Filling a bottomless cup- Sisyphus much?

Advent Devotional Commentary
Jesus Beloved Son  Henri Nouwen
December 4, 2012  Tuesday

Isaiah 11:4


I guess it is appropriate to read this as the flu runs rampant.  Blessed are the poor: poor in spirit, poor in connection, poor in relationship.  How frustrating is it when someone we care about is feeling poorly and we can not affect a healing.  We feel helpless and hopeless. When we help the poor we are serving God and the poor person is providing the opportunity for that service.  We will never be done serving God and God's people yet we get frustrated when our service does not give us the results we want in the short term.
The band Kutless has a song called "Even if."
The lyric remarks

"Even if the healing doesn’t come

And life falls apart

And dreams are still undone

You are God You are good

Forever faithful One

Even if the healing

Even if the healing doesn’t come"

If we have chosen to give care to the poor then we we have chosen to also to take care of ourselves and chosen to move closer to God.  We must realize that it is not the short-term result that is central but the moment to moment blessings that are shared.  The scripture from Isaiah reminds us that the poor will be judged with righteousness not by results but with right living day by day.  We are called to serve the poor but not to destroy ourselves in the process.  We are called to rely more on God and less on ourselves.  This is an amazing opportunity to center on the love of God and the love of our neighbor.  We are not called to burn out but to burn brightly with the power of the Holy Spirit, the inspiration of Jesus and in conjunction with God's new creation.

Come and Find the Quiet Center

Advent Devotional Commentary
Jesus, Beloved Son
December 3, 2012
Matthew 8:8

Living in the sacred center where I am called as God's child is a call to innocence?  I would rather call it a place of belief, of faith.  This is a world of possibility rather than probability and statistics.  It is a place of wonder and imagination.  It is based on knowing that God is sufficient.  It is understanding that the world is promoting false needs that leads to the insecurities of what if??  It is believing that we can live in the Kingdom of God now rather than waiting until some unknown time.  This will put us into sharp contrast to the world and we will not meet with their approval.

Yet, in the quiet sacred center we truly are who we were created to be.  We are the royal priesthood.  We are joint heirs with Jesus.  We are vessels of the Holy Spirit and in that we are blessed and beloved.  We can be confident in this inheritance.  And in this confidence we can forgive, we can heal, and we can be part of God's new creation.  We need only to return that innocence, the belief of the child.

I immediately thought of the song from The Faith We Sing, Come and Find the Quiet Center.  The lyrics read:
" 1 Come and find the quiet center

in the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter,
clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter,
be at peace, and simply be.

2 Silence is a friend who claims us,
cools the heat and slows the pace,
God it is who speaks and names us,
knows our being, touches base,
making space within our thinking,
lifting shades to show the sun,
raising courage when we're shrinking,
finding scope for faith begun.

3 In the Spirit let us travel,
open to each other's pain,
let our loves and fears unravel,
celebrate the space we gain:
there's a place for deepest dreaming,
there's a time for heart to care,
in the Spirit's lively scheming
there is always room to spare!"

These lyrics do not speak of the cynicism of the world and the inherent insecurity of this world.  Even the tune speaks of peace and security.  Please use it as a prayer to inspire us to that attitude of innocence and imagination.You Tube link to the Song Come and Find the Quiet Center

Pastor Sarah's Monday: Our Sacred Center

Advent Devotional Commentary
Monday Dec 3 2012
Matthew 8:8
Jesus Beloved Son Henri J.M. Nouwen

Monday, First Week Of Advent December 3, 2012

Filed under: Advent,Resources — suchkindways @ 8:46 am
Tags: Advent, children, control, God, Henri Nouwen, innocence, insecurity, Jodi Haier, Nouwen, reflection, thoughts, trust

I have pledged to join Pastor Jodi Haier in an Advent blogging discipline. We are both using the same Advent devotional with our churches (click the picture below for more information on the devotional), and we will both be sharing nearly-daily personal responses to each day’s readings. We’re excited to see how different our responses might be, and also where there will be places of convergence. If you are using this devotional resource and would like to share your own reflections, post them in the comments of either of our blogs, or send us a link to your own blog–we’re happy to post links!

