Transfiguration

“There he was transfigured before them.” (Mark 9:2 NIV)

These days, the word ‘transformation’ is used to describe everything from cosmetic changes to home redecorating. Every time we lose a few pounds, get a new hair color, or experience something new--we claim to be transformed. The over usage of this word has diminished its impact. Self-actualization, a similar concept, was made popular by psychologist Abraham Maslow. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, once our basic needs are met, we have a desire to achieve our full potential--to become self-actualized.

Fortunately, the word ‘transfiguration’ has not yet been usurped by popular culture. What does it mean to be transfigured? How is it different from transformation or self-actualization?

Self-actualization calls us to fulfill our human potential. Transformation requires us to change. Transfiguration, on the other hand, necessitates the shedding and peeling away of our human exterior. God’s sphere of influence extends further when we live in ways that reveal His glory. God’s kingdom comes to earth when we operate more from our spiritual nature than merely from our human nature.

Lord, may we shed everything that covers up Your Spirit within us.

God Thing

“Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV)

Recently, young people all over the world have become obsessed with a game called Pokemon GO. This downloadable app uses augmented reality to incorporate actual surroundings through the use of GPS and a phone’s camera. This game allows players to see virtual characters on their device screens as if they were right in front of them.

A friend of mine recently commented on how she notices ‘God things’ frequently. Miracles of all magnitude, revelations of God’s presence and power, are prevalent in our daily lives. However, many of us fail to recognize these supernatural manifestations. We may acknowledge that something is unusual, but it doesn’t register in our minds as a ‘God thing.’ Thus, we miss opportunities to encounter and experience God. Our rational minds are not equipped to perceive the mystical. We must ask the Spirit of God to come down upon us. Then, our spiritual senses become activated. We start noticing God’s fingerprints everywhere--in the surprising beauty of nature, in the joy of relationships, in the clarity of sudden insights, in small but significant coincidences, and in the resolution of seemingly impossible problems. As we learn to recognize the signs, our excitement and interest in the search intensifies. The more we seek, the more we find. The more we ask, the more we are given. The more we knock, the more doors are opened. In due time, our focus shifts from our circumstances to recognizing God in our midst.

I pray that we may seek the Lord and His strength continually.

Living Within Margins

“Make the border a handbreadth wide all around it...” (Exodus 25:25 MSG)

Are you one of those people who leaves wide margins when you write? Or do you write all the way to the edges, filling up every inch of the page? A page with margins on all sides is easier to read. It also allows some space for additional notes, comments, and corrections.

Does your daily life have margins? Do you create buffer spaces around your time, energy, finances, and other commitments? Or do you believe that to be wasteful and inefficient?

Creating wide margins and living within them actually make your life more organized and effective. Even more importantly, it allows some space for you to notice God’s notations and corrections. Opportunities for spiritual understanding shrink when you are overwhelmed and stressed. We all have limited reserves. Thus, it is important to be selective when deciding what to include and what to exclude. Don’t fill up every inch of your life with pleasures, distractions, and projects. Leave plenty of space for Divine input.

Lord, help me to leave plenty of space for YOU to work in all areas of my life. May I notice your notations and corrections, hear your instructions, and make necessary changes.

Embarrassed

“If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man.” (Mark 8:38 MSG)

Teenagers are often embarrassed to be seen with their parents. My son was no exception. When we would go to the grocery store, he would either be way ahead or lag way behind. Since my son always pushed the shopping cart when he was with me, this quickly became inconvenient. I would pick up several items that we needed, and he would be nowhere to be seen. I have walked around with a gallon of milk, looking for my son and his cart. I have dropped items as I try to balance several items in my arms. I have  called out his name across the aisles of the supermarket as I searched for him. All this unnecessary awkwardness could have been avoided if he would have just stayed close by my side.

Our desire to seem worldly, sophisticated, independent, and relevant often drives us to put some space between us and God. However, our Father wants us to stay close and receive His blessings. He calls out to us when we wander off, but we are often too far away to hear Him. When we refuse to associate with Him, when we are embarrassed to be seen with him, when we pretend we don’t even know Him, we miss out.

Father, grant us the maturity and desire to remain close to You at all times and at any cost.

Home

“God, it seems you’ve been our home forever.” (Psalm 90:1 MSG)

What comes to mind when you think of home? Is it a place? A person? A feeling?

