The Clash of Kingdoms: Which are we fighting for?

This week's blog may be offensive to some - at least more offensive than other posts.  However, this is not my intent. I wish to challenge us to think about how we are thinking about the various scenes that are unfolding around us. Although this post may seem like a political piece, I think of it as apolitical. I am not concerned about politics. I really have no position. Though I recognize that there are valid positions in each platform of the two mainstream political parties, I would hope that readers would elevate their thinking beyond parties and consider current events in light of the eternal plan of God. As believers, viewing our lives through God's eternal lens allows us to have a more balanced perspective. I pray you read and enjoy the thought process. Be blessed - Michael.

Infusions of Faith

John 18:36 

36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” (NLT)

Colossians 1:12-14

12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom[a] and forgave our sins. (NLT)

I have been sitting back watching and listening over the last few months. While observing the world around me, I have seen families split, friends end relationships, church members leave and many people consolidate "their side of an argument" with like-minded people. Through all of this, I keep asking myself, "What are we really fighting about?  Why are we fighting?"

Yes, I understand that there are differences in philosophical and political positions. I see the silence of those who have stood on moral platforms in times past - effectively, undermining their ability to speak of a high moral ground now. I see political parties co-opting the truth for convenient lines and pithy sayings. I also see individuals refusing to address issues that would be considered their "personal or private rights" in order to secure social and political advances toward equity. Each individual, regardless of their postures and positions, adamantly says that they are in the right and that they are standing for the "kingdom" of God. I have to ask, what are we really fighting for? 

I suppose that as I have gotten older, I have become more jaded and less ready to jump on the bandwagon of any political party or ideology. As a young man (teens and twenties) I was a mix of Malcolm X and Rev. Dr. M. L. King Jr. fighting for the liberation and advancement of Africans in the USA and the diaspora. In my thirties and early forties, I labored to advance a multicultural/multi-ethnic worldview. Now as I approach 50 years of age, having labored in ministry for over 30 years, been tempered by the reality of my own shortcomings, and wooed into a trusting and loving relationship with GOD - I am coming to understand that maybe I have spent a large portion of my life standing for Christ, without submitting to his Kingdom Rule. The things that I supported or pursued in each phase of my life were good.  Advocating for others and seeking to bridge divides are worthy things. However, during those phases of my life, they were the ends and the means.  My focus was not the Kingdom of God.  

During those times I evangelized to "prove" to people that Jesus was the answer.  Now, I want to join God in His ongoing work as a laborer in the field He has prepared for the harvest. My focus is not on proving His existence but on living because of His existence. I am less concerned about the ills and evils in our political system because I realize that our "systems" (capitalism, socialism, oligarchy, republic, libertarian, democrat or republican) aren't God's Kingdom. Jesus is clear that His kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If Christ wanted to overthrow the existing world's systems He could do it with a word. He is not impotent nor is He cowering in a corner in heaven afraid of what is happening on earth.

It was not Jesus' intent to establish His Kingdom on top of the decay of a fallen world. No, He had another way. He did not come to save the world systems and remodel them using the remnants of decayed materials. He came to save individuals from their sins and to remove them from the kingdom of darkness into His Kingdom of light.  

In this season of heightened emotions, heightened advocacy, and heightened agitation, let's not forget, that as believers, this world is not our home. Let's also remember that everything that is happening today is occurring against the backdrop of God's eternal plan. Don't get tangled in the weeds and fail to step back to see this drama unfold in light of the eternal.

So where does that leave us? We each have to examine our lives. If you live or vote based on hate, anger, pride, resentment or arrogance, you are in the wrong. Or if your compassion allows you to excuse what God calls evil, you are in the wrong. As members of God's kingdom, we are not here to save the world's systems, we are here to offer a way out of a decaying system that will one day totally rebel against God's rule.

