Easter Wednesday - April 27, 2011 

A Meditation from Henri Nouwen

Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus... Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognizing him... But while he was with them at table he took bread and said the blessing; ...and their eyes were opened and the recognized him. ...They said to each other 'did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us...?'. (Luke 24)  

The resurrection stories reveal the always-present tension between coming and leaving, intimacy and distance, holding and letting go, at-homeness and mission, presence and absence. We face that tension every day. It puts us on the journey to the full realization of the promise given to us.

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Jesus can find us in our dead ends...

Just as Jesus found the disciples fishing after his resurrection, 

Jesus comes to us in our dead ends. Jesus can find us, 

even when we’ve tucked ourselves away, in a secluded spot — 

feeling ordinary and empty.  

~Bonnie Gray 

Read John 21 then Selah: Pause and consider this:

• What are your seeming "dead ends"?

• In what ways are you tucking yourself away - secluding yourself for protection?

• In what ways are you feeling ordinary and empty?

Take 3-5 minutes to ask God, "Lord, will you give me your perspective on these places of "stuckness" and "emptiness" in me. How do you feel now, as you emerge from opening your heart to God in this space?

 www.mysoulrefresh.com

Living into resurrection

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened 

in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, 

the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people, 

and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted 

when he raised Christ from the dead 

and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 

far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, 

and every name that can be invoked, 

not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

The Holy Bible : Today's New International Version. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2005), Eph 1:17–21.

What does it mean to live into the resurrection?

For a moment, put yourself in the disciple's shoes - in Peter's shoes. The one of whom he said, "I will never betray you - I'll die for you" did betray his master. Three times, no less. Peter not only suffered through the arduous, guilt-filled hours between his betrayal and Jesus' death...but now, how would he live?

What will we do now? We have followed Jesus for three years - we abandoned our fishing nets to follow and give our lives to our Rabbi. And what just happened.

We are now hiding in a room - afraid the authorities will come after us. All we thought we knew to be true about Messiah has been undone - the One who would never suffer, submit or serve has done all three over the past week...and he's gone.

The disciples went back to fishing. It's what they knew. It was something they "could do" - even though the interior parts of their lives had been radically re-altered by hanging out with Jesus over the past three years. They went back to what was familiar, known, comfortable...they didn't know how to navigate life without their beloved Rabbi...at least not yet.

Resurrection means...

• ....you emerge as a butterfly - you cannot go back to being a caterpillar.
• ....you have escaped from Egypt - and that though you are a bit foggy and wandering through a desert based on a seemingly thin Promise of a better land that you cannot see - you need not go back to the comfortably familiar environment of oppression.
• ....you have been given sight - you no longer need to go out on the street corner to beg for your living. Lean into learning how to live as a "sighted" person.
• ....you cannot put old wine into new wineskins - otherwise the "container" will burst open...resurrection means being willing to flex, adapt, move with the Spirit who is unpredictable and seemingly sometimes counter-cultural. 
• ... you cannot put Jesus behave how you wish...you let Him lead; you let life flow out of His love within you.
• ... you are a new creation - the old has gone, the new has come. This isn't "new" like a New Year's resolution - a goal you decide to crank out of your willpower and discipline. This is "newness" that flows out from within as naturally as your body, properly nourished, grows specifically shaped hips and noses and hairlines, skin coloring and freckles.

Let His love - the love of a willing surrender to death on a cross - the love of a resurrected life, invite you forward...not settling...not trying to shove new into old.

Selah:

• What are the "new" things God is inviting you to consider?
• What are the ways you are tempted to "go back to fishing" - to the things you could do but don't necessarily want to do? What does "fishing" provide for you (security, stability, familiarity etc) that most lures you to go there?
• What do you long to be resurrected in your life? Talk to God about that...

Live with courage! He is risen - and as Paul writes:

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. (1 Co 15:14)

Resurrection Day has finally arrived

The story ... the Promise... before the curse of the fall was three seconds old, God made a provision.

Joy to the World
He is risen!
hallelujah!

