I don’t know about you, but one of the things I struggle with (and yearn to do better) is to be able to respond to life’s situations in the ”right way” at the “right time.”
Particualrly as a dad, as a spouse, and as a friend, I don’t always say what I want to say in those pivotal moments. My actions don’t always match my good intentions and my (theoretical) values.
Perhaps you know people who seem to say the right thing in the right moment. The ”timely word” is such a beautiful gift and blessing that I long to embrace more in my life.
Holiness is a funny word. It often gets a bad rap.
In Jesus, we see that holiness is about being REAL. It’s about living from a pure heart so that we can function well in a dysfunctional world.
Jesus was response-able – he was able to respond appropriately to the situations he faced in life. Being “holy,” or being REAL, is about becoming the person God wants me to be – someone who more and more naturally does the right thing, in the right way, at the right time. It is attentiveness to the source of our actions, to the condition and motives of the heart, and taking on new patterns of life that flow naturally from within.
If you share this desire to live a more REAL life, I encourage you to join me as I work through the FREE resources found at the “Lyfe” website (click hereto access them). Below is the brief video introduction you will find there, talking about how REAL life is connected with a fundamental re-ordering of our hearts (which Jesus longs to bring about): .
Maybe it’s because we are hosting a house full of 9 year old boys for a “sleep-over” this evening(!), but I am currently enjoying a number of great FREE resources that explore the value of stillness in our busy lives (through the “Lyfe” website put together by the Bible Society in the UK – click here to check it out).
Some of the resources challenge us with the idea that hurry (not necessarily busy-ness) is the great enemy of the spiritual life.
Other resources ask, ”If most of us are rarely ever alone, but often lonely, is there a role for stillness and solitude in the spiritual life?”
Good questions.
Perhaps you have a moment to check out this brief introduction to the STILL LYFE webpage, where Pete Greig thoughtfully speaks about how prayer is based on relationship and need:
Every Easter Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. In the days following Easter this year I’ve been wondering, ”If the Risen Jesus is alive, present and active, how can I be more awake and alert to how He is leading and working today?”
On Sunday at Syndal we explored this question of “am I awake” to the presence of God. (Click here for some of my other thoughts on this theme.)
In my message I referred to a great book entitled Present Perfect (click here for a description and some background to this easy-to-read but challenging book.) Below I list seven (of the many) practical ideas that Boyd provides for becoming more aware and alert to the ways that God is currently working in our lives:
1. PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST
* for many of us the least ‘complicated’ part of each day is first thing in the morning
* determine not to get out of bed until your mind is ‘settled’ on God
* preview the coming day with God
2. POST REMINDERS
* Boyd uses “post it notes” with the words “AM I AWAKE?”
* we could also connect a daily activity (such as having a shower or driving the car) with this kind of question
3. INVITE A FELLOW TRAVELLER
* it’s easier to ‘stay awake’ with a friend beside you on the journey
* give each other permission to ask: ‘are you awake?’ (or similar questions)
4. THINK IN TERMS OF ‘WE’
* transform our many thoughts into a ongoing conversation with God
* instead of simply talking to yourself … pray
* instead of thinking “what should I do?”, pray “Lord, what should we do?”
5. OBSERVE THOUGHTS
* when struggling with negative thoughts (about ourselves or others) it can be a barrier to enjoying God’s presence
* in such cases, make the distinction between “this particular thought” and “me” – we are more than our thoughts!
* cultivate the habit of simply noticing your negative thoughts and include God in them
6. GAME WITH MINUTES
A missionary named Frank Laubach introduced this idea as part of his quest to live each moment open and aware of God’s presence (click here for more information about his thinking and life)
* it’s vital that we don’t “keep score” and turn the idea (of calling God to mind each minute) into a contest
* nor should it be seen as a laborious task that might somehow earn God’s love
* if you should forget Him for a moment or a day, simply begin anew with a smile
7. USE ‘BODY CONTACT’
* use the incredible gift of your body to help remember God’s ever-present love
* your body is always in contact with something – use this ‘touch’ as a reminder of God’s nearness
A second “ordinary” word that I have noticed this Easter is found in one of the truly remarkable statements that Jesus made from the cross. Turning to one of the criminals who was hanging on a cross next to Him, Jesus said:
“Truly I tell you, todayyou will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:43
This little word “today” highlights that Jesus was concerned with a salvation that makes a difference in thehere and now.
Significantly, this was Jesus’ approach right through His ministry (a challenging thought given the events of Easter only came right near the end of the Gospels):
* After Jesus read out His “mission statement” from the scroll of Isaiah, He provactively declared: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” – Luke 4:21
* Another example is found in Jesus’ interaction with Zacchaeus. Jesus deliberately walked to the foot of the tree where Zacchaeus was perched and said ”Come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” – Luke 19:5
A few verses later we read these amazing words: “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” – Luke 19:9
This Easter I’ve seen something I had not really noticed before. Many of Jesus’ favourite words are not heavy “spiritual” terms - instead they are very ordinary words we tend to use every day. In this next series of posts, I would like to briefly reflect on them with you.
During the dramatic events leading up to the cross, Jesus used the little word “unless” on several occasions.
“Unless” signals that there is only one way through an otherwise impossible situation.
As such, it is a word of unbelievable challenge and incredible hope, depending on your perspective:
* Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” – John 12:23-24
* “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” – John 13:8
* “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” – John 15:4
* “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. UnlessI go away, the Advocate (Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” – John 16:7
* Jesus went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unlessI drink it, may your will be done.” – Matthew 26:42
What stands out to you as you reflect on these verses?
