Reinvigorate Their Imaginations

On Saturday I was reading Hannah’s prayer in 1 sam 2…and the phrase that stuck out to me was: “It is not by strength that one prevails” So I meditated on what that meant for my life – how did it connect and what was Jesus inviting me to do?

Looked up a couple other cross references…one of which was in Zechariah about not despising the day of small beginnings. So I sensed the Lord saying to me, “Don’t despise what does not seem “mighty” or “influential.” You look at other ministries with envy…you wish you had started them…you wish you had an influential ministry that you started…but your ministry is not about size – not about your gifts and strengths – not about being “run” in a typical modern methodology and strategy.

Your invitation is to go in the strength you have – as I send you out this summer. Don’t force your ministry.

The introduction to Zechariah (in the Message) says this about Zechariah’s ministry (my paraphrase): “Zech’s job was to help pull people out of preoccupation with self and to get them working together as the people of God. The people had lost their identity as the people of God, the people had been kicked around and abused by world powers – the threat was they’d lose the richness of their heritage – forgetting who and whose they were. Zechariah reinvigorated their imaginations with his visions and messages – the visions provided images of a sovereign God…the messages forged a fresh vocabulary that gave energy and credibility to the long term purposes being worked out in their lives.”

Reinvigorated their imaginations…don’t you like that? It’s like Zech was the prophet to the postmoderns who “no longer had a language for God & the purposes of God.” Our current language of “God” is so muddled by tolerance and the mushy, fickle language of Clintonian postmodernism (It depends upon what the definition of "is" is.)

God’s invitation – to reinvigorate the imaginations of His people…

Praying God’ll give me fresh vocabulary to lend energy and credibility and clarity (as Eugene Peterson says) to people who are forgetting who and whose they are.

I’m being invited to die to my pride that wants the applause of humankind….to not force a “bigger & better” ministry or influence…I’m being invited to pay attention.

Whew – good stuff….

www.paulagamble.com

"Remember Me"

Was reading 1 Sam 1 last week - it is one of the greatest short stories ever written. Not a name, place or detail seems insignificant.
What struck me most, however, was when Hannah was crying out to the Lord to "remember me." Later in the text, it says, "The Lord remembered her."
As I dove into the Hebrew meaning of the word, "Remember" it is so much more than just remembering to pick up some eggs at the grocery store. Hebrew verbs always seem to be far more active than passive.

When Hannah cries out, "Remember me" she is saying, "God, lovingly act on my behalf!" And then, God remembered (lovingly acted on her behalf) her.

I just found that beautiful. I've found myself all week praying for friends in crisis, "Lord - remember her - not like eggs on a grocery list - but lovingly act on her behalf."

And he has - and his lovingkindness has been exquisite!

www.paulagamble.com

Kosher Eavesdropping

Inspired by my friend Matt Mikalatos I have eavesdropped on someone and will share it here...

Stepmom: "So are you going to make spaghetti for dinner - or is that breaking kosher?" (Meaning they were still within the 7 day passover unleavened bread regulation)

Stepson: "yeah - may as well. I already broke kosher. I ate a bacon double cheese burger. Flour in the bun, pork in the bacon, and dairy and meat together. All I needed to make it a complete blowout is a meat milkshake."

I chuckled at this little conversation and thought, "Now there's some commitment to your faith....NOT."
Then God reminded me...how easily I "fudge" on what he asks of me...
And...well, this little eavesdropping proved to turn my judgment into conviction.
Thanks Lord

www.paulagamble.com

New Life on Easter Day!

After a great Sunday celebration at church, a man came up to my friend to talk to her about her keyboard. She felt the need to share Christ with him, so she said straight out (I love this about her!), “Ray, do you know the Lord Jesus Christ personally?”

“I used to.”

“Well, how’d you like to sit and look at the Bible and what it says about Him?”

“Okay.”

For the next hour or so the two of us (me believing that going late to my brunch and K leaving 2 hours late to drive to Tacoma to have easter with her daughter) shared scripture and asked questions. At one point I said, “Ray, you don’t need more courage to stop sinning – even greater courage is required to just let Jesus love your wounded heart!”

