extravagant love

A jar of perfume
poured out over Jesus
and a question is born;
What is the point of such extravagant?

Why this waste?
I don’t know,
I honestly don’t know.
But if this shocks you so
get ready
for you’ll see more
more than costly perfume poured out.

You’ll see lives poured out
given freely
used up
spilled out
wasted
for no reason at all.

Extravagance unlimited!
Lives poured out
handed over
lost
thrown away
for Jesus!

What is the point of such extravagance?
Why such waste?
Beautiful questions
with no answers.

And how sad if no one
has ever asked us;
Why such extravagance?

Macrina Wiederkehr

veil of grace

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

C. S. Lewis

Is this how you look at life? Do you see everything in the light of Christ? Imagine how different things would look if they were covered with grace.

There was a person who hurt me during my childhood. As I looked back on that, I realized I had a choice. I could see what they did as deliberate and personal…or…I could choose to see them as broken and hurt themselves, and that they acted out of their brokenness. Does it excuse hurtful behavior? No…but it may help the one who is hurt to recognize that, short of God’s grace, none of us have the ability to love deeply.

Consider looking at everything and everyone today through the veil of God’s grace.

Grace and peace,
Deb

content

“Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

~Lao Tzu

I am caught between two worlds. I’ve had the privilege of traveling overseas. I’ve been to 18 countries. And the majority of my travel has not been pleasure but missions….so I’ve seen some of the poorest areas in the world. I know that most of the world does not live the way we do. People live in small, cramped quarters. They lack clean water and adequate food….little to no medical attention, etc. I’ve seen places where people have put cardboard and corrugated metal together to make a room for their families.

I see it and it impacts me. I say that I will simplify when I get home, changing my way of living. Now, over the years, I have made changes. I’ve made decisions to simplify my life and try to live with less. But, even with those changes, I am still a product of my culture. It doesn’t seem to take long before I am sucked back into ‘wanting more’. Dissatisfaction settles in and I am filled with discontent.

I am still working through this dilemma. I am glad that my eyes are open and that I struggle between these two ‘realities. I can only pray that God will continue to speak to me about how He wants me to use what He has given me and share with others. I thank Him for the way He gently reminds me that I am being a ‘brat’, wanting what I want when most of the world doesn’t even have what they need.

God….never let me forget what I’ve seen, what I’ve experienced and keep my heart tender towards the world. Help me to be content with what I have, to rejoice in the way things are.

Grace and peace,
Deb

resident alien

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce . . .But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare . . . For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

Jeremiah 29:4-5, 7, 11

We were not made for this world, as it is. Remember the Garden? That distance memory of perfection and intimate relationship with God? I don’t either! Only hearing about it, and only having the experience of living in the world after the fall, my mind cannot even conceive of what it was like.

But, these verses from Jeremiah tell the people of Israel, who live in exiles, to live . . . really live. They are told to build houses and plant gardens. But not only are they told to settle down and build lives, they are told to pray for the culture they are living in.

I rarely pray for my community. Unfortunately, I more often than not, look around and feel frustration with those who do not see themselves as aliens here. Prayer just isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But, it should be.

Lord, remind me to lift those up to you that live around me, those who do not recognize the reality of who you are. Help me reflect Jesus to them. Help me to be someone who draws people to you and not away from you. Help me to recognize myself as an ‘alien resident’ who brings hope and love instead of judgment.


Grace and Peace,
Deb

birthright

“No man sells his birthright on the spot. He who sells his birthright sells it many times in his heart before he takes it openly as that to the market. He belittles it, and despises it, and cheapens it, at any rate to himself long before he sells it so cheaply to another. Everybody knew that Esau’s birthright was for sale, if anybody cared to bid for it. Isaac knew, Rebekah knew and Jacob knew; and Jacob had long been eyeing his brother for a fit opportunity.”

Alexander Whyte

Last week, I was reading the story of Esau and came across this quote. After reading it, I recalled the times in the past when I have walked away from the way God would want me to walk. As I think about those times, I realize that I walked away in my heart and mind long before I did in my actions.

If you remember this story out of Genesis 25-27, you will know that Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of stew . . . to meet his immediate desire for food. One author suggests that the stew was not the cause of Esau’s sensuality; it revealed it. His idol was his stomach and meeting that need superseded everything else.

This reminds me to pay attention to those things in my life I make into an idol…where do I get my satisfaction or my longings met? What motivates or drives me? If the answers are anything but God then I am in danger of ‘selling my birthright’. . . that is, trading meeting an immediate need for resting in God and knowing that only He can truly satisfy.

What drives you? What might your idol(s) be? I invite you to pay attention as it happens gradually. In your heart and in your mind, you begin to yield to it before you ever act on it. Take it to God and hold it before Him. Ask Him to open your heart to allow Him to be enough.

May you feel His presence.

May you sense His love.

May you rest only in Him.

Grace and peace,
Deb

sabbath

No post today ~ enjoy the sabbath

content

“Wherever I am, at home, in a hotel, in a train, plane or airport, I would not feel irritated, restless, and desirous of being somewhere else or doing something else. I would know that here and now is what counts and is important because it is God himself who wants me at this time and in this place.”

Henri Nouwen

What a wonderful way to look at life. Can you imagine stopping in the middle of whatever is happening and remembering that God in the midst of it…that you can rest in that fact? I think this speaks to Paul’s comments in Philippians about ‘being content in all circumstances’.

How well do you do this? For me, unfortunately, it depends on the day. For example, while away this past week, the facility, where I stayed, served food that was less than desirable. For the most part, I dealt with it but one night, they had ‘chocolate mousse’ on the menu. But, it was no where to be found. I must have mentioned that silly mousse about five times during the week. Not exactly the shining example of ‘contentedness.’

But, like you, I am on a journey. I can only hope that because of God’s work in my heart and my willingness to surrender myself to him, I will continue to grow in being content, no matter my circumstances.

May you, also, grow in dependence on him and be able to see him in every circumstance in which you find yourself.

Grace and peace,
Deb