Yes, it's right to treat people equitably. But we must understand that God's definition of equity has at least two components: Justice and Holiness. Those who accept Christ as Savior speak truth to the system, not to overthrow it, but to provide a mirror of God's standard of how to treat the poor, the alien, the widow and the orphan. It is not "just" to allow systems to intentionally detract and subtract from others. Nor is it "equitable" to allow individuals to live in ways that undermine God's Holiness. As individuals, what we do to our selves (privately) has eternal implications for us and practical implications for our nation.  

Yes we will elect individuals to offices. Yes, we will continue to be grateful for the liberties we have. Yes, we will continue to advocate for lives that matter. Yes, we will continue to speak truth, God's truth, to the system. Yet, we must never forget that there are only two Kingdoms.  The Kingdom of Light and the kingdom of darkness. My question to each of us is," Which are we really fighting for?"

Reflections

1. Stop and think about what is motivating you during these difficult times.  What seems to be the dominant emotion or motivation?  Is this honoring to God?  Why or why not?

2. Democrat, Republican, Libertarian or Independent, you must vote your conscience and that's ok.  What issues do you have difficulty with supporting in the platforms of your party of choice? Why?

3. What does it mean to you to be part of the Kingdom of Christ?  How might this impact your daily living and the decisions that you make?

Resources

Being Kingdom Independent by Jonathan Evans

Daniel: Reflections on Overcoming

Note from us:  This is the second week for our guest blogger.  As we stated last week, B. Alison Buckner is our sister/friend. She has graciously agreed to add her voice to our conversations about faith. Let's hear from her as she explores the ideas of becoming and overcoming.

 Reflections on Overcoming 

                                                                                        

Romans 8:29‭-‬30 MSG

God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like (Gen 1:26), he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.

Infusions of Faith

I know that a difficult life with many disappointments, betrayals, failures and shortcomings can make a person feel unworthy and worthless. In the middle of such pain and suffering, it is hard to believe that a man reported to be God came to earth to die for our sins and to set us free to live abundantly on earth and eternally with Him. It seems far-fetched and completely fairy-tale- like. But this is where faith, trust and prayer are useful - I would even say it is needful. Having these three (faith, trust and prayer) are essential to believing God and knowing Him.

Believing God (faith) +  Knowing Him (trust in His word & prayer) = Your Life Made New (physically & spiritually)

By faith we come to understand His plan and we come to know more intimately our Father God. Knowing God cultivates our trust in Him, so that we can fully rely on Him.To know our stories were written by Almighty Creator before we even drew our first breath is a mystery that we cannot fully comprehend. Because of His unending, unyielding love for us, we can give up trying so hard to be what we imagine ourselves to be, what we have become or what others desire us to be.

Imagine, from conception to the throne, our lives are known. Our lives are carefully planned from conception, to birth, infancy, and through the full revolutions of our developmental stages, until we see Him face-to-face. This includes everything about us, the good and the bad.This may be hard to take in but the marvelous thing about sin, guilt & death is that God handled this for us in the beginning, so that as we are becoming who He called us to be, we find that we are already what He planned. No stage of our lives is beyond His awareness and understanding. He has provided grace along the journey.

Can you see God's intention and purpose in Daniel's life? Although Daniel lived before the physical Christ walked the earth, God gave Daniel a name (God is my Judge), and though Babylonian captivity produced another name, Belteshazzar (Lord of the straitened's treasure), Daniel remained true to his God-given name and followed this identity because he knew God. And God unfolded his miserable captivity into ruler-ship, favor and renowned fame. Daniel's name & reputation are known even until this day. This is grace in action!

So Daniel becomes a prototype for our lives today. Pressures, problems & probabilities can became surety and certainties of God's plan for Daniel's life. Likewise pressures, problems and probabilities can be a surety for us, knowing God had these specific things in mind for our lives, knowing who we are and who we know. Daniel knew that God was real and that God would be his help and his judge. Likewise, we are God's elect and He fights for us - Do you know it? God will be our help and our judge! Using the same tools and resources Daniel used: faith, trust and prayer, we are able to see ourselves becoming to overcoming, all because of God's Love.