Happy Resurrection Day!

If we didn't know tomorrow was coming...

The One accused of insurrection (rising up against) 

will soon reveal Himself in resurrection (rising up again). 

But for those stunned by the violence of His death, the now silent void, the agony of internal regrets, the wilting hope and arduous waiting and futile wondering, this day is hell. Sorrow, ambiguity, second-guessing, denial, replaying the scene over and over again...

"What if we could have done differently?"

"If only we knew...If only I had listened"
"If only I...

• ...hadn't waited to tell him I love him
• ...hadn't fought with the others about who was the greatest when he was suffering
• ...hadn't fallen asleep in prayer
• ...hadn't deserted him and fled."

Without knowing the end of the story - it'd be easy to be angry at Pilate, the Pharisees, Judas, and even Jesus and God the Father who "willed" such a horrendous obedience. Or anger at myself for all I wish I would have done. Holy Saturday, it seems, is therapeutically designed to give us space to take a real, hard, honest look at our souls, our regrets, the things we wish we would have done differently, the places of unrest in our souls. To live this day knowing and jumping ahead to the end of the story robs us of the sanctifying work of grieving and, in modern AA language, an opportunity to admit our weaknesses as we take an honest, fearless moral inventory of our lives. We placate our pain, and our redemption, by bypassing the tomb.

But today's the day to feel the lostness of my life without him. To honestly admit my struggles - my addictions to knowledge, food, affirmation, comfort, reputation, control, my savings account, privacy, measuring my success by the important and reputable people whom I know, busyness, numbing myself with media (fb, twitter, netflix, email, blogging), red wine and chocolate etc.

It is a day to admit my powerlessness and meager attempts to manage my human condition which prefers to worship me over all else. It is a day to realize how often I live in denial each time I avoid taking a courageous moral inventory because "at least I'm not as bad as him..." It is a day to believe (though, Lord, help my disbelief) that there is a Higher Power, a Greater Plan, a need to hold on to any thread of hope that's left outside of myself.

I'd much rather work in my garden, have a picnic in a park, live life as "normal."

But "normal" isn't an option today.

I can try to deny, hide, justify and rationalize my humanity's foibles...busying myself with something else or say I'll get around to this later or forget all this morbid introspection and jump ahead to the good stuff of tomorrow's victory.

But if I didn't know tomorrow is coming...that tomorrow would bring not only relief, but change everything as I now know it...you, I, would be sober with our reality, the very reality we try to escape by our addictions and busyness. We'd take this day to feel deeply the extent of our misgivings, our questions, our restlessness, our mistakes. The silence of the tomb scares us. A fearless moral inventory is for other addicts...I don't have a problem. I can quit anytime...

But tomorrow will mean nothing, if I do not, today, let the deep scarring within my humanity reveal my need for a Savior. I must be aware of the ways I live in illusions of control, knowledge, and the priorities of my agendas. I need to be willing to surrender my need to know, control and figure out defend and procure a life of my choosing.

On this side of the resurrection I can go there because I know Someone Else knows how to sympathize with my weakness and offers mercy and grace in my time of need. I am not alone. I have no idea how the disciples endured these hours!

If ever there was a time of need, it is when Jesus has seemingly disappeared into a cold, dark, musty grave hewn in the side of a hill...and his followers who gave their all to become like them are left to wonder what life is really about. All those arguments about who would be greatest don't seem so important anymore.

If I do not let my "self" - with all its fears, vulnerabilities, idiosyncrasies, dreams, illusions, preoccupations and ego-driven propensities toward jealousy, winning, being right, protection and control be crucified with Christ - I will not ever experience the reality Paul described in Col 3:3 and Gal 2:20. How can my life be hidden with Christ if I do not let myself die and be crucified with him?

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, 

but worldly sorrow brings death." 2 Cor 7:10 

or as Eugene Peterson's Message puts it:

"Distress that drives us to God does that. It turns us around. It gets us back in the way of salvation. 

We never regret that kind of pain. 

