Three Words

I was driving thinking of absolutely nothing when this sign appeared. Actually the sign has been hanging for quite some time, but today it jumped out at me and caused me to stop and actually read all three words.

Think. Forgive. Act.

I haven't thought a lot about "thinking forgiveness" before I act. In fact what I'm usually "thinking" is how I have been hurt, or what I'm going to say the next time. 
What would happen if I thought about forgiving? Is that why "act" follows forgive? 
Reading the account of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis, I am drawn to his incredible words at the end of the story. The brothers became fearful after their father died because they thought Joseph would retaliate because of their harsh treatment of him. Yet Joseph responded with these words;

"Don't be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good." Genesis 50:19-20.

When I hold on to my hurt I feel justified because I have been hurt. I want others to know how I have been harmed. I want someone punished!
 Do I really believe that God isn't aware of my pain?

Could I choose to look at this in light of how God could use it for good? 

Jesus came to " bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD'S favor has come".
Luke 4:18-19.  

The word for "set free" in the Greek is aphesis, translated "forgive". He's reminding the people of the observance of the Year of Jubilee, where debts were forgiven, slaves freed and land was given back to the original owners.

We can live in the Year of Jubilee every day because in Christ we are forgiven. He has bestowed on us favor without conditions. 

I'm "thinking" of this today and trusting that my actions will reflect the incredible grace I have received. 
My choice to forgive is my act of embracing the truth that I have been forgiven! Not something I can do alone, so I will keep in prayer, calling out to the One who has forgiven me.

May these three words become a way to live gracefully, freely forgiving because we are embracing the generous forgiveness of our loving Father.

Tempered

 Last week I finally received the news that I was approved for knee surgery. I was overjoyed to go under the knife and couldn't wait for it to happen. 
Now a week out, my excitement has turned to "resigned trudging".

I'm tired of the knee pain, tired of the need for ice, tired of using a walker and tired of not being able to get out and move! 
Oh how a few days can alter my exuberant optimism. 
I'm acting like a big baby and in fact I enjoy holding on to my "poor me" attitude. 

Until...... I began to think about what is now a possibility.

 So many saints have once again stepped in and brought us meals, taken the time to visit, called and emailed their concern for me and my recovery. 
Ouch! 
How quickly I forget. It's a blow to the gut, and in a very appropriate way. 
I'm in need of a major attitude adjustment and it makes me cranky that I'm reacting to my situation in a very small-minded way.

Despair.
How do we keep from becoming small minded when viewing our situations with tunnel vision that draws us deep into despair? 
It doesn't seem to matter if we're talking about too-tight jeans or loosing our house. 
When we travel along this road- all seems lost.

We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. Romans 5:3-4 MSG

Impatient.
I seem to be good at passionate impatience today, yet I am intrigued by the thought that my momentary afflictions could be used to forge something that is not easily forgotten, reminding me of what God will do next! 
Maybe talking about what is holding us down and hemming us in is part of how we get to a place of release? 
I don't mean resignation, but a blessed realization that this too is for a purpose. 
Broken.
We are being forged, which is a really hot process of breaking down the compounds found in metal to release the impurities and create something that is strong and pure.

Oh how I want to be strong and pure.

Tempered.
Thank you Jesus that my weak and cranky spirit is not too small-minded for this process. 
Help me in my impatience to look ahead and not back.

 May we celebrate the hope of living with passionate patience through the tempering of our lives for Him, remembering that mining for gold requires time in the crucible before it can be realized as valuable.

Burdened

In The Return of the King, the final book in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Tolkien describes the journey of a group of dear friends. Throughout the story, their friendship is stretched and tested, especially Sam and Frodo. 

These two have become like brothers because of their near-death experiences. This seems to fuel their relationship as they pursue their quest to destroy the "One Ring" which requires them to risk their lives in this dangerous pursuit.

 As they make the final ascent up an almost impenetrable mountain, Frodo is overcome by the power of the ring he is carrying and collapses into a boulder field. Sam desperate to continue, pleads with his dear friend, yet the exhausted Frodo lies motionless on the ground. In an act of sheer loyalty and selfless love, Sam picks up his half-dead friend throwing him over his shoulder while continuing the grueling climb toward the entrance of the volcano. He encourages his friend with these words;

  "I can't carry the ring for you, but I can carry you and it as well. So you get! Come on, Mr. Frodo dear! Sam will give you a ride. Just tell him where to go and he'll go."

