I don't dream much. Even when I do, they have seemingly no meaning, they are inconsistent and very far between. And when I do dream, they are much wilder than skinny cows eating fat cows. I wonder sometimes, though, if God is really speaking through these dreams? Do dreams have any value or meaning?
God does work and speak in a variety of ways, not all of them very clear and understandable! God works through and speaks through dreams, but not all of them. I do believe that dreams can tell us many things, like what not to eat before going to bed! But dreams can also give us insight to what is really going on deep within our spirits, can help us identify what things are stressing us that we might be surpressing during the day. And these dreams, that sometimes seem like nightmares, can help us work through our circumstances. And just maybe they are God's way of helping us see something important!
Joseph's life wasn't an easy one. He would go from prince to pauper, slave to manager, prisoner to ruler. His life was one of extremes, either the most hated or the most loved. Regardless, God was working in and through the life of Joseph. God spoke to him through the dreams he had and he'd help others out by giving the dream interpretations God had revealed to him. And in the end, he'd recognize that it was God helping bring all of these things about.
"Don't feel badly, don't blame yourselves for selling me. God was behind it. God sent me here ahead of you to save lives." (Genesis 45:5, The Message)
The key for us is to trust more in the work of God, even when we can't seem to see it. We need to recognize that God works in every circumstance, not always creating it, but using it in a way that will come out much better for us in the end, and maybe better for many others! And we need to pay attention to God's methods of communication. He just may be giving us a clue to what is happening or what is about to take place, but we aren't listening. Instead we may be cursing that piece of leftover pizza or that night bowl of ice cream for the dream that just might save the nation!
Sleep well, tonight and dream big. God may be speaking!
Peace ><>
pc
Friday, December 08, 2006
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Walking in the Presence
It seems that I am meeting people all the time who have an incredible story about how God is active and working in everything in their lives. It doesn't matter what happens, they are experiencing God, seeing God, at every turn. And their faith builds every day. And it should!
But I also know people who strive to have just one experience like this and never fully find it. They trust God, believe Christ, look for him in all they do but never see. I think this is true for most of us. We see the results of God's hand at work, but never see who did it. It's kind of like getting up on Christmas morning and seeing the presents under the tree. You know they weren't there the night before and so someone had to place them there during the night. If only we could have seen...
Jacob was one of those people. He saw God on numerous occasions. It seems that when he went anywhere he was meeting with God, seeing God, having a dream about God, and he walked with a limp because of them! How awesome is that?
So what is with people like Jacob? Is there something about them that draws these vision and experiences? Are they special? Well, the answer is yes, sort of.
First of all I believe that we all have the potential to be like Jacob. God is present in all of our lives in the same measure as he was in Jacob's, so that sets the potential. Second, we have to learn to be in the right place at the right time. Now this isn't nearly as easy to pull off, because we don't always know where or when! So many times this may be left up to chance, but then again maybe it's not so random...
The right place and the right time are actually the places we ought to be. That is when we begin to "dance" with God by being in God's will, then the right place and the right time can happen much more frequently. How do we get in the will of God? By being in constant communication! The more we communicate with God, the more we will be doing what God wants us to do, being where God wants us to be, seeing what God wants us to see. If we want to be where the action is , we have to get in the chain of communication!
Lastly, if we want to experience God like Jacob we have to expect it! That's right, simple expectation. How many times during the day do you expect to see or experience God? This is the greatest problem for Christians today, we don't expect to see our prayers answered or for God to show up. And it leaves us wondering of God is available, or present, or even cares? It's where the great poem Footprints comes from, someone who didn't expect to see God, so missed Him for the entire journey! In some ways that poem is sad, because it doesn't have to be that way.
God wants us to experience Him. And we can if we begin expecting it. Expectations make all the difference, because we usually get exactly what we expect to get. If we expect to be disappointed, we will be. If we expect to be joyful, we are. If we expect to miss God, we'll be too late. But if we truly expect God to show up...
...we might just walk with a limp the rest of our lives!
And that's okay with me!
Peace ><>
pc
But I also know people who strive to have just one experience like this and never fully find it. They trust God, believe Christ, look for him in all they do but never see. I think this is true for most of us. We see the results of God's hand at work, but never see who did it. It's kind of like getting up on Christmas morning and seeing the presents under the tree. You know they weren't there the night before and so someone had to place them there during the night. If only we could have seen...
