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.
Week 6 Archives
Year 5; Day 36 At A Distance
Last week the pastor preached on Matthew 26:58; "But Peter followed him at a distance right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome." The context was Jesus arrest after his betrayal by Judas. All the disciples fled and now Peter has followed "at a distance" to see what will happen. This is the same man who only hours before had declared his undying loyalty to Christ. But fear and weakness got the better of Peter and instead of being at Christ's side, he "followed at a distance". The Beth Moore Bible study has caused me to think about other reasons why I, and perhaps others, might try and follow Christ "at a distance". Sometimes we hang back because we don't know a person well enough. There isn't a lot of interest because there isn't much knowledge. We haven't been introduced. I had no idea who Vivian Maier was before I watched the documentary on her life. But that documentary, that introduction, made me want to know her better. I would definitely go to an exhibit of her photographic works now. It is harder to stay back as you get to know someone. The more we know Christ, the more we want to know. The distance shrinks as the relationship deepens. Sometimes we keep our distance because we fancy ourselves "observers" of life. Bystanders. Non-participants. We just want to watch. And so we keep ourselves "at a distance" so we can't be easily involved...easily chosen...easily engaged. But that wasn't Christ's way. He mingled and joined in and reached out and touched. So will we as we become more like Him. Perhaps we stay back because we haven't made up our minds yet. We can't make up our minds at a distance. Christ and His transforming power has to be experienced. It is not a long distance relationship but one that is up close and personal. Peter's "distance" led to three denials of even knowing Christ. When he realized what he had done, Peter, "...went outside and wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:75) Was that the end of Peter? No. His repentant sorrow allowed him to come close again. Today is Sunday. If distance has separated us from Christ, He will wait for us to catch up.
Last week the pastor preached on Matthew 26:58; "But Peter followed him at a distance right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome." The context was Jesus arrest after his betrayal by Judas. All the disciples fled and now Peter has followed "at a distance" to see what will happen. This is the same man who only hours before had declared his undying loyalty to Christ. But fear and weakness got the better of Peter and instead of being at Christ's side, he "followed at a distance". The Beth Moore Bible study has caused me to think about other reasons why I, and perhaps others, might try and follow Christ "at a distance". Sometimes we hang back because we don't know a person well enough. There isn't a lot of interest because there isn't much knowledge. We haven't been introduced. I had no idea who Vivian Maier was before I watched the documentary on her life. But that documentary, that introduction, made me want to know her better. I would definitely go to an exhibit of her photographic works now. It is harder to stay back as you get to know someone. The more we know Christ, the more we want to know. The distance shrinks as the relationship deepens. Sometimes we keep our distance because we fancy ourselves "observers" of life. Bystanders. Non-participants. We just want to watch. And so we keep ourselves "at a distance" so we can't be easily involved...easily chosen...easily engaged. But that wasn't Christ's way. He mingled and joined in and reached out and touched. So will we as we become more like Him. Perhaps we stay back because we haven't made up our minds yet. We can't make up our minds at a distance. Christ and His transforming power has to be experienced. It is not a long distance relationship but one that is up close and personal. Peter's "distance" led to three denials of even knowing Christ. When he realized what he had done, Peter, "...went outside and wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:75) Was that the end of Peter? No. His repentant sorrow allowed him to come close again. Today is Sunday. If distance has separated us from Christ, He will wait for us to catch up.
Year 5; Day 37 The Glory of God
There are words that are particular to the walk of a follower of Christ. Words like "righteousness", "sanctification", "justification", and "glorify". We read them in Scripture and sing the words in hymns and choruses. But if we were asked to give a short, succinct definition, most of us would probably "ummm" a fair bit. We have a vague notion of the meaning but not something solid. It is only now I am realizing what a deprivation that can be. Yesterday in church we sang a chorus that started out, "All heaven declares the glory of the risen Lord." Prior to our Beth Moore Bible study "Breaking Free" I would have sung that first line and just moved on. But since we did a lesson on the word "glory", that line means so much more to me. God's glory (based on the Hebrew and Greek) is "the way He makes Himself known or shows Himself mighty. God's glory is how He shows who He is. God's glory is the way He makes Himself recognizable. God's glory is what He is essentially." (Breaking Free workbook p.37; Beth Moore) Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God..." The heavens speak of or show or illustrate His glory. He has put atmosphere and space out there. He has put planets and stars. He has given us a sun by day and a moon by night. Each is in its place and stays in its place by invisible forces. The heavens show God's creative and scientific abilities. They show His foresight to establish systems and rhythms that are steady and dependable...not haphazard or inconsistent or chaotic. The heavens demonstrate His plan for life on Earth with seasons and cycles and renewal and consistency. The skies speak to God's artistry and practicality. The night sky inspires with its stars and constellations but also serves as consistent focal points for navigation and time. The invisible God has made some of Himself, His qualities and characteristics, visible in the heavens. They declare and speak to the Master Creator, Designer, Artist, Organizer, Planner, Intelligence, Power, and Maker of all that is...visible and invisible. Just as the invisible wind makes itself visible with the bending of the trees and the rolling of the waves, so our invisible God makes Himself visible through the skies and all they contain. Today is Monday. Look up and see the glory of God.