“Can I choose to make innocence my home, think from there, speak from there, act from there? It is a hard choice because my insecure self wants so much to be part of a world that controls, rewards, and tells me whether I am good or bad.”

Innocence as the antidote to insecurity? Wow. I never would have thought of that. It sits right, though, with my experiences. I’ve definitely felt the ways that insecurity can make me want to seize control and sort the world into well-labeled boxes. Innocence, which in this case I think Nouwen is using to mean a simple trust in God’s provision and love, allows life to happen.

I think of the difference between my 16 month old son and my 4 year-old daughter. My daughter is already developing those insecurities that plague us all, and as a result, she is slightly less trusting, and slightly more controlling. Rather than trusting that I will do what is best for her, she attempts to control my behavior to get the result she wants. My son, on the other hand, is still young enough that he mostly goes with the flow–as long as Mom or Dad is close by he trusts that his needs will be met.

Of course, a big part of the difference, too, is lack of ability. My son has less impulse to control his world because he doesn’t know how to do most of what he wants done–he can’t peel a banana, or fill his bottle with milk, or change his own diaper. My daughter, however, is just capable enough that she likes to believe she can do anything and everything.

And that–that describes me, pretty well, too. Just capable enough that I like to believe I can do anything and everything. It is frightening to imagine relinquishing control and trusting God to provide. Is there a difference between this simple trust and naivete?Pastor Sarah's blog

Heart of My Heart

Advent Devotional Commentary
Jesus Beloved Son by Henri J.M. Nouwen
Luke 21:34  Sunday Day One

Usually I do not comment on the Sunday devotional.  But this being the first devotional of this series,...  Actually,  The first sentence of the devotional jumped out at me.  "Jesus has to be and to become evermore the center of my life."  I can't get past this.  I know I keep crowding that spot with me and my stuff.    Whenever I want someone to change their perspective I have them draw out their circles of influence and circles of concerns.  When you are done the center circle contains you.  How would that picture change if Jesus was at the center of our life picture?  Where would I go?  Would I surround Jesus?  But doesn't Jesus surround me?   ARGHHHHHH!!

     The difficult reality that scares me is:  The I that is me must fade away so that "the thousands of people, events, ideas and plans that occupy my inner life must become all one in the one and only name:Jesus."  This scares me because it  screams the loss of identity.  Perhaps, it is when I lose myself in Jesus that the true Jodi comes to life.  There is that scripture that says in order to gain my life I must lose my life. (Matthew 16:25)

     Indeed, and in deed, we are to find our sacred center.  We are called on our disciple walk to entrust God with everything not because God will provide us with everything but because God first gave us everything.  Besides I have this (not funny) joke that goes, "If you acquire everything where will you store it?" It is scary to give all of ourselves to the cause of Christ.  What a deep and intimate relationship is called for with Jesus as the heart of our heart, fire of our life, lover of our soul, our only concern, our only desire.  One would not understand the true cost of this commitment if we were not scared.  Yet, this is the only commitment that is guaranteed not to disappoint.  
 

Mission Impossible???

Well, I did it.  I introduced  new mission statement for my church and I did it all wrong. (sort of)  I collaborated with God and with the church and community in mind created this statement to help us focus and grow etc.  It should have been created by the people for the people but that just didn't happen.So here it is:

KNOW GOD (as opposed to no God)
BE KNOWN by the love of Jesus
BE MADE NEW through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit

We will use it for all our decision making.  For example:  How would a second service help new people KNOW GOD?  How would we BE KNOWN in the community because of this service?  How is this service tapping into the Holy Spirit to make us part of God's New Creation?

If we can't answer these questions deeply and thoroughly then we cannot move forward with this project.

However, from the get-go I have suspected that this my be an impossible mission.  Who can know an infinite God?  A God that is timeless and forever will always be a mystery. I love the quote from C.S. Lewis' The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe:

 "He'll be coming and going. One day you'll see him and another you won't.

