"Mommy, does sleeping feel the way it was before we were born?"
Such questions are not uncommon from my seven-year-old Daniel, who ponders mysteries of science and soul in an often startling manner. Why did this question give me particular pause?
Since newborns can distinguish the voice of their own mothers, it stands to reason that we have cognitive abilities before birth. Then memories from the dark side of the womb elude us after birth, suggesting that fetal consciousness may indeed parallel the quasi-consciousness of sleep.
It has been asserted that dreams are real while we experience them. But the land of dreams offers more confusion than clarity, and journeys into egocentric subconscious more often than into divine revelation from another realm. If we are awakened by a dream, we are likely to find ourselves as initially bewildered as the infant who draws a first unfamiliar breath.
Perhaps the world of sleep and the world before birth are as much alike as they are similar to our life before Christ. We sleepwalk through that dark world as if we are its center, our souls clouded with the vague unease that another realm beckons us to awaken.
But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says:
"Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light."
~ Ephesians 5:13-14 (NKJV)
Like natural birth, being born again in Jesus is The Great Awakening of our lives. Yet until the day we emerge from the womb of this world into The Other Side, we should anticipate smaller spiritual awakenings with as much expectation as we anticipate morning light when our head sinks into pillow.
The imperative to "arise from the dead" is the invitation both to made alive in Christ, and to continually emerge from darkness. Unless we actively search out the light of Christ on a daily basis, we are likely to travel through the Christian life as if sleepwalking.
"Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping."
~ Jesus, Mark 13:35-36 (NKJV)
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply. You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Disclaimer
Last Wednesday, Sarah Bessey published a list of some two dozen "Wise Women Over 50." Being included on the list was a most unexpected and deeply appreciated honor for me.
My jubilee year isn't actually complete until this December, but I'll allow credit for more age than I've earned. More difficult to wear is the label "wise." Although I pray for God to use me as a vessel of His wisdom (and rejoice in answered prayer), I also know that being a vessel of wisdom doesn't necessarily make a person wise. Solomon evidently carried more wisdom than anyone else, but he didn't allow wisdom to carry him.
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding …
~ Proverbs 10:13 (NKJV)
The invisible Creator has hidden Himself only so that He will be sought and found. (See "God of Hide-and-Seek.") Not once have I earnestly sought the Lord without discovering another precious nugget of knowledge or understanding or wisdom. I've not nearly enough time or words to share more than what amounts to gold dust from my mining the richest vein of gold in the universe. The offerings of this blog are woefully inadequate to the mercies of God.
The problem is that so much of me gets mixed into what I write. On a good day, I manage to share mostly Him and veil most of me. On my lesser days, far too much of me comes through. My prayer is that either way, His Spirit will overcome and use the words printed here in each reader's life.
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
~ John 3:30 (NKJV)
It's been said that my blogging voice is authoritative. God forbid that I speak with authority! (I was happy to do Bible Q&A, when it was hosted on the now inactive blog "Bullets & Butterflies," only because a respected Christian of authority endorsed me.)
But God permit that I speak with assurance. In myself, I have less assurance with every passing year. In my Lord, assurance deepens with every blessing and every passing trial. What gets shared here is confident testimony on behalf of Him.
Jesus affirmed that "by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." As I say to my children, I hope you'll listen to me, but please don't believe what I say simply because I said it. I am fallible. I am weak. I am still learning.
Go back to the Bible for yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you Himself. Measure the words of whomever you hear in accordance with the spiritual fruit of their lives.
Thank you for reading this far, and for allowing me to turn off comments today.
My jubilee year isn't actually complete until this December, but I'll allow credit for more age than I've earned. More difficult to wear is the label "wise." Although I pray for God to use me as a vessel of His wisdom (and rejoice in answered prayer), I also know that being a vessel of wisdom doesn't necessarily make a person wise. Solomon evidently carried more wisdom than anyone else, but he didn't allow wisdom to carry him.
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding …
~ Proverbs 10:13 (NKJV)
The invisible Creator has hidden Himself only so that He will be sought and found. (See "God of Hide-and-Seek.") Not once have I earnestly sought the Lord without discovering another precious nugget of knowledge or understanding or wisdom. I've not nearly enough time or words to share more than what amounts to gold dust from my mining the richest vein of gold in the universe. The offerings of this blog are woefully inadequate to the mercies of God.
The problem is that so much of me gets mixed into what I write. On a good day, I manage to share mostly Him and veil most of me. On my lesser days, far too much of me comes through. My prayer is that either way, His Spirit will overcome and use the words printed here in each reader's life.
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
~ John 3:30 (NKJV)
It's been said that my blogging voice is authoritative. God forbid that I speak with authority! (I was happy to do Bible Q&A, when it was hosted on the now inactive blog "Bullets & Butterflies," only because a respected Christian of authority endorsed me.)