At that, he started bawling like a baby. We prayed – asked him to pray first, it was a slobbering beautiful thing. Then invited some men in our church to come over to make it not so awkward. Jason, our children’s pastor, actually took the baton, and led Ray to Christ. After praying, with more tears falling down Ray’s face, dear, dear Jason reached over, and with his thumbs wiped his tears saying, “I have no greater privilege than to wipe your tears – but one day, there will be no tears…”

It was really remarkable! And really inconvenient! I was late to my brunch with my neighbor, K should have been in Tacoma by the time we finished, and all of us had growling stomachs. But…no worries. The kingdom of God is NOT about us & "giving birth" is rarely convenient!

www.paulagamble.com

In Hindsight...it's good Friday

A scandalous day, really. The disciples - men & women - were crushed and confused; befuddled and beside themselves. Their Lord and friend now arrested and facing an unjust and inhumane trial and punishment. He talked about it with them beforehand - but they were either too busy with their own concerns of greatness and didn't really hear, OR, they just didn't think it would really happen.

But here it was - really happening. And these heroic, intimate followers of Jesus - the ones who had seen Jesus turn water to wine, walk on water, heal the lame and blind and just a week ago see him raise Lazarus from the dead...the ones who had themselves cast out demons and healed and served and had a front row seat to all of Jesus' teaching...now, in a seeming blink of an eye, deserted Jesus and fled.

Those are such discouraging words - deserted & fled. Anyone who has been a human being on this planet for more than a couple decades cringes in remembrance of that feeling. Sometimes I wonder if that hurt Jesus more than the nails ripping through his tendons and bones...

The basis of all desertion and fleeing is fear and self-protection. Despite their intimacy and personal knowledge of Jesus, in the muddle of the passion week, they, in the words of The Message, "cut and ran."

Was Jesus too obtuse for them? If he had been clearer, would they have understood and reacted differently?

I doubt it. Human nature is human nature. AND in the flurry of the week's events - from his triumphal entry to his anointing by Mary, to this strange Passover meal in which Jesus stooped to wash their feet, to singing triumphant Hallel (praise) songs while walking to a garden under the full moon of a crisp spring eve; to having stomachs so full of food and hearts so full of grief that they could not even stay awake to pray - they missed it.

Jesus isn't missing it. He's in agonizing sorrow - praying so intensely, his sweat falling like drops of blood. He knows the cross is before Him - He knows his close friends will all desert Him - "Take this assignment away...it's too much...but it's not about me. So Thy will be done."

The disciples are indifferent and sleep through Jesus' painfilled petitions. They are, however, awakened by a hoard of Roman soldiers and Jewish religious leaders carrying torches, swords and clubs. Judas is at the head of the mob, politely betraying Jesus with a kiss. Peter, arising out of his slumber, whacking off Malchus' ear. Jesus says, "I'm not here to lead a rebellion - I'm not who you think or want me to be." Then he reaches out and heals Malchus' ear.

It is in that flurry the disciples "cut & ran" - scurried away like a hoard of cockroaches exposed to a sudden light.

Jesus says to Judas, "Why the charade?" (The Message)

Yes - why the charade?

Sometimes I'm very discouraged by the disciples' desertion. I'm discouraged because even though I know I have moments of eager and expectant faith - I have plenty more where I try to pretend that the cross/death is not part of the equation. I'd prefer more cush - a good night's sleep as opposed to out of control, surrendering prayer. I prefer the charade.

Jesus says of Peter: "There's a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an Old dog sleeping by the fire." (The message - Mt. 26:41ish)

B*I*N*G*O - yes, Bingo was his name oh...the dog...

Yup - me too. My spirit is willing, my flesh is weak.

With that many people armed with torches & swords, winding down from Jerusalem into the Kidron valley on a clear night with a full moon - Jesus would have seen them coming. He could have hid & fled. His spirit AND flesh (unlike our own) was willing, not weak.

