Rindy's Devotional Tidbits
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The Spiritual Cafe is pleased to share her daily facebook thoughts. It is our hope that her reflections will be a service to you on your spiritual growth journey.
We will join Rindy as she starts year 5 of her journey to respond to God's call on her life. Her reflections will be updated on Sunday of each Week. This will give you seven new reflections to dine on for that week.
Week 26 Archives
Year 5; Day 177 Great Effort
One of the things that really touched me about my trip to the States this past spring was the effort people seemed to put into looking after me. From favourite foods (lime sherbet, Combos, curly fries) to gifts (books, Red Rose tea figurines, glass) to a genuine willingness to oblige (brother doing the newspaper crossword in Jo-Ann Fabric's while I browse), I felt the effort and love people put into accommodating me. Shawn Bolz made a similar statement in his series "Translating God". He said that God's concern for us turned into great effort on His part. He started us out with everything we needed. No trial and error. No learning curve. It was a fully loaded world from minerals and ores in the ground to seeds in the vegetation to resources for food, clothing, and shelter. And when humanity chose to disobey, God went to great effort to restore fellowship. He instituted animal sacrifices until Christ came to be our once-for-all sacrifice. He separated a people to Himself (Israel) who were used to give us His written Word and Christ's earthly family. He sent the Holy Spirit to help us until the return of Christ. God continues to strive with those who don't know Him even as He walks with those who do. His love for us exceeds anything we know because He loved us first and keeps on loving us even if His love is not returned. And that is only what I sort of know. He already knows my future and I can't begin to comprehend all the behind the scenes things that God does that we never know or even think about. His love and concern for us as people and you and me as individuals is demonstrated by the great effort on His part to bridge the gap between a holy God and a sinful, rebellious humanity. Too often we take that effort for granted. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!..." (1 John 3:1) Today is Monday. We are loved. I am thankful.
One of the things that really touched me about my trip to the States this past spring was the effort people seemed to put into looking after me. From favourite foods (lime sherbet, Combos, curly fries) to gifts (books, Red Rose tea figurines, glass) to a genuine willingness to oblige (brother doing the newspaper crossword in Jo-Ann Fabric's while I browse), I felt the effort and love people put into accommodating me. Shawn Bolz made a similar statement in his series "Translating God". He said that God's concern for us turned into great effort on His part. He started us out with everything we needed. No trial and error. No learning curve. It was a fully loaded world from minerals and ores in the ground to seeds in the vegetation to resources for food, clothing, and shelter. And when humanity chose to disobey, God went to great effort to restore fellowship. He instituted animal sacrifices until Christ came to be our once-for-all sacrifice. He separated a people to Himself (Israel) who were used to give us His written Word and Christ's earthly family. He sent the Holy Spirit to help us until the return of Christ. God continues to strive with those who don't know Him even as He walks with those who do. His love for us exceeds anything we know because He loved us first and keeps on loving us even if His love is not returned. And that is only what I sort of know. He already knows my future and I can't begin to comprehend all the behind the scenes things that God does that we never know or even think about. His love and concern for us as people and you and me as individuals is demonstrated by the great effort on His part to bridge the gap between a holy God and a sinful, rebellious humanity. Too often we take that effort for granted. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!..." (1 John 3:1) Today is Monday. We are loved. I am thankful.
