I must admit. I wasn't ready for the new year. I'm not happy my husband is without work after being laid off again. I'm not happy the state of our finances. I'm not happy the federal government supposedly has all this "help" available for struggling home owners but it apparently does not apply to us or to anyone we know personally for that matter. So, I'm just not happy that 2011 is here. Ugh.
But at our staff meeting yesterday, our teaching pastor shared about his recent trip to Ethiopia and India. Outside Ethiopia's capital city of Addis Ababa there is a centuries old Orthodox church. When our pastor visited, they could not enter the church as the church was in the midst of a 45 day fast-here we complain if our sermon's go over by 10 minutes because we want to eat lunch! There were men standing around reading their bibles. When asked how long one man had been standing there - our pastor learned he had stood for 36 hours reading his bible without moving!
At the church as a fountain of healing waters. As sceptical Americans, we automatically question that this fountain actually has healing waters. When asked, our pastor was told "of course the waters heal!" What faith. There was no doubt that the children who entered the fountain with aids would come out completely healed!
The most profound was a Jewish Doctor who works in Ethiopia with children who have severe physical abnormalities and has actually adopted 8 children so they can be on his health insurance. When our pastor asked him if he ever questions God amidst seeing all the suffering amongst these children the answer was "Why would I question God? He is Sovereign". But of course!
Oh ye of little faith! We are soo completely spoiled and forget how thankful we really should be!! I absolutely love the Christmas Carol "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day" with words by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. A recent blog posting entitled "The Bells of Hope"convicted me even more!
"God is not dead nor doth He sleep"- He IS Sovereign! Why would we ever question Him??
Showing posts with label trust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trust. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Monday, November 22, 2010
Vulnerability Response
My coach and I talked through my response to being vulnerable. Being vulnerable is unveiling, showing emotions and processing with others. Not only should it be a value to myself but it is definitely a value to those around me. If I am not vulnerable several things happen in that relationship: those around me don't think I am being authentic with them, you know me but I don't or can't know you.
Do I need to be vulnerable? Maybe I don't feel it is necessary but those around me may NEED it. Maybe they need to know my hurts, weaknesses so that I can be a helpful resource for others. Can my vulnerability provide a resource for others? If so, then I should be willing to share more! It would then not be about myself at all but about others.
Why is it problematic for me to be vulnerable? Is it dangerous? Because my emotions may get out of control? Is that o.k.? Why not show a full range of expressions/emotions? Am I not willing to look at what this may bring to me as well as others? I may hurt people. Maybe those around will will see flesh in me or see me as not perfect and as a sinner. Maybe I won't win people over with my woo if they see who I really am? Does vulnerability mean a dark place? Scary? Unknown? Do I really need to share everything? Why rock the boat? Is this a learned behaviour?
The cost of not being vulnerable may outweigh the "maybe's" If I have no place to be vulnerable then all of the "stuff" bottled up inside will ooze out or possible explode. Isn't total honesty freeing? Isn't it o.k. to show my true self? We are sinners! Do people see me as stoic if I can never be vulnerable? I will pay a cost if I can not or will not be who I really I am. It is a strength to be a tangible human.
Look at Jonathan and David's friendship. They were totally vulnerable to each other! David's life depended upon his vulnerability with Jonathan. What did they say about each other and to each other? What did they gain from being completely vulnerable? This would be a great study to do!
6.21.10
Do I need to be vulnerable? Maybe I don't feel it is necessary but those around me may NEED it. Maybe they need to know my hurts, weaknesses so that I can be a helpful resource for others. Can my vulnerability provide a resource for others? If so, then I should be willing to share more! It would then not be about myself at all but about others.
Why is it problematic for me to be vulnerable? Is it dangerous? Because my emotions may get out of control? Is that o.k.? Why not show a full range of expressions/emotions? Am I not willing to look at what this may bring to me as well as others? I may hurt people. Maybe those around will will see flesh in me or see me as not perfect and as a sinner. Maybe I won't win people over with my woo if they see who I really am? Does vulnerability mean a dark place? Scary? Unknown? Do I really need to share everything? Why rock the boat? Is this a learned behaviour?
The cost of not being vulnerable may outweigh the "maybe's" If I have no place to be vulnerable then all of the "stuff" bottled up inside will ooze out or possible explode. Isn't total honesty freeing? Isn't it o.k. to show my true self? We are sinners! Do people see me as stoic if I can never be vulnerable? I will pay a cost if I can not or will not be who I really I am. It is a strength to be a tangible human.
Look at Jonathan and David's friendship. They were totally vulnerable to each other! David's life depended upon his vulnerability with Jonathan. What did they say about each other and to each other? What did they gain from being completely vulnerable? This would be a great study to do!
6.21.10
Monday, June 21, 2010
Vulnerability
Coaching is great. SO this week we are looking at my vulnerbility.
Why is being vulnerable with others important? Is it truly important? What makes vulnerability important?
Webster defines vulnerability as "open to attack or damage". That does not make the idea of vulnerability very appealing. Vulnerability with others can be seen as a weakness or as a strength depending on your personality. According to the definition it really is a weakness. However, may sometimes having weakness may really be a strength?
If we look at our relationship with Christ, we know that vulnerability is really a strength. However, we also know that our Lord Jesus will never send us away or reject us with what we tell him. Jesus promised his disciples that the Holy Spirit would come and comfort them after he was gone. "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever-" John 14:26 NIV. Because we have the Holy Spirit, is it really necessary to be vulnerable with other people?
