Hope

Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark. ~George Iles

My Hope Is In You Lord - Aaron Shust

Yesterday, while driving, I became lost in my mental wanderings. I began thinking of those who preach of a spirituality that is "bigger or beyond" Jesus. I have to admit, I am a Christian who does not believe that Jesus is the only way...He's "MY" way, yet I cannot say he is the "only" way. I think because of my openness, those who believe differently than me, often feel comfortable sharing their own thoughts, their own wanderings and where those take them.

I believe that Jesus is bigger than my definition or understanding of him. I believe that he is present in places that would not be labeled as being "Christian."

How?

I don't know, he is Lord and in "my" mind, that means he is bigger and broader than I can comprehend.

Yesterday, thinking of these different pathways that are bigger/broader than any religion, I wondered where they find hope. I know that many who live from this position, live in the present moment, without concern for tomorrow because this moment is all we truly know we have...

2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "We walk by faith and not by sight."

For me, walking by faith, even though I cannot "see", I do see!

I see God all around me and I believe I see because of the grace found within Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Without the grace I have discovered in Jesus, I would struggle because it is my "hope" in him that helps me to ride the joys and the pains of this life.

This morning, I felt as though God was once listening in on my thoughts when I opened Sarah Young's devotional, Jesus Calling. For today, using Romans 12:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:8, and Hebrews 6:18-19 she writes:

http://www.markcassino.com/b2evolution/
index.php/2006_spring_wildflowers_viii

"Hope is a golden cord connecting you to heaven. This cord helps you hold your head up high, even when multiple trials are buffeting you. I never leave your side, and I never let go of your hand. But without the cord of hope, your head may slump and your feet may shuffle as you journey uphill with Me. Hope lifts your perspective from your weary feet to the glorious view you can see from the high road. You are reminded that the road we're traveling together is ultimately a highway to heaven. When you consider this radiant destination, the roughness or smoothness of the road ahead becomes much less significant. I am training you to hold in your heart a dual focus: My continual Presence and the hope of heaven." 

I smiled, appreciating and acknowledging the love of God that holds me and is within me as I read this passage. Because I'm warped, I looked up from the book and said, "Are you listening to every word I say or think this week?"

"Hope is a golden cord..."

We are living through the second drought in the same number of years. My family, my neighbors, many in my congregation depend on a good crop, yet for the second summer in a row, we are watching corn and beans "grow" in parched soil.

Without hope, I would be like those stalks of corn. I would be walking through this life, parched... Without the "living water" of my hope in Christ, my head would indeed droop, because living on this earth is painful, it is difficult. Hope is a cord, as Sarah Young writes, it is a "golden cord" a cord of great value that connects me to that which I cannot see except through the eyes of faith.

Today, I thank and praise you, Lord, for the gift of hope that resides in my heart! I thank and praise you for the teachers you send along my way, just when my head does begin to feel a bit heavy. I thank and praise you for people in my life who send encouraging notes or emails, they are woven within that golden cord that connects me to you for through them, I see you! I ask you blessing upon them, may their lives be touched by your love, may their sense of hope be strengthened, as they too walk by faith. AMEN.


Jeremy Camp - Walk by Faith... 


Many Blessings ~ Sandi

The Prayer of a Woman Who Understood Crumbs - I

I remembered I had a pork loin marinating in my refrigerator late last evening that I had intended to roast on Saturday.  So...after an already long day, I had a short night's rest.  I am struggling to feel energetic about a new day so I went searching for a "kick in the butt" worship song.

AMEN!

The Canaanite woman - a Gentile dog

Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. "First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to dogs."

"Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter." She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.  Mark 7:24-30


The Canaanite Woman.  We don't even know the name of this woman of great faith who knew that all her daughter needed to be healed by Jesus was crumbs. She called out to Jesus to heal her daughter, yet Matthew says:  "Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” Matthew 15:23


Macrina asks, "What do you do when Jesus answers you not a word?...[I struggle with temptations..] There is the temptation of self-pity...the temptation to let my joy slip away...sometimes I am angry...the temptation to just go away. God hasn't answered my plea, so I don't ask again." (Macrina Wiederkehr, A Tree Full of Angles, p 43)






I have, at times, responded much like Macrina describes. I've had "good" prayers! I've prayed that someone be healed, or that someone would get a job or suddenly come into some much needed money! I have prayed for my own pains to at least be softened... Yet, God has seemed to remain silent. Have you ever noticed how LOUD silence seems?

A few days ago I played a video with the Simon and Garfunkel song, The Sound of Silence. "Hello Silence, my Old Friend..." Sometimes silence feels more like an angry force than an old friend. Yet this unnamed woman, in the silence of a blank stare, continued to look at Jesus and went to kneel at his feet, saying, "Lord help me!"

"Her response gives me hope. I love it. There are some of us who have forgotten how to kneel, and I am one of those with that poor memory. Yet when there is nothing left to do and nowhere else to go, it is then I remember my knees. I remember my family. When you're little and poor and you've no place to go, being on your knees before Jesus isn't a bad choice at all." (Wiederkehr, p 44)

She's right. I cannot remember when I have knelt to pray, yet each week I look at that stained glass window at the church of Jesus KNEELING in prayer.

So, here is this woman, humbling herself, yet still being persistent because she has a vision of her daughter being healed and she does not take "No." for an answer...even after she was called a "dog", she persists.  Why? How?  Macrina writes:

"...her heart was undivided. She knew what she wanted. She had come to Jesus seeking help for someone she loved. She would not allow her own hurt feelings to stand in the way of her prayer for help. She believed he was Lord! He called her a dog and she reminded him that the dogs get the crumbs that fall from the table." (Ibid)

This woman amazes me.  I remain still, thinking of her spirit, her boldness, her belief... Yet, as Macrina writes, there are two other things that stand out about this woman.