This is just how Jesus wants to carry us! He offers us a life-giving relationship ready to save us from the evil that so readily traps us leaving us exhausted and unable to move. Jesus is not only willing to carry our burdens, He has become the burden by willingly going to cross for our sake. 
Jesus has laid down his life for his friends.... you and me.

To be called a friend of Jesus is an incredible gift.
Jesus says; "You are my friend if you do what I ask." 

Friendship is rare on this earth. 
It means identity in thought and heart and spirit. 
Walking with Jesus grows our identity in Him. He wants us to know Him as a friend.

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and grief to bear.

What a privilege to carry, 

Everything to God in prayer.

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry,

Everything to God in prayer.

What is troubling your heart today? 
Have you talked with your Friend?

Eager

Today is our anniversary. Thirty-two years ago on a hot August evening, two eager souls said "I do." 

I believe eager is important for many reasons. Mainly because I had no idea what "I do" actually would mean. I was eager to begin this journey and after over thirty years of marriage, I'm grateful for this fact. 
Eagerness allowed me to have forward motion and a bit of reckless abandon. 
Thinking through every possible contingency, weighing the pros and cons, comparing statistics probably would  have caused inertia because relationships have an unpredictable nature.  
Our impact, the opportunity to grow each other up, as in "iron sharpening iron" would be lost in a sea of indecision.
Different. 
We are so different and as I continue in this act of marriage, I am very, very grateful. 
Why would I want my mirror image in thinking, doing or emoting?

Abundant Life. 
As I soar and crash in life's joys and sorrows, Peter remains a constant. He's not easily bothered or dismayed. In my immaturity I have wished for something that could have destroyed us both. 
Our boys have benefitted from his calming presence, which reminds me of how partnership is a work in progress. 
God has kept us lacking, so that we continue to seek Him. He reminds us that we are not to look to each other for completion but in Him we are complete. 
He uses both the good times and the hard times to remind me of this all-important truth; in Him we will find abundant life. 

Whether married, divorced, single or widowed, we are only lacking relationally when our eagerness to pursue dies. Marriage is one of many ways in which our God works His mysteries out in the everydayness of life. 
Relationships are all around us, begging to be discovered. There's always room for another friend in our circle. 

 Today I'm eagerly expectant in what the next thirty years will bring both of us.
Who will join our circle?
So for now, may that "I do" become "I will". 
What a gift. 
What a treasure.

Live in harmony with one another.

Accept one another.

Care for one another.

Serve one another in love.

Don't provoke or envy one another.

Carry one another's burdens.

Be kind to one another.

Forgive one another.

Don't lie to one another.

Comfort one another.

Encourage one another.

Pray for one another.

Oh may we eagerly pursue these "one anothers" fueled with hope because of His abundant grace for the journey.

Excellent Harmonies

While traveling in Europe a friend sent me this. Emblazoned on a shirt, it's both funny and troubling. 
I know why she passed this on to me. I love to be right! It seems to be a hill I climb frequently, regardless of what it takes to get to the top. This part of me can be helpful, as in trying to figure out what to do- I can tell you! Seriously ,it's very dangerous because the know-it-all in me can forget what my behavior is doing to the one whose receiving my wisdom. 
I don't know everything, but the trouble comes when I begin operating like I do.  
Which brings me to my post today; How does this work in Friendships?

 When I was young and lamenting my loneliness, my mom would say; "to have a friend, you must be a friend." At the time, I just wanted someone to call me to come over and play! 

 But there's a bigger question here. Desiring friendship requires something from me. If I'm looking to "get something", be entertained, or tell someone what they need to do, I might be disappointed in my friend's response. 

They might feel judged, used or exhausted by all my suggestions. 
Their lack of enthusiasm in our relationship might lead me to judge their response by filling in the blanks with my own answers.

Here's what I am asking.
 Can I be a good friend if I'm assuming how someone is feeling and why they are responding to me in a certain way?

 Choosing to respond with my intuitions instead of actually risking finding out can leave both of us hurt and confused.

 Why do I fear loving freely when I have the One who loves me perfectly as my teacher?

Could this struggle to forget what I think and actually act with my best self be the first step in allowing God to weave His Spirit into my weak attempts? 

Summing it all up, friends. I'd say you"ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

 How about choosing instead to think on the true and best of one another which might lead us in a new way of being friends?

 This will not be a perfect experience, we will fail frequently, yet we trust that learning these intricate rhythms in friendship is all part of the symphony being created.

