Today’s devotional is a reading from Psalm 84.
Hear the word of the Lord:
How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise.
Selah
Happy are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
As they go through the valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
They go from strength to strength;
the God of gods will be seen in Zion.
O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob!
Selah
Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed.
For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
he bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does the Lord withhold
from those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts,
happy is everyone who trusts in you.
Blessings,
Ron
Psalm 84 - NRSV
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Just crazy ...
Today’s devotional thought was written by Angela some time back, and now seems an appropriate time to send it to you:
“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” I Cor. 1: 21
Being a houseparent at Westview Boys’ Home can be quite an interesting conversational piece. It begins with a statement of where I work and then it is followed with a brief description of what that entails. That is usually followed by a compliment of how we must be “special people” to do what we do, to which I sarcastically reply “Or just crazy”. Most usually agree with me on that.
What is it that is so crazy about our job? Is it the overwhelming schedule? Is it the boy’s “bad attitude” that is sure to come with the difficult transition? Is it his failing grades that seem to be a constant battle? Is it his hostile looks and his hateful words that are directed to everyone in his life that has failed him, but that seem meant only for you? Is it the dark shadows in his past that rob him of peace and manifest as anger toward everyone, namely himself? Is it the challenge, the joy, and the heartache of standing by as God repairs his crushed spirit and broken soul?
Or is the crazy part the knowing that with each interaction, each conflict, each hug, each tear, each mistake, each dream expressed, each hello, and each good-bye, our own hearts will be crushed and, at moments, our spirits will be broken seemingly beyond repair. But yet we find ourselves wanting to be nowhere else except “stuck” here in this glorious quicksand of God-like love. Love that helplessly draws us to these lost boys and, in spite of our fear that we could very possibly be crazy, we dare not let go. Even if at the end of the day, our only reason to hang on is because the message of Christ compels us to.
I said goodbye to a boy today. A precious boy. A boy that has stolen a piece of my heart and I haven’t a clue how I will find the courage to give any more pieces away. And I am convinced that I must be crazy to throw my heart into this process of raising another woman’s son for a time only to have to inevitably say goodbye. But then I looked at his picture that I have hung on my “wall of success” in the living room and realized something. He is no longer a boy, but a young man, and I am humbled to be a part of that growth. And even more mind-blowing; he is no longer a boy, but a brother. He has left here sealed with the Spirit and redeemed by our Lord’s blood. I wasn’t always prudent. I wasn’t always fair. Not once was I perfect. But I loved him. I loved him because it pleased God to entrust him to me for a short, wonderful time. I loved him because that was the display of gratitude and honor that Christ demanded of me and that that beautiful boy deserved. And I can only pray that the love I dared to show him will continue to point him toward the heart of Christ and towards the goal to spend eternity with our Father.
Was I crazy to take this job? Since day one.
Was I crazy to love so fiercely only to hurt so deeply? Absolutely.
And I am now convinced that it will be worth it every time.
Blessings,
Angela
“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.” I Cor. 1: 21
Being a houseparent at Westview Boys’ Home can be quite an interesting conversational piece. It begins with a statement of where I work and then it is followed with a brief description of what that entails. That is usually followed by a compliment of how we must be “special people” to do what we do, to which I sarcastically reply “Or just crazy”. Most usually agree with me on that.
What is it that is so crazy about our job? Is it the overwhelming schedule? Is it the boy’s “bad attitude” that is sure to come with the difficult transition? Is it his failing grades that seem to be a constant battle? Is it his hostile looks and his hateful words that are directed to everyone in his life that has failed him, but that seem meant only for you? Is it the dark shadows in his past that rob him of peace and manifest as anger toward everyone, namely himself? Is it the challenge, the joy, and the heartache of standing by as God repairs his crushed spirit and broken soul?
Or is the crazy part the knowing that with each interaction, each conflict, each hug, each tear, each mistake, each dream expressed, each hello, and each good-bye, our own hearts will be crushed and, at moments, our spirits will be broken seemingly beyond repair. But yet we find ourselves wanting to be nowhere else except “stuck” here in this glorious quicksand of God-like love. Love that helplessly draws us to these lost boys and, in spite of our fear that we could very possibly be crazy, we dare not let go. Even if at the end of the day, our only reason to hang on is because the message of Christ compels us to.
I said goodbye to a boy today. A precious boy. A boy that has stolen a piece of my heart and I haven’t a clue how I will find the courage to give any more pieces away. And I am convinced that I must be crazy to throw my heart into this process of raising another woman’s son for a time only to have to inevitably say goodbye. But then I looked at his picture that I have hung on my “wall of success” in the living room and realized something. He is no longer a boy, but a young man, and I am humbled to be a part of that growth. And even more mind-blowing; he is no longer a boy, but a brother. He has left here sealed with the Spirit and redeemed by our Lord’s blood. I wasn’t always prudent. I wasn’t always fair. Not once was I perfect. But I loved him. I loved him because it pleased God to entrust him to me for a short, wonderful time. I loved him because that was the display of gratitude and honor that Christ demanded of me and that that beautiful boy deserved. And I can only pray that the love I dared to show him will continue to point him toward the heart of Christ and towards the goal to spend eternity with our Father.
Was I crazy to take this job? Since day one.
Was I crazy to love so fiercely only to hurt so deeply? Absolutely.
And I am now convinced that it will be worth it every time.
Blessings,
Angela
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Letting go ...
Today we have the last devotional of Shiann’s “Shack” series:
Forgiveness is not about forgetting, Mack; it’s about letting go of another man’s throat.
I don’t know about your brain, but mine doesn’t forget things I’d like it to while it forgets tons of things that I want to keep. I do suspect it to be the human condition, but it is not God’s condition. God has the ability to forget or remember at will. He forgets because he chooses to do so. He forgives our sins and then doesn’t see them anymore.