But God permit that I speak with assurance. In myself, I have less assurance with every passing year. In my Lord, assurance deepens with every blessing and every passing trial. What gets shared here is confident testimony on behalf of Him.
Jesus affirmed that "by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." As I say to my children, I hope you'll listen to me, but please don't believe what I say simply because I said it. I am fallible. I am weak. I am still learning.
Go back to the Bible for yourself. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you Himself. Measure the words of whomever you hear in accordance with the spiritual fruit of their lives.
Thank you for reading this far, and for allowing me to turn off comments today.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Formula for Healing Relationship
NOTE: This will be the only post here this week, while I am out of town for the Festival of Faith and Writing in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
: : :
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
~ Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)
Five children in our home multiplies exponentially the way relationship conflicts occur. Frequent breaches require regular exercise of repentance and forgiveness.
It's said that the hardest words are, "I was wrong and I'm sorry." While the right consequences can compel a child to say that, getting the right heart into them has been an arduous process. The "formula" I've tried to teach and exemplify is A-B-C.
ADMIT your wrongdoing, and it helps to acknowledge why you were wrong, the effects of your behavior, and the message you communicated.
BE SORRY, and not simply because your wrongdoing was brought to attention, or you hope to mitigate consequences, or someone is upset with you. Realize that you do love, or at least are supposed to love, a fellow human being who is hurt or offended by you.
COMMIT TO CHANGE, and understand that even if you follow through long enough and take steps to change what the world sees on the outside, only a life lived through God will enable you to change on the inside, where all sin, thoughtlessness, and selfishness begin in the heart.
However long they take, however much diligence they require, forgiveness and repentance are necessary steps for healing both a relationship breach as well as one's own soul. Forgiveness needs to follow an offense, whether or not your offender repents. Your own heartfelt repentance makes a request for forgiveness more easily received and granted, toward true reconciliation and relationship.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
~ 1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)
Love isn't happiness experienced because someone has done something to make us feel good. Love is the joy experienced in our care for another fragile soul as an expression of God's love for us. When such love goes both ways, conditions are perfect for a flourishing relationship.
Lord, please enable us to love one another as You have loved us by drawing us to bask in Your love.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
: : :
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
~ Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)
Five children in our home multiplies exponentially the way relationship conflicts occur. Frequent breaches require regular exercise of repentance and forgiveness.
It's said that the hardest words are, "I was wrong and I'm sorry." While the right consequences can compel a child to say that, getting the right heart into them has been an arduous process. The "formula" I've tried to teach and exemplify is A-B-C.
ADMIT your wrongdoing, and it helps to acknowledge why you were wrong, the effects of your behavior, and the message you communicated.
BE SORRY, and not simply because your wrongdoing was brought to attention, or you hope to mitigate consequences, or someone is upset with you. Realize that you do love, or at least are supposed to love, a fellow human being who is hurt or offended by you.
COMMIT TO CHANGE, and understand that even if you follow through long enough and take steps to change what the world sees on the outside, only a life lived through God will enable you to change on the inside, where all sin, thoughtlessness, and selfishness begin in the heart.
However long they take, however much diligence they require, forgiveness and repentance are necessary steps for healing both a relationship breach as well as one's own soul. Forgiveness needs to follow an offense, whether or not your offender repents. Your own heartfelt repentance makes a request for forgiveness more easily received and granted, toward true reconciliation and relationship.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
~ 1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV)
Love isn't happiness experienced because someone has done something to make us feel good. Love is the joy experienced in our care for another fragile soul as an expression of God's love for us. When such love goes both ways, conditions are perfect for a flourishing relationship.
Lord, please enable us to love one another as You have loved us by drawing us to bask in Your love.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
God of Hide-and-Seek
Now that blog posts on the Gospel of John have been completed, the time comes to contemplate what to do next. Work through another book of the Bible? Write biblical study through a topical series?
I've been distracted enough that I forgot to look ahead and pray for direction, and now find myself asking these questions of the Lord. He's never yet failed to lead the way.
I love that about Him.
I've asked Him a great many questions over the years. "Why …" has be a frequent one. It's also been the one most rarely answered. One can't help but suspect that God loves playing Hide and Seek. The fact that God is invisible is the first clue. The fact that He leaves evidence of His presence everywhere is the second.
"Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you," says the LORD …
~ Jeremiah 29:12-14 (NKJV)
The key to winning this game with God is the "all your heart" thing. That phrase appears 21 times in the NKJV. The first time is when God tells His people what to do when they are in trouble:
"But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul."
~ Deuteronomy 4:29 (NKJV)
God wants to be found. But He also wants to be sought. He doesn't give Himself away casually.
Disasters occur. Injustice and cruelty run rampant. People suffer miserably. And the question is frequently posed: "Where was God?"
The great I AM is always present. But until such things happen, a great many people don't think to look for Him.
The saddest aspect of suffering is if people only then think to look for God, but fail to put their hearts into finding Him.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
I've been distracted enough that I forgot to look ahead and pray for direction, and now find myself asking these questions of the Lord. He's never yet failed to lead the way.