Isn't that heart-warming news? Our today, tomorrow, ups, downs, good, evil, imagined or real situations cannot remove us from Father God because He loves us. We are in Him!

Reflection Questions

1. How do you view your pressures, problems, and probabilities?

2. Do you see God working in your life? How?

3. It is not easy living, what can you do to strengthen your faith towards God, trust in God and prayer to God?

4. Just like Daniel had fellow believers in his journey, identify 1-3 individuals that you can connect with to join in each other's journey of faith.

Daniel: Reflections on Becoming

Note from us: The last few weeks have been pretty hectic with preparations for a medical procedure and the subsequent recovery. Needless to say, we needed some help getting faith-filled insights to focus on and we have a wonderful guest blogger to help us do just that.  B. Alison Buckner is our sister/friend. She has graciously agreed to add her voice to our conversations about faith. Let's hear from her as she explores the ideas of becoming and overcoming.

Infusions of Faith

Daniel 1:8 (ESV)

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore, he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

Daniel 1:16-17 (ESV)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Daniel 2:48-49 (ESV)
Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

"Becoming" in Christ requires something from us, but it also gives something to us. Life is not only about what we get, but what we give as well. It can be easy to focus on the happenings or events we've experienced, without thinking as deeply about our response to our life events. 

At times, we can tend to react quickly without pondering the implications of our thoughts, feelings or behaviors. We may even seek good vibes only, never expecting to suffer for our own choices, much less others'. Yet, we quickly find that this simply isn't how life goes. Good and bad happen to everyone. Sometimes we suffer - for what we do and don't do, as well as by others' choices.

In the book of Daniel, is the story of a King Nebuchadnezzar who has a dream and desires its interpretation. He promises death to every magician, sorcerer and wise man who cannot tell him the dream and interpretation. Daniel & his fellow countrymen are listed in that select group to interpret the dream or be executed. They did not know if God would answer them, but they did know that He could answer according to His great mercy. 

The spokesman, Daniel, requests time (a wise choice) to honor the king's request. Praying and receiving the answers from God, he produced life for himself and his countrymen. And in that life-giving moment, he was promoted. 

We could say the cost of becoming in Daniel's situation was faith, trust and prayer. 

• Faith that God had the answers. 

• Trust that God would answer. 

• Prayer to request that God would move in the situation. 

As with Daniel and his friends, God is the victor of our faith bringing us to the promised position in His Word. He brings us victory. What does God call victory? In their situation: life instead of death, both physically and spiritually.

"Becoming" requires us to face the potential of losing it all. It is during these times when all is on the line, like with Daniel, that God proves what we need Him to be, when we need Him to be it. 

Fortunately for believers, death and condemnation lose! Through God’s wisdom, Daniel and his friends avoided death in this instance which is proof that preserving their physical life was victory.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego went from being exiles to governor and administrators of the province of Babylon. They did not plan their journey. They simply lived their life with a trust in God. God ordered their steps and used their circumstances to shape them as people and to shape their lives.

In these scriptures, we see that trusting God meant their life. Daniel learned he had to count the cost when choosing to obey God. He:

• Dared to be different 

• Stood out for his faith

• Believed in who he was

• Believed that he was called by God

• Believed that the enemies of his God had to bow

 Reflection Questions

1. What situations have you been in or are currently in that require you to put it all on the line?

2. Do you believe that God can and is willing to give you victory?

3. In what areas of your life do you need to "become" more trusting?  Into what area(s) may you need to invite God? 

4. Is God speaking to you about relinquishing your plans and trusting Him to shape you and your life?

God is a Sustainer

 Infusions of Faith

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."  Isaiah 46:4 NIV

I have to remember this important truth...God is a sustainer.