Year 5; Day 178 Silent but Still There
I love it when I hear a thought or idea that I haven't heard before...especially a spiritual one. I roll it around, hold it up to the light of God's Word, and ponder on it. Shawn Bolz in his YouTube video series "Translating God" gave an explanation as to why God is sometimes silent that I don't remember hearing before. He said that sometimes God is silent to give us an opportunity to demonstrate our maturity in Him and to show what we have learned. God gives us an opportunity to take what we have learned in our spiritual life and apply it. Bolz also said that as we grow in Christ, our fruitfulness should be reflected in good decision-making. Kind of like a parent who steps back at various times and allows the child to make a decision based on what they have been taught. As we grow in our faith, we should also grow in wisdom and experience. In the book of Acts, Paul and Barnabas had done extensive travelling and spreading of the Gospel. Paul said to Barnabas, "...Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing...He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches." (Acts 15:36,41) God didn't specifically tell Paul to go but knowing the heart of Christ and the newness of the believers, Paul knew they would need encouragement and continued mentoring. I am thinking that if God really wanted Paul somewhere else, He would have told him. Sometimes we equate God not speaking loud and clear with He's not listening. When maybe He has just stepped back to allow us an opportunity to use our spiritual common sense. Today is Tuesday. I am not done thinking about this.
I love it when I hear a thought or idea that I haven't heard before...especially a spiritual one. I roll it around, hold it up to the light of God's Word, and ponder on it. Shawn Bolz in his YouTube video series "Translating God" gave an explanation as to why God is sometimes silent that I don't remember hearing before. He said that sometimes God is silent to give us an opportunity to demonstrate our maturity in Him and to show what we have learned. God gives us an opportunity to take what we have learned in our spiritual life and apply it. Bolz also said that as we grow in Christ, our fruitfulness should be reflected in good decision-making. Kind of like a parent who steps back at various times and allows the child to make a decision based on what they have been taught. As we grow in our faith, we should also grow in wisdom and experience. In the book of Acts, Paul and Barnabas had done extensive travelling and spreading of the Gospel. Paul said to Barnabas, "...Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing...He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches." (Acts 15:36,41) God didn't specifically tell Paul to go but knowing the heart of Christ and the newness of the believers, Paul knew they would need encouragement and continued mentoring. I am thinking that if God really wanted Paul somewhere else, He would have told him. Sometimes we equate God not speaking loud and clear with He's not listening. When maybe He has just stepped back to allow us an opportunity to use our spiritual common sense. Today is Tuesday. I am not done thinking about this.
Year 5; Day 179. Faith During the Silence
I have been thinking about the Shawn Bolz statement that sometimes God may be silent to give us a chance to exercise our spiritual maturity in making choices and decisions. We may equate silence with not listening or disinterest or unavailability when, if we know the character of God and we are in right relationship, it is none of those. A lot of chapters in Genesis are devoted to the story of Joseph. Yet, most of what happened to Joseph would seem like God-neglect. Betrayed by his brothers , sold as a slave, falsely accused of attempted rape, and jailed. But the dreams Joseph had in his youth convinced him that God had a plan for his life. Despite how it looked, despite not seeing the bigger picture (or maybe any of the picture), Joseph did what he knew to be right. As a slave or in jail, he did his best and made the most of his circumstances. He kept on serving God until God spoke again. When all was said and done, Joseph was able to see that God's silence did not mean He wasn't there. God was simply working behind the scenes, orchestrating events to bring a slave-boy to a position of wealth and power in a foreign land so he could save his family and continue the events set in motion for the formation of the nation of Israel. God may not have done much speaking, but He was engaged in a lot of doing. Sometimes God leads us step-by-step. And sometimes He may step back and allow us to apply the spiritual principles and truths learned from His Word and His Spirit. "Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me...I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!...But God sent me ahead of you to preserve...and save your lives by a great deliverance. (Genesis 45:4,7) Today is Wednesday. God's silence is an opportunity for us to grow while He continues to work behind the scenes. He is always there.
