Neglected Garden

“So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.” (Acts 6:2 NIV)

For the first time in several years, I did not do any gardening this summer. I had other priorities. Thus, I didn’t plant, weed, or water anything. Unfortunately, my neglected garden didn’t stay dormant during the summer. It filled up with unsightly weeds.

Relationships require consistent nurturing. They have to be watered, weeded, and fertilized at appropriate times. Communion with God also needs constant care. It isn’t something that we can pick up at our convenience.

There are seasons of life when I neglect what God calls me to be in order to pursue other agendas. Invasive busyness takes over. My life gets filled with ugly weeds--pointless habits that suck up time and energy. When I look back, I realize that, although I worked really hard, I produced very little of substance.

Lord, help me to consistently nurture my relationship with You. Protect me from distractions. Pull out the weeds that are taking up space. Enable me to be attentive to whatever you have called me to be today.

Brim Over

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV)

The Crow and  the Pitcher, one of Aesop’s Fables, describes a thirsty bird who finds a pitcher with water at the bottom. The crow cannot reach the water with its beak, so it picks up nearby pebbles and drops them in one by one until the water rises to the top. What was once beyond reach is made accessible.

The power of the Holy Spirit resides in each of us, but it is sometimes unreachable. The pebbles of trust, joy, peace, gratitude, devotion, and submission--immersed one by one--brings the Spirit to the surface. What was once beyond reach is made accessible. The life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit brims over, infusing us with hope.

Spiritual Needs

“We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.” (Romans 15:2 NLT)

What do we seek from the Lord?

Many of us begin with prayer for our immediate physical comfort. Then, we move on to emotional and spiritual needs: healing, forgiveness, love, acceptance, clarity, strength, wisdom, guidance, meaning, and purpose. Those of us who have reserves of faith are called to share with those who are running dry.

One of my neighbors delivers and stocks frozen pizza at local stores. He parks his delivery truck in his driveway overnight. I can hear his large truck rumbling down the road in the early morning hours as he goes to the warehouse to pick up his daily load. He spends the rest of the day stocking the freezers of all the local stores with pizza so that customers have access to them.

Similarly, many of us are called to be the middle person who builds up others in Christ. We wake up in the early morning hours and wait upon the Lord. We submit our requests, concerns, fears, weaknesses, confusion, and questions. The Spirit of God pours into us gently and slowly. Once we are filled, we go out into the day. We distribute what we have been granted. We make God’s gifts accessible. We stock up and serve the spiritual needs of those around us.

“In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3 NIV)

Using Your Cross

“If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself. You must take up your cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34 CEV)

The cross represents suffering, sacrifice, and submission. Christ died on the cross in acceptance of the Divine will. His resurrection led to our salvation. As Christians, we are taught to take up our cross and follow Him. Most of us view our weaknesses and burdens as personal crosses. We drag them behind us awkwardly. We don’t know how these heavy encumbrances could be useful in our walk of faith.

After a leg injury, crutches can be helpful during your recovery. However, crutches can also be a drag, if you don’t know how to use them properly. It helps to have someone with experience show you the proper technique of using crutches. You want to put your weak leg behind you and learn to put weight on the crutches. This allows you to move forward more efficiently.

Once you learn to merge  your personal weaknesses with the cross, you can learn to use it like a crutch to move forward.  Let’s say you have a particular cross to bear right now. Are you dragging it behind you by still depending on your injured appendage to get you where you want to go?  Or can you offer up your suffering to Christ and use the cross as a pivot to move forward?

Speaking Truth

“Speak truth to one another, render true and sound decisions in your gates.” (Zechariah 3:18 BSB)

Speaking truth seems like a simple concept, but it isn’t. There are so many factors to consider:

Is this my opinion or is it truth?

How will it be received?

What is my motivation for speaking up?

Will it create productive change or merely conflict?

Will silence cause more damage?

The Greek word parrhesia means to speak truth without ambiguity or circumlocution. French philosopher Michel Foucault described the concept of parrhesia in the following terms: “the speaker uses his freedom and chooses frankness instead of persuasion, truth instead of falsehood or silence, the risk of death instead of life and security, criticism instead of flattery, and moral duty instead of self-interest and moral apathy."