Recently a few family members have accepted new positions at their organizations. They had little time between the interviews and having to make a decision on an offer. For one person they will have to move across the country. Fortunately, they will be moving closer to home. The other has received a position that restores them to a salary reminiscent of what they had made five or so years ago. Through it all, God has carried them and sustained and their families.

An associate is facing health challenges, along with the internal struggles, concerns about work, and worries about who will be there to assist during recovery. Yet another person is basking in the joys of having a young baby and sharing the excitement of young parenthood. Though both are overwhelmed with sleepless nights, God is a sustainer. All of the above are in situations that cause real concerns and life decisions.

Each of their experiences reminds me of the highs and lows that make up life. I am surprised at how quickly life can change. One minute it feels as if we are riding high and the next it feels like we are treading water, praying to keep our heads above water. At times this can be frustrating.

God declares that He is a sustainer. Through job transitions and medical trials, He is a sustainer. In the throws of marital discord, He is a sustainer. In the miracle of a relationship restored, He is a sustainer.  In the loss of a child, to the streets, to their anger, or to drugs, He is a sustainer. When your heart swells with emotions too grand to contain, He is a sustainer.

I think it was David, the psalmist, who said that he would have fainted unless he had confidence that he would see God’s goodness while he was alive. I echo that statement. Life is good, until suddenly it seems like it isn’t. In these times of swift change at work, church and during the pandemic, I feel that I am fast approaching another major transition in my life; this is where things usually go haywire. It is my prayer that I do not forget his promise to sustain me. God knows his plans for me and He has guided me safely thus far.

James Cleveland said,” I don’t believe that he brought me this far to leave me.”  I join him in declaring this as well. I am also reminded of the old folks saying,” I guess I’ll run on to see what the end will be.”  When I get drained and tired like I am right now, it is easy to forget that life is made up of these ups and downs. This is life. I am not waiting for life to happen. I am living life now and my attitude and “heart-a-tude” are impacted by my ability to remember that He is sustaining me. Even now.

 

Key Thoughts

·         Life is what happens now, not just later. God is concerned about everything you experience. 

·         We need a sustainer when we feel we can’t make it on our own. We may not always feel like God is with us, but He is.

Resources

I Don’t’ Feel No ways Tired by James Cleveland

 The One – God is our Sustainer (Video)

Overcoming Contention in Your Soul

 Infusions of Faith

"For this wonderful news—the message that God wants to save us—has been given to us just as it was to those who lived in the time of Moses. But it didn’t do them any good because they didn’t believe it. They didn’t mix it with faith. 3 For only we who believe God can enter into his place of rest." Heb 4:2-3a (TLB)

"We have heard the Good News even as they did, but it did them no good because it was not mixed with faith. 3 We who have put our trust in God go into His rest." Heb 4:2-3a (NLV)

I have always been intrigued with the written text of the Bible and how the stories were told. For example, I like to research how a verse was phrased, discover the hidden meaning in a name, how a word's definition has changed or endured over time, and to work at understanding the idioms and/or connotations of a specific historical time. It may seem nerdy, but haven't you ever wondered why in John 13:23, the disciple John refers to himself as, “the disciple Jesus loved?” Jesus loved all the disciples and everyone else for that matter, so why does John single himself out here? Was he being petty and prideful? Have you read the lineage of Christ in Matthew 1 and wondered why did the first sixteen verses of the chapter consist of names we cannot pronounce? It's not exactly an easy read starting the new testament.

 I'm going somewhere with this...every word, phrase, verse, chapter and book isn't just telling a summary of events, they're telling a detailed story, full of meaning. So, when reading one or a few verses, you can actually get a full story of the who, what, why, when, where, & how of a passage. And don't get me started on comparing biblical translations, the Hebrew/Greek word definitions, lexical aids and commentary notes. A single verse can yield a lot of meaning and understanding if you invest the time and have the materials. I don't engage in such a study to tickle my fancies, but to seek revelation from God.