But those who let distress drive them away from God 

are full of regrets, end up on a deathbed of regrets"

If we didn't know tomorrow was coming, we would live today distressed. And the miracle of Christ's resurrection would utterly undo us in the morning, because it would leave us with all our regrets delivered! We would run to the tomb, to see for ourselves, that real life, given to us in His death and resurrection, is our greatest gift! But unless a kernel of wheat dies...it cannot bear fruit (Jn. 12:24).

Where is your distress leading you?

Lord, have mercy;

Christ, have mercy;

Lord, have mercy.

Unhurryup!™ into Easter #40

The quiet...

All of Jerusalem shaken by a trial, a beating, a hanging, an earthquake...

...and darkness...

...and desertion...

...and betrayal...

...and denial...

...and loss...

...and weeping...

...gut wrenchingly trying to wrap ourselves around what just happened...

...and fear.

In the quiet hours since his death we replay what just happened...is this really happening? Is he really gone?

Replay what you witnessed...

Is he really, really gone?

How will we go on? What will life be like without him?

Consider, for a practice between now and Sunday, closing your drapes, using no technology, including only lighting candles for light. How does it feel to lose your friend...your Lord...the Promised One that you thought "come through" so differently? Now what?

Save Yourself! A liturgy for Good Friday

Reposting from 2009

 

A Responsive Reading:

NARRATOR:
Two others, also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with Jesus. And when they came to the place which is called Golgotha (The Skull), there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed saying,

CROWD
Save yourself! Save yourself!

NARRATOR

And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” And those who passed by derided Jesus, wagging their heads and saying,

CROWD:
“You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God come down from the cross. Save yourself! Save yourself!”

NARRATOR:

So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying,

PRIESTS:

“He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe Him. Save yourself! Save yourself!

NARRATOR:
The soldiers also mocked him coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying,

SOLDIERS

"If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself! Save yourself!"

NARRATOR:

One of the criminals who was crucified with him also reviled him in the same way, saying,

CRIMINAL:
"Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

CROWD:

Save yourself! Save yourself! Save yourself!

“Save yourself!”

It is practically a North American mantra! Prove yourselves by defying the odds, overcoming your weaknesses, saving time, money, hassles, pain…

Our iconic American heroes are those who have saved themselves (and therefore have the right to “save” others): Oprah, the Donald, Dr. Phil have all discovered the secrets to riches, success, beauty and a life of maximum leisure. They are the epitome of self-salvation.

Even within the family of faith, why is it that we tend to see God as being “with” those who have testimonies of overcoming trials and temptations and failures, but we don’t see God “with” those who are willfully letting their flesh be put to death? Those who are in a counter-cultural stream of surrender may, just as Christ did on the cross, look like a dismal failure for not “saving themselves.”

“Save yourself” – do what it takes to be smart enough, self-sufficient enough, pretty enough not to be mocked nor taken advantage of.

“Save yourself” = prove yourself sufficient, adequate, worthy, powerful, capable, smart, and even lovable. If you can save yourself, then I can follow you.

Why do we mock and ridicule the poor, the uneducated and those who look and act different than us? Could it be we are accusing them of not being smart enough, hard-working enough, and sufficient enough to save themselves unlike the way we have?

New Year’s resolutions – millions of people every year resolve to “save themselves” by organizing, exercising, eliminating debt, pounds, those extra pairs of shoes in the back corner of the closet, as well as unhealthy habits. But will they/we let God save them/us? Will they/we say, “Not my will of personal salvation, but yours be done!”

God never ever says, “Save yourself!”

Amazon.com has almost 58,000 self-help titles in their library. If you read one book a day, it’d take you nearly 159 years to read them all.

Does anyone see the irony in this mocking cry?

God never ever says, “Save yourself!”

But He invites us, “Come to me to live. Die to self, and you will gain abundant life!”

Personal Meditation

Look at Matthew 27:27-44

Consider: God’s solution for salvation.

Pray: Lord, let me accept Your death for my salvation.

