Running Away To BE With God

“As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.” Luke 5:16 (Message)

Sitting on a downed log next to the slow moving river I meet with God. A canopy of purple from a red bud tree shades my head as lace from the sun. Pink blossoms blow gently past me to hover mysteriously above the rippling water. I would say we meet in silence, yet it is actually musical. Birds are chirping and squawking, insects are humming and buzzing, dry leaves are crunching, trees are swaying — all in a rhythmic harmony to the words Jesus speaks into my heart. “Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars. Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created. He set them in place forever and ever; He gave a decree that will never pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do His bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds… Let them praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.” Psalm 148:3-13 (NASB)

Over the past twelve years our Father has called me to “run away” to be with Him alone in the woods again and again to pray, listen and be refreshed by Him. This past spring we have had an especially sweet time together. First just the two of us were alone for seven days at Camp Lutherhaven. Then with Him through a close friend of ours I was taught how to do a little hiking and appreciate the woods from yet a whole new perspective--bringing the Word with us to read and pray together, soaking in a sacred God’s creation.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NASB) In quiet contemplation I breathe deep the sweet air of the forest, keeping my eyes peeled for what God may send to me to speak rest into my exhausted soul. This past few weeks He has sent cotton tailed bunnies, chipmunks, squirrels, a flock of blue jays, a red tailed fox, a kissing cardinal couple and even several deer. The intricate majesty of His “ordinary” creation astonishes me. Taking my eyes off of me, and moving them onto Him, I find that “He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.” Psalms 23:3

Whenever I know it is time for me to leave the woods to go back to “normal life” I find a big part of me reacting like a small child. I beg God to stay with Him “here” for a little while longer. Honestly, I don’t know how anyone who follows Christ makes it without these quiet times alone with Him. It has been some of my most treasured moments with God.

So although I beg Him for us to stay “awhile longer,” I find that He always seems to remind me "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." Exodus 33:14 That then allows me the opportunity to look forward to the next time I am able to “run away” and be alone with Him again.

One Body in the Lord

Recently some people from St. Augustine immigrant church, New Life Lutheran, some seminarians from all over (Korea, Ethiopia, Kenya), and as you can see some c2g people, got together to celebrate the fact that we are all Nations Under God.

If was very Spiritually unifying time together. The Spirit of the Lord, Music and Food brought us together as one body. See the photo's below thanks to Dave & Janet Baker... There is also a picture of Pastor Larry Merino, one of our favorite people.

Self-Centeredness & Anger

Thomas Jefferson once said “If angry, count to ten before you speak; if very angry, count to one hundred.” Where does anger come from? It is a reaction to irritating people and circumstances, you might say. But I believe that the root cause of anger is self-centeredness which is ultimately pride. We live in a world that tells us “It's all about me!” And when something doesn't suit the center of our "me universe" then anger erupts. That's difficult to admit, isn't it?

God has been bringing “self-centeredness” to my attention lately. My husband and I are BIG Komets fans. The coliseum and the games are a good lesson for self-centeredness. First there's the people who run over your toes because they are just focused on something other than you! When you find your seat, someone sits in front of you and reeks of BAD cologne. Another group sits behind you and they don't even watch the game they just talk and talk and talk and talk. AND the refs...well we'll forget the refs...they will continue to be annoying. But, I get so angry when I can't breathe because of someone pouring their entire bottle of perfume on them or talk about how "little George" ran over his big sister with the toy wheel barrow and they had to pretend to take her to the hospital instead of watching the game. I have turned around and told people in back of me to be quiet and watch the game, I've yelled at people to sit down so I can see, I've moved because I couldn't breathe but not until after Ive complained to my husband and whoever else wants to listen.

Rather than using our words in anger or grumbling, we can use our words to be the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15). Have you ever hugged someone and ended up wearing her perfume? We will leave a fragrance, so to speak, by the words we speak. It can be a pleasing fragrance or one that reeks. Instead of speaking words of anger. I should be gracious and with the love of Christ speak words of kindness. Rather than becoming angry, I should exude the fragrance of Christ and have it permeate the entire fan section.

We have a choice. When we choose not to react in self-centered anger, but extend grace, the aroma of Christ is released. Paul writes “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this; Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because our anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires”

When I speak words of love and grace I emit the fragrance of life. When I speak words of grumbling and anger I smell of death. Hmmmm! Which do we want to smell like?

Grace and peace be with you,
Christie

Gently Radical

The woman written of in the gospels who anointed our Savior was just an ordinary woman. However, her expression of love is legendary.

“When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” Luke 7:37-38 This scene painted in Luke 7:37-38 (see also Matthew 26:1-16, Mark 14:1-12 & John 12:1-11) awakens a feeling in me, best described as “gently radical.”

During this time in history women kept their hair pinned up. Paul even goes so far to say in one Epistle that a woman’s glory is her hair. Yet, humbly she departed from the culturally accepted thing, took her hair down and used “her glory” to serve Him tenderly.

The radical offering of pouring out a year’s worth of wages onto the feet of the object of her affection is riveting. Recently, I heard a speaker discuss this passage. He stated that the average annual wage today in his area of the United Sates is about $50,000 -- he asked the audience to imagine the idea of $50,000 being spent in just a few minutes blessing the Lord. Seems absolutely extreme doesn’t it? Yet, His forgiveness compelled her heart to pour out such an amazing gift! Resonating with me, that great forgiveness begets deep gratitude.

I find it irresistible that she preaches without saying a word -- preaching with tender kisses and extravagant fragrance! Over the years as I am brought back to these passages about the woman (or possibly -- women) anointing Jesus I have always focused on how she ministered to me and how she ministered to the people who witnessed the event, and Jesus’ response to her and those around them. Until recently I never really considered how these moments had also ministered to the Lord.

“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Him, objected, Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.” John 12:1:3-7.

This passage finally “clicked” for me. While Christ is hanging on the cross taking in His last breaths -- He is inhaling the scent of the expensive perfume that Mary anointed Him with. In those last breaths what He smells is the fragrance of her love, sacrifice and devotion.

As I take in the aroma of her love, it struck me in a whole new way again… how true it is, that we love because He first loved us. This love of hers is only made possible because of His love, sacrifice, and devotion for her and all of His children. Including you and me.

My heart longs to be the kind of woman who uses all that I have to serve Christ. I am grateful that in Christ this is a possible dream. “In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, He brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life…“ 2Corinthians2:14-15 (Message)

May the air around you fill with the fragrance of love and life everywhere you go.