I do not claim a city as my hometown, since I’ve lived in many places. My current house has been my longest dwelling and my favorite place thus far. But home is more than just a building or a place. My husband, my son, my dog, my friends, my sister--these are the people with whom I can be myself. They accept me ‘as is’--I don’t feel the need to prove myself worthy in order to win their love and approval. Thus, when I am with these people, I feel at home...to a certain extent. As soon as something disruptive happens, the sanctity of my sanctuary is breached; I become a refugee seeking a new refuge.

The concept of home evokes feelings of security, stability, love, acceptance, privacy, peace, comfort, and familiarity. Most of us keep searching for this elusive feeling of belonging. We imagine that this can be found in certain locations or with like-minded people. We may experience moments where we feel at home, but rarely do they last. This is because this world is not our home. We may have glimpses of what it means to feel unconditional love and acceptance, vague impressions of grace that is yet to be fully experienced. There is a reason for that sense of displacement we feel. Like salmon and sea turtles, we seem to be imprinted with a deep memory of the moment we were created. Before we were born on this earth, we knew God and were known by God. Our souls have experienced unconditional love and acceptance. This drives us to keep seeking God, who has been our home forever.  We long to go back  where we belong.

“You have formed us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in You.” (St. Augustine)

Thresholds

“As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.” (Isaiah 62:5 NIV)

Liminality is defined as the transitional period or phase of a rite of passage. It is the condition of being on a threshold or at the beginning of a process. We have all experienced transitions--from childhood to adulthood, from student to worker, from employed to unemployed, from single to married, from married to divorced, from young to old, from strong to weak, from rich to poor, from being needed to no longer relevant...

"Liminal space is an inner state and sometimes an outer situation where we can begin to think and act in genuinely new ways. It is when we are betwixt and between, having left one room or stage of life but not yet entered the next. During this graced time we are not certain or in control. This openness allows room for something genuinely new to happen. We are empty and receptive. Liminal space is where we are most teachable." —Richard Rohr

Transitional phases make us vulnerable. The uncertainty and discomfort often cause us to linger undecidedly on the threshold.  Should we go back to the familiar or move forward into the unexplored? The unknown is always a bit scary. It takes courage to knock on strange doors, assertiveness to negotiate entry, and a willingness  to learn and adapt once you are inside.  This process is not always smooth and simple. Many of us clumsily trip over the threshold or are forcibly pushed from behind by circumstances. This usually results in a less than graceful entrance into new phases.  However, there is another option. We can trust Christ, our Bridegroom, to carry us over each threshold. We can acknowledge our insufficiency while recognizing His capability. We can submit to His power. We can cling to Him in faith and love.  

Lord, may we trust you to carry us and our loved ones across the thresholds of life.

Ephphatha!

“Looking up to heaven, he sighed and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Be opened!” Instantly the man could hear perfectly, and his tongue was freed so he could speak plainly!” (Mark 7:34-35 NLT)

Last year, my husband and I were stuck in a traffic jam for over two hours. Some sort of accident up ahead blocked everything for miles. We couldn’t even see what was happening; all we could do was wait and hope that things would clear up eventually.

Most of us have experienced professional, financial, emotional, relational, and spiritual blockages. We get stuck in situations that seem to have no outlet. We can’t see what’s ahead, and we don’t know how long we will remain in this state of stagnation. This leads to confusion, frustration, and discouragement.

We fail to remember that we have a Lord who says: ‘Ephphatha--be opened.” He opens the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind. He opens our minds so that we may understand. He unblocks the path ahead and leads the way. Jesus also said that we may ask for anything in His name and He will do it (John 14:14). Thus, whenever we face any sort of obstruction, we can boldly pray:

Ephphatha--be opened! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Recognizing Holiness

“For when they see their many children and all the blessings I have given them, they will recognize the holiness of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 29:23 NLT)

Every blessing is from God. It is not a product of our hard work or talent. It is the work of God’s hands. This realization is humbling and overwhelming at the same time. It is awe inspiring; we can’t help but venerate the holiness of God. This world also has its share of calamity and corruption. Is this also from God?

Recently, there was much hoopla about a talented basketball player who decided to leave one team for another. As a free agent, he could make his own choice. He opted to switch teams for a higher salary and the possibility of a championship ring.

All of us are free agents. We get to choose between Good and Evil--between worldly profit and eternal gain. Our preference reflects our priorities and viewpoints; it does not detract from God’s holiness. The cumulative decisions of humanity have long-range effects. God created us with free will. We have the ability to bless and to curse, to create and to destroy, to join Team Good or Team Evil.

Lord, help us to recognize that we were created for Your sacred purpose. Protect us against the temptations of evil. Show us how to consecrate our lives to You.

