Midweek: When Clouds Cover

Today's reprint is from K.J. Ramsey's The Book of Common Courage:

A sudden fog
fell on our future.
More than faith, we feel frightened.
More than fear,
we feel lost.

We lift up our eyes,
but we only see clouds.
Our bodies brace
for what may fall.
Nothing seems certain.
Fear lurks, tall.

Lord, these clouds conceal
You face, our faith.

When grace seems hidden
behind thick clouds,
give us the courage to trust they are filled
with needed rain.

Guide us
into the cloud
of our unknowing.

Spirit, stir us
to greet our grief
with compassion.

Christ, make us
willing to witness
our world as it is.

Father, help us
hear Your voice
guiding us through the fog.

And, Lord, we pray: 
may this disorientation 
be a door.

When we feel lost,
may we risk
being found.

Amen.

~ K.J. Ramsey, The Book of Common Courage

A Supernaturally Real Kingdom

It's my only choice.

She's a student teacher.

I like jumbo shrimp.

We snicker at oxymorons, and perhaps the title of this article appears to be one, but in studying the Kingdom of God, we find we cannot always trust our senses. Jesus clearly defined His kingdom as one that is not like anything we find on earth:

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:36) 

Here's a clue, He seems to say. Do you see those under My authority coming to stop what is happening right now? And as scary and dark, unjust and painful as Jesus' crucifixion and the events surrounding were, He allowed what needed to be done for the sake of a kingdom greater than anything we see being constructed on earth. Talk about your oxymorons! A kingdom built by the death of its King. Glory and honor gained by lowliness and servanthood. Joy bursting forth from suffering, and prosperity birthed out of poverty. The Kingdom of God is not established in the physical, the earthly, the temporal; the Kingdom of God is established in the supernaturally real! Human beings humbled by their great deficit and rebellion, overwhelmed by the sufficiency of a Savior, surrendered and transformed by His Holy Spirit into people of His vision, His grace, His passion, and His character. In John 6:63, we read Jesus' words:

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 

As believers, we are indwelt by the Spirit, which means we should be walking in imitation of the One who is Spirit. If we are indwelt by the Spirit but walking in the flesh, walking in imitation of the things of this world --self-preservation and aggrandizement, the pursuit of money, the estimation of family above anything, a conscience so warped by earthly standards we cannot clearly hear the voice of God --we won't bear fruit for the kingdom. When we walk in the flesh, we can be of no use to a supernatural, resurrectionary kingdom; we are at war with the Spirit in us. (Romans 8:1-14) We are, as our pastor so eloquently put it, "feeling the death pangs because we are fighting against the life in us."

The inhabitants of the Kingdom of God are characterized by a life of grace in a society of cruelty and greed; unity among brethren in a world that sows discord; honor and integrity when it appears of no earthly profit; forgiveness, gentleness, and peace when others seek strength in vengefulness, coarseness, and turmoil; fellowship with and encouragement toward those we find difficult or different; self-less-ness in selfie-driven places; an eye to the eternal in which is grounded a magnitude and purity of hope the terrestrial cannot possibly generate, a hope we long to share with the world at large; and love for our Redeemer and all members of His creation. This becomes possible when we are directed by and obey the Holy Spirit. Supernaturally we are empowered to walk in things that are eternal, things that are life, things that are real.

Let me take just another moment. The credit card or the dollar in your wallet. Does it possess any value at all? What do you think that little piece of plastic or paper is truly worth? It is a representation of something larger, buying power. The physical realm in which we currently exist, the bodies we inhabit, are a foretaste, a representation of a kingdom much greater. This is not the endgame; this is not the reality. I mean, if this world is all that is real, if there is nothing after this, why practice any type of restraint whatsoever? And what manner of restraint; on what are our standards based; what is our moral compass? But if there is more, if this world is simply an imperfect inclination toward a perfect eternal kingdom, are we assuming the characteristics of its inhabitants? Are we praying and working for its glory to be manifested here on earth? Are we assured that with God all things are possible? Are we powered by His strength for His service? Are we, by rigorously training and working as ambassadors of our King and compelled by love, prepared and preparing others for the fullness of a kingdom that is eternal in length and nature? Are we citizens of the ground under our feet, or are we citizens of the supernaturally real kingdom of God?