Isn't it comical - Jesus goes out and asks, "Who is it you want?" Everyone there knows they want HIM...but he makes his betrayer and abusers own up to their misdeeds. He doesn't let them continue with a charade, "oh, greetings Rabbi - we're just 200 soldiers out on an evening walk in the cool of the garden." Why do abusers always twist things to look so innocent?

Perhaps that is one of the greatest pictures of His love - knowing full well they wanted to mock him, spit on him, and humiliate him with death on a cross. Yes - in the midst of a chaotic, jumbled mess of betrayal, arrogance and a sweaty show of force against an innocent (but a threat to their comfort/controlling charade) man...Jesus walks straight into it. Prayed up & seemingly no fear.

With hindsight being 20/20 we so easily chastise the disciples. But how many times does my laziness override my eagerness? How many times do I let prayers fall by the wayside in exchange for sleep or temptation?

Today - the day after the bewildering night of Jesus' arrest - the day we now call "good" because we know the end of the story - I need to let that chaos stay with me. I need to let myself be disturbed & discouraged by my own desertions - whether they be my failure to speak up for Jesus or whether it be my choice to over-indulge my body, mind and emotions with the lesser loves of this world that only pseudo satisfy.

Today's a day of grief...
Sack cloth & ashes
wailing & weeping
Less for the death of a friend. No, I share the disciples' humanity. Let me weep for my own propensity to fall asleep and flee.

If Jesus stayed in the grave - Christianity would remain a mere religion - which pretends to honor a higher being or "force", but is really only all about me.

Lord, may I be adequately disturbed and disgusted with my propensity to flee & desert you for lesser loves & self-protection. May I loathe it so greatly that when I get to Sunday and the tomb is empty - oh - now let my feet not run away, but instead run to tell others, "He is Risen!"

What Thou O Lord Hath suffered - Was all for sinners' gain.
Mine, mine was the transgression - and Thine, the deadly Pain.
Lo here I fall my Savior -

Tis I deserve Thy place....


www.paulagamble.com

The Good of Technology

I just got off the phone in a worldwide prayer conference call. Some of us in the US responsible for sending and shepherding our folks had an open line where people could call in for specific prayer - from E. Asia, Croatia, Europe, Latin America...while not everyone did call in, we had a great time lifting our teams before Jesus.
What a joy to lift all of their "communication difficulties" (such a euphemism for team conflict) to the Lord - asking him to be the peace that helps them to walk in step with Him and one another.

What a joy to exalt Jesus - the Supreme Supremacy - and to ask them to hold all things together as these teams try to finish out their next month or two with strength and courage in the midst of the weariness.

I just think that it's cool to be able to pray in real time for the needs of our missionaries!

If you want to read some of their blogs you can go to
http://gnwstinters.blogspot.com/
and check out some of the links on the right.

www.paulagamble.com

NEWSFLASH - It's not about us!

"The gospel, while honoring our experience,
doesn't begin with our experience...
it begins at an impossible place, the tomb."
~Eugene Peterson, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places

NEWSFLASH - It's not about us!

During the passion week (the original one) - the disciples argue amongst themselves who will be greatest. The crowds shout with joy as Jesus enters Jerusalem, because they think he's going to wipe out their Roman oppressors. Five days later - the same crowd who was excitedly proclaiming truth about Jesus (Behold the King) would now yell, "Crucify Him!"
Peter - who proclaims, "Not me - I'll go to prison and even die for you" ends up thrice denying any association with Jesus as a self-protective measure.
Judas, who disdains the waste of Mary's extravagant anointing of Jesus' feet, runs off at the first chance to cash in for an insider trade secret.

If He's not going to be a God who does what I want or makes me too uncomfortable - away with him.

And so goes the thinking of a postmodern North America! Oh we are a fickle people!

But the gospel is not centrally about us. Yes, we are the object of His deep affection - the recipient of His selfless love: "For God so loved the world that He gave..."
Peterson points out that Jesus' birth, death and resurrection are beyond us: "[It] is something we cannot do for ourselves; cannot take credit for, cannot take over and run with, cannot reproduce in any way. It is done for us. We can only hear and believe and enter this God-for-us reality that is so generously given as both the context and the content of our lives" (p. 231).