Repent: Lord, these are the ways I try to save myself…

Trust: Lord, these are the ways I will trust you to save me…

Unhurryup!™ into Easter #39

Lean into God's love, centering your attention and focus toward Him.

Find a quiet, comfortable space.

Take three deep breaths - 

On inhale say, "Not my will"

On exhale say, "but yours be done." 

Evaluate honestly how you are as you come into His presence.

As you come to be with God in these moments, take heed of how you feel.
As you consider uniting your life with God's will, 

what emotions, pictures, current events come to your mind and heart. 

 

Notice what stirs your soul as you interact with the following:

When Jesus said, "I am he" the soldiers all fall to the ground...

Read John 18: 1-8

¹HAVING SAID these things, Jesus went out with His disciples beyond (across) the winter torrent of the Kidron [in the ravine]. There was a garden there, which He and His disciples entered.
    ²And Judas, who was betraying Him and delivering Him up, also knew the place, because Jesus had often retired there with His disciples.
    ³So Judas, obtaining and taking charge of the band of soldiers and some guards (attendants) of the high priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
    ⁴Then Jesus, knowing all that was about to befall Him, went out to them and said, Whom are you seeking? [Whom do you want?]
    ⁵They answered Him, Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus said to them, I am He. Judas, who was betraying Him, was also standing with them.
    ⁶When Jesus said to them, I am He, they went backwards (drew back, lurched backward) and fell to the ground.
    ⁷Then again He asked them, Whom are you seeking? And they said, Jesus the Nazarene.
    ⁸Jesus answered, I told you that I am He. So, if you want Me [if it is only I for Whom you are looking], let these men go their way.

As I think about God's love demonstrated to me during his last week of life, this scene is one that stirs awe in my soul. I've visited Israel - and the Garden of Gethsemene is just across from Jerusalem through a narrow little valley. Surely the detachment of soldiers sent with lanterns and torches (some commentators estimate up to 200 soldiers were on their way) could be easily seen by Jesus as the soldiers marched their way toward him. Jesus could have easily slipped away over the Mt. of Olives into oblivion. 

Instead, Jesus, now betrayed by a kiss from Judas, goes straight out to the troops and says, "Who is it you are seeking?"

They answer, "Jesus of Nazareth"

He answers, "I am he."

I am he - I am. The very name of God. And at the very name of God being spoken into this moment, the soldiers were knocked over and fell to the ground. Two words...I am.

Then, comically, he asks them again. You'd think they would have high-tailed it out of there. You'd think having Jesus speak two tiny, little words, "I am" that flattened them on their backsides would have made them think twice about answering again. But they do...perhaps this time with a stutter:

This time Jesus says it again - but without the previous display of power. "If you want me, let these men go."

How does this demonstrate Jesus' love and power?

• He doesn't run away when given the opportunity. 
• Fully knowing all that will befall him, he lets himself be betrayed by a kiss, but not without letting Judas know exactly what he is doing.
• He exerts his authority, yet does not usurp his arrest.
• He asks for his beloved disciples to be "let go" (even though they deserted him and fled.)

What else do you notice?

On this, Good Friday, the day Jesus is arrested and soon to be tortured, mocked, spit upon, beaten, falsely accused, abandoned and hung on a cross... thank him for his willing obedient love.

Then take 3-5 minutes in paying attention to how your heart wants to respond Jesus' love for you.

Trust Him to open your heart toward fully receiving and living into His love.

As you leave this space, ask God to give you the grace to embrace his sacrificial love for you.

Amen.

 

For more info about reFresh - go to www.mysoulrefresh.com

Unhurryup!™

 If you are enjoying these posts and would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward reFresh ministries, click here

All written material unless otherwise noted copyrighted 2011 Paula Gamble.

Unhurryup!™ into Easter #38

Lean into God's love, centering your attention and focus toward Him.

Find a quiet, comfortable space.

Take three deep breaths - 

On inhale say, "Not my will"

On exhale say, "but yours be done." 

Evaluate honestly how you are as you come into His presence.