Transparency is more about accountability than self-expression.  Truth telling is a multi-step commitment. There is a cost: loss of privacy, security, relationships, and reputation.  Moral apathy and self-interest will have to take a back seat to your conscience. Once you speak truth, be prepared to stand up against the pushback. People will question your motives and you will most likely face criticism.  Boundaries, once drawn, have to be enforced. Sound decisions will have to be made within these lines. Truth, when motivated by love, is sacrificial, kind, and honorable. It doesn’t seek power, but healing and growth.

Isolation

“Elijah obeyed God's orders. He went and camped in the Kerith canyon on the other side of the Jordan.” (1 Kings 17:5 MSG)

When the world and its problems become overwhelming, I feel the urge to get away. I try to find quick and easy ways to decompress--browsing social media, watching mindless television shows, or pursuing other distractions. This is as counterproductive as drinking coffee when stressed. Instead of getting away from worldliness, I become even more immersed.

These days, I have learned to seek out a few hours of seclusion in nature. I leave all my digital devices behind and go out for a run by myself.  I use this time to talk to God. I tell Him my concerns. I ask for input. I argue. I complain. I pray. Isolation with Jesus clears my mind and calms me. My spirit is reoriented. I come away from my retreat strengthened and rejuvenated.

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.’” (Matthew 6:31 WE)

Praying Isaiah 61

Lord, may your Spirit be upon me

To bring good news to the downcast

To announce freedom to all those in bondage

To tell others of Your grace

To comfort all those who mourn

To share joy instead of gloom

To encourage drooping spirits

To rebuild those who are broken

To be inclusive of outsiders

And bring justice to the marginalized

For You, Lord, are fair and righteous

You hate injustice and wrongdoing

And compensate all who suffer

You have dressed us with righteousness

And equipped us with the freedom to choose

Your Truth is on display

For all who pay attention

May we represent You

With wisdom, reverence,

Praise and joy

Self-care vs. Self-indulgence

“Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.” (3 John 1:2 NLT)

Is there a difference between self-care and self-indulgence?

Self-indulgence is eating candy, while self-care is eating a salad.

Self-indulgence is spending money you don’t have on things you don’t need, while self-care is paying off debts, so that you can sleep peacefully.

Self-indulgence is surrounding yourself with fake people who tell you what you want to hear, while self-care is spending time with people who make you a better person.

Self-indulgence feels good as you are doing it, but it is not always beneficial in the long run. There is nothing wrong with occasional indulgences, but it’s difficult to know when you’ve slipped into excess. It’s like trying to decide if you are sober enough to drive after you’re drunk. You can’t depend on your own judgment when it is already impaired. Self-indulgence can be thrilling or mind-numbing. It can be compulsive and sometimes destructive.  In contrast, self-care is good for you. It may not always feel pleasurable at the moment, but it doesn’t have to feel depriving either.  Self-care nurtures your body, mind, and spirit. It is intentional and mindful and often requires some planning. It is never harmful--to yourself or anyone else.  In essence, self-care nourishes your value and worth. It cultivates health in body, strength in spirit, and wellness in soul.

Waiting for Growth

“With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness.” (2 Peter 3:8-9 MSG)

Curry leaf plants are hard to grow, especially in colder climate zones. Propagation of new plants involves carefully cutting out new shoots from underground roots of established plants. My mature curry plant produces one or two new shoots per year. Over the last several years, I’ve given every new seedling I have had to a dear friend who is a master gardener. She recently sent me this email update on her experience with these young plants:

“I have had a  hard time getting them to grow.  Because of the nature of curry leaf plants, the seedlings  don't have a lot of root development, and they seem to easily bite the dust.  With these latest two, I kept them on my basement windowsill even when all the leaves had fallen off. I watered them occasionally. After several months, one of them surprised me by beginning to show signs of leaves sprouting at one of the lower junctures.  I moved them both under my grow lights. The one on the right was still bare, but after a while, as the grow light shone on it, the bare stem looked like it had a greenish cast. At least five or six times, I picked it up and looked to see if I could really see any green, but nothing... Imagine my surprise when I noticed buds swelling all up on the twig. They had been on the windowsill for months with no sign of life. Really, the only thing I did to cause those little curry leaf seedlings to grow was not give up hope that they could grow--even when things looked quite dead.” (JW)

My friend sent me this update knowing how much I would appreciate this metaphor and the lessons of hope, persistence, and trust contained within this story. I have been praying for certain people and situations for years...watching and waiting for growth.  There are days when I feel discouraged and defeated. But God speaks to me through good friends who remind me not to give up, even when things look bleak.