There are words that are particular to the walk of a follower of Christ. Words like "righteousness", "sanctification", "justification", and "glorify". We read them in Scripture and sing the words in hymns and choruses. But if we were asked to give a short, succinct definition, most of us would probably "ummm" a fair bit. We have a vague notion of the meaning but not something solid. It is only now I am realizing what a deprivation that can be. Yesterday in church we sang a chorus that started out, "All heaven declares the glory of the risen Lord." Prior to our Beth Moore Bible study "Breaking Free" I would have sung that first line and just moved on. But since we did a lesson on the word "glory", that line means so much more to me. God's glory (based on the Hebrew and Greek) is "the way He makes Himself known or shows Himself mighty. God's glory is how He shows who He is. God's glory is the way He makes Himself recognizable. God's glory is what He is essentially." (Breaking Free workbook p.37; Beth Moore) Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God..." The heavens speak of or show or illustrate His glory. He has put atmosphere and space out there. He has put planets and stars. He has given us a sun by day and a moon by night. Each is in its place and stays in its place by invisible forces. The heavens show God's creative and scientific abilities. They show His foresight to establish systems and rhythms that are steady and dependable...not haphazard or inconsistent or chaotic. The heavens demonstrate His plan for life on Earth with seasons and cycles and renewal and consistency. The skies speak to God's artistry and practicality. The night sky inspires with its stars and constellations but also serves as consistent focal points for navigation and time. The invisible God has made some of Himself, His qualities and characteristics, visible in the heavens. They declare and speak to the Master Creator, Designer, Artist, Organizer, Planner, Intelligence, Power, and Maker of all that is...visible and invisible. Just as the invisible wind makes itself visible with the bending of the trees and the rolling of the waves, so our invisible God makes Himself visible through the skies and all they contain. Today is Monday. Look up and see the glory of God.
Year 5; Day 38 I Am Willing
Last week I wrote a couple posts concerning the question of believing God and the obstacle of unbelief. For me, personally, I think I truly believe God is able but maybe not always willing. In the story of the two blind men, when they asked for healing, Jesus asked if they believed He was able. They did and Jesus healed them according to their faith. In Mark there is the story of the father with the demon possessed son. He asked Jesus to help if He could...if He was able. Jesus confirmed that He was able and that nothing was impossible with God. The son was healed even as the father cried out that he believed...mostly. Yesterday I was reading Matthew 8. Jesus was being followed by a large crowd when a man with leprosy came up to Christ and knelt down before Him. The leper said, "...Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." (Matthew 8:2) If He was willing. He believed Jesus was able...but was He willing? I was a bit startled to see the word "willing" as I didn't remember it in this incident. It spoke right to the heart of my concern. When I pray, I believe God is able but I am not always sure He wants to...that He is willing. When prayers don't get answered right away, it is easier to say He didn't want to answer than to exercise faith and wait for His timing. It is easier to say He was unwilling than to trust and look for an answer different from the one I planned out. Unwilling seems easier than waiting or trusting or seeking or knocking. In the other two stories Jesus questioned or commented on their requests. His response to this man so touched my heart. It was a simple, "I am willing..." (verse 6) I felt God's sweet reassurance settle into my heart. Today is Tuesday. Our heavenly Father is both able and willing to meet our needs.