As you come to be with God in these moments, take heed of how you feel.
As you consider uniting your life with God's will, 

what emotions, pictures, current events come to your mind and heart. 

Tell God honestly how you feel about offering your heart fully to Him...

your fears, longings, what you hope for, what you're hesitant to believe.
 

Notice what stirs your soul as you interact with the following:

Jesus, agonizing in prayer in the garden.

Look at the picture...as you consider Jesus, the night he would be betrayed with a kiss, handed over to mockery, humiliation, scorn, false accusations, beatings and death, what do you notice in this picture?

• Ask God, "Lord, what do you want me to pay attention to?"

Let there be silence...take heed of what you're drawn to...pay attention to what comes to your mind/heart.

• Now ask God, "Lord, how does this connect to my current life circumstances?"

Again - let there be silence, paying attention to what current or past events, people or issues come to the forefront of your mind. Embrace whatever comes and ask God, "Grant me the eyes to see/know the connection."

• Finally, "Lord, what are you inviting me toward?"

Then take 3-5 minutes in paying attention to how your heart wants to respond to God's invitation via this picture/story of Him in the garden.
What might you like to say to God in response.

Trust Him to open your heart toward fully receiving and living into His love.

As you leave this space, ask God to give you the grace to open your heart and life toward His heart, 
no matter the cost.

Amen.

 

For more info about reFresh - go to www.mysoulrefresh.com

Unhurryup!™

 If you are enjoying these posts and would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward reFresh ministries, click here

All written material unless otherwise noted copyrighted 2011 Paula Gamble.

Unhurryup!™ into Easter #37

Lean into God's love, centering your attention and focus toward Him.

Find a quiet, comfortable space.

Take three deep breaths - 

On inhale say, "Not my will"

On exhale say, "but yours be done." 

Evaluate honestly how you are as you come into His presence.

As you consider uniting your life tell God honestly how you feel 

about offering your heart fully to Him...

your fears, longings, what you hope for, what you're hesitant to believe.

 

Notice what stirs your soul as you interact with the following:
 Read the following out loud - pausing for a breath at the end of each comma or period.

³²Then they went to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to His disciples, Sit down here while I pray.

    ³³And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be struck with terror and amazement and deeply troubled and depressed.

    ³⁴And He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sad (overwhelmed with grief) so that it almost kills Me! Remain here and keep awake and be watching.

    ³⁵And going a little farther, He fell on the ground and kept praying that if it were possible the [fatal] hour might pass from Him.

    ³⁶And He was saying, Abba, [which means] Father, everything is possible for You. Take away this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You [will].

Mark 14: 32-36 (Amplified)

•  What words capture your attention as you read this?
• What emotions arise in you as you read this?
• How do you want to respond? Is there resistance to enter the scene? Amazement? Sadness?

Where does Jesus learn to pray, "Not my will, but yours be done?" Surely we can play the "Well, he's God" card. It is easy to assume that it was an easy prayer for him because he's God. The description of this garden scene tell us otherwise.

 

"Struck with terror and amazement"

"Deeply troubled and depressed"

"Exceedingly sad (overwhelmed with grief)"

"Take away this cup...yet not what I will, but what You will"

 

But his prayer sounds suspiciously like someone else's - prayed over three decades earlier. When confronted with an opportunity to trust God in a radical, life re-orienting way, Jesus' own mother, Mary, prays, "May it be to me as you have said."

Did Jesus learn how to surrender by watching his mother's prayer life? Even in "The Lord's prayer" he teaches his disciples to say, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Personally, though I know Jesus is God, in his humanness, he had to learn to pray. I think he learned it from his mama. I think his ability to agonizingly surrender in a radical, life (and death) re-orienting way, was modeled for him. And thankfully, he caught it and incorporated it into his entire life and ministry! Moment by moment the little "surrenders" leading him to this big one.

 

Then take 3-5 minutes in paying attention to how your heart wants to respond to Jesus.

Trust Him to open your heart toward fully receiving and living into His love.