While I am waiting for God to change those around me, He is patiently working on me. He turns me to the light--watering, fertilizing, pruning--watching carefully to see if I show signs of growth. He desires for me to be rooted in trust, well-grounded in faith.

With God, a decade is like a day. He isn’t late with His promises; it’s just that His timing does not always align with our expectations. God never gives up. He nurtures each of us until we develop new buds of hope, patience, and steadfastness. He longs for the day when His plans for us come to fruition.    

Traffic Jams and Detours

“Forget about deciding what's right for each other. Here's what you need to be concerned about: that you don't get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is.” (Romans 14:13 MSG)

Religious traditions and practices are meant to help us connect with God. What we find meaningful often depends on our denominational and cultural background. For example, someone who was raised Catholic might find the Eucharist and the Rosary to be integral to their faith. Evangelicals might say that daily Bible study is essential. Other denominations may hold that speaking in tongues, fasting, singing, and other rituals are the best way to communicate with God.

Religion is like a form of mass transit. It can move large groups of people closer to popular destinations. And just like public transportation, religious traditions have some limitations. They can only get you to the closest station; you will still need to find your own way to your final goal.  It also doesn’t work well for individuals who need to take an unconventional path or are on a different time schedule.

My current church feels like I’m in a bus that is stuck in traffic. I sense that I am moving forward but really slowly. I’ve been in churches that moved faster but detoured me away from God. I don’t do well in groups that peddle a packaged, heavily processed, entertaining, social club scene.  It feels regressive and distracting. I find solitude, contemplation, study, writing, and private prayer grow my faith. However, the way I commune with God might not work for anyone else. It is not up to me to decide what is right for others. If I criticize the way others practice faith, it may cause them to stumble. We each have to find our own way to draw closer to God, to connect, and to become mature in faith.

Second-hand Evil

“You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat.” (Ephesians 2:2-3 MSG)

When I was young, my Dad and most of his friends smoked. It was the 1970’s, and smoking was a common practice. Tobacco smoke contains hundreds of toxins, many of which can cause cancer. The smoke that came out of the tips of the cigarettes, as well as that exhaled by the smokers, poisoned every child who was nearby. I grew up inhaling second-hand smoke in my home, in the car, and at all social events. We also lived in the humid climate of southern Texas. Many homes were filled with black mold. Since I was a child, I didn’t have the knowledge or power to get away from this environment.

When we are under the sway of this world, we fill our lungs with its pollution. As children, we may not have very many options, but as adults we get to choose our environment. We can choose to hang out with smokers or live in homes with black mold. Or, we can get away. We can choose to surround ourselves with those who embrace darkness or with those who live in the light. There will be a cost either way--immediate social and economic inconvenience for leaving what is familiar or health issues in the future.  

What we inhale affects what we exhale. If we surround ourselves with evil, we are bound to breathe it in. The toxins seep into our lungs, our bloodstream, and eventually into every cell in our bodies. We become consumed by the darkness and controlled by the devil--the commander of all worldly pollution. What we exhale begins to contaminate future generations--passing on our attitudes of carelessness, rebelliousness, and disobedience--further causing humanity to be driven away from the purposes of God.

Dealing with Evil

(continued from previous post)

“Stay away from every kind of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22 NLT)

Here are some of the main points from the last few days:

Evil exists.

It can infect our souls.

It can be subtle and difficult to identify.

Ignoring it is dangerous.

We use specially trained dogs to sniff out explosives. Then the bomb squad goes in to detonate the weapon. They know the danger. They are trained and equipped to handle these situations. This is not a job for everyone. Many of us will need assistance from those who are specially skilled to recognize evil and defuse it.

The best approach to dealing with evil is to stay away from it. Reject any person or practice that may expose you to darkness. If you see something that even remotely looks like poison ivy or a venomous snake, it’s not wise to get closer for confirmation; just get away. Another way to keep evil from infecting you is to increase your spiritual immunity. Infuse your life with goodness--surround yourself with those who are pure, noble, humble, truthful, authentic, compassionate, generous, consistent, ethical, and life-giving. Ask God to protect you and direct you. Remain vigilant.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  (Romans 12:21 NIV)

Recognizing Evil

(Continued  from previous post)

“What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20 NLT)

Evil is difficult to explain. It’s like trying to express how a durian fruit smells. Its noxious odor is hard to describe in words. Some people have heightened olfactory senses and can smell a durian from a distance, especially if they are familiar with this fruit. Similarly, those who have the gift of spiritual discernment are better equipped to sense the presence of evil.

