stand there

July 5, 2010. What is going on? You are searching for answers. But confusion has come. This has affected your peace of mind. You have begun to rely excessively upon your intellect and reason. The Lord says rely not on your own thinking or wisdom. You have been given the mind of Christ. You are hidden in Him and He lives within you. Therefore, your resources are without limit to gain supernatural knowledge of all things pertaining to you. God's wisdom is a free and an abundant gift. Settle down here beside Me. Everything is alright in the Father's house. You are here with Me and I am with you.
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NASB) "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." Ras Robinson


sometimes God says to just be! Be still and know that I am God.

"don't just do something, stand there!"

this is so backwards from what everyone is telling us all the time - what we are telling ourselves - what our value is measured by - what our worth is. We are programed to DO and DO some more until we are burnt out and run ragged - and people say "oh wow, they truly have been sacrificial - what a servant's heart" and they uphold this twisted martyrdom as heroic! I listen to it too! But, i have come to realize, running ourselves into the ground is not what God is looking for. Yes, he wants us to give ourselves up - He wants our all - but he want us to take care of that "all". He wants us to realize we can't do it - to come "to the end of ourselves" but long before we are burnt out - Rather than keep licking the last drops of water out of ourselves, He wants us to surrender to His abundant flow of living water - that He will generously pour into us so that we never run dry. WE never run dry - from HIS supply. WE don't have the answers, but HE does - and he wants to give them to us - in his time and as he will... if we would just come sit and rest by him. watch what he is about - learn to see with His vision - the complexity takes shape, rather than chaos and a mad tangle of spaghetti. He is there to comfort and He has a plan.
I rush around trying to fit it into a box - and he wants to burst through all boxes - to show himself to be more than we can ask or imagine!
I want to accomplish tangible goals to appear that im "doing something"
He says the waiting, watching, building relationships and 'random' conversations are just as valuable
I want to figure things out
He says listen
I want to pour myself out - to give - to be busy - to meet the needs
He says, His grace is sufficient. Rest. recognize He alone can bring healing
I want to know where im going
He says he will open the right doors when the time comes - take one step at a time. or even, there is a time to stand still.
Im tired of confusion!
Its not confusion - it is a melody - a tapestry - a masterpiece - you need only to step back and see.

Oh Lord, give me the eyes to see what you see! Help me to keep focused on your face - as i step into the waves -may i not fear the wind and waves, but see only you before me - and not even care that im walking on water. You are my strength and my song, my ever-present help in trouble.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths!
Proverbs 3:56

celebrate freedom

as we have cook-outs, watch fireworks, sing old "patriotic" songs - what is this "freedom" we celebrate? This independence for our country - this blessing of God we invoke - liberty and justice for all?
Who is given freedom? and on the backs of what lives? with the slave labor of who's ancestors and the destruction of who's land did we "boldly go west"
I suppose i listened to the songs we were singing a bit closer this year- trying listening as a wold-citizen - not 'Euro-centric' 'white' 'Caucasian' - or whatever term you like - American. Also, listening with the realization that freedom, justice and liberty never has truely been for all - there always seem to be the "except for..." category - or the ignored and pushed aside populations within our boarders.

"My country tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died!
Land of the Pilgrim's pride!
From every mountain side,
Let Freedom ring! "

The Pilgrim's pride means the first people's stolen land? Sweet land of liberty - yet when the declaration of independence was written, the rights of every man was pretty much just talking about white protestant property owners. Where were the rights for the women, the people of all different shades of skin , and those not wealthy enough to own property?
Thankfully things have changed - slowly - and slavery is now "illegal" around our "sweet land of liberty" nearly 200 years later! yet it still exists - people are still being bought and sold outright.
in a different light - people are held in debts, in greed, in consumerism, in lies and corruption... This land is not a pretty picture in many ways.

There is a place for thankfulness for the blessings we have - and yet always to remember there are others from whom these very blessings may be denied. How will we use our freedom to help others gain theirs?
We can praise the natural beauty of the country - yet remember we have a responsibility in caring for it -and remembering the hard truth of history. What is our role now in bringing healing and reconciliation? how will we take care of this earth, and the people on it?

Ultimately as Christians the boarders around us are not to be held onto so tightly. Our first allegiance is not to the United States of America, but "to a King and a Kingdom" as Derek Webb writes. Our citizenship is not here, but in Heaven - and our first goal is to reach others with the good news about Jesus - to offer that hope and true freedom - not to find ways to block our boarders and arrest those hear without papers, or without a voice to explain. Now, im not getting into all that -but just to think.

How might we better serve those around us, and bring a bit more truth to the phrase "sweet land of liberty"? The truth is, America is uniquely positioned in the world to make an impact for good - and more importantly, Christ has commanded his followers to be positioned in the world to make an impact for good - and for His kingdom!

May we pray for our broken country - and pray for our broken world - and pray how we might be called to step up and take action in our communities to bring Christ's healing and true freedom!