Let's Talk

Come here, let's talk

Isaiah 1:18

As I continue the adventure of intercession the one thing I am finding myself doing is spending a lot of time just talking with God, like I would one of my friends. In fact I have started to pretend that God doesn't know how my day went, and I just tell him like I would my wife.

And I find that it is addictive. I find that I want to tarry more with God now, just talking with Him, and then I wander to asking Him about things, and for things: for myself and for others.

Amen

Coffee Talk

Come on now, let's discuss this!

Isaiah 1:18

As I continue to explore (and practice) intercessory prayer (is there any other?) in reference to my boss and my friend, I am struck with the notion that God wants me to talk with Him. Like I would my wife. At night we often sit and just talk about the day. It has never occurred to me, to just tell Him what has happened in the day. To take the time to say out loud the happenings of the day as if God did not know what happened. Of course He knows, but it seems that there is some great value in taking the time to say it.

I find this is one of the most important parts of intercessory prayer, for a couple of reasons: 1) I have noticed that when I do this I tend to concentrate on things I know (facts) and not on assumptions. 2) I have noticed that when I spend my time praying about assumptions, my spirit is never comforted, nor do I receive wisdom. 3) When I pray about things I know, I am finding that like the sun rising in the morning, so does my understanding. I find that my understanding of the situation -and more importantly - the person - grows.

Which isn't all that odd, how can you be wise - ie understand -  anything about nothing?

So he said he would destroy them—

    had not Moses, his chosen one,

stood in the breach before him

    to keep his wrath from destroying them

Psalm 106:23

Amen

Vocation

and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation

Exodus 19:6

People effect each other in weird ways, and I find that the family emergency of my boss and her husband has led me to explore the concept of prayer, and it has led to a place I never expected: what my vocation is. As a person I had always thought it was to be funny or an artist, but I think I have to rethink that.

This has occured to me as I read about the story of the first intercessor ("religious" lawyer) Abraham. The thought of intercessory prayer had never occured to me. Sure I'd prayed for people, but not like a that. The power of that appealed to me, but not for the usual reason: to get prayers answered.

I found myself just simply wanting to draw closer to God. The first job of a priest. But the work of a priest is always for others, so I was surprised to see that both at the "beginning" of God's work on earth and its "end" (in revelations) He has always called His people to the work of priesting. Its ministering, it is drawing close to God, and learning to pray in a way that is in line with Him.

He is my Father, and I find myself simply want to spend time with Him. The first part of any intercession. It isn't about using God to do what we want but being with Him, and in turn everyone else.

and you have made them a kingdom 

and priests to our God,

    and they shall reign on the earth.

Revelation 5:10

AMEN!

Captain Suffering

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 2:10

I had a conversation with my Buddhist leaning brother, and one thing I noticed that comes up a lot when our conversations turn to this is the topic of suffering. I could totally be wrong, but it seems to me like he is trying to avoid suffering, or minimize it. (And by suffering it seems to me personal suffering, I don't think any one of any persuasion would want others to suffer.)

At times when we talk like this I think of the Hebrews verse I quoted. Christianity seems to embrace the concept of suffering, and make it a part of our redemption. At the heart of my faith is the concept of taking on suffering for others, in fact it is the reason Christianity exists. Jesus' willing sacrificial (suffering) offering of himself for others.

I don't so much want to run away from suffering (and don't long for more) but I want to work through the suffering in such a way that on the other side I am better for it not worse. Because suffering is inevitable but my response to it does not have to be.

Amen.

Fast Forward

"I Will Be What I Will Be

Exodus 3:14

I had a conversation with my brother who is a Buddhist. He mentioned that he has only this time, right now, and nothing else. I appreciate this concept. It is cool to be in the moment, and often I think I am not.

As I thought about this I have also been studying a bit about Judaism, and was interested to note, that the English translation of I am that I am could also be translated as I will be what I will be.

This is future language, and I think essential to both Judaism and Christianity: the forward look to God making everything right. In God, as a Christian, through Christ, I do have the future, the present, and the past. They are not simply gone, meaningless, and wasted. 

As Paul says in speaking about the importance, relevance, and power of the Resurrection: 

Throw yourselves into the work of the Master,

 confident that nothing you do for him 

is a waste of time or effort

1 Corinthians 15:58

  Amen!

Back to the Future

This is heavy ~

Marty McFly

The week started with learning about being a lawyer (priest) in prayer. A new thought for me. The idea that I am expected to bring the case of my friends and relatives to the Heavenly Bench.

And I listened to a sermon about the hebrew word "kavod" which originally meant "heavy, or important". The idea impressed me, and then yesterday I had a heaviness I have had before, but did not recognize as "kavod".