As you leave this space, think of someone who has modeled prayer or surrender to you. 
Write him/her a note of thanks for their example.

Amen.

 

For more info about reFresh - go to www.mysoulrefresh.com

Unhurryup!™

 If you are enjoying these posts and would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward reFresh ministries, click here

All written material unless otherwise noted copyrighted 2011 Paula Gamble.

Unhurryup!™ into Easter #36 -

Lean into God's love, centering your attention and focus toward Him.

Find a quiet, comfortable space.

Take three deep breaths - 

On inhale say, "Not my will"

On exhale say, "but yours be done." 

Evaluate honestly how you are as you come into His presence.

As you come to be with God in these moments, take heed of how you feel.
Are you eager, tired, distracted, joyful, full of doubt, dry? 
Believing that He welcomes and loves you just as you are, not as you think you should be,
present your "just as I am" self honestly before God: 

"Here I am Lord...no pretense...no demands...

open my heart to trust Your love."
 

Notice what stirs your soul as you interact with the following:

Mark 14: 9-11
And surely I tell you, wherever the good news (the Gospel) is proclaimed in the entire world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.
    ¹⁰Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve [apostles], went off to the chief priests in order to betray and hand Him over to them.
    ¹¹And when they heard it, they rejoiced and were delighted, and they promised to give him money. And he [busying himself continually] sought an opportunity to betray Him.

The woman who anoints Jesus - 

• it is the only time Jesus says someone has done something beautiful for him. 
• It is the only time Jesus says of someone with whom He interacts, "What she has done will be told alongside the good news..."
• She did what she could - and it was considered "foolish" (1 Cor 1:18)

Shocking, the contrast presented us in verse 10: 

"Then Judas Iscariot...

• the one who scolded her for her wasteful indulgence (John 12:4);
• the one who was holding back funds (John 12:6)...
• the one known as "The Betrayer" ...

....went off to the chief priests to betray him..."

The woman at His feet - kissing and anointing him.

Judas - who would soon have the Messiah washing His feet - preparing to betray Jesus with a kiss.

Oh the irony.

And when they - the chief priests - heard that one of Jesus' closest disciples would betray Jesus, they rejoiced and were delighted. The delight at capturing another human being because of their own insecurities and power-hungry souls.

Beauty or betrayal  - in what ways will we do both of these week as we turn our attention to Jesus on His way to suffering and death on a cross?

Then take 3-5 minutes in silence to listen to what He might want to say to you.
What might you like to say to God in response.

Trust Him to open your heart toward fully receiving and living into His love.

As you leave this space, ask God to make you aware of the ways 

over the next 24 hours that you might bring Him a beautiful sacrifice. Also, ask Him to show you, even in subtle ways of attitude or action, how you are tempted to and/or actually betray Him.

Amen.

 

For more info about reFresh - go to www.mysoulrefresh.com

Unhurryup!™

 If you are enjoying these posts and would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward reFresh ministries, click here

All written material unless otherwise noted copyrighted 2011 Paula Gamble.

Unhurryup!™ into Easter #35

Lean into God's love, centering your attention and focus toward Him.

At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, he heard his Father's words:

"You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
(Mark 1:11) 

 Sit for 5 minutes repeating, "Jesus, you are the beloved..."
Every time your thoughts get distracted, come back to center your soul with this phrase - adoring him, turning your attention to him.

Evaluate honestly how you are as you come into His presence.

Several places in the Bible also tell us that we are God's beloved children (Rom 8: 15-17; 1 Jn 3:1) and that nothing can separate us from His love (Rom 8:38-39).

So, for the next five minutes, gently repeat the truth: "Jesus, I am your beloved son/daughter..."

Pay attention to any internal, cynical "yea, but's" that you make: "Yea, but, I really haven't...I should...I'm not sure...if only I was more...." etc.
 
For each "yea, but..." whisper, "I am Your beloved, and nothing that I feel in this moment can separate me from your love."

Take note of how you are able to embrace or how you resist this truth. What happened as your perception of yourself encountered God's perception of you?