In each of the posts in this “7 steps” series, I have sought the collective wisdom of others. The following points are from a friend who is incredibly generous with their time, talents and resources.
I find it helpful to reflect on the perspectives and priorities that undergird their wonderful generosity:
1. Acknowledge that the resources which pass through my hands belong to God, not to me
2. See myself as an agent in God’s plan, not the lead actor in my own production
3. Discover that God’s answer to a vital need often exists in my personal resources (and discover that I have to have the courage and faith to hand them over!)
4. Start with small offerings and gradually learn to make bigger sacrifices
5. Continue to believe in God’s plan for my resources even when all my friends (including Christians) are feathering their own nests
6. Resist the allure of luxurious living when God sends seriously big money my way
7. Keep trusting God to provide for my own future whenever the insidious “But what about me?” question threatens to interrupt my stewardship of God’s resources
Some food for thought … What do you think? Do you agree?
Next Friday is Good Friday. This naturally raises the question: “What’s so good about it?”
Yes, it’s good that we get a public holiday. And yes, it’s very good that we get to eat hot cross buns! But is there more to it?
Historically it is worth noting that Good Friday is derived from the 13th century where the word ‘good’ meant ‘holy’. So this day was originally understood as ‘Holy Friday’.
But as the word ‘good’ changed its meaning, Christians saw no reason to change the name. If anything the name became more appropriate to describe the rationale for the holiday. For followers of Jesus, there’s no better time in the year than the one when the Saviour died (and was raised again!) for our sake. Through the death of Jesus, God’s just condemnation of our petty selfishness and sin was met with divine mercy and God’s love for a broken Creation was demonstated – just to mention two “good” aspects of that day. Any day that is set aside to celebrate the saving death of Jesus deserves the title “Good,” because it is indeed Good News for broken people like me!
In the Bible, there are at least 50 reasons given for why this is a Good Friday. If you would like to download a free book by John Piper entitled “Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die” click here.
John Piper is a very generous Pastor (with a Calvinist perspective - for more info about his background from wikipedia click here) who makes many of his books completely free to download at that same website.
Most self-help books we pick up today tell us that if we want to live this life well, we must find balance. We are encouraged to seek a magical combination of work and rest and play that, once found, will make life simple, elegant, easy - balanced. Where is the perfect middle, they ask, the right proportion of duty and freedom, neighbours and family, time for others and time for me?
But what if “balance” isn’t the only metaphor? What if this life is only ever made up of seasons that are inherently unbalanced?
After all, as Mark Buchanan notes (in his book Spiritual Rhythm that I am drawing on here), where is the symmerty in spring’s flooding downpours and bursting newness? Where is the equilibrium in summer’s abundance or autumn’s rush of colours or winter’s sudden frost and fickle winds?
Even though we crave balance, perhaps what we need most is rhythm.
Rhythm requires a different approach. I seek balance when I stand up in a kayak. Staying in the boat depends on it. But I seek rhythm when I paddle the kayak. Getting anywhere depends on it. Yes, there’s balance needed too, but a balance that flows out of the rhythm.
What season are you in at the moment? Does it feel balanced? What kind of rhythm can you seek?
In this series of posts, I am approaching friends who are great at living out a particular aspect of “a living life” and asking them if they would mind sharing their practical wisdom with us. In each post we will include “7 steps” that each of us can take to move further along the journey. Thanks to Beth, Brett, Heidi, Jo, Keith, Mark and Pam for contributing your thoughts.
1. Perspective is important!
There is always more than one way of looking at something. In the words of Monty Python:
“Always look on the bright side of life…
If life seems jolly rotten,
There’s something you’ve forgotten!
And that’s to laugh and smile and dance and sing”
(Isn’t it interesting how many of the great comedians of the last century were Jews touched by the Holocaust in some way…)
.
2. Appreciate beauty
Flowing out of this first step is the important art of seeing beauty in our everyday existence - whether it be in people, trees, buildings, ants, gadgets, puddles etc.
.
3. Grow in gratitude
Another related practice that shapes the way we see things is being thankful in the midst of each situation we encounter. Gratitude is something that begins to feed on itself – as we take the time to name all the gifts and graces around us, we become even more alert and aware of them (mainly because we are less consumed by ourselves!)
.
4. Take pleasure in the simple things
It has been said that, “The most wasted day of all is that on which we have not laughed” (Sebastian Chanfort). As you can see below, even the simplest act of tearing a piece of paper is something that can bring delight!
.
.
5. Celebrate successes
Every day there are little triumphs that are worthy of recognition and celebration. Perhaps you have graciously dealt with a difficult situation or discovered a relative or friend who has made some kind of breakthrough … Celebrate! Even if this event is not “worthy” of a full-scale party, it might be that a mental “pat on the back”, a nice lunch, or a card to your friend is in order.
.
6. Laugh at yourself
I don’t know about you, but someone as uncoordinated as me is a never ending source of entertainment!
.
7. Learn to play (again)
Research suggests that a small child can laugh as often as 400 times each day. This number decreaes as we get older until, by middle age, we laugh on average only 17 times a day. Perhaps we could do worse than observe how children play (their movements, their language, their sense of wonder) and (re)engage in bikerides, singing, running through sprinklers etc.
Last month I shared how I am developing my own “Rule of Life” (what I’m trying #1). Here I am wanting to direct you a great new resource that is free to download for your own personal use.
Michael Hyatt, the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, has created a practical tool called “Creating Your Personal Life Plan.” You can acquire a copy of it here and I highly recommend you do so.
Set aside some time to follow the process and steps that he outlines. Your life will be richer for the investment. After all, you only have one life to live …