 Looking at the verses above: Heb. 4:2-3a

• Who: is referenced by how the text was written -- "...has been given to us just as it was to those who lived in the time of Moses." It speaks of the historical context of Jews being a chosen people through whom God showed his creation who He is. The "who" has expanded to us today; so, in essence the “who” is God and the special relationship He has with created beings submitted to his Kingdom and Lordship.
• What: His plan of salvation, care and provision shown by His intentional thought -- "For this wonderful news—the message that God wants to save us..."
• Why: To celebrate and share His gift of rest -- "For only we who believe God can enter into his place of rest."
• When/Where/How: Where were you in life when you first heard the message of salvation preached - geographically & symbolically - at a bible study, talking with a friend, in a hospital, in jail? When – in a drunken stupor, in a dream, alone? When and where is always individual, but whenever and however you heard the gospel preached, you received it - with mental ascent as a necessary thing and/or with spiritual desperation and depravity. God reached your heart, but how did you receive His message? "But it didn’t do them any good because they didn’t believe it. They didn’t mix it with faith." I don’t know about you, but often we receive Jesus because we realize we need help, His help to get out of some trouble. However, the control or flow of that help getting to our heart, as well as our submission to Him and his help, is an ongoing-faith process displaying our true belief.

This is all pretty basic reasoning so far, but the phrase "mixed with faith" jumps out at me because I have questions about my 'mixin'. Can you relate? What does God require and how can I be at rest in my faith, without doubt? I know there is contention in my belief because my life is not evidencing the continual, promised rest mentioned here in Hebrews. In fact, I am conflicted between doubt, submission, suffering from past experiences and faith; and this tugs away at my soul. So, I search for revelation to settle this contention. Where the soul questions, the spirit answers.

Here's how I find myself in the Heb 4:2-3a context: Christians then were suffering and considering turning back to religion or self-willed behavior to try and escape the hardships they were facing. The Jewish believers knew about Christ, but did they know The Christ amid their suffering? Was their faith based on their past experiences, self-righteousness, expectations of safety, and their own power to believe?

While I'm not considering deserting my faith, I do know what it feels like to compromise to escape pain. Since this world is full of pain and suffering, I must be alert to confess any self-deception and weakness to God in prayer. The bible mentions even the elect might almost slip away in times of great trials. Keeping this in mind, I recognize that knowledge is good to have, and a determined mind is necessary, but I/we cannot rely on human effort alone to overcome our trials, doubts, persecutions, fear and suffering from this earthly life. It was the same in Moses’ time as it is now: present difficulties try to eclipse and overshadow the realities of God's promises to us. Do/Will we believe God in the nitty-gritty, messy middle?

It takes an otherworldly faith to hope against hope, to transcend struggles, and to overcome human failings and demonic wickedness. Overcoming is possible only through a humble, “even if” kind of faith that’s available through the power of God's love and strength. To trust God with the only life you have daily is to mix/submit your knowledge of everything under the belief in God’s character & word. Faith is a personal conviction and assurance of the truth and love of God, our Creator. When I struggle, the word is there to bring me into a deeper revelation of God and faith. Learning the bible and spending time with God is helping me to trust and have faith as I lay my contentions down. I need to rest.

Key Themes:

--Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith.  His Word, the Bible, answers everything that conflicts with faith.

--Life is hard, so handle with prayer. In prayer and submission, God can settle any contention. 

Resources:

1. Know what you're up against and contend for the faith.

2. Trusting God in a Storm. Dr. Anthony Evans https://youtu.be/m_9LYyXR4l8

3. Understanding the meaning of contention.

con·ten·tion

/kənˈten(t)SH(ə)n/

Learn to pronounce

noun

1. 1.

   heated disagreement. 2. 

   an assertion, especially one maintained in argument. 3. something (such as a belief, opinion, or idea) that is argued or stated. : anger and disagreement. : a situation in which you have a chance to win something that you are trying to win.  
2. For example, "Why, Lord, Why? When, Lord, when? How could you let this happen to me?" He sees and knows our contentions and helps us overcome in faith. Selah!