A few possible signs of evil:

--deception

--manipulation

--disguise of self  

--enjoyment in the pain of others

--actively ignoring truth

--degeneration, destruction

--words incongruent with behavior

Watch out for recurring patterns. If you notice a person or group that displays these characteristics in multiple areas--in the way they relate to their spouse, children, and other close friends, in their work, finances, civic duties, and social settings--don’t ignore this data. Evil will  misrepresent itself as good, creating confusion. Be alert and careful.

“Give Thy servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people to discern between good and evil.” (1 Kings 3:9 NAS)

(continued...)

Flawed vs. Evil

“Jesus ordered the evil spirit to come out of the man. The evil spirit had controlled the man for a long time.” ( Luke 8:20 GWT)

Humanity is imperfect. We are all flawed in some way or another. Our weaknesses, when left unchecked, can prod us to do wrong--even when we know what is right. This tendency to exercise free will in ways that harm ourselves, others, and our environment is so prevalent that we accept it as part of human nature.

Do Evil forces exist?

Or is it just a word we use to describe human frailty?

Those who recognize the presence of Good can also admit that there must be an opposing force of Evil.  However, there are many who do not believe in anything that can’t be measured, seen, or touched. Discounting Evil as just an extreme form of human weakness allows it to propagate.

Scientific study has allowed us to better understand causes and treatments for many biological and psychological disorders. Spiritual illness still remains a mystery. I wish I could describe the concept of Evil without using spiritual language, but that would be like explaining a math problem without using numbers. You see, just like an unseen virus can cause physical disease, and unknown factors can lead to mental illness, supernatural Evil can corrupt our souls. And just like a virus seeks a host to propagate and spread, Evil seeps into human hearts where it multiplies. If allowed,  it can take control of our free will, influencing our thoughts, speech, and behavior. Left unchecked, Evil brings destruction to our souls and everything around us.

(cont..)

Cultural Influences

“More than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. (Matthew 6:33 CEV)

Certain cultures emphasize the importance of the collective over the individual. Everyone is encouraged to put the needs of the community over their own. Cohesion,  cooperation, generosity, hospitality, and selflessness are highly valued. Conformity is mandatory. Isolation is seen as a form of punishment. Social shunning is used to keep people in line with the rules and regulations of the majority. Martyrdom, committed for the honor of one’s tribe, is glorified. Just as success of one individual can elevate the reputation of extended families, one’s failure can also diminish the reputation of many.  Thus, many who live in collectivist cultures are driven by an obligatory sense of duty and an aversion to ostracism.

Many western cultures promote individualism over collectivism. Self-reliance, initiative, competition, and self-actualization supersede the needs of the community.  Individual rights, passions, and achievement are highly valued. Solitude and privacy are sought after, not seen as forms of punishment. Conformity is considered boring. One’s identity is defined more by individual conduct than by the choices of relatives. Dependence on others is strongly discouraged. Individualistic cultures are driven by the desire for personal success, self-expression, and independence.

As followers of Christ, we are taught a third way--to seek our identity from our relationship with God. Neither individual success nor societal validation is our goal. Our priority is to put God’s work first and do what He wants. Everything else is secondary. We may sow and reap, succeed and fail, gain and lose. Our desires, ambitions, anxieties, and flaws do not disappear. Yet, we channel them in ways that honor the Lord. We seek solitude and quiet for prayer and contemplation. Conformity with Christ is highly valued. We are influenced by the Holy Spirit. Thus, we  are driven by love, compassion, and truth.

Wasted Morning

“We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence...” (Romans 13:13 MSG)

I tend to be most energetic and focused in the morning. I try to  capitalize on this by scheduling my running, writing, studying--all in the first few hours of waking up. But some days, I get lazy and distracted. I linger in bed; I indulge leisurely over my coffee while checking emails and reading the latest news. Before I know it, it’s close to noon, and I’ve squandered these precious hours.

