(copied from a blog entitled, "Stuff Christians Like". You should check it out, if you like humor and sarcasm with your faith! (If not, I would recommend NOT visiting this site, it has lots of humor and sarcasm!)) :) Enjoy!
I only shaved a vanilla Ice inspired “rap stripe” in my eyebrow once.
I only almost killed myself skateboarding once.
I only got busted by the police for shoplifting once.
If I think about it, there are a handful of mistakes I have only made once. But for the most part, if I am honest, I tend to boomerang a lot of my sins. I’d like them to be “one and done,” an action that’s undertaken one time and then forever forsaken, but often I come back for a second go round.
Like Paul doing the things he doesn’t want to do, I catch myself being a repeat offender. If you’re like me and that happens, you probably swallow two of the bitterest pills around. They’re called “By now” and “still.”
I’ve written about these before. “By now” is what you say when you feel like you should have reached some level of Christian maturity that seems to be eluding you. “I’ve been a Christian for years. By now I should know not to look at online porn.” And “still” is similar, it’s a word of shame. “I still struggle with lying. I can’t believe I still do! If I were a better Christian, I wouldn’t still do this.”
I wish I could convince you to retire those two phrases, but I’m not sure if that is possible today. What I am going to do though is remind you of someone else who struggled with boomerangs. Someone else who did the same thing you’re doing. Sinning, repenting, and then sinning all over again. You’ve probably heard of him before. His name starts with an "A" and ends with a “braham.”
I’ve been reading Genesis lately and it appears that in addition to being the father of a nation, Abraham was the father of a boomerang. It starts in Genesis 12, where God gives who is then called “Abram” a very impassioned promise that he will make him into a nation. Believing in that, trusting in that audible call, Abram leaves his land and sets out on mission. Next thing he does? He lies to Pharaoh about his wife because he’s afraid, bringing a serious disease on Pharaoh’s house because of the sin.
Whoa, lesson learned. Game over. We’re good. You’re God, I’m Abram.. Won’t happen again. God jumps in, gives Abram an even more detailed covenant in chapter 15. Actually puts him in a thick and dreadful darkness. Abram, completely down with God now, circumcises his entire household. Then he meets the Lord and three visitors who are on their way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. At this point Abraham talks God out of killing both cities if he can find 10 righteous people there. Crazy scene. God and Abraham are tight, right?
Nope.
Despite seeing angels and the Lord and the cities destroyed and the power of a most holy God, Abraham is a rascal and pulls the same stunt in chapter 20, telling Abimelech that his wife is his sister.
Abraham spoke to God multiple times. He witnessed God’s closeness and power like few people who have ever lived. He is arguably one of the most important figures in the entire Old Testament. And you know what he did? He returned to the same sin. He trusted the same lies and tricks he had used before.
But that’s not even the crazy part. The real craziness is what we see God do immediately after Abraham boomerangs back to sin. He smites him. He drops an elbow of death on Abraham that ricochets for the ages. Not really.
Know what the first verse in chapter 21 says? This is the chapter immediately after Abraham’s old sin of lying has been found anew. You know what 21:1 says,
“Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised.”
What? That makes no sense. No one and nothing in life operates that like. When you blow it still, when you haven’t learned your lesson by now, there is punishment and lightning bolts and the wrath of heaven unleashed. That’s got to be a mistake.
But it isn’t, in fact, because God loves you enough to be repetitive with his grace, he repeats that same exact scenario a few chapters later. You know what Isaac, Abraham’s son does in chapter 26? He lies that his wife is his sister. (Like father like son.)
And so you know what happens immediately after that? Here is what Genesis 26:11 says:
“Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord blessed him.”
Are you kidding me? The guy was a liar. The guy was a mess. The guy was repeating the sins of his father.
But we don’t get what we deserve. We don’t get what our actions have earned. We get grace. We get a God who rises to show us compassion.
I hope you’re not holding a boomerang right now. I hope there’s not a boomerang that’s swallowed your life whole in it’s awfulness, but if there is, know this, you’ve got a God who loves you. A God who can’t wait to be gracious. A God who forgives boomerangs.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
New beginnings
I am so sorry this blog has been so inactive for so long. I kept meaning to post...I would have something great in my heart or on my mind and I would think, "Oh, that would be a great blog post", but then life would get in the way. Time has a way of sliping away a lot faster than we would like for it too. I hope that you forgive my absence and that this year we can make this blog better than it has been in the past.