"The do-it-yourself, self-help culture of North America has so thoroughly permeated our imaginations that we don't give much sustained attention to the biggest thing of all, resurrection. And the reason we don't give much attention to it is because the resurrection is not something we can use or manipulate or control or improve on" (p. 232).

IT IS NOT ABOUT US!

So, how do we give "sustained attention to the biggest thing of all"?

I haven't finished the book to find out Peterson's prescription. But perhaps today - as I reflect on Jesus' betrayal and arrest - perhaps I can repent of any way I have tried to use, manipulate, control or improve/alter God's plan (and perhaps even my own imagination of what he can do for me and my life).

IT'S NOT ABOUT ME!

Oh resurrected Christ - in the Passion week your closest guys seemed only to be concerned with themselves. We've not evolved to be any better now. Easter services become our opportunity to showcase all we have to offer as a church - children come dressed in their new lace and ribbons - the focus so easily detoured to self and self-promotion.

Oh Risen Christ - seated at the right hand of the Father
Oh Exalted King - in whom all authority resides
Oh lamb who was slain for the sins of the world, You alone who are worthy and able...
Forgive our narcissistic culture who would have the audacity to think that we could market a "new & improved" Easter not much different than marketing a "new & improved" toilet bowl cleaner which will make your bowl sparkle and shine while eliminating stains and odors.

Woo my heart to have sustained attention on You.

"By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace was not without effect"
~Paul - 1 Corinthian 15:10

My hands are off...
give me ears to hear,
hands to receive and
courage to enter your God-for-us reality.
May your grace have it's effect in and through my life.

WNP? - Bracelets anyone?

A few years ago there was the WWJD rage: What Would Jesus Do?
There were bracelets, rings, t-shirts, and, in general, WWJD paraphernalia ad infinitum ad nauseum.

I propose a new bracelet/t-shirt/coffee mug, key chain/frisbee: WNP?

Huh?

Well in my on-going mid-life crisis, I continually am asking God, "What do you want me to do? What am I suppose to do with my life?" In the midst I've created at least 5 business cards and brochures for 5 different business ideas - from teaching golf, to recording, to worship leading to writing to speaking and life coaching.

This morning, I was reading and meditating on Romans 8:15 -

"This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurlously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, 'What's next, Papa?'"
or
WNP?

Imagine starting every day by greeting God with such adventurous expectancy:

"Goodmorning Papa. Thanks for a good night sleep. You know all that is ahead in my day and week, but 'What's next, Papa?'"

And Papa tells you - and you do it - and it's hard and beautiful but you feel in sync with who God made you to be.

Another friend just wrote about helping out with Katrina restoration efforts...she said that they had ATL days - "As the Lord leads." The goal - listen and obey. That's it. Listen and obey - and be amazed (and not) at how incredible Papa knows His children.

So - join me. If you are stuck...why not quiet yourself, lean in and ask, WNP?

www.paulagamble.com

Assurance and confidence?

From my poetic friend, Shae, who is a missionary in Rome.

-----------------------------

I find myself questioning what my

ASSURANCE and CONFIDENCE is based

upon: is it on my efforts and ability….

others’ opinion and encouragement….

the church….

my ability to think, try,

win, smile, give, wake up early, save,

persevere, challenge, quote the right

scripture…

God help us understand and walk rightly.

-------------

Check out more of Shae's ponderings and poems:

www.xanga.com/nogoodthing
http://onlyabreath.blogspot.com

Training our souls to embrace Him more

I ran across a new worship definition that I really liked.


"Worship is the habit of ritual and social action with which we experientially and thankfully acknowledge God's supremacy and simultaneously train our souls to embrace Him more deeply."
~Eric Herron

Have fun "unpacking" that...

• not just a ritual/liturgy on Sunday mornings - but the "liturgy" (social and ministerial action) throughout the week
• experiential - 5 senses, not just a happy heart song or thought
• thankful for God's supremacy!
• and yet recognizing my need of my soul to embrace Him even more...

I just like it!