I don’t forget the sins I have committed or those others have used, intentionally or not, to hurt me. Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation. Reconciliation is the fullness of the process, as discussed in a previous thought, but they are not the same. I repeat that for several reasons. When we tell someone to forgive and forget, we are telling him/her something that God does not command.
In the context of this quote, forgiveness is freeing a person into God’s hand. When I forgive, I allow God to pursue the other and allow my heart to be softened.
Forgiveness has a long list of “it is nots.” It is not reconciliation. It is not sweeping the wrong under the rug. It is not a discontinuation of consequences.
There are times that we need to walk away. We need to forget in the sense that we don’t allow things to hold power over us. We need to allow ourselves to forget enough to allow another the room to heal and grow. We need to forget by not using a truth as a weapon.
There are times when we need to remember; times when forgetting would compromise safety of ourselves and others. Remember so that we can learn and not make a similar mistake.
I hope you have the courage to forgive in the hard times. I hope you have the courage to allow reconciliation even when you don’t feel like it.
When you choose to forgive another, you love him well.
May you choose to love another well today.
Many Blessings,
Shiann
Forgiveness is not about forgetting, Mack; it’s about letting go of another man’s throat.
I don’t know about your brain, but mine doesn’t forget things I’d like it to while it forgets tons of things that I want to keep. I do suspect it to be the human condition, but it is not God’s condition. God has the ability to forget or remember at will. He forgets because he chooses to do so. He forgives our sins and then doesn’t see them anymore.
I don’t forget the sins I have committed or those others have used, intentionally or not, to hurt me. Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation. Reconciliation is the fullness of the process, as discussed in a previous thought, but they are not the same. I repeat that for several reasons. When we tell someone to forgive and forget, we are telling him/her something that God does not command.
In the context of this quote, forgiveness is freeing a person into God’s hand. When I forgive, I allow God to pursue the other and allow my heart to be softened.
Forgiveness has a long list of “it is nots.” It is not reconciliation. It is not sweeping the wrong under the rug. It is not a discontinuation of consequences.
There are times that we need to walk away. We need to forget in the sense that we don’t allow things to hold power over us. We need to allow ourselves to forget enough to allow another the room to heal and grow. We need to forget by not using a truth as a weapon.
There are times when we need to remember; times when forgetting would compromise safety of ourselves and others. Remember so that we can learn and not make a similar mistake.
I hope you have the courage to forgive in the hard times. I hope you have the courage to allow reconciliation even when you don’t feel like it.
When you choose to forgive another, you love him well.
May you choose to love another well today.
Many Blessings,
Shiann
Monday, August 24, 2009
Safety is not a right ...
Today’s devotional is from Shiann, and is based on an idea from The Shack:
“A child is protected because she is loved not because she has the right to be protected.”
This one was also difficult for me. We desperately want this to be false. In America, we live as if everyone is entitled to everything. As if there is a right for each of us to be free and safe and not hungry and respected and generally comfortable. We've fought over this in wars on a national level as well as gang fights on local soil.
However, was this something promised by God? I propose to you that this not a promise anywhere I have seen in the Word. If I'm wrong, please show me!
God gives no promises of safety or comfort on this earth. In turn, we cannot give that promise to others.
We can work to teach our loved ones how to make safe choices. We can provide as safe an environment as possible. That is the loving thing to do. Yet should we be surprised when our cherished one gets hurt? We can mourn and hurt for the other but to expect that "it shouldn't happen to me" is not the way God sees things. It is simply not reality. Again, it hurts and others may need to pay consequences for making hurtful choices, but we cannot assume safety.
If God were going to protect anyone, would it not have been His only Son?! Yet what happened? He says if they did this to me, the one who performed miracles, what do you think they'll do to you?
We are to rise above the world; love and respect and protect a people that doesn't love or protect or respect us. We are to show them the love of our brother, Jesus, who leads the way. He proves to us love can be returned when there is hatred, hope for despair, courage for fear.
One who stands on a right to be safe is one that repels relationship.
It is no stretch to state God's heart breaks when His children hurt. He allows us to feel the pain as well. Hang on brothers and sisters. Hold to Him as you live courageously.
Blessings,
Shiann
“A child is protected because she is loved not because she has the right to be protected.”
This one was also difficult for me. We desperately want this to be false. In America, we live as if everyone is entitled to everything. As if there is a right for each of us to be free and safe and not hungry and respected and generally comfortable. We've fought over this in wars on a national level as well as gang fights on local soil.
However, was this something promised by God? I propose to you that this not a promise anywhere I have seen in the Word. If I'm wrong, please show me!
God gives no promises of safety or comfort on this earth. In turn, we cannot give that promise to others.
We can work to teach our loved ones how to make safe choices. We can provide as safe an environment as possible. That is the loving thing to do. Yet should we be surprised when our cherished one gets hurt? We can mourn and hurt for the other but to expect that "it shouldn't happen to me" is not the way God sees things. It is simply not reality. Again, it hurts and others may need to pay consequences for making hurtful choices, but we cannot assume safety.
If God were going to protect anyone, would it not have been His only Son?! Yet what happened? He says if they did this to me, the one who performed miracles, what do you think they'll do to you?
We are to rise above the world; love and respect and protect a people that doesn't love or protect or respect us. We are to show them the love of our brother, Jesus, who leads the way. He proves to us love can be returned when there is hatred, hope for despair, courage for fear.
One who stands on a right to be safe is one that repels relationship.
It is no stretch to state God's heart breaks when His children hurt. He allows us to feel the pain as well. Hang on brothers and sisters. Hold to Him as you live courageously.
Blessings,
Shiann
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