Our Lord Jesus always responds to our cries! We only have to read a few of the Psalms to see how God always responds to distress! When we cry out, God responds! "Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress" Psalm 107:6 NIV. This is only one small passage that is repeated over and over in scripture. Hannah Whitall Smith states it this way: "Let us never grieve God again by doubting that He hears us, however faint and feeble our cry may be" (God's Love for You, 1999). God has such a great concern for us. Even those that are the very closest to us here on this earth, like our spouses, can not always respond to our cries. So do we need to be vulnerable and share our sorrows?
Our Lord Jesus loves us in spite of any sin that we may have committed. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8 NIV. No matter what we may do, God still loves us. Other people may love us when we are "good" but do they truly love us when we are not?
6.21.10
Why is being vulnerable with others important? Is it truly important? What makes vulnerability important?
Webster defines vulnerability as "open to attack or damage". That does not make the idea of vulnerability very appealing. Vulnerability with others can be seen as a weakness or as a strength depending on your personality. According to the definition it really is a weakness. However, may sometimes having weakness may really be a strength?
If we look at our relationship with Christ, we know that vulnerability is really a strength. However, we also know that our Lord Jesus will never send us away or reject us with what we tell him. Jesus promised his disciples that the Holy Spirit would come and comfort them after he was gone. "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever-" John 14:26 NIV. Because we have the Holy Spirit, is it really necessary to be vulnerable with other people?
Our Lord Jesus always responds to our cries! We only have to read a few of the Psalms to see how God always responds to distress! When we cry out, God responds! "Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress" Psalm 107:6 NIV. This is only one small passage that is repeated over and over in scripture. Hannah Whitall Smith states it this way: "Let us never grieve God again by doubting that He hears us, however faint and feeble our cry may be" (God's Love for You, 1999). God has such a great concern for us. Even those that are the very closest to us here on this earth, like our spouses, can not always respond to our cries. So do we need to be vulnerable and share our sorrows?
Our Lord Jesus loves us in spite of any sin that we may have committed. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8 NIV. No matter what we may do, God still loves us. Other people may love us when we are "good" but do they truly love us when we are not?
6.21.10
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Worrying
Are these saying familiar? "Why worry when you can pray"? OR, "Worrying means you are not trusting"? We have heard these over and over if you have been in the Christian realm for any length of time. But do we really believe it? It's really only when push comes to shove that we know if these are just "Christianise" or if they are truly believed in our hearts.
A verse in Luke 12 is quoted a lot of times: "...how much more valuable you are than birds!" But the parable before this section on worrying really needs to be looked at in conjunction with what Jesus is telling his disciples about our value. In Luke 12: 13-21, Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool who is blessed with a lot of "stuff". The rich man decides that in order to store all of his stuff he will tear down his barns and build bigger and better barns. And then, the rich man says to himself "You have plenty of good thing laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry" Luke 12:19. But God calls this man a fool! Why? Because this rich man was so worried about himself. He was so worried about his stuff! He was so caught up in things that he had forgotten about God. He had forgotten about building up for himself "treasure in heaven" and instead was focused on obtaining stuff on this earth.
Do we worry more because we have so much stuff? When our church staff members visit the slums in India, they come back every time commenting on how happy these people are. These people of NO stuff as compared to what we have here in America. Even the poorest of person here has more than those living in the Indian slums.
Is that why Jesus immediately turns to his disciples and says "why do you worry"? Jesus knows how much we love our stuff. BUT he says, "the pagan world runs after all such things.." don't worry about running after the stuff! Your Father in heaven knows that you need food, drink, and clothing so don't worry about accumulating such stuff!
So...when I'm lying awake in bed at night worrying...My Father in heaven is saying to me "O you of little faith" trust me! Worrying is not going to add a single hour to you life. Worrying only causes stress, tension, broken relationships, harsh words, and health problems! It is in these moments of sleeplessness I have to say "Yes, Father. I know you will provide. Let me thank you for all the many blessings that you have provided me!"And I pour out my thanksgiving to God and then the peace descends upon me like a gentle rain from heaven! Thank you Father! Thank you for reminding me that stuff is nothing to be worrying about!
A verse in Luke 12 is quoted a lot of times: "...how much more valuable you are than birds!" But the parable before this section on worrying really needs to be looked at in conjunction with what Jesus is telling his disciples about our value. In Luke 12: 13-21, Jesus tells the parable of the rich fool who is blessed with a lot of "stuff". The rich man decides that in order to store all of his stuff he will tear down his barns and build bigger and better barns. And then, the rich man says to himself "You have plenty of good thing laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry" Luke 12:19. But God calls this man a fool! Why? Because this rich man was so worried about himself. He was so worried about his stuff! He was so caught up in things that he had forgotten about God. He had forgotten about building up for himself "treasure in heaven" and instead was focused on obtaining stuff on this earth.
Do we worry more because we have so much stuff? When our church staff members visit the slums in India, they come back every time commenting on how happy these people are. These people of NO stuff as compared to what we have here in America. Even the poorest of person here has more than those living in the Indian slums.
Is that why Jesus immediately turns to his disciples and says "why do you worry"? Jesus knows how much we love our stuff. BUT he says, "the pagan world runs after all such things.." don't worry about running after the stuff! Your Father in heaven knows that you need food, drink, and clothing so don't worry about accumulating such stuff!
So...when I'm lying awake in bed at night worrying...My Father in heaven is saying to me "O you of little faith" trust me! Worrying is not going to add a single hour to you life. Worrying only causes stress, tension, broken relationships, harsh words, and health problems! It is in these moments of sleeplessness I have to say "Yes, Father. I know you will provide. Let me thank you for all the many blessings that you have provided me!"And I pour out my thanksgiving to God and then the peace descends upon me like a gentle rain from heaven! Thank you Father! Thank you for reminding me that stuff is nothing to be worrying about!
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