I have been thinking about the Shawn Bolz statement that sometimes God may be silent to give us a chance to exercise our spiritual maturity in making choices and decisions. We may equate silence with not listening or disinterest or unavailability when, if we know the character of God and we are in right relationship, it is none of those. A lot of chapters in Genesis are devoted to the story of Joseph. Yet, most of what happened to Joseph would seem like God-neglect. Betrayed by his brothers , sold as a slave, falsely accused of attempted rape, and jailed. But the dreams Joseph had in his youth convinced him that God had a plan for his life. Despite how it looked, despite not seeing the bigger picture (or maybe any of the picture), Joseph did what he knew to be right. As a slave or in jail, he did his best and made the most of his circumstances. He kept on serving God until God spoke again. When all was said and done, Joseph was able to see that God's silence did not mean He wasn't there. God was simply working behind the scenes, orchestrating events to bring a slave-boy to a position of wealth and power in a foreign land so he could save his family and continue the events set in motion for the formation of the nation of Israel. God may not have done much speaking, but He was engaged in a lot of doing. Sometimes God leads us step-by-step. And sometimes He may step back and allow us to apply the spiritual principles and truths learned from His Word and His Spirit. "Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me...I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!...But God sent me ahead of you to preserve...and save your lives by a great deliverance. (Genesis 45:4,7) Today is Wednesday. God's silence is an opportunity for us to grow while He continues to work behind the scenes. He is always there.
Year 5; Day 180. He Can Make it Right
Husband and I went to St. John's yesterday. We were listening to his MP3 player when a Bill Gaither song came on called "Daystar". I have heard the song numerous times and was singing along (more or less) when a particular phrase caught my attention about God. "You can take what's wrong and make it right..." Isn't that a marvelous assurance? Like with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They refused to bow down to the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar built. The penalty for a bowing refusal was being thrown into a blazing furnace. That was wrong. But how could God make it right? It would take any number of possible miracles. The musical instruments wouldn't work that were to call people to bow. The ninet foot high image would topple over, implode, or otherwise self-destruct. Maybe the soldiers would refuse to arrest anyone, the furnace wouldn't light, or nobody would see them standing tall as everyone else bowed low. Except none of that happened. S. and M. and A. were all arrested. At Nebuchadnezzar's threat they responded in unity, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it ... but even if he does not...we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:17,18) They staked their lives on the belief that God was able to make Nebuchadnezzar's wrong right. But if He chose not to at that time, their faith would remain intact. God always has a reason and it is right no matter how wrong it may look. My faith has never been tested to the point of death. I have never had to trust God to right a wrong so severe. But I believe He is able. And that is good ammunition to have. Today is Thursday. At some point, every wrong will receive justice. He is able.
Husband and I went to St. John's yesterday. We were listening to his MP3 player when a Bill Gaither song came on called "Daystar". I have heard the song numerous times and was singing along (more or less) when a particular phrase caught my attention about God. "You can take what's wrong and make it right..." Isn't that a marvelous assurance? Like with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They refused to bow down to the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar built. The penalty for a bowing refusal was being thrown into a blazing furnace. That was wrong. But how could God make it right? It would take any number of possible miracles. The musical instruments wouldn't work that were to call people to bow. The ninet foot high image would topple over, implode, or otherwise self-destruct. Maybe the soldiers would refuse to arrest anyone, the furnace wouldn't light, or nobody would see them standing tall as everyone else bowed low. Except none of that happened. S. and M. and A. were all arrested. At Nebuchadnezzar's threat they responded in unity, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it ... but even if he does not...we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:17,18) They staked their lives on the belief that God was able to make Nebuchadnezzar's wrong right. But if He chose not to at that time, their faith would remain intact. God always has a reason and it is right no matter how wrong it may look. My faith has never been tested to the point of death. I have never had to trust God to right a wrong so severe. But I believe He is able. And that is good ammunition to have. Today is Thursday. At some point, every wrong will receive justice. He is able.
Year 5; Day 181 Do Not Be Anxious...