Diving Deep

“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-5 NIV)

Pain is not fun, yet, it can be useful. Suffering can prompt us to look deeper into ourselves, to question our motives, and to examine our emotions.  It can help us see clearly.

Deep sea divers wear weighted belts to counteract the buoyancy of their diving gear. Otherwise, they would keep floating back up to the surface. Without the extra weight, they wouldn’t be able to stay in the depths and examine the ocean floor.

“The burden of suffering seems a tombstone hung about our necks, while in reality it is only the weight which is necessary to keep down the diver while he is hunting for pearls.” (Johann Richter)

Suffering is not meant to drown us, but to allow us to examine the depths. We are stripped of self-sufficiency and are forced to rely on God’s sufficiency. We may no longer be able to breathe alone, but we can still breathe through the power of the Holy Spirit. We move through grace.  As we swim through the deep, we develop perseverance and character. We search with hope. Eventually, we discover pearls of truth and wisdom.

“And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:5 NLT)

Praying in the Holy Spirit

“Dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:20 MSG)

I have a love/hate relationship with Yoga. I like the stretchy parts...but the slow movements,the still positions, and the deep breaths are not suited to my temperament. It doesn’t feel like I’m doing anything. Like most people, I am used to taking shallow breaths as I go about my daily activity. Taking time to be still and breathe seems, somehow, unproductive.

Stillness, solitude, and silence are all prerequisites to awareness. There is a part of us that is holy--consecrated and set apart for sacred use. It is a deep, inner chamber that we rarely access. Usually we operate from the superficial, outer layers of our psyche. The Spirit of God dwells deep within us. And we must breathe deeply in order to hear His voice. Praying is like spiritual breathing. We can either have shallow prayers or deep prayers that originate from the core of our spirit. The English word, spirit, originates from the Latin words spirare (to breathe) and spiritus (breath). Thus, praying in the Holy Spirit is equivalent to allowing God’s sacred breath to flow through us. Our prayers become inspired, motivated, and guided by the Spirit.  As we learn to submit, we are overtaken by His influence; we become receptive to His revelations; we move closer to the center of God’s love.

May the sacred breath of God inspire, guide, and motivate our prayers.

Good Tired

“Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” (Mark 6:31 MSG)

I’ve had one of those weeks where there was a lot going on. I thrive on routine and this week there was very little of it. Even though it was a hectic week, most of what I had to do brought me some level of satisfaction. I felt drained, but it was a ‘good tired.’ Like a car with low tire pressure, I was slightly deflated and in need of some air. I went for a long run outside. I spent some time in contemplation. Now I’m back to normal. All it took was a bit of fresh air and solitude to rejuvenate me.

However, there was one incident last week that left me deflated. It was a phone call that lasted less than thirty minutes, but it took me several days to recover from it. This time, I felt like a car with its tires slashed. I was more than tired; I was damaged. I couldn’t fix this myself.

When we are low on energy, we can’t always tell if we are merely exhausted, or if there is some long-term injury. Tiredness can be fixed with some rest, but brokenness requires much more. Fortunately, we have a God who is attentive, able, and available. He restores the weary, heals the wounded, and strengthens the weak. We can go to Him with confidence no matter what our circumstances.

Lord, I come to you with my weakness, my weariness, and my woundedness. Please restore me to the person you created me to be.

Character

Continued from last post...

“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." ( 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV)

Jesus knew there was a difference between His reputation and His character. He was aware that people were fickle, while His character was unchanging. He was not concerned about increasing His standing in society or improving others’ perceptions about Him. He lived out His true Divine character.

“Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” (John Wooden)

In past centuries, those who were born into noble families were held in higher esteem than those who were born into peasant families. Fortunately, society is slowly realizing that true nobility is not something one is born into; it is something one grows into.

We can always find others who bend more to societal expectations than we do. This lulls us into thinking that we are less hypocritical than others. As long as we continue to pander to public opinion, we participate in perpetuating the delusion.

Even though we are born into a culture that values reputation over character, we were made for a higher purpose. The Lord does not look at outward appearances, but He scans our motives. We can surrender to the One who created us and therefore knows best how to build our characters into what He intended. Then we shall be able to cultivate nobility, build character, stay true to ourselves, and become who we were created to be.

Lord, build up our character. May we be influenced by Your Spirit, not by public opinion.