Last week I wrote a couple posts concerning the question of believing God and the obstacle of unbelief. For me, personally, I think I truly believe God is able but maybe not always willing. In the story of the two blind men, when they asked for healing, Jesus asked if they believed He was able. They did and Jesus healed them according to their faith. In Mark there is the story of the father with the demon possessed son. He asked Jesus to help if He could...if He was able. Jesus confirmed that He was able and that nothing was impossible with God. The son was healed even as the father cried out that he believed...mostly. Yesterday I was reading Matthew 8. Jesus was being followed by a large crowd when a man with leprosy came up to Christ and knelt down before Him. The leper said, "...Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." (Matthew 8:2) If He was willing. He believed Jesus was able...but was He willing? I was a bit startled to see the word "willing" as I didn't remember it in this incident. It spoke right to the heart of my concern. When I pray, I believe God is able but I am not always sure He wants to...that He is willing. When prayers don't get answered right away, it is easier to say He didn't want to answer than to exercise faith and wait for His timing. It is easier to say He was unwilling than to trust and look for an answer different from the one I planned out. Unwilling seems easier than waiting or trusting or seeking or knocking. In the other two stories Jesus questioned or commented on their requests. His response to this man so touched my heart. It was a simple, "I am willing..." (verse 6) I felt God's sweet reassurance settle into my heart. Today is Tuesday. Our heavenly Father is both able and willing to meet our needs.
Year 5; Day 39 For the Glory of God
Sometimes a verse or a thought or a lesson just doesn't let go. Such is one of the covenant benefits of having a relationship with God through His Son: To glorify God. That lesson from Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" is still with me. God's glory is the essence of who He is. It is the way He makes Himself recognizable and visible. Creation declares His glory...it reflects His power and majesty and wisdom and intelligence. But it doesn't stop there. I know I am suppose to represent Christ and be an ambassador. But after studying about God's glory, another verse has taken a much deeper meaning. "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) Not much wiggle room in that verse. "...whatever you do..." That covers a lot of territory. Whatever I do. All of it is to be for His glory. I can't think of a way to exclude anything. Behavior. Actions. Reactions. Relationships. Deeds. Speech. Dress. Activities. Entertainment. Hobbies. Television. Social media. Whatever I do. Whatever....I am suppose to bring glory to God in all of it. I am suppose to make visible, demonstrate, show, give a glimpse of the qualities and characteristics of the invisible God whose Spirit dwells within my heart. Qualities and characteristics that aren't as obvious in nature. Things like mercy and love and forgiveness. Patience and self-control. Gentleness and kindness. Humour and hospitality. Generosity and genuineness. Trustworthiness and faithfulness. Truthfulness and honesty. Humility and Compassion. Often the very things that seem to go against human nature and cultural values. When I/we behave, do, demonstrate those characteristics, we help to make visible the Invisible. We bring glory to God. We remind people of God and who He is. Or we should. Or we are suppose to. Today is Wednesday. "...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Whatever. All.
Sometimes a verse or a thought or a lesson just doesn't let go. Such is one of the covenant benefits of having a relationship with God through His Son: To glorify God. That lesson from Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" is still with me. God's glory is the essence of who He is. It is the way He makes Himself recognizable and visible. Creation declares His glory...it reflects His power and majesty and wisdom and intelligence. But it doesn't stop there. I know I am suppose to represent Christ and be an ambassador. But after studying about God's glory, another verse has taken a much deeper meaning. "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31) Not much wiggle room in that verse. "...whatever you do..." That covers a lot of territory. Whatever I do. All of it is to be for His glory. I can't think of a way to exclude anything. Behavior. Actions. Reactions. Relationships. Deeds. Speech. Dress. Activities. Entertainment. Hobbies. Television. Social media. Whatever I do. Whatever....I am suppose to bring glory to God in all of it. I am suppose to make visible, demonstrate, show, give a glimpse of the qualities and characteristics of the invisible God whose Spirit dwells within my heart. Qualities and characteristics that aren't as obvious in nature. Things like mercy and love and forgiveness. Patience and self-control. Gentleness and kindness. Humour and hospitality. Generosity and genuineness. Trustworthiness and faithfulness. Truthfulness and honesty. Humility and Compassion. Often the very things that seem to go against human nature and cultural values. When I/we behave, do, demonstrate those characteristics, we help to make visible the Invisible. We bring glory to God. We remind people of God and who He is. Or we should. Or we are suppose to. Today is Wednesday. "...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Whatever. All.