Jacob was one of those people. He saw God on numerous occasions. It seems that when he went anywhere he was meeting with God, seeing God, having a dream about God, and he walked with a limp because of them! How awesome is that?
So what is with people like Jacob? Is there something about them that draws these vision and experiences? Are they special? Well, the answer is yes, sort of.
First of all I believe that we all have the potential to be like Jacob. God is present in all of our lives in the same measure as he was in Jacob's, so that sets the potential. Second, we have to learn to be in the right place at the right time. Now this isn't nearly as easy to pull off, because we don't always know where or when! So many times this may be left up to chance, but then again maybe it's not so random...
The right place and the right time are actually the places we ought to be. That is when we begin to "dance" with God by being in God's will, then the right place and the right time can happen much more frequently. How do we get in the will of God? By being in constant communication! The more we communicate with God, the more we will be doing what God wants us to do, being where God wants us to be, seeing what God wants us to see. If we want to be where the action is , we have to get in the chain of communication!
Lastly, if we want to experience God like Jacob we have to expect it! That's right, simple expectation. How many times during the day do you expect to see or experience God? This is the greatest problem for Christians today, we don't expect to see our prayers answered or for God to show up. And it leaves us wondering of God is available, or present, or even cares? It's where the great poem Footprints comes from, someone who didn't expect to see God, so missed Him for the entire journey! In some ways that poem is sad, because it doesn't have to be that way.
God wants us to experience Him. And we can if we begin expecting it. Expectations make all the difference, because we usually get exactly what we expect to get. If we expect to be disappointed, we will be. If we expect to be joyful, we are. If we expect to miss God, we'll be too late. But if we truly expect God to show up...
...we might just walk with a limp the rest of our lives!
And that's okay with me!
Peace ><>
pc
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Pinky-swearing
Pinky swear; cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye; in the name of God; and on my mothers' grave, are all signs of a promise. I saw a commercial recently that spoke of promises. It was for CVS Pharmacies and stated that they had made a promise to their customers that they keep (prescriptions would be done when they promised and that there would not be long lines that required waiting.). The question posed was the same one I mentioned this past Sunday (that's why it caught my attention this week), "How does it feel when someone keeps a promise?"
It's a good feeling when someone keeps their word to you. It makes you feel like you matter, that you have value and purpose. It's a good feeling even if we take it for granted. Promises kept help us sleep at night, to feel secure, to know that we have allies around us. A promise kept is like a warm blanket on a cold night.
But when the promise is broken...it's a different feeling completely.
We're asked to make and keep promises every day. To make them is to bind ourselves in business deals, in contracts, in purchases, in relationships. One of the main themes of the book of Genesis is covenant(promise). Covenant is key to the relationship we have with God. It's also key to the relationships we have with others. Promises are building blocks to business, friendships, family, nation, and society as a whole. Promises kept and promises broken define trust, integrity, honesty. We learn how to deal with others through promises.
Jacob was doing two things when he went to Paddan Aram, to the land of his mother's brother, Laban: first he was escaping the wrath of his brother, Esau; and second he was looking for a wife. (Let's not forget that it's in this order, too.) The first thing he did was to receive and then make a promise. He learned, though, that the promises made by his uncle Laban weren't trustworthy. So he was careful and very specific in his promises after this. In other words, Jacob was one smart cookie, and he trusted in God, whose promises had all come true.
All too often we either make or accept promises too quickly, rashly. We trust those with whom we should be leary and we get burned sometimes. Yet promises are important to make and keep. While we can always trust in the promises of God, we can't always trust those we get from others. We can't make others keep their promises. What we can do is to keep the promises we make and to make them carefully. Because our kept promises reveals our faith, our integrity, our very nature. And when we keep our promises, good things happen.
It's how God works toward the faithful.
I pinky-swear!
Peace ><>
pc
It's a good feeling when someone keeps their word to you. It makes you feel like you matter, that you have value and purpose. It's a good feeling even if we take it for granted. Promises kept help us sleep at night, to feel secure, to know that we have allies around us. A promise kept is like a warm blanket on a cold night.
But when the promise is broken...it's a different feeling completely.
We're asked to make and keep promises every day. To make them is to bind ourselves in business deals, in contracts, in purchases, in relationships. One of the main themes of the book of Genesis is covenant(promise). Covenant is key to the relationship we have with God. It's also key to the relationships we have with others. Promises are building blocks to business, friendships, family, nation, and society as a whole. Promises kept and promises broken define trust, integrity, honesty. We learn how to deal with others through promises.