I love that about Him.
I've asked Him a great many questions over the years. "Why …" has be a frequent one. It's also been the one most rarely answered. One can't help but suspect that God loves playing Hide and Seek. The fact that God is invisible is the first clue. The fact that He leaves evidence of His presence everywhere is the second.
"Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you," says the LORD …
~ Jeremiah 29:12-14 (NKJV)
The key to winning this game with God is the "all your heart" thing. That phrase appears 21 times in the NKJV. The first time is when God tells His people what to do when they are in trouble:
"But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul."
~ Deuteronomy 4:29 (NKJV)
God wants to be found. But He also wants to be sought. He doesn't give Himself away casually.
Disasters occur. Injustice and cruelty run rampant. People suffer miserably. And the question is frequently posed: "Where was God?"
The great I AM is always present. But until such things happen, a great many people don't think to look for Him.
The saddest aspect of suffering is if people only then think to look for God, but fail to put their hearts into finding Him.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Spiritual Warfare Postscript: Forgiveness
This series on Spiritual Warfare and its Armor has been difficult to write, perhaps as much as trying to sum up World War II in a single chapter of a textbook. And while Paul describes spiritual armor in a progressive manner, I could not pinpoint only one place for forgiveness.
The Truth is that my Redeemer asks me to forgive debts of others which are far smaller than my forgiven debt to Him. Righteousness disallows the anger which rots into bitterness. The Gospel of Peace directs forgiveness, and Faith deflects any reminder arrows from the accuser. Salvation's Ownership means all debts owed me actually belong to my Master, and who can effectively wield the sword of God's Word if burdened by the weight of past offenses?
As for Perseverance and Prayer, fellowship with God will be severely hampered if I refuse to forgive and open a way for reconciliation with the one who hurts me.
Peter was grieved because [Jesus] said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
~ John 21:17 (NKJV)
Can you empathize with Peter's grief over his failure and Jesus questioning his love? How severely would Peter have been handicapped in ministry if Jesus had not made plain the depth of His forgiveness for Peter's denials?
If you consider the person and circumstances that have hurt you most in your life, it no doubt seems worse than being thrice denied. It's quite likely that you were hurt a great many times by the same person, and it lasted longer than a single night. Practically speaking, it may simply be impossible to forgive what you have suffered.
But.
We are empowered by a God Who specializes in the impossible, in mercy, and—most certainly!—in forgiveness. Jesus died so that we might live free of spiritual debt, both owing it and owning it.
If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.
~ Psalms 66:18 (NKJV)
Lack of forgiveness will result in my heart regarding iniquity, whether dwelling on the sins against me, nursing a desire for revenge, or committing murder-in-the-heart via hatred.
Take any element of spiritual armor, and it boils down to some form of fellowship with God. Unforgiveness will undermine the fellowship with God that I absolutely must have to be successful in fighting evil.
Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for enabling impossible forgiveness. Please keep us willing to forgive, as well as repentant and ready to seek forgiveness.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
The Truth is that my Redeemer asks me to forgive debts of others which are far smaller than my forgiven debt to Him. Righteousness disallows the anger which rots into bitterness. The Gospel of Peace directs forgiveness, and Faith deflects any reminder arrows from the accuser. Salvation's Ownership means all debts owed me actually belong to my Master, and who can effectively wield the sword of God's Word if burdened by the weight of past offenses?
As for Perseverance and Prayer, fellowship with God will be severely hampered if I refuse to forgive and open a way for reconciliation with the one who hurts me.
Peter was grieved because [Jesus] said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
~ John 21:17 (NKJV)
Can you empathize with Peter's grief over his failure and Jesus questioning his love? How severely would Peter have been handicapped in ministry if Jesus had not made plain the depth of His forgiveness for Peter's denials?
If you consider the person and circumstances that have hurt you most in your life, it no doubt seems worse than being thrice denied. It's quite likely that you were hurt a great many times by the same person, and it lasted longer than a single night. Practically speaking, it may simply be impossible to forgive what you have suffered.
But.
We are empowered by a God Who specializes in the impossible, in mercy, and—most certainly!—in forgiveness. Jesus died so that we might live free of spiritual debt, both owing it and owning it.
If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.
~ Psalms 66:18 (NKJV)
Lack of forgiveness will result in my heart regarding iniquity, whether dwelling on the sins against me, nursing a desire for revenge, or committing murder-in-the-heart via hatred.
Take any element of spiritual armor, and it boils down to some form of fellowship with God. Unforgiveness will undermine the fellowship with God that I absolutely must have to be successful in fighting evil.
Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for enabling impossible forgiveness. Please keep us willing to forgive, as well as repentant and ready to seek forgiveness.
Comments are welcome (including respectful disagreement) and will receive a reply.
You may also contact author via Twitter – @anne4JC
or e-mail – buildingHisbody [plus] @gmail.com
Copyright 2012, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
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