Faith, like a coat.

When chilled by my life’s trails, I reach for my coat. I trust it to keep me warm, confident, at peace.

Wearing my faith, like a coat, banishes all anxious thoughts. It calms all fear. Right?

Right??

So I don this coat of faith and I stroll to the mirror of life’s experiences. I take a good long look. My reflection, still anxious, still fearful, ignores my coat. 

Give it a minute, we’ll warm up here soon enough.

I can’t get warm enough to stop being anxious.

Confused and distressed I quickly take it off. Am I missing something? I turn it over in my hands. Do I have the right one? I check the labels. Is this a counterfeit? I read the wear instructions.

I put it on again.

Not so quick to approach the mirror, I look.

Why can’t I get warm?  

Easter Vacated

He left the Father's presence, vacated if you will, to be with us, to share holiness with our common lives. I'm sure His Father anticipated the moment when He and His son would be reunited.

He left the grave's presence, vacated if you will, to intercede for us, to lead us in procession back to the Father. I’m sure the Father anticipates our moment of being reunited with Him.

He left earth’s presence, our presence, vacated if you will, to build a place for us so that we can, in the end, be reunited with Him and with the Father. I’m sure the Father eagerly anticipates the moment when He will say, “It’s time!”

Since all has been vacated, I choose to celebrate my Father’s anticipation.

Emanuel, it is finished, He’s returning, it is time.

Maranatha!

Percie Finds A Pet

It would seem that Percival has acquired a new companion. Names anyone?

Perspective Is Everything

Perspective is everything. How different would my life be if I could see its trajectory from the outside?

I’m humbled by Jesus’ response to those who didn’t have His perspective. He was the Messiah, the one He claimed to be, the one they were waiting for. So why didn’t they see it? Why was it hidden from them? Jesus said they had ears but couldn’t hear, eyes but couldn’t see. The more I read how the religious leaders responded to Jesus’ authority the more convinced I become that there was no way He could have measured up to their Messianic expectations. Their perspective had become so ingrown and fractured that no one would ever meet the qualifications. Their system of religion was set up to disqualify the truth.

As Pilate said, “What is truth?” Indeed, what is truth? Their perspective had been so warped and clouded that when truth stood right in front of them, they couldn’t accept it. They were so blind that it didn’t even register as a blip on their soul’s radar.

Perspective.

So as Jesus hung on the cross, they mocked:

The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” Luke 23:34-37 (NLT)

You are who you say you are? Prove it. Prove it to me, in the way that I demand you prove it. Fit your truth into my way of believing, my way of thinking, my way of living. Convince my inconvincible soul that you came to save it.

Perspective.

If Jesus had capitulated to their mocking demands would they have been convinced?

Perspective

The more life I live the more I see that we reject truth that causes change in our lives until we have no other choice. Until I experience that I am lost, I cannot be found.

Perspective.

Jesus was, in fact, saving Himself. By being obedient to the Father’s will, He was saving everything. Jesus knew His Father. He knew salvation was at hand. For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow Your holy one to rot in the grave. Psa 16:10 The outcome was never in doubt.

Perspective.

Salvation at the point of completion, being mocked, “Save yourself”, the irony is tangible.

Heavier still is the realization that there are parts of my unrepentant heart that mock its Creator. You saved others, why can’t you save me? Do what my perspective demands that You need to do. Fit Your truth into my way of living, my way of understanding.

Perspective.

Without the Holy Spirit’s intervention, I cannot see the truth.

Perspective.

Jesus, let me see from Yours.

Jesus Follows His Own Examples.

One of the wounds I’ve carried into adulthood is the fear that the sin I wrestle with will disqualify me from being in relationship with Jesus. I read His words:

But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?' But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, 'Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:11-14)

I wonder, am I the one who isn’t wearing proper clothes? My personal struggle with sin usually leaves me feeling this way. My heart cries why can’t I seem to get a handle on this stuff?

I take comfort in Paul’s words, I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. (Romans 7:21). If Paul struggled with “getting it right” how much more will I? But the fear persists. It’s a deep-seated lie that there exists a "one step too far" and that someday I will take it. 

“Oh, I’m sorry, you’ve just ruined everything”. 

That may be a bit dramatic, but my deep seated fears tend to be that way.

In His mercy, Jesus continually shows me the example I am to follow. Peter asked how often he should forgive his offending brother. Jesus’ response in essence was “every time he asks”. That’s the example I am to follow. If my brother sins against me and asks for forgiveness, I am to forgive, freely and without reservation. This beautiful truth speaks deeply into my fear. 

Jesus follows His own examples. 

If I, by Jesus’ example, am to forgive my brother freely and without reservation, how perfectly will Jesus forgive me, freely and without reservation, when I ask?

How often?

Seventy times seven times eternity.

So what keeps me from walking in the beauty and freedom of this truth? 

In His Image

Keeping my eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of my faith.

What's in a name?

Still looking for a proper name.