For more "good stuff" on worship - go to Eric Herron's website
www.worshipartist.net


www.paulagamble.com

An African Exhorts an American Church

Pastor Charles from Rwanda preached at my church on Sunday. (Click here to listen to a sermon if you're interested. Once you enter the site, go to resources to download a sermon.)

First, he was shocked - he was given over an hour to preach. He said, "This is not typical for an American church - I usually only get 25 minutes."

Diversion - this is one of the things I love about my church. We are still in the luxurious phase of not having to bow down to worship the clock or our growling stomachs! After a spirit-filled 2 1/2 hour service, half the congregation still hangs out to talk for yet another 1/2 hour or so.

But back to Pastor Charles. He said the church needs 2 good legs to stand on. The Americans - they know the word. They stand on the word. They dissect and divide and preach and talk about the word. "But," he gently said, "You are missing the leg of prayer."

He talked about how the African church is expanding mightily on the wings of prayer - how God is saving souls and is doing miracles, "Because when you literally don't have anything (like daily bread), prayer is everything."

"You don't pray, because you are full. You have everything you need and more."

Exhorting an arrogant Western church takes the greatest of courage and grace. Pastor Charles did that - speaking with grace and truth - and then leading our whole church to their knees in the last 15 minutes - to repent and ask God to give us the word AND prayer so that His kingdom would expand.

It was truly beautiful - I wish we'd have our foreign brothers and sisters come more often to exhort us - we need our Biblical (vs. American) Christianity unmired.

Singleness

Check out this awesome article at Christianitytoday.com


www.paulagamble.com

The Primary Venue for Evangelism

I am reading (slowly, and reflectively because I cannot read it otherwise it is THAT profound) Eugene Peterson's book, "Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Place." Wow...

Peterson makes the statement that meals were perhaps the primary venue for evangelism in Jesus' life (after all, Jesus was associated as a friend of gluttons and drunkards - and is commonly found around the dinner "table")
Peterson comments, "By marginalizing meals of hospitality in our daily lives have we inadvertently diminished the work of evangelism?" (p. 215)

Peterson continues, "We take the meal with as much gospel seriousness as we take our Scriptures: we take the kitchen to be as essential in the work of salvation as is the sanctuary. Meals are front-line strategies countering the inexorable deconstruction of hospitality that is running amuck in our Western world today" (p. 220).

So - what if everyone in our church body committed to having one meal a month with neighbors, co-workers, the elderly or homeless?

In the book of Acts we see that when the early church did this, many saw and were astonished and were added to the church.

Naturally, it would be something so simple...

But....

Last week I momentarily thought, "I want to go to the coast on Monday and Tuesday to celebrate my 22nd anniversary of walking with the Lord."

That of course was quickly followed by my list of "Buts..."
I can't afford it...it's short notice...even if I could, there's no one to go with me...I guess I'll just figure out something here.

The very next morning there was an email in my inbox from a Campus Crusade staff friend: "Paula, would you like to join us at the coast on Monday and Tuesday next week? Free housing and meals!"

HA!

God outdid himself - I got to celebrate with 13 other stellar women of God. The sun even came out on Monday (and for those who've been in the PNW, you know what a miracle that in itself was!)

So - I am reveling in the fact that I am loved - that this little heart cry was heard...that my "Buts" that seem enormous to me are nothing for the Lord to exceed abundantly!

Psalm 90 in the message says:
"Surprise us with love at daybreak; then we'll skip and dance all the day long...Let your servants see what you're best at - the ways you rule and bless your children. And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes. Affirm the work that we do!"

And he did...and he does...

Skipping through the week....

www.paulagamble.com

A Greater Glimpse

Matt Redman has a song on his "Facedown" CD that strikes me each time.

"This is a time for seeing and singing
This is a time for breathing you in and breathing out your praise.
Our hearts respond to your revelation
All you are showing, all we have seen commands a life of praise.

No one can sing of things they have not seen
God open our eyes towards a greater glimpse.
The glory of You - the glory of You
Open our eyes towards a greater glimpse.

Worship starts with Seeing You
Worship starts with Seeing You
Our hearts respond to Your revelation..."

