Distractions

A few weeks ago during a Kairos team formation meeting, we built a rock altar. As we entered the prayer room, we each picked up a rock. These weren’t pretty rocks. They were various shapes and sizes, lots of rough edges.

Through the meditation time we were instructed to symbolically place on that rock anything in our lives that may be a distraction to doing God’s will throughout this Kairos experience.

Many of the team members had family issues and illness that could have easily given them reason to quit the team. I didn’t feel I had anything major going on in my life distracting me from God’s purpose for me on this Kairos team.

Then I heard that whisper. You know the one when God quietly gets our attention and then lays out something huge.

Only this didn’t sound huge. He simply said, “Quit trying to figure out why you are here.”

Ok, I can handle that. I was enjoying the team formation and looking forward to every aspect of the experience. So, I agreed. Yes, you can laugh. You know you do it too. God gives you instruction and you act as though you have the power and wisdom to veto his plan.

I took my rock up and placed it on the altar with everyone else’s rocks. Some had chosen very large rocks. They knew they had big stuff distracting them. Then I realized… “God, you didn’t just mean for this Kairos stuff, did you?”

Many of you know that I have a dream to write and speak. I also believe that every event in our lives makes an impact on our future. That belief leads me to spend a lot of time trying to see what God is up to in some of the most unusual situations.

Since the rock altar experience, I have been enjoying one day at a time. I know God has a plan for my life but there is not one bit of analyzing that can make that plan happen any smoother or faster. That doesn’t mean that I don’t dream and make some practical plans. It simply means I surrender the dream completely to God. It was his dream to begin with. The gift was that he revealed a glimpse of it to me.

I could spend a lot of time and money trying to develop this dream the way I think God intends for it to happen. I’m sure I would learn some valuable lessons along the way. But I’m choosing to take on the motto my husband came up with from his Walk to Emmaus, “Listen to the Spirit and do what he says.”

We really aren’t promised a tomorrow. Total surrender to the Holy Spirit is the most peaceful and enjoyable life imaginable.

What’s distracting you from the life God has for you today? Place it on a rock and carry that rough edged chunk of creation to a place of surrender and worship. Enjoy the peace of realizing you are not in control.

"What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself. Luke 12:29-32 (The Message)

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42(NIV)

Wisdom

Do you want to be wise? Think about your life. What circumstances have helped you most to have the wisdom you have?

James 1:2-4 and 5-8 have been favorite verses of mine for a long time. But I had never put them together until recently. Verses 2-4 talk about our trials. Verses 5-8 are about gaining wisdom.

When I look at all the verses together it makes me hesitate when I think about asking God for wisdom. Oh, yes, he gives generously without finding fault but it’s verses 2-4 that tell how that wisdom is disbursed.

Well, the book of Proverbs gives plenty of examples of the fool. I think I’ll accept the generous wisdom that comes with the trials.

Here’s the prayer that stirred these thoughts:

“Dear Lord, help me to realize my wisdom emerges as I accept and integrate all that has happened to me.” from DailyGuidepost.com Daily E-mail

I recommend that you go to http://www.crosswalk.com/ and read James 1:2-8 in a few different versions. One of them will hit home with where you are today.

Grow!

Did God plan the fall?

Now that’s my kind of question! This is my response to the question posted at http://forums.crosswalk.com/ (forum: [Theology] Christian Doctrine):

This question just recently began occupying my contemplative mind. Here's a scripture that seems to apply. Exodus 20:20 "Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.'"

I'm not going to try to say yes or no to whether God planned the fall but it is a new concept for me to consider that the "fall" as I have always considered to be "evil" or "bad" may have been exactly what God wanted to use to teach us to fear him - not our circumstances - from the very beginning.

I've recently began viewing everything in scripture as relationship issues rather than dos and don'ts (good/evil). It's been fascinating.

We claim that God loves us unconditionally. I have discovered that my relationship with God is greatly enhanced more by my struggles, trials/tests etc than by perfect obedience without questions. I'm not saying that disobedience is good. I'm saying God allows us to be maturing children so that we can grow into deeper relationship with him.

I've seen children who are so compliant that they don't know what to do away from "normal" situations. They don't question and attempt to reason because they fear consequences more than they fear the authority figure over them. When we have a healthy fear of the authority over us rather than merely avoiding consequences, we strive to get to know the person so that we can understand the consequences.

I also wonder if the "fall" was a test to teach us how male and female must work together. Looking at the events that took place seems to represent the same way men and women communicate today.

Is it possible that Eve failed to express all her thoughts - assuming that Adam comprehended her reasoning - while she acted more out of emotion than logic? Is it possible that Adam misunderstood Eve's intentions because he failed to enter into conversation with her - he assumed she was processing information the same way he did - without emotion - therefore he could not encourage her appropriately.

Emotion and logic are equally significant in decisions. God calls us to be full of compassion as he is and he will give us the wisdom to administer mercy, grace and encouragement. We must consider the relationship aspect of our decisions along with the logic for each circumstance.

I find the story of Job and the response of his wife to be a very similar lesson. We cannot throw out emotions. They are part of God's design for us. We are limited in our ability to reason, therefore human logic is not always accurate. The question is how do we use our God given emotions along with God given ability to reason logically to discover the wisdom he offers in each situation we face.

Just my perspective - not conclusive.