Overcoming the Voices that Hinder You

 Infusions of Faith 

"Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always." --Phil. 4:6-8 (TPT)

"My own sheep will hear my voice and I know each one, and they will follow me." --John 10:27 (TPT)

No, I do not mean I am hearing real, audible voices in my head these days (and I do not say this mockingly regarding those who do). But I am talking about negative self-talk, ill-spoken comments from others and lies from the enemy. These "voices" often convey a running narrative that accompanies us throughout the day. These narratives can be so loud that they drown out any words of faith and encouragement we receive; and they may even seem to deafen the promptings of Christ. 

Many of the narratives we hear started a long time ago, as a young child, in junior high or high school, or from a past relationship. They bully our thoughts and can become the main "voices" that we listen to, though they are often contrary to the Word of God, the Holy Spirit and other faith-filled believers. Without the continual renewing of the mind that Romans 12 talks about, the "voices" we may listen to could all be rooted in the soul without interruption or correction from the Holy Spirit.

Recently, I began counseling sessions to talk through certain narratives or issues I felt the need to process. I found out that many times I lack the vocabulary and skills to adequately express some experiences and emotions that I have. It has been insightful hearing my words reflected back to me from the counselor, as I am being challenged to be more open and authentic. There is so much to share on this topic but any further discussion on this would divert me from what I need to share with you at this time. However, I will share this concept which is helping me think through how to handle my negative "voices" and story lines. 

When I was attempting to talk about specific fears, the counselor asked me, "Do you have any evidence of this particular fear (narrative) being real in your life?” As I stopped and reflected, I realized that I had built beliefs about myself and others regarding a hurtful and painful experience. And even though I had truly experienced something, I had moved beyond the experience and continued to let my thoughts run wild about what "might have, could have, and should have" happened.

What I’m trying to say is these negative beliefs built around my painful experiences had somehow overpowered the experiences themselves within my thoughts. Over time, the negative beliefs wielded power over my subsequent actions and behavior. I realized that the power of belief, whether positive or negative, drives a person to think and behave differently, and it can greatly determine a life's course. My point: Pay careful attention to who and what is speaking to you because the narrative you permit influences you, whether it is true or the truth has been stretched.

This may not seem like a revelation or rocket science to you. It sounds simplistic; however, deception is a frequent visitor to belief. Beware! Since we often pride ourselves on our beliefs and morals, our beliefs may actually be image-driven and soulish versus faith-filled. By examining our thoughts and humbly submitting them to God, we can draw close to Him, hear His voice and put the devil on the run. (James 4:6-8) I am praying for genuine faith that carries me through to overcoming -- a faith where I relinquish fearful "beliefs" rooted deep in my soul. In exchange I can cling to the healing, delivering and grace-based narrative God now provides me.

While overcoming the narratives that hinder involves renewing the mind about who God says we are and what we will and can do, please consider these guidelines as you process past pain.

• Know hurtful memories are a mixture of the true facts of an event, our feelings about what happened, and fears about what others think about us after the event. In essence, we remember past events painfully, but also imperfectly.
• We can create a positive perspective through an addendum to a painful memory. For example, we can recognize the lessons learned or empathy shared from the experience versus just ruminating over the emotion of the painful experience.
• We can allow ourselves to forget or let go of a painful memory. Sometimes we may make ourselves remember an experience as a type of memorial to stay on guard -- to keep that pain from happening again. In reality, we torture ourselves with the painful memory over and over. And we cannot control whether someone will hurt us in the same way in the future. Just think, if God can throw my sin into the Sea of Forgetfulness, can He put my painful experiences there, too?

Key Themes:

--Have you checked your narratives lately? Who is speaking? What's being said? Examine whether it is louder than or subject to the voice of God in your life.