As I get older, I am aware that my years of peak physical vitality and mental acuity are winding down. I can’t afford to waste any more time on personal gratification. I don’t want to squander my days on frivolity and indulgence, oblivious to what is truly important. Instead, I need to be alert to what God is doing and participate with everything I have left. I have to clothe myself in the light of Christ and get moving.

“Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about!” (Romans 12:14 MSG)

Source of Courage

“Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen Me and yet have believed and adhered to and trusted and relied on Me.” (John 20:29 AMPC)

The storm raged on. I huddled in the basement watching the local weather report. Images of hail, wind, rain, uprooted trees, and thousands of homes without power flickered across the screen. The meteorologists warned everyone to stay in their safe place. I wanted to see if we had any roof or tree damage but decided to heed their warnings and stay away from the windows. I was glad the satellite dish still worked--but soon the storm cut that off. At least we still had electricity. I got online and watched the live radar. That lasted about half an hour until the power went off too. Now I was completely in the dark. I had no idea what was going on outside. I realized that whatever little courage I had was based on seeing and knowing what was happening and then trying to figure out how I could manage it. I started praying, because I couldn’t think of anything else to do.

Like most people, I tend to rely on what I can see, touch, measure, and control. God is unseeable, immeasurable, intangible, and unmanageable; trusting in Him feels precarious and foolish. Even though I know deep down that my circumstances can change any moment and my self-sufficiency is limited, I still cling to my illusions--until even those are stripped away from me. I wait until all my other options are exhausted before I seek God’s help.

Uncertain times are the training ground for trust. When all that is visible and tangible is taken away, when life becomes unmanageable--we learn to lean on the Lord and not on our own insights and understanding. God alone becomes our source of courage and confidence. Faith calls us to have assurance in the unseen, to rely on the unknowable, to adhere to that which  remains unsubstantiated.

Nonverbal Prayers

“When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence.

Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear.” (Lamentations 3:28 MSG)

Prayer does not require words. It might help us to express our concerns to God in cohesive sentences, but it makes no difference to an omniscient God. Whether we pray out loud or in our minds, whether we kneel, stand, sit, or lie face down--might improve our focus, but it doesn’t change God who remains constant and accessible.

When my worries threaten to engulf me, I find a quiet place. I have a hard time formulating words at this time. Thus, I wrap up my anxieties in an imaginary box and submit it to God. I don’t make requests or give suggestions. I don’t ask questions. I wait silently. Feelings of panic, sadness, and fear well up inside me. I wait a bit longer. Acceptance, gladness, and gratitude usually follow. I don’t shape these emotions into words; I just let them flow through me. Eventually, I am fueled with enough hope and peace to get up and move. I know that God is near. In the hard times and the good times, He remains dependable. He is attentive to my heart cries. I trust Him.

Praying Romans 12

Lord, I take my daily life and offer it to You.

Do not let me be conformed to the patterns of this world.

Instead, transform me by changing the way I think.

Teach me to be responsive to Your Spirit.

Show me how to lead a life of meaning and purpose.

Correct me when I misrepresent You.

Do not allow me to be prideful, bossy, manipulative, or impatient.

Protect me from discouragement, corruption, and burnout.

Fill me with empathy, humility, generosity, and goodness.

Help me to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Do not let evil get the best of me.

Instead, teach me how to overcome evil by doing good.

Responding to God

“Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:2 MSG)

I was browsing the vitamin aisle at the store when I noticed a row of multivitamins for ‘mature adults.’ I wondered what it took to qualify as a mature adult? I’m not sure if I’ve grown much in the last year. I have made a few new friends and learned some things. I’ve traveled and had several novel experiences. I’ve tried different dishes at exotic restaurants and cooked experimental recipes at home.  I may have gained a few pounds--but I can’t say I am more mature than I was last year at this time. In fact, I feel like a piece of chicken that has been grilled on a hot flame--well done on the outside and still bloody on the inside.

Many adults seem externally well-adjusted. We know how to fit in without challenging the status quo. We are responsive to cultural expectations and pressure--making superficial changes to be pleasing and acceptable to those around us. Unfortunately, this just drags us down to the level of immaturity that is prevalent in society.

It’s difficult to be responsive to both culture and to God. A certain amount of detachment from the world can increase our sensitivity to the Holy. When we become conscious of what God wants and learn to be receptive--it brings out the best in us. In time, we are transformed from the inside out--growing in spiritual awareness and maturity.