Reputation

“The hearts of the people are fickle;” (Hosea 10:2 NLT)

When we meet a new person, we size them up--we determine their worth based on external appearances. Are they acceptably attired? Do they have respectable credentials? Are they displaying proper behavior? Most importantly, do they make us feel good about ourselves?  

It is natural to make quick, initial assessments about people. Unfortunately, many of us never go beyond these rudimentary presumptions. We judge the value of individuals and relationships based on societal correctness instead of on authenticity. We are impressed by pretentious behavior, fake nobility, and insincere displays of affection. We put more stock in superficial appearances than in sincerity. We care more about what others think of us than we do about who we truly are. In time, we lose our ability to recognize what is genuine. We unwittingly become participants in the counterfeit economy, peddling hypocrisy, buying and selling meaningless trappings of superiority.  And, since most of the world operates by this shallow value system, we pay more attention to protecting our reputation than to developing our character.  

Continued in next post…

Groaning Prayers

“We don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” (Romans 8:26 NLT)

As the years pass by, my prayers are getting simpler. I no longer try to direct God with suggestions on how He should intervene. The Lord knows what is best. I just need to know Him. These days, the focus of my prayers is more on God and less on my problems. I have realized that my anxiety tends to become yet another distraction which prevents me from hearing divine whispers. I lift each person and concern up to God, and then I release them like birds into the air.

Once I trust God, I am able to have a much deeper conversation with Him. Some days we enjoy companionable silence. Oftentimes, there are insights and specific instructions. However, not all of my prayer times are pleasant and peaceful. There are moments of deep intensity--where the Spirit groans and cries through me. I become like a swollen river during a flood--invasive and disruptive. I find myself crossing boundaries that I normally stay within.  When the Spirit of God takes over, even what little control I had is lost. This can be embarrassing and disconcerting.

Intimacy with God may not always be calm or enjoyable. However, it can be powerful. Once we hush all the the other voices, internal and external, we are able to listen to the still, small voice of God. Once we let go of our desire to be in control, we are able to allow the Spirit to flow through us and take charge of everything.  Prayer is no longer a struggle. We are eager to  surrender. We become receptive and responsive to the Holy Spirit. We yearn for His tender embrace. We wait joyfully, in anticipation, for our blessed union with God.

Lord, may our restlessness be replaced by the stillness of knowing You intimately.

Arise, Little Girl

“And he took the girl's hand and he said to her, ‘Little girl, arise.’” (Mark 5:41 Aramaic Bible in Plain English)

Every woman was once a little girl who brimmed with spirit and possibilities. As the years passed, the world imposed its projections and ickiness onto her. Buried under societal conventions, she became unconscious of who she was created to be. Her spirit was stifled. Her potential was quashed. Her passion was snuffed out. The little girl was gone.

Everyone assumes the little girl is dead, but she is only asleep--dormant underneath piles of rubbish. Until, one day, Christ takes her by the hand and says:  Arise, little girl. Shine brightly; laugh out loud; daydream to your heart’s desire. You are loved unconditionally; you are cherished; you belong to Me.

One Currency

Continued from last post...

Recently, the United Kingdom decided to leave the European Union. For years now, the UK has been using two different currencies: the pound sterling and the euro. Now that Britain has exited the eurozone, the UK will no longer trade in euros. The ramifications are enormous.

I must confess that I have been trying to use two different currencies--living on both the values of God’s Kingdom and those of the world.  I’m reluctant to commit completely to either. I feel squeamish about leaving old habits and going against community standards. Yet, I also feel the pull to leave my comfort zone and follow Christ into God’s Kingdom. Am I willing to relinquish the worldly currency that I have been stocking up on for all these years? Can I handle the rejection of my peers? Am I prepared for the uncertainty that lies ahead?

Lord, I am far from home, and I need your help. Grant me the courage and strength to leave the familiar, to accept worldly loss, and strive toward eternal gain.

Worldly Currency

"Be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own." (Mark 4:24 MSG)

The world trades in currencies of wealth, success, strength, beauty, intelligence, education, talents, luxury, security, and exclusivity. We are given shrewd advice on how to get ahead in this world on our own. Thus, many of us opt for obligatory gestures that display our greatness instead of meaningful actions that may be less impressive to others.

However, the Divine Realm has a different currency. It is backed by love, trust, empathy, forgiveness, sincerity, truth, inclusivity, and humility. It is based, not on getting ahead on our own, but on following behind Jesus. Just as one country’s monetary system is not accepted in another country, worldly currency has no value in God’s Kingdom and vice versa.

What each of us thinks is meaningful depends a lot on our value system. Are we investing in worldly currency or divine assets?