Jacob was doing two things when he went to Paddan Aram, to the land of his mother's brother, Laban: first he was escaping the wrath of his brother, Esau; and second he was looking for a wife. (Let's not forget that it's in this order, too.) The first thing he did was to receive and then make a promise. He learned, though, that the promises made by his uncle Laban weren't trustworthy. So he was careful and very specific in his promises after this. In other words, Jacob was one smart cookie, and he trusted in God, whose promises had all come true.
All too often we either make or accept promises too quickly, rashly. We trust those with whom we should be leary and we get burned sometimes. Yet promises are important to make and keep. While we can always trust in the promises of God, we can't always trust those we get from others. We can't make others keep their promises. What we can do is to keep the promises we make and to make them carefully. Because our kept promises reveals our faith, our integrity, our very nature. And when we keep our promises, good things happen.
It's how God works toward the faithful.
I pinky-swear!
Peace ><>
pc
Monday, December 04, 2006
A Pillar of Faith
It was my first journey to Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity. I had entered the building through its very short entrance (stooping just to not hit my head) and stood in a long, pillared sanctuary. There were no pews or seats, just empty floors for pilgrims to gather and explore this church that has been used on the same site and with many of the same foundation and walls since 326 AD! All along the walls were hanging brass, silver and gold lamps of various sizes and designs. They were obviously from several different times and places. Some were ornate, others were simple, but the closer we got to the chancel area, the more lamps there were and the recognition that these were not there to simply light a darkened sanctuary.
Ostentatious is a good description of the display of lamps that adorned not only the chancel but also the grotto (cave) where the birth took place. It didn't occur to me at the time, but later after reflecting on the decorating sense of the orthodox monks I realized what those lamps and the various other decorations meant. They were simply memorials, left or given to recognize something God had done in the moment another pilgrim had come and been touched by the story, touched by God. Each item was commemorating an event and then the beauty of the sanctuary came into focus. What had at first glimpse had been an ugly sanctuary now became a beautiful sight of remembrance.
It's not uncommon for memorials to be given in honor of someone else. Yesterday we dedicated a new Christmas tree in our sanctuary, given in memory of June Stinson. (who chaired the worship committee at the church for many years.) Memorials in honor of people are normal in churches today, but what if we began to give memorials because of our significant experiences with God?
That's what Jacob did at Beth-el (house of God). After his vision, Jacob took the stone he was using for a pillow and set it up as a memorial. Some would question, "why?" Today, we'd write it in a book or attached a plaque to it so those who looked upon it would know why it is there. But in Jacob's day, a stone stood up in any place would be a sign to those who passed by that something significant had happened. And those who would see it would inquire, "what happened here?"
Standing stones are faith stories that should mark the path of our life journey.
I've never stood up a stone, yet I've had many significant events with God. I wonder what speaks to those who see my life journey? I'm wondering what "standing stones" I've left in my wake.
What marks your path?
Peace ><>
pc
Ostentatious is a good description of the display of lamps that adorned not only the chancel but also the grotto (cave) where the birth took place. It didn't occur to me at the time, but later after reflecting on the decorating sense of the orthodox monks I realized what those lamps and the various other decorations meant. They were simply memorials, left or given to recognize something God had done in the moment another pilgrim had come and been touched by the story, touched by God. Each item was commemorating an event and then the beauty of the sanctuary came into focus. What had at first glimpse had been an ugly sanctuary now became a beautiful sight of remembrance.
It's not uncommon for memorials to be given in honor of someone else. Yesterday we dedicated a new Christmas tree in our sanctuary, given in memory of June Stinson. (who chaired the worship committee at the church for many years.) Memorials in honor of people are normal in churches today, but what if we began to give memorials because of our significant experiences with God?
That's what Jacob did at Beth-el (house of God). After his vision, Jacob took the stone he was using for a pillow and set it up as a memorial. Some would question, "why?" Today, we'd write it in a book or attached a plaque to it so those who looked upon it would know why it is there. But in Jacob's day, a stone stood up in any place would be a sign to those who passed by that something significant had happened. And those who would see it would inquire, "what happened here?"
Standing stones are faith stories that should mark the path of our life journey.
I've never stood up a stone, yet I've had many significant events with God. I wonder what speaks to those who see my life journey? I'm wondering what "standing stones" I've left in my wake.
What marks your path?
Peace ><>
pc
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)