Year 5; Day 40 Calling in Truth
"The Lord is near to them who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Psalm 145:18) The first half of that verse is really nice...comforting...encouraging. It is the part that always registered with me. Call on the Lord. He'll come. Whatever you're doing. Whatever your attitude. Whatever your heart. Wherever you are. He'll come. And then a couple weeks ago I not only read the first half, I read (and registered) the second half as well. He is near to all who call on Him "in truth". The Hebrew definition of truth says: firmness, faithfulness, sureness, reliability, stability, certainty. These are all characteristics of "truth". It doesn't waver, change with the culture, or grow old, or obsolete. Part of the definition had several bullet points under the word "truth". The word "truth" is used in reference to what is spoken. When we call on God, are we speaking the truth to Him? Are we honest in our confessions or do we make excuses, maybe gloss over our errors, minimize some aspects, or blame others? Or are we honest in saying exactly what happened, acknowledging our role with no blurring of facts, and then calling on Him for forgiveness, mercy, correction...whatever we need? Another bullet under truth is truth in testimony and judgment. It is so easy to allow personal biases, past experiences, and our own frame of reference to colour our judgment...to put a slant on the way we interpret or evaluate a situation. Sometimes I really think something is the truth when it's not. I may not have all the facts. I may honestly misinterpret something. I may have incomplete or incorrect information. How can I be sure I am calling on God "in truth"? I think at least one quality is necessary and that is humility. If we call on God with a humble heart...a heart willing to be corrected...a heart willing to be shown "the truth" about ourselves first and maybe others later, He will draw near. He will come. God has given us two marvelous ways to call on Him "in truth". We can ground ourselves in the truths of God's Word. It was recorded for our benefit and contains the truths God would have us to know. And we have the Holy Spirit who is also called the Spirit of truth who will "...guide you into all truth..." (John 16:13) God gave us His Spirit to dwell within us. Today is Thursday. If our hearts are humble and we are willing to face whatever truths His Word and the Spirit reveal, He will come when we call. And that is the truth!
Year 5; Day 41 A Mystery For Now
I belong to a quilting guild which holds meetings once a month besides workdays and workshops. For the quilting year of 2016-2017 we are doing a mystery quilt. In September we were told to choose 4 fabrics. The next month we were given instructions on how to cut the fabrics. There were squares and rectangles of various sizes. The next month we were given instructions on how to take some of the pieces and make a particular block. When we got the instructions (through e-mail) for the next set of blocks, I tried to lay them out on the table to see if I could get some sense of the pattern or design. The challenge of a mystery quilt is we don't know what the final outcome will look like. Only the one in charge does. The last set of blocks we had to piece together are huge...18-19 inches. I tried once again to lay out what we have done into some kind of pattern and well, it wasn't very attractive. I rearranged the pieces and my second attempt wasn't much better. I couldn't figure out a pleasing arrangement for the smaller pieces with the big ones. Then I saw that there are still some blocks to be made. And we haven't yet received the instructions as to how they all fit together. Eventually we will see the parts become a whole...but not yet. I was telling a friend about the mystery quilt and she made a comment that resonated in my heart. She said, "It reminds me of our lives in the sense that God can see the whole quilt already but we can only see patches here and there and not how it is all intertwined to be made beautiful in the end." Beautiful in the end. All I have are pieces and parts and patches. I have to trust someone else that what I have been instructed and given and done will, in the end, be something beautiful. Sometimes life feels just like a "mystery quilt". You have these parts and pieces...experiences and happenings and situations and circumstances...and you can't seem to make sense of it all. What the purpose is or how it all fits together. But there is One who knows. "A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?" (Proverbs 20:24) I don't understand everything in my life. I don't get all the "steps". Some make no sense...at all...right now. But I am not the one in charge. Only God already sees the final results. Today is Friday. What is a mystery to us is no mystery to Him and so we keep on step by step. And in the end it will be beautiful if we trust Him.
I belong to a quilting guild which holds meetings once a month besides workdays and workshops. For the quilting year of 2016-2017 we are doing a mystery quilt. In September we were told to choose 4 fabrics. The next month we were given instructions on how to cut the fabrics. There were squares and rectangles of various sizes. The next month we were given instructions on how to take some of the pieces and make a particular block. When we got the instructions (through e-mail) for the next set of blocks, I tried to lay them out on the table to see if I could get some sense of the pattern or design. The challenge of a mystery quilt is we don't know what the final outcome will look like. Only the one in charge does. The last set of blocks we had to piece together are huge...18-19 inches. I tried once again to lay out what we have done into some kind of pattern and well, it wasn't very attractive. I rearranged the pieces and my second attempt wasn't much better. I couldn't figure out a pleasing arrangement for the smaller pieces with the big ones. Then I saw that there are still some blocks to be made. And we haven't yet received the instructions as to how they all fit together. Eventually we will see the parts become a whole...but not yet. I was telling a friend about the mystery quilt and she made a comment that resonated in my heart. She said, "It reminds me of our lives in the sense that God can see the whole quilt already but we can only see patches here and there and not how it is all intertwined to be made beautiful in the end." Beautiful in the end. All I have are pieces and parts and patches. I have to trust someone else that what I have been instructed and given and done will, in the end, be something beautiful. Sometimes life feels just like a "mystery quilt". You have these parts and pieces...experiences and happenings and situations and circumstances...and you can't seem to make sense of it all. What the purpose is or how it all fits together. But there is One who knows. "A man's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way?" (Proverbs 20:24) I don't understand everything in my life. I don't get all the "steps". Some make no sense...at all...right now. But I am not the one in charge. Only God already sees the final results. Today is Friday. What is a mystery to us is no mystery to Him and so we keep on step by step. And in the end it will be beautiful if we trust Him.