Notice what stirs your soul as you interact with the following:

Read Mark 14:3–53And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 

If you recall, Blind Bartemaeus was scolded for screaming impolitely for Jesus. Now we have a woman  busting into a "good ol' boys' dinner and making a scene by pouring out her costly perfume on Jesus.

As you read the verses above again - imagine yourself in the story. What would it feel like to walk into a room of men reclining at the dinner table. What would it smell like? How would you feel? Pay attention to your body as you imagine yourself in the scene - either watching or being the woman or being someone watching her. Did your pulse quicken? Are you tense anywhere? Breathing differently? Ask God, "What is it that is making me respond this way?"

What do you notice as you imagine yourself in that scene? How does the "vibe" of others indignation and scolding stir you? How do you want to respond?

 Now read the rest of the story - Mark 14: 6-9 - imagining yourself hearing Jesus' words about you.

6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

Again, imagine yourself hearing Jesus' defense of you. How does that feel? Are you able to embrace that your actions, though scolded, are beautiful? Again, pay attention to your body as you hear Jesus interact with you - or watch Him interact with the woman in the scene. Is your body different? The same? How so?

As you engage with this scene, what in your own life did it stir up in you?

Take 3-5 minutes and listen to what God has to say to you re: how this connects to your current life/circumstances.


Now, breathe deeply and ask God, "In what simple ways have I done beautiful things to you?"

Trust Him to open your heart toward fully receiving and living into His love.

As you leave this space, ask God to help you "to do what you can" - no more, no less - as you seek ways to demonstrate your gratitude for Him this week.

Amen.

 

For more info about reFresh - go to www.mysoulrefresh.com

Unhurryup!™

 If you are enjoying these posts and would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward reFresh ministries, click here

All written material unless otherwise noted copyrighted 2011 Paula Gamble.

Unhurryup!™ into Easter - Palm Sunday Sabbath

Lent is 40 days not including Sundays...Welcome to the sixth Sunday in Lent.

           Thank GOD because he’s good,
                 because his love never quits.
                 Tell the world, Israel,
                 “His love never quits.”
Psalm 118:1-2

Selah: Pause and consider this...

He is good not because he does stuff the way we want (like triumphantly entering in to Jerusalem on our hoorays of hope that he has come to save the day and right all our wrongs.) He is good, even when two days from now, the joyous celebration I feel for him is absent. He is good, even when I will consider the ways I've betrayed him. He is good and his love NEVER quiets! Hallelujah, indeed!

Enjoy pausing today - and worshiping with your local community of faith. How have you experienced his love this past week? How do you need to experience his love "never quitting" in your current life circumstances?


 
Enjoy a reFreshing Sabbath!

 

For more info about reFresh - go to www.mysoulrefresh.com

Unhurryup!™

 If you are enjoying these posts and would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward reFresh ministries, click here

All written material unless otherwise noted copyrighted 2011 Paula Gamble.

Unhurryup!™ into Easter #34

"Excessive busyness, particularly in the service of a good cause, 
is an effective way of hiding from God 
and from our own deepest self.”
 Margaret Guenther

So, we've come to the sixth Saturday in Lent - is your weekend excessively busy with things you are looking forward to or things you are dreading? In what ways do you think busyness in your life contributes to your hiding from God and self?

Take a few minutes and ask God and listen: "Lord, how do you want me (and my family) to cooperate with you this weekend?"

Today - rather than a devotional thought for Lent, consider gently "acting" upon some truth God has revealed to you so far this week:

• What is something creative you've done or want to do? Join with a friend and talk about creative things you hope to do this year.
• Enjoy a "tech fast" for 24 hours - no TV, radios, google maps, internet or phone calls.
• What has being honest with yourself about your emotions revealed to you about you? About God? Share this with one person you trust.
• Express bodily how you are feeling. Are you angry? Go chop some wood! Are you joyful? Crank up a family favorite and have a dance in your living room together? Are you sad? Ask someone you love to hold you.
• Start a family list of all the ways in which you have seen God's goodness and faithfulness. Perhaps each morning at breakfast, or at dinner, or before bed, share your "sightings" of God. Record them and revisit them when you feel like you are struggling.
• How are you seeing your life affected by your spending time leaning into God's heart? What is different than a month ago? Share this with a friend.
• Is there any suffering in your own or someone's life that you're avoiding?
• Take 10 minutes to stand outside with your hands "open" - asking God to help you live open-handedly.