Like the Oswald Chambers writing "Do not look for God to come in any particular way...but look for Him."

What if our times of worship at church or personally were not "just" about singing...
Evenmoreso - they are really about seeing. Tuning our eyes to see Him - to rehearse and refresh that he has not left us wallowing in the mire of this wicked world. He sees and hears and knows and loves.

If we do not see - we will not sing.

Oh Lord - give us a greater glimpse. Open the eyes of our heart that we might know you better.

Feel free to leave a comment of How you have "seen" Jesus show up in Your week.


www.paulagamble.com

Leave room for God

LEAVE ROOM FOR GOD
(Couldn't say it any better so...here it is)
Jan 25th, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers


As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God - to give God "elbow room." We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him.


That is the way to make room for Him.


Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way...


Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.


www.paulagamble.com

It doesn't take a plane to be a missionary!

One of the privileges of working with CCC is the students... I met one young lady at our winter conference - met her from 10 - midnight while we were worshiping God together. Liked her instantly - though I didn't learn her name or even have a discussion with her til the next day.

At the end of the jam session I told the "kids" who were in room that if I were to choose an army out of the 800 students at the conference, I'd choose the 40 of them. I was inspired by their freedom of worship. They unashamedly adored Jesus in song, dance, petitions, beauty...

It is no surprise, then, to hear that these unabashed worshipers have been fueled for mission. My latest young hero, Amber, is applying to go on a STINT (Short Term INTernational mission) with CCC to Japan. But she's not waiting til the fall to start her missionary work. She wrote and said, "It doesn't take a plane to be a missionary." So her goal - to pray for one girl in her sorority every day...and to take one girl out to coffee once a week to talk and listen and share Christ with them.

Seems simple enough - so as I sit here typing at my computer, locked into my own world of scattery freelance starving artist work I have to ask, "When was the last time I took out a non-believer to coffee?"

It doesn't take a plane to be a missionary...

Thank you Amber - and heaps of God's lavish blessings upon you and your mission at EWU.


www.paulagamble.com

Recovering God - Rhythm - David's mixed metaphor

Ps. 40:3 - The Message


"He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
They enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God."

There is a major incongruity here...a mixed metaphor if you will.
David says God taught him to sing...then he says that people are seeing this...

Wouldn't the more natural verb be people are "hearing" or "listening" to the song?
But David uses the word "seeing."

Naturally this caused a lot of brain confusion for me - I myself wanting to enter the mystery of why David would mix metaphors -

Well - first, he's a poet - and we all know poets and artists can do what they want even if it doesn't really make sense. Beauty doesn't have to make sense.

Second, he's also King David - a man after God's own heart whose songs and heart cries (including really wicked impreccatory words of righteous anger) are Holy Scripture - inspired by God. So this is no mistake on his part.

So this is what I "saw" as I leaned into the text this morning.

When I am driving down the road with my stereo playing a song that moves my heart...it quite often also moves my fingers and hands to tap on the steering wheel. Have you ever looked into your rearview mirror to see a person bouncing their head and banging their hands and belting out some song as if they are auditioning for the next American Idol? You snicker because you caught them doing what you usually do - but would hate to be caught doing. You do not hear one word of what's being sung...but you see very obviously that the melody has moved their mouth, hands and head.

That is what music does...it moves us. God never intended music to merely be sung. We were not intended to just to utter words like, "I could sing of your love forever." Who cares? But if that singing doesn't stir your pulse, move your feet, sway your body, create a beat to walk to...who cares?

Music only heard is "nice." Lift your snobby nose in the air and clap like an aristocrat.
Our world doesn't need nice.
We need rhythm. David danced before the Lord with all his might. And what was his response to the naysayers? "I'll become even more undignified than this... I will celebrate before the Lord." 2 Sam 6:22.

We need the people of God whom God is teaching his songs to actually MOVE to the rhythm he is giving. When I see someone doing what they were created to do - I am so inspired. They are dancing, singing, praying, creating, loving right in step with their inner God-rhythm/melody. There is nothing more beautiful. And when others see this -
they too are given the courage to enter the mystery...
to abandon themselves to God's melody for their own lives...
to abandon themselves to the rhythm that is uniquely theirs ...
and to live that rhythm out before the world...turning our backs on what the world worships...not living to the conformity of the world's rhythms. No - tuning into God channels by learning to taste and see and hear and smell and feel the God wonders all around us.