--Have you built up walls of negative beliefs around "bad story lines" in your life? Have you submitted your "beliefs" to God? What is God speaking over you?

--Apart from God, people are willfully sinful and self-serving; they will do and say hurtful things that feel very personal. You can choose to take their words and actions personally, but you can also learn to reject people's negativity while still loving them despite their faults.

--Lean into God when you're ready to face painful narratives, realizing He never leaves you to struggle alone in discomfort.

Resources:

--Pray to the loving God regarding your hurts -- He made you and knows how to restore you to wholeness in time.

--https://psychcentral.com/blog/letting-go-of-the-past-why-memories-remain-painful-over-time/

--https://youtu.be/lKw6uqtGFfo

--https://youtu.be/o3VT2bMpoYY

Becoming "Decluttered"

Infusions of Faith

"...a time to search and a time to count as lost; a time to keep and a time to throw away..." Ecclesiastes 3:6 CSB

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead." Philippians 3:13 CSB

De-Cluttering...

The last six weeks have been a whirlwind of activity as we have made plans to move our daughters back home. We've had work done around the house both inside and outside.  We have researched contractors and have managed projects being completed, along with maintaining the daily responsibilities of work and continuing to develop our relationship. Needless to say this time has been filled with opportunities to grow.

As we've spoken about before, one of the most challenging things that we have had to do is downsize all of our possessions. We literally went from having 5 rooms and 5 closets of stuff down to 2 rooms and 2 closets. We've cleaned out all of our storage areas in the house to integrate all of our belongings and make room for our young adults to return. Since they are adults, we wanted them to have their "adult" space to encourage forward movement and growth to prevent going back into the old roles of parent/young child.

This downsizing has revealed a few things about us: 

1. We have difficulty letting go of things from the past.  Can you believe we found old bills from 1989? That was five years before we even got married. We have kept these things that are no longer relevant to us today but we've moved them with us for over 25 years!  It's interesting how these old things kept getting buried under the more recent stuff we procured.

2. We have had some financial challenges over the years.  We found bills, budgets, plans and debt collection notices. This life has had its deep lows and wonderful highs. Our past was on display in these bundles of paperwork and we had a chance to think about where we were at the different stages in our lives. We see the evidence of past financial decisions and the journey we have been on to rectify them. We have definitely paid stupid tax when it came to financial decisions!

3. We have learned to trust God and desire His guidance and leadership for our family.  We found old journals full of our conversations with God. We wrote about our frustrations with ourselves and each other. There were some pretty dark times captured in those pages: pain we've caused, struggles to forgive, self-loathing and pleas for deliverance from ourselves, our marriage and our children. Even with the many dips and slips, we can see consistent movement in an overall positive direction to God and each other.

4. We are just as human as everyone else.  We often find ourselves thinking that the challenges in our lives are so much worse than others. As we combed through the crates, closet shelves, garage space, and bookshelves, we have seen our past shining back at us in glaring, bright lights. Things that seemed so important then were found tossed haphazardly in a corner or in the bottom of a box. Projects that I would "one day" get back to was there dusty behind other stuff we would get back to. Our cluttered spaces are like everyone else's, symbolic of our cluttered lives. This clean-out process has confirmed that we, like everyone else, hold on to stuff as a way of holding on to what we think we value or who we've tried to be. This is such a human thing.

Throughout this process we have been stretched, worn out, and put out. We have found so many similarities between our spiritual walk and this cleaning out process that it would take multiple posts to share them all. However, we would like to share these few thoughts.

Let go of the past so that you can make room for the new relationships and changes that God has coming your way.  If we had not de-cluttered, our daughters could not have come back home and be who they currently are -- young adults handling their business with a little more support from us. We know that we all will be stretched, but that is what intimate relationships are supposed to do.