"Do not be anxious about anything..." That is what Philippians 4:6 says. Don't worry. Don't be stressed. Don't be anxious...about anything. How exactly do you do that? Do you just say it and it happens? I am not going to worry and then somehow you don't. Is it a matter of sheer will? Great self-control? Mental discipline? The verse starts out by saying what not to do and ends with instructions on what to do. "...but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Okay.... Those instructions are pretty detailed. "...in everything..." Not just big things but medium and small too. There are no judgment calls, no gray areas, no areas of uncertainty...just bring "everything". That would set up a habit, a first response to life's curves and any other ball it might throw at you. And I am to do it through prayers and petitions covered in thanksgiving. That takes practise. It is not easy to be thankful when your heart has been cracked, broken, hurt, betrayed, shocked, shattered...whatever. Not easy but necessary. And I am told to bring my requests specifically to God. My heavenly Father. My heavenly Dad. He is the only one who knows all the details, all the specifics, and sees everything in context. The context of my life and the life of others. Plus, He already knows...already knew...already has the plan and purpose worked out. All this is easy to do but the actual faith to make it a reality...to actually believe and trust God enough not to worry, not to be anxious or stressed...that is not so easy. Today is Friday. Part 2 tomorrow.
"Do not be anxious about anything..." That is what Philippians 4:6 says. Don't worry. Don't be stressed. Don't be anxious...about anything. How exactly do you do that? Do you just say it and it happens? I am not going to worry and then somehow you don't. Is it a matter of sheer will? Great self-control? Mental discipline? The verse starts out by saying what not to do and ends with instructions on what to do. "...but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Okay.... Those instructions are pretty detailed. "...in everything..." Not just big things but medium and small too. There are no judgment calls, no gray areas, no areas of uncertainty...just bring "everything". That would set up a habit, a first response to life's curves and any other ball it might throw at you. And I am to do it through prayers and petitions covered in thanksgiving. That takes practise. It is not easy to be thankful when your heart has been cracked, broken, hurt, betrayed, shocked, shattered...whatever. Not easy but necessary. And I am told to bring my requests specifically to God. My heavenly Father. My heavenly Dad. He is the only one who knows all the details, all the specifics, and sees everything in context. The context of my life and the life of others. Plus, He already knows...already knew...already has the plan and purpose worked out. All this is easy to do but the actual faith to make it a reality...to actually believe and trust God enough not to worry, not to be anxious or stressed...that is not so easy. Today is Friday. Part 2 tomorrow.
Year 5; Day 182 Do Not Be Anxious Part. 2
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, bring your requests to God." That's what the Word of God says (Philippians 4:6). But how do I do it? How do I take the worries and pain and concerns and problems and issues of life and not be anxious about them? Not stress? I think it starts with faith at least the size of a "mustard seed". (Matthew 17:20) Last Sunday I heard a marvelous illustration of faith by Charles Price. He said that faith is only as good as the object in which you place it. Believing isn't enough. You can believe all you want that the ice will hold you up but if it is thin, it will crack and break under your weight. You can also believe that the ice won't hold you up. However, if you take that first hesitant step and then another, and the ice is thick, it will hold you up, despite your lack of faith...you just need enough to take that first step. It is not belief alone that holds you up. It is the object of your belief (thin ice/thick ice). When we bring everything to God, even with mustard seed size faith, we learn to trust the Object of our faith. We begin to build up a body of experience. Prayers that were answered immediately. Prayers that had delayed answers. Prayers that were answered differently (and better) than our expectations. Prayers that are still unanswered but not unheard. Our faith and trust in God grows. Our confidence in His character increases. With practise we learn to leave, let go, and surrender anxiety. And in its place God gives us something else. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (verse 7) We bring our anxious, stressful, worrisome everything to God with a thankfulness for who He is and He gives us His peace as a guard for our hearts. Today is Saturday. The Object of our faith is strong enough to hold us up.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, bring your requests to God." That's what the Word of God says (Philippians 4:6). But how do I do it? How do I take the worries and pain and concerns and problems and issues of life and not be anxious about them? Not stress? I think it starts with faith at least the size of a "mustard seed". (Matthew 17:20) Last Sunday I heard a marvelous illustration of faith by Charles Price. He said that faith is only as good as the object in which you place it. Believing isn't enough. You can believe all you want that the ice will hold you up but if it is thin, it will crack and break under your weight. You can also believe that the ice won't hold you up. However, if you take that first hesitant step and then another, and the ice is thick, it will hold you up, despite your lack of faith...you just need enough to take that first step. It is not belief alone that holds you up. It is the object of your belief (thin ice/thick ice). When we bring everything to God, even with mustard seed size faith, we learn to trust the Object of our faith. We begin to build up a body of experience. Prayers that were answered immediately. Prayers that had delayed answers. Prayers that were answered differently (and better) than our expectations. Prayers that are still unanswered but not unheard. Our faith and trust in God grows. Our confidence in His character increases. With practise we learn to leave, let go, and surrender anxiety. And in its place God gives us something else. "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (verse 7) We bring our anxious, stressful, worrisome everything to God with a thankfulness for who He is and He gives us His peace as a guard for our hearts. Today is Saturday. The Object of our faith is strong enough to hold us up.