As I was writing this it dawned on me that this sounds an awful lot like what I say to God so often. Lord I meant to pray, I meant to read my Bible and devotion, I meant to...(fill in the blank here), but time got away from me. Every time I come back and say, "Lord please forgive me for my absence and help me do better this time."
So today I'm asking you to give this blog a second chance. Stop by, make a comment, keep me honest about updating it. And Lord, give me a second chance. Help me to make more time for you like I'm making more time for this blog.
Hoping to keep it going,
Michelle
As I was writing this it dawned on me that this sounds an awful lot like what I say to God so often. Lord I meant to pray, I meant to read my Bible and devotion, I meant to...(fill in the blank here), but time got away from me. Every time I come back and say, "Lord please forgive me for my absence and help me do better this time."
So today I'm asking you to give this blog a second chance. Stop by, make a comment, keep me honest about updating it. And Lord, give me a second chance. Help me to make more time for you like I'm making more time for this blog.
Hoping to keep it going,
Michelle
Friday, June 26, 2009
The birth of a butterfly
T
Top : One of the butterflies
Top : One of the butterflies
Middle: Moving of the crysalides
Bottom: The caterpillars (the orange stuff is their food)
(They are in reverse order, and I can't figure out how to reverse the pictures-sorry!) :)
So far all of our posts have been on letting down our masks, letting people see what's inside, and not hiding from our Christian sisters. Today I was praying and asking God to give me inspiration for my next post, and I heard something scratching over to my left. I turned around to see Abby's butterfly habitat and five beautiful butterflies flying around in there. And I just smiled...I love when God works like that.
Everyone knows how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. If you don't, read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle... ;) That's not the story I want to tell you about though. Here's how this story begins.
Abby had a pet last year named "Caterpilllaree". Caterpillaree, sadly, turned out to be a worm and never turned into a butterfly. So last summer, I promised her this summer she could get some real caterpillars and watch them turn to butterflies. As soon as it got warm enough, we ordered some and they were shipped right to our door. Five fuzzy, tiny, UGLY caterpillars. They came in a little jar with some netting attached to the top. They stayed in the jar for about 10 days and then they were supposed to make their chrysalides and hang from the top of the jar. During the time when they were making their chrysalides and for 24 hours after they made them, we were not supposed to touch them, jiggle them, or otherwise disturb them.
Here's where clumsy mommy comes into the picture. Sunday morning (about 12 hours after the last butterfly made his chrysalis) we were headed to church. We were in a hurry and when I grabbed my purse, I knocked the whole jar off the counter and onto the bookcase. Abby screamed and my heart dropped clear to my stomach. I just knew I had killed Abby's butterflies!
When we got home we saw they were all still attached to the top of the jar, so we carefully moved them to their "butterfly habitat" and waited. The butterflies are supposed to emerge from their chrysalides in 7-10 days. At day 9 I got anxious, at day 10 I got worried, and by day 11, I was in full panic. I had killed Abby's butterflies; I was going to have to tell her five more caterpillars had gone to caterpillar heaven; and I was going to have to buy more caterpillars in an attempt not to scar my child for life!
Yesterday morning, I prayed a simple prayer. "Lord, just let one butterfly emerge so Abby can see it. She's waited so long. Don't punish her for my mistake." I guess God knows exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. We went out for a little while yesterday morning and when we got home, the most amazing thing was happening. One lone butterfly was bursting out of his chrysalis...then another...then another...It was like they were cheering for each other to come out! Praise the Lord for small miracles!!!!
So, what does all this have to do with us, except giving us a feel good story? Well, as I stared at the butterflies I remembered how ugly and yucky looking they were when they were caterpillars-kind of like people stuck in their sin. We try take good care of them (witnessing, praying, etc.) and sometimes we just don't see the fruit of our labor. And then when we don't see that fruit, we start thinking about all the things "we" did wrong. (like me knocking over the jar). We start thinking, "If they don't come to Christ, it will be because I said ___ or because I didn't do ___" We start beating ourselves up and worrying and fretting about them not being born again. Sometimes we may even pray, "Lord, just let ONE make it!" The amazing thing is that it doesn't always happen on day 10, like it's "supposed" to (or like we think it's supposed to). Sometimes it doesn't happen until day 12 or 14 or 20. But, when it does happen, it is the most beautiful thing to see. God has made a butterfly out of a caterpillar and we got to help. And even though we thought we messed up, God still made something beautiful out of our mistake.