Don't be afraid to face the things hidden in the boxes and closets of your heart.  Deal with the stuff in you. Make your keep and give away piles. Not everything you find will be worth keeping, however, neither is everything junk. You may find past embarrassments, failures, happy memories, and keepsakes as reminders of God's grace, healing and favor.

We would have never imagined our daughters would be returning home as young professionals. Just this time last year we were making plans to bring two babies, a 3 year-old and a 9 month-old, into our home. This time we are bringing our babies back home. We thought we would be empty-nesters moving to another city and figuring out who are as a couple during these middle-aged years. That is obviously not what God had for us. We have found that His plans are always better than ours, so we are patiently waiting to see how this next chapter of our lives will roll out. As we empty out, we find He fills us with what He desires. We are becoming more than we ever imagined we would be.

Key Themes:

-- De-cluttering is a process.  It will require you to be honest with yourself and others.  You will have to be willing to take a risk and be uncomfortable during the process.

--There are times when you have to choose between carrying the weight of the past and releasing the weight so that you can walk into your future.

Resources:

How to de-clutter your home: 

Decluttering the spirit: 

Becoming Aware

Becoming Aware

"Break open your word within me until revelation-light shines out!

Those with open hearts are given insight into
your plans."

Psa. 119:130 (TPT)

I have always been fascinated by the fact that cellular waves, radio waves, satellite waves, digital waves and analog waves are all around us. They pass through walls and penetrate barriers so that they reach the appropriate receiver. We can catch our favorite TV show, radio program or sports event by tuning into the right frequency. It all sounds simple; a transmitter sends the specific wave and the receiver captures it and translates it into something recognizable. Now that’s the extent of my ability to understand what is taking place and I am probably simplifying a very complex process.

Some of you may remember the days of adding aluminum foil to the TV antenna in order to get a clearer signal. Or you may remember having to adjust the position of the radio or TV in order to get the best signal. Believe it or not, we still finagle with the TV because we choose to only access the local stations in our area. If the antenna is not in the right position, we can’t get the station we want. It might come in fuzzy or pixelated. 

If that doesn’t resonate, most of us have experienced the dropped cell call when traveling through that “specific” stretch of highway or going down a certain hill in the community. With our advances in technology, periodically we are still faced with the challenge of having clear reception. The question,” Can you hear me now?” is more than a TV slogan. It is a phrase I use multiple times in a week.

I imagine that the Lord asks, “Can you hear me now?” to each of his children. It is so easy to get out of position with so many things vying for our attention. We wrestle with challenges at work or in our families. Right now, I have multiple, major projects happening at work and it seems like I am having challenges with each of them. There are days I just want to go to work and not have problems surface repeatedly. However, that is not where my work life is right now. We are in a very stressful time with many challenges both within and without of our organization.  Yet, in face of the many distractions and problems, I believe God is asking me, “Can you hear me now?” 

In addition, I am wrestling with my tendency to be over-responsible. I also realized that I tend to respond in a way that’s emotionally unsafe for my spouse. God is gracing me to carry and confront all these challenges. I am learning to “open my heart to His word” and attend to these internal issues. I am also learning how to let go of the need to have success after success. I am being taught how to bear up under the weight (emotionally and otherwise) of being caught in the messy, middle place of ambiguity. Honestly, I really don’t like being in this place. What makes it bearable is that even in these difficult times, I hear God’s voice through His word and His spirit affirming that HE is with me.  I hear him whispering,” Can you hear me now?”  Thankfully, I have become aware of his presence in the midst of my situation. My circumstances may not be changing as fast as I’d like, but my peace and perspective have. I am aware that he is with me and his word is being planted in my heart and situation.

 

Main Themes

 -God is always speaking.  We have to open our hearts and listen.

 -Difficulties in life don’t prevent God from speaking.  They do require us to listen more attentively to hear his voice.

 

 Resources

Thula, Thula by We will Worship    

 7 ways to Hear God (Video)