Year 5; Day 42 Faith and Fear
Last night I was reading about another incident of Jesus and a storm. Matthew 9 tells how Jesus and His disciples were crossing a lake when, "Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat." (verse 24) Jesus must have been utterly exhausted to not have been awakened. It wasn't a gradual increase in wind and waves but a sudden, furious onslaught. These experienced men, some seasoned fishermen, were frightened for their lives. "The disciples went and woke him saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" (verse 25) The fact that they were with Jesus didn't seem to calm their fears. They didn't assume their safety because of Christ's presence. They were neither comforted or encouraged by having Christ in the boat. For the first time, I noticed something when I read Jesus' response. "...You of little faith, why are you so afraid? Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm." (verse 26) Their lack of faith fed their fear. Jesus connected their little faith and their being afraid. I looked up the phrase "little faith" in the Greek. It means: incredulous, that is lacking confidence; little in number, low in quantity; describes someone who is dull in hearing or fails to hear the Lord's voice. The disciples lacked confidence in Christ. That He was with them in the boat did not seem to matter. Despite the miracles they had witnessed, the quantity of their faith, their level of trust on a scale of 1 to 10 was close to zero. That Christ was sleeping through it all was even worse. They thought they were going to drown. That is what their circumstances said...vicious storm, wind, waves, shuddering boat. But they weren't alone in their circumstances. They had Jesus. He wasn't going to drown. His ministry and purpose wasn't yet fulfilled. The disciples had been chosen to be personally trained by Christ. That wasn't finished. But nothing seemed to give them confidence in their fear. But in their lack of faith, their little faith, their low in quantity faith, they did one thing right...they called on Christ. They were afraid and they called on the only One who could help. They didn't turn to each other...they turned to Christ. Today is Saturday. Christ wants our faith to cancel our fear. He wants us to know that He is greater than any storm. Have faith.
Last night I was reading about another incident of Jesus and a storm. Matthew 9 tells how Jesus and His disciples were crossing a lake when, "Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat." (verse 24) Jesus must have been utterly exhausted to not have been awakened. It wasn't a gradual increase in wind and waves but a sudden, furious onslaught. These experienced men, some seasoned fishermen, were frightened for their lives. "The disciples went and woke him saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" (verse 25) The fact that they were with Jesus didn't seem to calm their fears. They didn't assume their safety because of Christ's presence. They were neither comforted or encouraged by having Christ in the boat. For the first time, I noticed something when I read Jesus' response. "...You of little faith, why are you so afraid? Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm." (verse 26) Their lack of faith fed their fear. Jesus connected their little faith and their being afraid. I looked up the phrase "little faith" in the Greek. It means: incredulous, that is lacking confidence; little in number, low in quantity; describes someone who is dull in hearing or fails to hear the Lord's voice. The disciples lacked confidence in Christ. That He was with them in the boat did not seem to matter. Despite the miracles they had witnessed, the quantity of their faith, their level of trust on a scale of 1 to 10 was close to zero. That Christ was sleeping through it all was even worse. They thought they were going to drown. That is what their circumstances said...vicious storm, wind, waves, shuddering boat. But they weren't alone in their circumstances. They had Jesus. He wasn't going to drown. His ministry and purpose wasn't yet fulfilled. The disciples had been chosen to be personally trained by Christ. That wasn't finished. But nothing seemed to give them confidence in their fear. But in their lack of faith, their little faith, their low in quantity faith, they did one thing right...they called on Christ. They were afraid and they called on the only One who could help. They didn't turn to each other...they turned to Christ. Today is Saturday. Christ wants our faith to cancel our fear. He wants us to know that He is greater than any storm. Have faith.