Praise the Lord God makes butterflies out of caterpillars, because I was once a caterpillar myself. And praise God that even though we our clumsy, He sometimes lets us help in growing that next butterfly!
P.S.-I hope this makes sense, it really was a true revelation in my head, I just don't know that I got it across correctly...
Everyone knows how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. If you don't, read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle... ;) That's not the story I want to tell you about though. Here's how this story begins.
Abby had a pet last year named "Caterpilllaree". Caterpillaree, sadly, turned out to be a worm and never turned into a butterfly. So last summer, I promised her this summer she could get some real caterpillars and watch them turn to butterflies. As soon as it got warm enough, we ordered some and they were shipped right to our door. Five fuzzy, tiny, UGLY caterpillars. They came in a little jar with some netting attached to the top. They stayed in the jar for about 10 days and then they were supposed to make their chrysalides and hang from the top of the jar. During the time when they were making their chrysalides and for 24 hours after they made them, we were not supposed to touch them, jiggle them, or otherwise disturb them.
Here's where clumsy mommy comes into the picture. Sunday morning (about 12 hours after the last butterfly made his chrysalis) we were headed to church. We were in a hurry and when I grabbed my purse, I knocked the whole jar off the counter and onto the bookcase. Abby screamed and my heart dropped clear to my stomach. I just knew I had killed Abby's butterflies!
When we got home we saw they were all still attached to the top of the jar, so we carefully moved them to their "butterfly habitat" and waited. The butterflies are supposed to emerge from their chrysalides in 7-10 days. At day 9 I got anxious, at day 10 I got worried, and by day 11, I was in full panic. I had killed Abby's butterflies; I was going to have to tell her five more caterpillars had gone to caterpillar heaven; and I was going to have to buy more caterpillars in an attempt not to scar my child for life!
Yesterday morning, I prayed a simple prayer. "Lord, just let one butterfly emerge so Abby can see it. She's waited so long. Don't punish her for my mistake." I guess God knows exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. We went out for a little while yesterday morning and when we got home, the most amazing thing was happening. One lone butterfly was bursting out of his chrysalis...then another...then another...It was like they were cheering for each other to come out! Praise the Lord for small miracles!!!!
So, what does all this have to do with us, except giving us a feel good story? Well, as I stared at the butterflies I remembered how ugly and yucky looking they were when they were caterpillars-kind of like people stuck in their sin. We try take good care of them (witnessing, praying, etc.) and sometimes we just don't see the fruit of our labor. And then when we don't see that fruit, we start thinking about all the things "we" did wrong. (like me knocking over the jar). We start thinking, "If they don't come to Christ, it will be because I said ___ or because I didn't do ___" We start beating ourselves up and worrying and fretting about them not being born again. Sometimes we may even pray, "Lord, just let ONE make it!" The amazing thing is that it doesn't always happen on day 10, like it's "supposed" to (or like we think it's supposed to). Sometimes it doesn't happen until day 12 or 14 or 20. But, when it does happen, it is the most beautiful thing to see. God has made a butterfly out of a caterpillar and we got to help. And even though we thought we messed up, God still made something beautiful out of our mistake.
Praise the Lord God makes butterflies out of caterpillars, because I was once a caterpillar myself. And praise God that even though we our clumsy, He sometimes lets us help in growing that next butterfly!
P.S.-I hope this makes sense, it really was a true revelation in my head, I just don't know that I got it across correctly...
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
"Perfect People"
This comes to us from Peggy Rayborn:
I heard this song “Perfect People” by Natalie Grant on the way to work this morning (May 28, 2009) and I thought it was so true. I wanted to share my thoughts with you and since I could not remember all of the words, I looked them up (see below) and discovered that I had misunderstood one of the words in the song. I heard the word “them” instead of “him”. This song talks about how we don’t want God to see our broken and scarred lives. We don’t want Him to see when we fall or when we are hurting. Although that may be true for those who have not given their life to God, I don’t have a problem with God seeing my not so perfect life. I know he knows my every thought; there is no hiding from God! I also know that I can turn to Him in my times of trouble and brokenness, because he already knows what’s underneath, there is no cover-up from God. There is no condemnation; He takes me as I am.