Continued in next post...

Light up the Darkness

“It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.” (2 Corinthians 4:6 MSG)

God’s intended purposes are good. His will is for us to experience health, wholeness, virtue, peace, and courage. He created us to live through Him, with Him, and in Him.  However, many of us have wandered away. We are lost in the darkness of illness, brokenness, sinfulness, conflict, and fear.

“The farther I run away from the place where God dwells, the less I am able to hear the voice that calls me the Beloved, and the less I hear that voice, the more entangled I become in the manipulations and power games of the world.” (Henri Nouwen, Return of the Prodigal Son)

Our human nature prompts us to prove that we can live and thrive on our own, independent of God. Some of us spend our entire lives in worldly pursuits. We become entangled in manipulations and power games. Christ comes out into the shadowlands to lead us back home. Some of us are reluctant to follow. We would rather that Christ follow us with blessings, as we explore our own dark agendas. We eventually figure out that this is NOT how things work. We turn around and submit to following Christ. The external evil does not disappear, but He illuminates the darkness within us. Our lives fill up with light as we understand God. We recognize that, although we live in this world, we don’t belong here. We may experience affliction, but we are able to look beyond our suffering. Our focus becomes the Light of Christ who leads us home to the Love of God.  

Faith Gauge

“Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:34 NLT)

When the gas gauge on my car shows anything less than half, I go get it filled up. I know people who routinely wait for their fuel lights to come on, and then see how far they can still push it before they actually put gasoline in their cars. In most instances, it isn’t because they don’t have money, or that gas stations are not available nearby. Some feel like they have enough reserves to make it for now. Others delay because there are too many other things that take priority.

Similarly, some of us allow our faith to run empty before we take time to approach God. Even when the warning signals of fear and hopelessness light up, we try to keep pushing along. Some of us operate under the false assumption that we have enough self-reserves. Others allow the craziness of life to distract them.  When we go too long without filling up on the Holy Spirit, we run dry and get stuck. We become stranded in the wilderness of despair.

When you sense fear, it’s a sign that trust is running low. Therefore, take time to replenish your faith every chance you get. Pull up and park yourself in the Spirit. Settle down in His presence. Fill up on the fullness of God.

May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope! (Romans 15:13 MSG)

Reading vs. Studying

“The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given.” (Mark 4:24 NLT)

There are some books that you can just read leisurely and others that require careful study. If you are taking an advanced physics class, merely reading the material would not be enough. In order to understand and internalize the concepts, you would have to take them apart, sketch them , analyze them, and make them your own. This would involve more time, energy, and concentration than reading a novel, for example.

Many of us read the Scriptures but don’t take the time to study them. Most of us Christians are so familiar with the stories and popular verses, that we don’t think the Bible has anything new or interesting left to offer us. This is not true. Simply reading or hearing the Word leaves us with a shallow understanding of deep Truth. In order to really know God, we have to be focused and intentional. Studying what God has to say leads us to insights and wisdom. The Holy Spirit within us untangles mysteries too unfathomable for the human mind. As our understanding deepens, our trust increases, and the closer we feel to God.

I pray that we may develop the discipline to study God’s Word. May the Holy Spirit guide us to a deeper understanding and knowledge of Truth.

The Fruit of Trust

“But all too quickly the message is crowded out by worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.” (Mark 4:19 NLT)

During the growing season, I work in my vegetable garden as much as I can. I try to plant, water, weed, mulch, and harvest the vegetables at the proper time. I keep a close eye on everything. I notice when the rabbits have nibbled on my lettuce or when new weeds pop up between my rows. Yesterday, I noticed that my ground cherry plant was looking droopy. The cilantro in the next row was growing tall and leggy--casting a shadow on the ground cherry plant. I had a choice to make, I would have to sacrifice one of the plants so the other could grow properly. Since I valued the ground cherries more, I pulled out the cilantro that was blocking its light.

The fruit of Trust grows on the plant of Truth. We must observe and be aware of what is really going on around us. God can reveal Truth in a multitude of ways as long as we are paying attention. Growth requires space, light, and nurturing. It may involve the sacrifice of other desirable things as well. Truth can be crowded out by the weeds of indifference, eaten up by the pests of worry, or overshadowed by the pursuit of success. Trust cannot develop if Truth is neglected. Thus, we have to choose what is most valuable to us. We may have to pull out some desirable things in order to allow Truth and Trust to flourish in our lives.

Lord, help us to recognize Truth and grow in Trust.