Photo courtesy LuAnn Martin

A Lesson from Nothing

Luci and I stepped through the door into the cool of our climate-controlled home. The sun was barely breeching the horizon, but the humidity was already peaking. A heat wave had begun. When the alarm in my head had gone off at 5:30 that morning, I'd quickly and quietly dressed, dashing out the door to get going before it became too oppressive. Just a word of caution, and this may be TMI, but as a public service I feel compelled to say: If you catch me walking my dog by the dawn's early light, DO NOT approach; chances are, I haven't even brushed my teeth (I can't risk waking other members of the Murphy household that early.) Fairly pleased with myself --it was just after 6 AM when we arrived back at home, and I already had at least two miles under my belt --I checked my app to congratulate myself. I mean, I didn't think of it that way; that is, until I looked down and noticed my phone was off. Huh? I'd approved a software update as I was getting my shoes on and never followed through. My pedometer, my workout calculator --everything was set to "0". 0 steps. 0 calories burned. 0 miles. I had nothing to show for all that work. And I was crestfallen. 

Why? the voice in my head inquired. What difference does it make? Who are you trying to impress? What are those numbers supposed to mean anyway? All good questions, so I began to form some answers. 

"Because I want to know if I've done enough work," I countered.

Enough what work? You eat what you need; you exercise as you should. Isn't that how it works? I mean, you eat to fuel your activity, right? Or is there something more? 

Someone was turning this into a lesson.

I have lived with an "eating disorder" for as long as I can remember. I and others called it "bulimia" for years. I would eat for an entire day --anything I could get my hands on. The following day or two or three were spent starving myself and purging. Repulsed by my own behavior and able to feel the damage I was doing to myself physically, I'd promise myself reform. The following week I found myself in the same place. As I grew in the Lord, I began to name this behavior for what it was: idolatry and impenitence. Huh? Rather than call on the Lord when I was facing adverse conditions, I would call on food. Idolatry. To "cover" my offense, rather than repenting, I'd exercise ad nauseum, punishing my body for the sins of my soul because, of course, I am judge and jury. Impenitence. Arrogance and a bent toward self-righteousness as well.

Looking down at those zeros the other morning reminded me just how much I need Jesus. Why was I crestfallen? Why had I put so much value on steps and calories and distance? Because I still want to do things my way. Because I still have idols or fragments of idols remaining. Because I still value my own work --sometimes, if I'm being completely transparent, over the work of Jesus Himself. Because I still want to trust in what I see. Because old habits die hard and the old self, even harder. Because I need a Savior --One who has completed the work even when I can't feel it, One whose forgiveness is eternal and perpetual, One who demands I "go and sin no more" and One whose grace enables me to do just that, One who was in all points tempted as I am, One who intercedes for me, One who saves to the utmost, and the only One who is worthy of my worship. The only One who can turn those zeros into wisdom better than gold and insight more precious than silver!

How much better to get wisdom than gold!

And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. ~ Proverbs 16:16

Midweek: Here Are Some Thoughts

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have set in place,

What is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him?

~ Psalm 8:3,4

How precious are Your thoughts toward me, O God!

How great are the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

when I am awake, I am still with You. 

~ Psalm 139:17, 18

O God, how tiny we are compared to You! Tiny in stature. Tiny in significance. Tiny in character. 

You hold galaxies in Your hand. The heavens of heavens cannot contain You!

And yet, You care for us. We are but tiny specks in time on a tiny planet; but You imbue us with worth. You care.

Your focus as You lovingly, carefully created Adam, as You created each of us; as we go about our days, 
smiling or crying, 
or failing, 
or eating too much or not enough, 
or hating our bodies or loving ourselves too much, 
or resting, 
or feeling loved, 
or serving others -- Your attention is with regard to us because of who You are.

Why?! Why would You, O God? With rocks and stars and trees that sing for You day and night, with seasons and migration patterns and planets and creatures, every one, obeying You without question, with angels to serve You and lift up Your holy name --why would You lavish so much attention on us? Why would Your thoughts toward us be precious at all, infinite, and changeless?

Because You ARE love.

Because You ARE peace.

Because You ARE mercy. 

Because You ARE goodness.

Because Your grace is like no other.

And there is no other like You.