 Enjoy - and I'd love to hear how God prompts you toward action...please post a comment!

 

For more info about reFresh - go to www.mysoulrefresh.com

Unhurryup!™

 If you are enjoying these posts and would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward reFresh ministries, click here

All written material unless otherwise noted copyrighted 2011 Paula Gamble.

Unhurryup!™ into Easter #33

Lean into God's love, centering your attention and focus toward Him.

Think of a recent "stress" - it might be vocational, relational, financial, personal, medical etc...

Clench your hands as if you're holding onto that stress. As you tighten your fists, pay attention to where you feel the stress in your body. Is it manifesting somewhere besides your fists?

Notice your breathing - as you think about this stress, what parts of your body "tighten" - does your heart beat faster?

Now, take a few minutes and imagine God walking toward you. What is He inviting you to do with your burden?

Take a few deep breaths and as you exhale, slowly release your hands:

"Lord, I consent to your love and care today."

Evaluate honestly how you are as you come into His presence.

As you imagine God coming toward you and as you release your grip on your burdens, what else are you feeling? How would you describe to Him your "just-as-I-am" self? Take a moment, and without any pretense or masks or candy coating, tell God how you feel. Maybe even consider expressing it bodily (i.e. do you feel happy - get up and dance a little jig; are you angry? Slam your fist into a pillow. etc)

Notice what stirs your soul as you interact with the following:

 ¹ You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. ² Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. ³ So when you, a mere human, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? ⁴ Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? 

Romans 2: 1-4 

During this Lent season I've been very convicted about my judgmentalism...it is especially evident when I'm behind the wheel of the car. I can't believe what other people do (drive into "my" lane to avoid hitting a pedestrian (that's good) and nearly killing me (that's not so good). Why doesn't that person just slow down until it's clear? A few miles later - I do the same thing. Sheesh.

I have caught myself judging the people I'm standing next to in the checkout line, the neighbors who smoke like a chimney, the weather forecasters, the others sitting around me in church, and lock my door when I see a "sketchy" looking character walking my way. Such arrogance. No, I'm not committing murder or adultery - but these little things evidence the insecurity of my soul. These judgments condemn me at worst, but convince me that I'm not as needy of a Savior as her...as him...as them... In essence, they evidence my unawareness of His Kindness toward me.

A significant point of Jesus' death and resurrection is that my life must be radically reoriented - not just in the big things. Not just in me going to church, tithing, being involved in ministry and being moral on the "big" issues. But these little judgments of my soul - how they reveal a subtle but cancerous contempt for (trifle with) the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience. I am walled away from Him and others as a result.

• How does this radical reorientation (toward Him) happen? 
• How might I embrace His kindness today? 
• Do I even want to have His kindness radically reorient my life?
• Take a moment to imagine yourself being free of the need to make judgments...unflustered by others' "idiocy" or not needing to measure your own superiority (or inferiority) based on your assumptions of others. What does that feel like? What words describe living that way?

Take 3-5 minutes in silence to listen to what He might be inviting you toward in regard to embracing His kindnesses toward repentance (turning toward Him).

  Pray to God your heart's response.

Trust Him to open your heart toward fully receiving and living into His love.

As you leave this space, ask God for the grace to notice when you are judging others - turning quickly to embrace His kindness and live without the need to defend your ego.

 

For more info about reFresh - go to www.mysoulrefresh.com

Unhurryup!™

 If you are enjoying these posts and would like to make a tax-deductible donation toward reFresh ministries, click here

All written material unless otherwise noted copyrighted 2011 Paula Gamble.