1. Her undivided heart that knows what it wants.  Even with the silence and the put downs, she remained focus on her quest...on her prayer.
2. She had an unshakable vision that recognized she just needed a little.  Macrina writes, "Crumbs are what most people overlook, even in the spiritual life, because they are so busy grabbing for the whole loaf. But this woman didn't overlook them. Her heart was too single and pure to miss even the the opportunity of a crumb. 'Just a crumb!' 'Just a word!' Just a look of love!' 'Just desire my daughter's healing!' That will be enough." (Wiederkehr, p 45)

Scripture tells us that Jesus was impressed by her deep faith and he let her in. Macrina writes:

"Jesus saw the poverty within her that she had already embraced...She didn't deny her littleness, but neither did she wallow in it. She embraced it. Even in her kneeling, she stood tall. She was her self, her best self." (Ibid)

This is a wonderful story full of challenge for me. Macrina asks if I have ever thought of Jesus being impressed by my faith.

Wow...that thought can bring me to my knees.  Paul says, " Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)

Before writing anymore I want to reflect on Macrina's question if Jesus would be impressed by my faith.  I WANT Jesus to be impressed, do I rely to much on his accepting me as I am?  Do I rely more on his faithfulness than on my own?

Ohhh God, some hard questions to begin a Monday morning!  I want to have an undivided heart, yet I fear I am more likely to become distracted or even see your silence as being about me.  When that happens, I loose the focus of my prayer and as Macrina says, I become angry, sullen...  Send your Spirit of Pentecost into my heart! Help me become the woman you created me to be! To fulfill your purpose through me.  AMEN.


A reminder that I am so small, yet I am loved and am given crumbs so that I might rest in the love of our Awesome God - Michael W. Smith.

I'm still trying to get 25 "Likes" on the Facebook page for Laughing-Listening-Learning.  I need the 25 Likes so I can get a URL address rather than this one which is full of words and numbers. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laughing-Listening-Learning/177739455618215

I would so appreciate a "LIKE"! : )

Many Blessings ~ Sandi

Evening Reflection

While I don't plan on always doing an evening review, if something comes to mind, I will be here. I enjoy listening to poetry by David Whyte.  In this video he shares his thoughts about Faith.

FAITH

      I want to write about faith,

about the way the moon rises

over cold snow, night after night,

faithful even as it fades from fullness, 

slowly becoming that last curving and impossible 

sliver of light before the final darkness.

But I have no faith myself 

I refuse it even the smallest entry.

Let this then, my small poem, 

like a new moon, slender and barely open, 

be the first prayer that opens me to faith.  

-- David Whyte

"...my small poem..." crumbs that open me to the holy, that encourages me, that feeds my heart and gives me faith.

When I was outside today, I did pick up a white dandelion and studied it...and was amazed.  There is great beauty within these delicate "weeds"!  I wondered what else I have taken for granted and as if on cue, a robin began singing his heart out as the sky began to darken.  I listened, smiled and bowed, and thanked the robin for the wonderful concert.  I felt blessed, and I suppose these would be considered "crumbs."

This has been a much more busy day than I had planned. Tonight I am tired and hoping for a restful sleep. I have just read  Psalm 37  as I prepare for this night's rest.  This Psalm contains some amazing verses that are wonderful to hold as I get ready for sleep.

Oh, to have the heart of a child!

³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
   your vindication like the noonday sun.
 ⁷ Be still before the LORD
   and wait patiently for him; 




23 The LORD makes firm the steps
   of the one who delights in him;
²⁴ though he may stumble, he will not fall,
   for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
 ²⁵ I was young and now I am old,
   yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
   or their children begging bread.
²⁶ They are always generous and lend freely;
   their children will be a blessing.
 ²⁷ Turn from evil and do good;
   then you will dwell in the land forever.
²⁸ For the LORD loves the just
   and will not forsake his faithful ones.

I really have not been paying attention
to the fascination with "angels"!

Today, thinking about angels I remembered Nicholas Cage had a movie several years ago...City of Angels.  I  discovered this video and it really spoke to my "cloud loving" heart.  When I stop and pause...and notice, I truly am surrounded by the holy...the spectacular.

Arms of an Angel - Sarah McLaughlin

Holy and Healing God, bless all who pause to look...pause to catch a glimpse of the holy whether it be within a dandelion, the moon as it brightens during the evening hours, a robin singing at the end of a day, or dew left on the windshield of a car. Bless us, protect our hearts, encourage our feeble efforts so that we might truly be healed as we come nearer to your presence. AMEN.
Many Blessings ~ Sandi

Week IV - Day 4 - The Unmendable Cup - The Evening Review

I've had a good day.  A day I made some decisions, acted...and I know peace.

I'm sitting with a song by Kutlass,What Faith Can Do

This morning I included a quote from Frederick Buechner's book, Wishful Thinking, A Seeker's ABC. Once I get on Buechner, it is difficult for me to put him down so...another quote before turning in tonight.

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet." 

Another video with wonderful words to carry into the night...

Teresa of Avila prayed that she would let God be enough for her...

Watching these two videos and pondering their lyrics...

Holding the words of Joyce Rupp in my heart....

Divine Companion, shelter me and those searching to know you better during this Lenten season under your wings of love. In your love and in your mercy, grant each of us a peaceful night and a restful sleep. AMEN.

Many Blessings ~ Sandi