Coupled with intercessory prayer, I found myself praying very earnestly for those in my orbit who were having to deal with a disruption in their life. It wasn't a sadness or sorrow, just a heaviness, a seriousness, that I was grateful to experience.

I am grateful for the fact that I did not assume what my friends "kavod" was, but realized that they will have it in different areas from me, but they will still have it. I found myself asking the Aaronic Blessing for them over and over:

May the Lord bless you

    and keep you.

²⁵ 

May the Lord smile down on you^[a]

    and show you his kindness.

Numbers 6:24-25

Amen.

Legal Prayer

Then Abraham approached him and said

Genesis 18:23

The thought of intercessory prayer had never occurred to me until listening to a sermon by Timothy Keller about priesthood. Of course my main problem was that I didn't realize that intercessory prayer is basically acting like a lawyer for someone. That makes more sense to me.

You gather your evidence, and present it to the Judge.

Now I know that Jesus is doing this for every believer, that is what the book of Hebrews is all about. But I had not thought about that being my job as a believer. And yet, right there in Revelations 1 I read God "made us a kingdom of priests".

The job of a priest is to present a legal case for the accused.

So I took this idea, and I practiced it, with a friend whom I am mad with. I presented the case to God, in a way I had not before, asking that wrath would not descend on him (not God's primarily, but mine). I have never had an experience like that before. I not only felt the presence of God as I prayed, I felt closer, more understanding, about my friends experience.

Amen.

Ending the Beginning

The end of a matter is better than its beginning

Ecclesiastes 7:8

I read this and balked at first. My mind then went to friendships, or loves. Mostly because I think one is ending, and I find myself strangely content, or settled about it.

I think it is because I know what it was, and that it is over, or close to it. At the beginning of the friendship I was full of questions: What will it be? How long will it last? When will we do something?

Ambiguity is really hard for me, I want to know and I am learning that knowing is only something you get after it is all over.

Amen.

I love....

Whoever loves money never has enough

Ecclesiastes 5:10

I have been listening to a podcast about the 7 deadly sins. And today I listened to greed. This was one of the teaching texts, and it made me think about greed in my life.

The word apparently comes from the latin word for coveting. When I looked at my life, I can see that I covet things that are strictly material: things like attention. It made me stop and think about the greed in my life that isn't so obvious since I typically don't run after material things.

Amen.

Testing...Testing

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves

2 Corinthians 13:5

At bible study we had been working our way through 2 Corinthians, and neared the end. The facilitator, Jim, told us that most commentators felt chapters 10-13 were a repetition of the first chapters, so we skimmed them.

But our discussion did land on this particular verse (among others) about testing yourself. Although I could not have said is so clearly in the past, I like the fact that the main focus of the New Testament seems to be about the transformation of the individual.

That is acknowledges that "we" are the ones that need to change, or repent. I know I am more than willing to request, or require, the change of those around me. Its easy to do that. It is harder, and much more satisfying for me in the long run, to realize, and to participate in, that change in me.

Then I wondered well, what is the test, how do I examine myself, how do I know if Christ is in me? The previous session Jim had handed out this bible verse:

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

Now I just have remember fruit doesn't grow overnight, may I be righteously patient.

Amen.

Knock Knock

 Listen! My beloved is knocking: Open to me

Song of Solomon 5:2

This whole chapter is about a lover and the beloved. Someone reaching out to another person, and the other person, at least initially, not really wanting to make the connection. The beloved doesn't want to get out of bed, doesn't want to get dressed, and doesn't want to walk on a cold floor to meet the loved.

WOW, talk about love.

Over the weekend I was reading some material about co-dependency. A term originally applied to the families of alcoholics, but has since been applied more liberally. I like the casual definition I found on the WebMD site: It's kind of a weird phrase, and it doesn't sound like it means a one-sided relationship. But that's what it is. It means you're trying to make the relationship work with someone else who's not.

Solomon's story seems to hit on that to a degree.

And of course I think this happens in every relationship. Because of illness or life events, often one person is required to give more, for the moment, than the other.

For me, the wisdom is in learning when something is temporary or "permanent" and having the grace to avoid one sided relationships, something I am not very good at.

Amen.

Confession

 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

As a non catholic believer, I have had very little use for confession. Any kind really, even out loud to God. This is due in no small part to the absolute guilt I was encouraged to feel at every failure. Especially the failures that my particular Christian sect (Adventist) had decided were the worst (Sabbath Breaking, Eating Meat, Being Human).

And I think that is the problem with SIN!!! As Christians we have spent so much time demonizing sin (is that even possible) to the point where I know I am afraid to confess it.

And yet, if I don't confess it: name it, call it out; as failure to do what I know we ought to, am I not just strengthening my propensity to do it even further? I think so.

Call it what it is, and no doubt eventually it will seem repugnant. Holiness is a life time venture.

Amen.