…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

The beauty of God’s presence doesn’t have to be contained in moments of joy, times of worship or even unexpected crisis. He is with us everywhen; in everyday life. He is faithful. That’s what I need to remember all the time in the little moments of the day.

meraki

“Do something with soul, creativity, or love, leaving a piece of yourself in the work you do.”

Isn’t that what God did with each of us, besides every flower, bird, creature and landscape of nature? There is beauty within and without. The world looks through the lens of affirmation, popularity and culture. Our eyes become inflamed with the movie stars on the screen or the music or sports icons. We crave what lacks in us because it is a constricting form and deceiving enchantment. But God, shows us beauty beyond. Just look at heavens or stand gazing at a sunrise or sunset and you feel the power of beauty that reaches to your innermost core.

Then bring me the sound of a chorus of instruments, the laughter of children, storytelling of sages. I gaze in wonder at pieces of art or ponder the Word of God. The world bases creativity on a set of values, credentials and cuteness but God transmits his love with delight. As believers, we encounter God and are changed, blessed and loved. There is beauty in us. When we are in the company of those who display God’s love, we are blessed and it encourages us to want to share that same infection. Singing, fellowship, reading the bible and studying His Word are all ways to praise God and add beauty to our personal lives.

The most amazing beauty is the love of sacrifice. I’m not talking about Romeo and Juliet romantic love; I’m talking about humanity. Such a love was never, has never and never will be so powerful as what Jesus did on that cross. The beauty of that love is that is transcends human understanding. And that He rose again, is seated at the right hand of God and is going to return to this ugly mess we have created here on earth, is the beauty of the gospel. If you don’t know Jesus personally, it’s okay to ask him now to come and live in your heart to experience all the beauty He has for you. He’s knocking. Will you answer the door?

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

brush

I recently had the opportunity to enter a 53 word story contest using one word. That word is both a noun and a verb; has many connotations, elements of physicality, but also alludes to an advent scenario.

To quote Dr. Martin Shaw, “you can have a sacred experience out in the bush, but the second vulnerability is quite what to do with it on the return… the wild’s not the problem, it’s the return.”

During this Advent Season, I couldn’t but help think of Mary. Yes, Jesus’ mother - that Mary. She was a virgin who had a brush with the angel, Gabriel who told her she would become pregnant - the a brief encounter with someone or something unpleasant or notable - and that she would give birth to the Son of God. Reading in Luke 1:26-38, Mary was startled, but she believed and it came to pass.

Maybe many of us have have that sacred experience, but we fail to do anything with it. We pass it off. We leave it sitting out there where it happened. But some of us have mulled over our encounter and reflected, questioned and wondered - what does or could it mean?

When the birth of Jesus was announced by the chorus of angels, “all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them…” Luke 2: 18-20

After that night and as the new day dawned, smearing colors into the sky and a new hope for mankind, baby Jesus, like strokes on the canvas of the world, meshed hope and love. Every choice we make is the bristle, shaping the artistry of our lives. We are all portraits left unfinished, but God’s hand is the artist of our souls when we give Him our lives to paint. This season, may you have a brush with the Divine. Merry Christmas.

metanoia

What a ride! What a journey! What a life!

The quest of life itself, whether we are adventurous or not, takes us on all sorts of roads. The road of “hard knocks”; the road to success; the road “not taken” and yet all of us step onto our little path and enter the woods, never quite sure what lies ahead. Many lose their way, getting lost in the forest of dreams, lost hopes and “evergreening.”

But what about METANOIA - the journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self and even way of life? What if we discovered the path, the true way? The journey of a nonbeliever to a believer in Jesus is that transformational journey - metamorphous. The Greek word for transformation is metamorphóō. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul states that,

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

The first step on this life-long quest is repenting or turning away from our “all about me” to focus our love and energy into God’s plan. Next, we have to recognize that we can’t earn our way in this life. We need to be born again spiritually and realize that we are in the world, but not of it. Lastly, we need to spend time in prayer and reading God’s Word so we can develop a closer, personal relationship with the God of the Universe.

I don’t want to be content, just walking the path; I want to experience life. That means going a little deeper, going a little further and discovering what life has to offer and what God has in store for me. Maybe I need to listen better; care more for others or even change some bad habits. With the good Lord’s help, it is possible. It certainly doesn’t happen suddenly.

Moses went from prince to prophet; David from shepherd to king; Mary Magdalene from sinner to follower; and Peter from denier to devoted Christ follower. And so may our prayer be: God, be my way; Jesus, be my words; Holy Spirit be my protector and guide on this crazy, roller-coaster, bumpy road of life.

akimbo

She arrived in the wee hours of the morning, slipping out of her mother’s womb, “little droplets akimbo.” Perfect cherub features; my new granddaughter. This little baby girl gazing up at us so wisely has suddenly altered the universe of her “big bear brother” and “seasoned” parents. We are amazed at this new life.

As a baby, she will grow and mature, much like our life as a believer. Our new life is one of transformation - to be more like Jesus. As we mature in our faith and relationship with Him, we experience changes.

Recently Russell Brand, a well-known comedian and actor, emphasized that his journey as a new Christian is only beginning. He shared with an interviewer "a sense of excitement and eagerness to continue learning and growing in his faith.” As believers, we are called to grow, serve, experience God in our lives.

Throughout the New Testament, there are stories of men and women who were “reborn” into a new way of thinking; a new way of life; a transformation. One of those men was Saul of Tarsus. After Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection in Jerusalem, Paul was “breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples” and he was authorized to arrest any Jesus followers.

On the Road to Damascus, Saul was blinded. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4) Saul asked, “Who are you, Lord?”

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 

“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Acts 9:7-19

May the scales from our eyes fall; may we be filled with the Holy Spirit and may we have new eyes to see and believe.

INVIDIOUSNESS

The painful awareness of wanting another’s possessions or advantages is not an emotion we want to indulge in or a place we want to visit too often. We may gaze longingly at that object or desire to be in that position we feel we so deserve over another, but as Dr. Martin Shaw so explicitly says: “Envy’s a horrible motel to stay at. The pizza is cold, the air sour, there’s a party going on down the hall and you most definitely do not have an invitation. No one wanders down your end of the corridor. It’s a masterclass in smallness and distinctly uncreative.”

There were numerous moments in the bible when even the disciples were jealous of one another and were vying for attention; as we are prone to do with others.

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9: 33-35

And that is the juxtaposition of Jesus’ teachings. It’s standing at the door of the auditorium, hearing the cheers, toasts and praises, but know they are not for me. I am hurt; I brood and the medal will not be hung on my neck today. But oh, we are so greedy for the praise, the fame, the glory that we believe we richly deserve.

We look longingly at what others have. The illusion is that “the grass is greener on the other side” idiom that was spoken to us from years long past. We desire. We are envious, jealous and covetous. We even resent others. And that’s a dangerous thought to think upon. And so, Matthew 6: 19-21 tells us what we ought to do.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Where is your heart today?