Are people entering the mystery and abandoning themselves to God? If not, one has to wonder if our singing on Sundays is that alone. We are singing...but it is not being seen. Most of us know our neighbors and friends - the people outside the four walls of our fellowship/group - may never hear us sing on Sunday...but they will see whether or not that singing has moved our feet to tap, our mouths to utter hope and truth, our arms to love...

Let God teach you how to sing the latest God song...it is YOUR song...it is YOUR rhythm... it is what he wants to teach you so that you move your feet and tap your hands and stay in step with the melody and rhythm he has put in you. It is unlike any other. Listen for YOUR song...for YOUR God-given rhythm...it's there as sure as the blood is pulsing through your veins. And start dancing to it...irrepressibly let yourself do the things you cannot not do for reasons you cannot explain.

I, nor anyone else can teach you abandonment. It happens as you let God teach you His rhythm for you...and you let that rhythm pulse through you...

Others will see ... others will say, "I want that too." They'll dip in their toes, and learn the freedom of the "unforced rhythms of Grace."

www.paulagamble.com

Who buys all those mattresses?

A few nights ago I got sucked into the bad tv vortex...
I hate it when that happens. So now, in order to excuse/justify my lack of discipline, let me share a few cultural observations...

Straight up prime time - 8pm - opening scene of CSI...two college students stripping down to underwear...the filming stopped just short of what i imagine would qualify as an x rated "adult" movie sex scene aka pornography.
What would Lucy and Desi - who slept in separate twin beds - say?
Ay yi yi
Within a few hours...murder, abortion, illicit sex, drug and alcohol abuse, the "gay cowboy" movie, transgender "regendering" surgeries, ghosts, vampires...evil, power, control abuse... ugh! All in one night of "Must See" TV.
Ay yi yi -
If this is what the network says we "must see" - what does that say about us? Our visions are not very grand or glorious.

And then there's the ads - they say a lot about us.
Food, food, food - fresh, fast, cheap....
followed by ads for diet programs, exercise equipment, gym membership deals, and high cholestoral medication.
In other words...parttake in the plenty - we have "easy" remedies. Binge and purge.
Indulge without consequence...Hmmmm

And the big question on my mind - do we really buy that many mattresses? Three different companies on every single commercial break trying to sell us mattresses. I don't know about you - but I've had mine for a dozen or more years...Who is buying all these mattresses?

Oh well - I say this - stop the madness...repent of self-abuse of body, mind and soul.

4 words that will change your life...

Yesterday a friend wrote me a few of her New Year's resolutions and asked for prayer. Now truth be known, I could take or leave NYRs. I don't want to fall into what feels like a gimmicky marketing tool for my well-being. And, truth be known, I don't want to fail...again...

Well, my friend's heart was noble and vulnerable - she longed to grow in her relationship with God. The last four words of her email were stunning - she felt she could rearrange her life a bit...

"...because I love Him."

Exquisite, really.

Oh how NYRs come and go - perhaps it's because our motives are so quirky.

Exercise and eat right to be a better steward of my body

vs.

Exercise and eat right ...because I love Him

Which is more motivating? The former is seemingly pious/spiritual, but functional. The latter - it is relational.

What if all our New Year's resolutions were based on love of Him?

Would it change my "stick-to-it-ness"?

Would I actually enjoy the discipline because of the love?

Because I love him - would that more of my daily choices be made with love in mind - not just a check mark on a list.

I will say no to a second helping - because I love him.

I will say no to bad tv - because I love him

I will say yes to exercise - because I love him

I will say yes to an abuse recovery support group - because I love him.

Four words that will change your/my life.

Yes - I am loved by God - "meteorically"! But would that I'd retain remembrance of our love so I could walk through each moment with joy and faithfulness ... because I love him.

I am my beloved and he is mine...His banner over me is love.