 He doesn't like being tied down - and of course he has other countries to attend to. 

It's quite all right. He'll often drop in. Only you mustn't press him. 

He's wild, you know. Not like a tame lion."

―Mr. Beaver^[src]

After all God is Alpha and Omega, beginning and End, abiding with us and yet...knowable?  I don't know. I have asked on Facebook what do people know about God?  What do people want to know?  What will people be uncomfortable knowing about God and is that significant?  How do people Know what they know? How do they learn more about God?  Is it impossible to KNOW GOD?  What do you think? 

Things I Learned from my Puppy

Wiggle
Snuggle
everything is worth a little nibble just to help us understand that thing more
Rolling onto your back is not an act of submission but an invitation to scratch a belly
every moment is a great time to tell me how cute, wonderful, and/or good I am
It is a time to celebrate if I release my waste in appropriate time and places.
Every meal is a huge blessing
I can count on my people.  When I run to them they will catch me up and offer protection and love.
catching my tail is not a waste of time but part of my mission statement,  I will catch it and it deserves to be chewed on and shown who's boss.
Everyday I grow
My space space is my space.
Outside is a wonderful place to explore smell and chew
It is normal for me to mess up and my people will still love me.
Wiggle, bounce, climb, snuggle, lick

My little Molly Mayhem is already part of the family.  I thank the Wheeler family who loved her from birth right on through today.  I am fortunate that such a wise yet silly friend and pet is now a part of my everyday.  Molly is smart and I am blessed by what she is teaching me but terrified about the things I am teaching her unintentionally.  However the basic skills of living together in love are not to be feared.    She is already enjoying the freedom of living in the spirit of grace.  And I am reminded of the gifts of grace and truth and love that have been lavished on me.  Will I bask in them and bound joyfully into the world not fearing the hawk or the hole which may consume me?  Will I make a joyful noise to the Lord just because I can.  I can't wait to see what Molly will teach me next.  Molly!  Molly!  Molly??  MOLLY!  Hey Andy, where's the puppy?  MOLLY?  MOLLY?  oh molly.....

Job Description

Holy Spirit Series

Forgotten God                                Francis Chan

The God I Never Knew                    Robert Morris

Commentary                                  Jodi Haier

Forgotten God pp. 74-76

“The Counselor teaches and reminds us of what we need to know and remember.   She is our comforter, our advisor, our encourager, and our strength. She guides us in the way we should go.” (yes I changed the He to She)

Wow let me get this straight.

Job Title: Great Counselor

Job Description: Comfort us in all our struggles.  Advise us to hang on to God amongst all our storms and dramas, Encourage us in meaningful ways that go beyond being a cheerleader.   The Counselor is to be our strength not just when we get to the end of our strength but always.  No days off, no hours off, for all eternity.

Scripture References:  Psalms 143:7-10, John 14-16; Acts 9:31, Acts 13:2, Acts 15:28, 1 Corinthians 2:9-10; 1 John 5: 6-8

Psalm 143: 7-10 (Message)

Hurry with your answer, God! I'm nearly at the end of my rope. Don't turn away; don't ignore me! That would be certain death.

   If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I'll go to sleep each night trusting in you.

   Point out the road I must travel; I'm all ears, all eyes before you.

   Save me from my enemies, God— you're my only hope!

   Teach me how to live to please you, because you're my God.

   Lead me by your blessed Spirit into cleared and level pastureland.

If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice… Isn’t that encouragement?  Isn’t that Comforting?

Point out the road I must travel  Isn’t that asking for critical advise from someone you trust and know you can rely upon. 

Save me from my enemies The role of a counselor to help us realize the resources we have to fight our enemies. 

You’re my only hope! Once again a call for encouragement.

Teach me how to live to please you.  Oops something I left out from the Job Description, life coach; teaching us how to live in the light of God.

Lead me She guides us in the ways we should go.

In one scripture we get this kaleidoscope of understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit.  What more can the Scriptures add?  Please let me know what else needs to be added to the Job Description from the scriptures listed.