However, my thoughts were not on hiding from God, but hiding from our Christian brothers and sisters when I heard the song. Maybe that is why I thought the song was saying “them” instead of “Him”. I thought it was talking about how we hide our sins and our troubles from (them) our fellow Christian brothers and sisters. It’s true, we come to church with a smile, and we cover up what’s underneath. We don’t share our failures, our problems, and our brokenness with our brothers and sisters. I know you may be thinking -yes we do – we share prayer requests all the time. Yea, but for things like sickness, maybe even for financial problems, if it is because we have lost a job. Things that we think we will not be judged for. But, do we share that we have self-esteem problems, doubts about our ability to teach, our worthiness to serve, our ability to lead, our ability or failures as parents, our problems with our spouse or children or extended family. Do we share when there are problems of alcohol, drugs, or abuse, or do we hide because we are concerned we will be judged? It is so hard to be open sometimes. Believe me I know! There are times that as a pastor’s wife I have felt it best to not share problems and concerns that I or my husband or children have. People put their pastor and sometimes the deacons, or teachers on a pedestal – where they do not belong! Of course when you do this they will fall and they will disappoint you. Why? Because they are not perfect people.
When I was a teen, I and our entire church thought that we had the best pastor and preacher we had ever had serve our church. We loved him and his family, and felt so blessed to have him as our pastor. We had put him on a pedestal. But, one day I accidentally happened to find my pastor with another woman. Needless to say I was devastated. I could not understand why God would let a man who was obviously a gifted pastor fall and why I had to be the one to witness it? Of course, I now know he fell because he is just like the rest of us – not perfect. I also realized many years later when David decided he was being called into ministry that my past experience with my former pastor would help me understand my husband and his struggles as a pastor. What struggles you ask? To be perfect of course! He knows that he and his family are far from perfect, but do the people he leads truly understand? What do they really expect?
There are times that I have even counseled others to share their problems with a few trusted brothers and sisters and not to go before the entire church. Why? Because there are those who grace the pews of our churches with their presence every time the doors are open, (and I don’t just mean our church), who profess to be Christians, but do not have the love of Christ in their hearts. Instead of dropping to their knees in prayer with you, they can’t wait to spread gossip; they can’t wait to cause trouble for others, which causes trouble in the church. I hope this does not describe you.
If they only realized the harm they cause, if they could only see the number of people that turn away from a relationship with Christ because of their behavior. We are all human and there are no perfect people – only a perfect God. So, how can we change? Don’t judge others; instead seek for Christ to change you. Take time to pray, take time to read your Bible. It is the only way that as imperfect people we will be able to let the perfect God show through us.
Deuteronomy 10:12And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
1 Timothy 5:13
Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.
Philippians 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Natalie Grant - Perfect People
From the album Relentless
Never let him see you when your breaking
Never let him see you when you fall
Thats How We LiveAnd Thats How We Try
Tell The world you've got it all together
You never let him see whats underneath
We cover it upwith the crooked smile
but it only lasts for a little while
(chorus)there's no such thing as perfect people
there's no such thing as a perfect life
so come as you are, broken and scarred
lift up your heart and be amazed, and be changed
by a perfect God
yeaaa
Suddenly its like a weight is lifted
when you hear the words that you are loved
he knows where you are
and were you've been
and you never have to go there again
(chorus)Who lived, and died, to give you life
to heal our inperfections
so look up, and see love, and let grace be enough
There's no such thing as perfect people
YEAAA
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
lift up your heart and be amazed and be changed
by a perfect Godby a perfect Godby a perfect God
yyeaaa
by a perfect God
be changed by a perfect God
be changed
I heard this song “Perfect People” by Natalie Grant on the way to work this morning (May 28, 2009) and I thought it was so true. I wanted to share my thoughts with you and since I could not remember all of the words, I looked them up (see below) and discovered that I had misunderstood one of the words in the song. I heard the word “them” instead of “him”. This song talks about how we don’t want God to see our broken and scarred lives. We don’t want Him to see when we fall or when we are hurting. Although that may be true for those who have not given their life to God, I don’t have a problem with God seeing my not so perfect life. I know he knows my every thought; there is no hiding from God! I also know that I can turn to Him in my times of trouble and brokenness, because he already knows what’s underneath, there is no cover-up from God. There is no condemnation; He takes me as I am.