Friendship-growing like music-making takes practice. There will be many sour notes along the way, but with each mistake we're training our hearts to be open to the possibilities of a rich and colorful composition. 
Thankfully God knows the score by heart. He patiently allows us to practice until we can begin to hear the beautiful harmonies we've created together. 
Knowing the Composer is the reason why this composition will become a classic. 

Sounds like music to my ears!

Ice Cream

How's retirement? 
Do you feel more energized? 
What did you used to do? 
Where do I start? 
Here's the short answer; Weird. No. Too much!
 Unsettled.
As you can see I'm not as reconciled to all of this as I would like. 
I want to have a smart, well-thought out response,reciting my past accomplishments with wit and charm. 
Instead I feel small and awkward. I don't have anything important to list and my days seem to melt together like a bowl of ice-cream on a hot day. 
In fact, eating ice cream sounds really good. Feeling adrift and unsettled in this sea of indecisions and unknowns is growing. 
I'm finding a new agenda - trying to prove my worth now that I'm unemployed. This is exhausting. I have an annoying urge to do something, be someone, feel important. Ouch. 
Behind.
So early today I went outside, and began to read my 24/7 Bible. (That will be another post.) For those of you who might be on this journey with me, I confess I'm behind. Another place of disappointment. I digress. 
So even though I'm behind, it is exactly what I needed. What about you?

Is anyone thirsty?

Come and drink - 

even if you have no money!

Come, take your choice of wine or milk-

it's all free!

Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?

Why pay for food that does you no good?

Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.

You will enjoy the finest food.

Come to me with your ears wide open.

Listen, and you will find life.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you.

I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD.

"And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine"

Isaiah 55:1-3,8.

Listening.
I'm seeing a truth emerging. Once again it is me trying too hard. 
Why do I make everything such a job? This is not a task to be accomplished, but an offer of becoming. 
Could I entertain the possibility of a new way to listen? Resisting the urge to demand what the result will be? 

God is calling, offering me perfect peace. 
I can hide in Him, release my burdens to the burden-bearer. 
Thank you God that your ways are far beyond anything I can imagine.

Maybe it's time for some ice-cream? Join me, it's summer. 

Our Friend

It's often said that anything worth having is worth the effort to accomplish it. 
I'm wondering if this applies in friendship? 
Maybe I'm trying to convince myself that if I have to try then it isn't meant to be? 
Working hard to organize my stuff, maintain the garden or balancing my checkbook is predictable. 
When I put in the effort, I can see the results. 
The satisfaction of a job well done is fulfilling.

 Growth.
These places of care don't require working with the unpredictable nature of the heart. This is where the expected meets the unknown. 
If I plant vegetables, water and fertilize consistently, I will receive a harvest. 
A plus B equals C. It's a nice tidy equation. 
In growing a friendship, there are no rules for making this happen. I must enter the fragile unknown places of the heart. 
I can easily be misunderstood or worse, ignored. 
My great need propels me forward and I begin the adventure into friendship-growing. 
Friends can be a great distraction and sometimes that's exactly what's needed. 
But for the long haul, I desire friendships that call me to a better place.

In The Message  the Holy Spirit is called our Friend. 
We are never left alone. 
He is always with us. 
He will make everything plain to us. 
He will remind us of everything God has told us.

Gifts.
God has created us for relationship and as I seek a friendship with Him, I find fulfillment, which in turn grows the depth of relationship with others. I experience a rich place of connection that flows out of my time with Him. The effort is great, yet in my willingness to submit and yield, the sweetest fruit is realized. A dear and treasured gift emerges in friendship. 

Just as the garden changes depending on the season, a friendship forged in connection through our Heavenly Father experiences change. 
When stuff happens, we seek out those who know us and still love us. 
The new bloom of a fresh friendship although exciting cannot be sustained through the winters of life. We seek out relationships that have sustenance because it can be a long cold season. Eventually spring emerges and we are treated to the beauty and splendor of color and fragrance. Everything is fresh and alive.

In life we begin to see change, which grows our hope not in what we have done, but in the powerful and life-giving places God is restoring.

With us.
Are you walking in a season of winter? Or do you feel the hope of spring filling your days? 
God desires to use the winter and spring of our lives. We are never alone, even in the dead of winter. 
Our Gardener is preparing the soil well. 
Taking the time to till in everything we need. 
Our Friend, the Holy Spirit,the Comforter is here with us.

May the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you. 
2 Corinthians 13:14