Year 5; Day 183 Be Still and Know
Friday was a beauty of a day. We are dog sitting and when I opened the door to let the dog out, I felt the pull of the morning view. Even though it was only 9:00 a.m., it was warm enough to sit outside. The scene was so beautiful I told husband I was going out to sit in the presence of the Lord. The surface of the water was just a step below smooth---like a very fine stucco. The sunlight sparkled and danced off it and it was dazzling to the eyes. There was not a gull or a crow to be seen...or heard. Even the sound of the waves was mute. I felt my heart filling with gratitude to my Creator as I allowed the beauty and colour and warmth to fill my senses and sooth my soul. And my soul needed soothing. Someone close to me had received some unsettling news. I felt for them. I needed some wisdom and direction. I needed God's peace. "Be still and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10) And so I sat still and allowed Him to speak into my heart. I noticed the horizon. It was such a clear straight line. Like the meeting of a top and bottom or a floor and wall. I couldn't see anything beyond that line...no more sky or water or land. But I know that is not the end. I know there is more. There could be ships and oil rigs and whales and Greenland and Europe and plenty I don't know anything about. But I don't see it. And life is like that, too. We have a horizon line that we can't see beyond. We know things are out there but we can't see exactly what. Some things we can expect and imagine...others can catch us off guard. Us, maybe, but not Him. There are no horizons in God's vision. No limits. Nothing to block His sight. And so I sat there in the stillness and remembered that God is in control and I am His. Today is Sunday. He whispered sweet peace and I heard.
Friday was a beauty of a day. We are dog sitting and when I opened the door to let the dog out, I felt the pull of the morning view. Even though it was only 9:00 a.m., it was warm enough to sit outside. The scene was so beautiful I told husband I was going out to sit in the presence of the Lord. The surface of the water was just a step below smooth---like a very fine stucco. The sunlight sparkled and danced off it and it was dazzling to the eyes. There was not a gull or a crow to be seen...or heard. Even the sound of the waves was mute. I felt my heart filling with gratitude to my Creator as I allowed the beauty and colour and warmth to fill my senses and sooth my soul. And my soul needed soothing. Someone close to me had received some unsettling news. I felt for them. I needed some wisdom and direction. I needed God's peace. "Be still and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10) And so I sat still and allowed Him to speak into my heart. I noticed the horizon. It was such a clear straight line. Like the meeting of a top and bottom or a floor and wall. I couldn't see anything beyond that line...no more sky or water or land. But I know that is not the end. I know there is more. There could be ships and oil rigs and whales and Greenland and Europe and plenty I don't know anything about. But I don't see it. And life is like that, too. We have a horizon line that we can't see beyond. We know things are out there but we can't see exactly what. Some things we can expect and imagine...others can catch us off guard. Us, maybe, but not Him. There are no horizons in God's vision. No limits. Nothing to block His sight. And so I sat there in the stillness and remembered that God is in control and I am His. Today is Sunday. He whispered sweet peace and I heard.