Prescriptions

“You can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it.” (from My Utmost for His Highest-- by Oswald Chambers)

In my search for truth, I discover faith. I try to share what I have found with others. It doesn’t work. What God has prescribed for me is specific for my healing. I shouldn’t try to share my prescription with others. I can reveal my woundedness, share the details of my healing process. This may cause others around me to desire healing.

I cannot slice a portion of my faith and share it like a slice of pie. However, I may be able to make others want a slice of the pie while I’m savoring it.

Similarly, I may be able to influence others to desire a relationship with God. It depends on whether I treat faith like medicine or pie. I usually have an unpleasant expression while I gulp down my pills. I know I have to take my medicine, but it gets stuck in my throat and makes me want to gag. Whereas, when I’m eating pie, I close my eyes and have an expression of joy and satisfaction. I take my medicine because I know I should. I eat pie because I crave it.

If my relationship with God is based on obligation and duty, I won’t be able to influence others to desire such a relationship. On the other hand, if my faith is based on love, joy, peace, and a craving for God, this might make others hunger for a similar relationship.

“The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22 NLT)

Approaching Infinity

“For they did not believe God

Or trust him to care for them.” (Ps. 78:22 NLT)

Life is like a multifactorial word problem. We consider all the variables. We make calculations. Yet things don’t always turn out the way we expect.

Sometimes we forget to account for the God factor.

In mathematics, the symbol, ¥ , stands for infinity.

¥ + 10 = ¥

¥ + 1000000 = ¥

Since nothing really equals infinity, mathematicians use the phrase approaching infinity ( à ¥ ) to express these limitless calculations.

God is like this infinite factor. No matter what we add, subtract, multiply or divide, as long as God is involved, the solutions are limitless. Human endeavors will never add up to or equal God’s boundless power and wisdom. However, Grace, Faith, Trust and Love allow us to approach God.

For those reading this post on a smart phone, I noticed the symbols are messed up. I'm not sure why?

Evening Glory

Wal-mart sells a house-brand of clothing labeled ‘Faded Glory’. Whoever came up with this name had a sense of humor. The phrase, ‘Faded Glory’, reminds me of a lady who is past her prime. Her glory days are a distant memory. I think we all reach this stage eventually. Yet, some of us accept aging more gracefully than others.

I know a Faded Glory who continually seeks validation from others. Her need for attention and approval is insatiable. She frequently invalidates others in her attempt to feel better about herself.

I also know an Evening Glory. Her pale blooms are subtle. She opens up in the dark, sharing her nectar freely, when most other flowers are unavailable.

I want to be like this Evening Glory. I want to accept aging gracefully, to find my niche, to be available to those in need. I want to focus on validating others, providing sustenance, allowing others to grow.

I found the following description of the evening primrose that grows in Israel:
“The evening primrose Oenothera drummondii is a joy to see. It gives even more delight when it blooms throughout the night. It’s Hebrew name, ner halayla, means candle of the night. It is a survivor, stubbornly growing in places no other flowers can. It tolerates the saltiness of the sea-shore, the aridness of the sand, and the spray of the waves. Look closely at the flower to see an unusual feature – the cross shaped stigma. The plant is fertilised by a moth, not surprising as its flowers open at night – and when I say open at night I mean a tightly closed bud will open within about 30 seconds! One plant can have between 20 and 30 flowers open over-night and they will simply fade away by noon next day, to be replaced the next night by as many more.”

Natural vs. Supernatural

I haven’t been exercising or eating well lately. I feel sluggish, weak, bloated, and flabby. My mind and body are suffering the natural consequences of my choices. God is not punishing me for my lack of discipline.

We may inherit behavioral traits from our ancestors. Some of these are the natural consequence of our heredity. We have a choice whether to continue these habits and patterns. For example, if alcoholism runs in our family, we may be genetically predisposed to addictive tendencies. Yet, we can choose a different path. It is not inevitable that every child of an alcoholic will turn out to be an addict of some sort.

I have heard Christians quote Old Testament verses to explain how God punishes us for generations because of the sins of our ancestors. I disagree. I think that we confuse natural consequences of our growth environment with supernatural punishment.

My family has made a conscious decision not to put chemicals on our lawn anymore. We realized that it seeps into the water table below and could cause long term health problems for ourselves, our neighbors, their children and grandchildren. If someone gets cancer 50 years from now, it is not God punishing them for the sins of their ancestors. It is because of the natural consequence of my choice to have a weed-free lawn.

God can supernaturally intervene in any situation and change the natural trajectory of a person’s life. However, sometimes He allows us to experience the natural consequences of our choices. This is not supernatural punishment. We must accept responsibility; our actions affect our family, friends, and descendants.

Drama-Mamas

There are people in this world who thrive on drama. They get bored if a day goes by without a heated argument or manufactured crisis. They assign themselves roles of tragic hero/heroine/director/script writer. They cast others as supporting actors, villains, and extras. They seek an appreciative audience. They have been playing the role of victim for so long, that they can’t distinguish between these fictitious characters and reality.

Unfortunately, I am not immune to these casting calls. I unwillingly get sucked into these deranged theatrical productions.

“Don’t ever have a battle of the mind with people who’ve lost theirs.” (Phillip Gulley)

I DO have a choice. I can choose NOT to engage in the battle. I can refuse to participate in the drama. I might be forced into the role of spectator, but I can tune out, count to 100... backwards. Of course, theatrical people are not going to be pleased when you choose to disengage from their histrionics. They need an audience. They do not like to be ignored. The will denigrate your abilities, call you a coward, accuse you of being selfish and uncaring. They WILL create a scene.

Maintaining relationships with these theatrical personalities without getting sucked into their drama requires divine grace and patience.

Tempting Distractions

I take a daily walk with my dog. Mostly she walks by my side, tuned in to my signals. Until she sees a rabbit! Suddenly, her animal instincts take over her brain. She strains to get away from me. If she could break away, she would chase the rabbits into tick- infested woods-- where she could get lost-- or across streets, where she could get hit by oncoming cars. I hold on tight to her leash, knowing that my dog will never catch these rabbits, but chasing after them could lead her into harmful situations.

In our daily walk with God, we face similar tempting distractions. We chase after decoys that divert our attention, break our communion with God. If we manage to break the tie that binds us to God, we too could end up in harmful situations.

Be wary of anything that fascinates us more than God.

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (1 Cor. 10:13 NLT)

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matt. 6:13 NLT)

Tag Team

I was reading through the Book of Ezra. Ezra is called to be the spiritual leader during a time when God’s followers are going through an identity crisis. He gets substantial help from his contemporary, Nehemiah, who is assigned the role of general contractor/administrator.

“After all this, Ezra.” (Ezra. 7:1 MSG)

There are only 10 chapters to this book. Ezra only enters the picture in chapter 7 of the book named after him! God’s timing is inexplicable.

I was struck by how God gathers the most diverse people, from all corners of the earth, and assigns them different roles in His projects. General contractors, builders, spiritual leaders, organizers, dentists, doctors, business men and women, homemakers, gardeners, bakers, animal experts, writers, young, old, weak, strong, short, tall, extroverts and introverts, patient and impatient, multicultural, multilingual, multitalented…God calls each according to His timing. Some are called to start a project, and others are brought in to finish it.

Sometimes when God calls me in for a project, it’s not a convenient time for me. I miss my cue. God is forced to pick an alternate. The play goes on without me.