However, my thoughts were not on hiding from God, but hiding from our Christian brothers and sisters when I heard the song. Maybe that is why I thought the song was saying “them” instead of “Him”. I thought it was talking about how we hide our sins and our troubles from (them) our fellow Christian brothers and sisters. It’s true, we come to church with a smile, and we cover up what’s underneath. We don’t share our failures, our problems, and our brokenness with our brothers and sisters. I know you may be thinking -yes we do – we share prayer requests all the time. Yea, but for things like sickness, maybe even for financial problems, if it is because we have lost a job. Things that we think we will not be judged for. But, do we share that we have self-esteem problems, doubts about our ability to teach, our worthiness to serve, our ability to lead, our ability or failures as parents, our problems with our spouse or children or extended family. Do we share when there are problems of alcohol, drugs, or abuse, or do we hide because we are concerned we will be judged? It is so hard to be open sometimes. Believe me I know! There are times that as a pastor’s wife I have felt it best to not share problems and concerns that I or my husband or children have. People put their pastor and sometimes the deacons, or teachers on a pedestal – where they do not belong! Of course when you do this they will fall and they will disappoint you. Why? Because they are not perfect people.
When I was a teen, I and our entire church thought that we had the best pastor and preacher we had ever had serve our church. We loved him and his family, and felt so blessed to have him as our pastor. We had put him on a pedestal. But, one day I accidentally happened to find my pastor with another woman. Needless to say I was devastated. I could not understand why God would let a man who was obviously a gifted pastor fall and why I had to be the one to witness it? Of course, I now know he fell because he is just like the rest of us – not perfect. I also realized many years later when David decided he was being called into ministry that my past experience with my former pastor would help me understand my husband and his struggles as a pastor. What struggles you ask? To be perfect of course! He knows that he and his family are far from perfect, but do the people he leads truly understand? What do they really expect?
There are times that I have even counseled others to share their problems with a few trusted brothers and sisters and not to go before the entire church. Why? Because there are those who grace the pews of our churches with their presence every time the doors are open, (and I don’t just mean our church), who profess to be Christians, but do not have the love of Christ in their hearts. Instead of dropping to their knees in prayer with you, they can’t wait to spread gossip; they can’t wait to cause trouble for others, which causes trouble in the church. I hope this does not describe you.
If they only realized the harm they cause, if they could only see the number of people that turn away from a relationship with Christ because of their behavior. We are all human and there are no perfect people – only a perfect God. So, how can we change? Don’t judge others; instead seek for Christ to change you. Take time to pray, take time to read your Bible. It is the only way that as imperfect people we will be able to let the perfect God show through us.
Deuteronomy 10:12And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
1 Timothy 5:13
Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.
Philippians 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Natalie Grant - Perfect People
From the album Relentless
Never let him see you when your breaking
Never let him see you when you fall
Thats How We LiveAnd Thats How We Try
Tell The world you've got it all together
You never let him see whats underneath
We cover it upwith the crooked smile
but it only lasts for a little while
(chorus)there's no such thing as perfect people
there's no such thing as a perfect life
so come as you are, broken and scarred
lift up your heart and be amazed, and be changed
by a perfect God
yeaaa
Suddenly its like a weight is lifted
when you hear the words that you are loved
he knows where you are
and were you've been
and you never have to go there again
(chorus)Who lived, and died, to give you life
to heal our inperfections
so look up, and see love, and let grace be enough
There's no such thing as perfect people
YEAAA
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
lift up your heart and be amazed and be changed
by a perfect Godby a perfect Godby a perfect God
yyeaaa
by a perfect God
be changed by a perfect God
be changed
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Seeing good day
Bear with me a minute and let me give you a little background. Chuck's birthday was today and he turned 30 (I know some of you are thinking that's really young still, but that's not the point of this post, so stay with me)... ;)
I have been lying to him for months now. I planned a surprise birthday party for him and a surprise trip for a group of our friends. Hence all the lying. I found out two things in this process: 1) I am a horrible liar, 2) it's hard to lie. The second one caught me by surprise. I thought it was easy to lie. I mean people do it all the time, right?
In 1 Peter 3:10, God says, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech". OUCH!
It is much easier to tell the truth than it is to lie. It also helps your relationships, whether that is a marriage, a family, or a friend relationship. And it definitely helps your relationship with God. Oh, and it also helps you to "see good days".
So, what about it ladies? Do we want to see good days? Then we have to be truthful, with God and with each other. Let's start this week.
I have been lying to him for months now. I planned a surprise birthday party for him and a surprise trip for a group of our friends. Hence all the lying. I found out two things in this process: 1) I am a horrible liar, 2) it's hard to lie. The second one caught me by surprise. I thought it was easy to lie. I mean people do it all the time, right?
In 1 Peter 3:10, God says, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech". OUCH!
It is much easier to tell the truth than it is to lie. It also helps your relationships, whether that is a marriage, a family, or a friend relationship. And it definitely helps your relationship with God. Oh, and it also helps you to "see good days".
So, what about it ladies? Do we want to see good days? Then we have to be truthful, with God and with each other. Let's start this week.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Shunammite Woman
In 2 Kings, chapter 4, starting at about verse 8, there is an incredible story about a Shunammite woman. In a nutshell, she decided to feed the servant Elisha whenever he came her way. Then she decided to fix a small room for him to rest when he came her way. Elisha asks what he can do to repay her, and she says nothing. Gehazi, Elisha's servant, says, "She has no son and her husband is old." So Elisha calls the woman to him and tells her that she will become pregnant and have a son.
Fast forward several years...the Shunammite woman is happily living with her husband and son when the boy begins to complain of a headache. He gets very sick and dies. The woman takes the boy to Elisha's room, shuts the door and heads off to find Elisha.
The verses I want to focus on start at verse 25. Elisha sees the woman far off and sends his servant Gehazi to ask the following questions, "Are you alright? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?" The woman replies "Everything is all right." But when she reaches Elisha, she sings a different tune. She takes hold of his feet and begins to weep.
Why is it that the woman told Gehazi that everything was alright? If, in this scenario, Elisha is portraying God, and we are the Shunammite woman (with our hurts/anger/needs) , who is Gehazi? Is it the people trying to help us? Should we put on a brave face for everyone else in the world, (our Gehazi's) and only take our troubles to God?
I don't think so. I think Elisha represents a close friend in this story. Someone who can be trusted; someone who will listen to her needs, cry with her, pray with her, help her in whatever way possible. Gehazi, on the other hand, represents the people who we can't trust. The people who want to know what the problem is so they can gossip about it instead of pray about it. (If you read on over in 2 Kings 5, you will find out that Gehazi really can't be trusted and pays dearly for his dishonesty)
What about you? Are you an Elisha or are you a Gehazi? When you are the Shunammite woman, do you have "Elisha's" that you can turn to, or are you surrounded by "Gehazi's"? Will the Shunammite woman post her prayer request on this blog, because she knows that she has "Elisha's" working with her? Or will she say, "Everying is okay, Gehazi" and keep the prayer request to herself? My hope is that every Shunammite woman with a need/a request/an anger/a frustration will be able to post on here and ask all the "Elisha's" to help her out.
P.S.- Just in case you want to know how the story ends- Elisha goes with the woman to her house and helps to bring the boy back to life. Can we be Elisha's this week?
Fast forward several years...the Shunammite woman is happily living with her husband and son when the boy begins to complain of a headache. He gets very sick and dies. The woman takes the boy to Elisha's room, shuts the door and heads off to find Elisha.
The verses I want to focus on start at verse 25. Elisha sees the woman far off and sends his servant Gehazi to ask the following questions, "Are you alright? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?" The woman replies "Everything is all right." But when she reaches Elisha, she sings a different tune. She takes hold of his feet and begins to weep.
Why is it that the woman told Gehazi that everything was alright? If, in this scenario, Elisha is portraying God, and we are the Shunammite woman (with our hurts/anger/needs) , who is Gehazi? Is it the people trying to help us? Should we put on a brave face for everyone else in the world, (our Gehazi's) and only take our troubles to God?
I don't think so. I think Elisha represents a close friend in this story. Someone who can be trusted; someone who will listen to her needs, cry with her, pray with her, help her in whatever way possible. Gehazi, on the other hand, represents the people who we can't trust. The people who want to know what the problem is so they can gossip about it instead of pray about it. (If you read on over in 2 Kings 5, you will find out that Gehazi really can't be trusted and pays dearly for his dishonesty)
What about you? Are you an Elisha or are you a Gehazi? When you are the Shunammite woman, do you have "Elisha's" that you can turn to, or are you surrounded by "Gehazi's"? Will the Shunammite woman post her prayer request on this blog, because she knows that she has "Elisha's" working with her? Or will she say, "Everying is okay, Gehazi" and keep the prayer request to herself? My hope is that every Shunammite woman with a need/a request/an anger/a frustration will be able to post on here and ask all the "Elisha's" to help her out.
P.S.- Just in case you want to know how the story ends- Elisha goes with the woman to her house and helps to bring the boy back to life. Can we be Elisha's this week?
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Let Down your Mask
Can I ask you a question? How often do we walk through the church doors with hurts, burdens, anger, and fears? Probably more often than we want to admit.
Now let me ask another question. How often do we put on our "church mask"? How often do we smile and laugh and pretend everything is okay?
Ladies, it's time we took off our masks! It's time we have an honest relationship with God and with our Christian sisters! Once a week (hopefully...) we will post a devotion, a question, a statement, a testimoney, a quote...something to get us talking...something to get us to let down our masks. Our hope is that the ladies of this church (and others) will leave comments, prayers, or anything that God lays on your hearts. If you leave a comment saying you're hurting today because of xyz, someone else might leave a comment later that says they are praying for you, or they may say they are going through the same thing. Our hope is that through this blog, we can all be drawn closer to each other and closer to God.
***A few ground rules***
Please remember that this is a Christian blog. Under NO circumstances should there be foul or innapropriate language.
Please respect the opinions of others. If you disagree with someone, please be cautious in your return post.
Know that this site will be monitored. Every comment will be read and the moderators will remove any comments that they deem innapropriate.
***How to leave a comment***
Look at the bottom right of the screen under the blog entry and you will see something that says # comments (right now it says 0 comments). Click on that link.
It will say "Post a Comment" Post your comment in that box. Don't forget to put your name
(i.e. I'm praying for you today!
-Michelle)
Where it says "Comment as", click anonymous.
Click "Post Comments."
It's that simple.
We really want this blog to be a success, and in order to do that we need your help. Please, check the blog often, pray for each other, and, most importantly, lets all let our masks down!
In Christ,
The Women's Ministry Team of PBC
Now let me ask another question. How often do we put on our "church mask"? How often do we smile and laugh and pretend everything is okay?
Ladies, it's time we took off our masks! It's time we have an honest relationship with God and with our Christian sisters! Once a week (hopefully...) we will post a devotion, a question, a statement, a testimoney, a quote...something to get us talking...something to get us to let down our masks. Our hope is that the ladies of this church (and others) will leave comments, prayers, or anything that God lays on your hearts. If you leave a comment saying you're hurting today because of xyz, someone else might leave a comment later that says they are praying for you, or they may say they are going through the same thing. Our hope is that through this blog, we can all be drawn closer to each other and closer to God.
***A few ground rules***
Please remember that this is a Christian blog. Under NO circumstances should there be foul or innapropriate language.
Please respect the opinions of others. If you disagree with someone, please be cautious in your return post.
Know that this site will be monitored. Every comment will be read and the moderators will remove any comments that they deem innapropriate.
***How to leave a comment***
Look at the bottom right of the screen under the blog entry and you will see something that says # comments (right now it says 0 comments). Click on that link.
It will say "Post a Comment" Post your comment in that box. Don't forget to put your name
(i.e. I'm praying for you today!
-Michelle)
Where it says "Comment as", click anonymous.
Click "Post Comments."
It's that simple.
We really want this blog to be a success, and in order to do that we need your help. Please, check the blog often, pray for each other, and, most importantly, lets all let our masks down!
In Christ,
The Women's Ministry Team of PBC
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