There is an itriguing chapter in Hannah W.Smiths book 'The God of all Comfort' which is entitled 'Much more versus much less'.
She says our view of things a)does not affect the reality of things but (b) our view affects our taking hold of these realities. "And while our safety comes from what things really are, our comfort comes from what we suppose them to be." Ahaaa! So very true.
How many times are we left oomfortless because we do not see things his way, and therefore cannot take hold of his comfort and encouragement.
I have heard two such cases in two days - where their view of reality is obscuring the richness of grace offered to them by our compassionate Father. And both push away any suggestion of there being a different view of their situation. They are locked into their stronghold of fear and despair.
Hannah goes on to write about the 'much mores' in Scripture... the abundance that is there for us - which we can find so hard to access if we have a 'much less'/poor me/ victim mentality.
I am finding that in threatening situations where I could be so discouraged or wounded - as I decare the good purposes of God - 'he intends to do me good in this'- the whole menace melts away and my heart is strengthened by the reality I choose to view life from. The English mystic Julian of Norwich said once, after reviewing the many trials and testings that were happening during her life-time, "His meaning is love." Sounds obscure? I think it simply means that God only sees us in love and intends for us to be held in his love come what may. We cannot attribute to him anything else. Because that is who he is. Our trial doesn't test if he loves us ('he would not allow this if he loved me...') - it simply tests if we can trust in his love and his loving purposes come what may. When our heart is at rest in his love - no storm can snatch us away from that safe place.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
The Two Sides of Comfort
My husband David wrote this for our church newsletter.
The Bible is full of “throw away lines”, brief comments or asides that are packed full of meaning. I noticed one in last week's passage, 2 Corinthians 1:4.
Paul says that God 'comforts him in all his troubles', a simple remark, but one that carries a lot of weight for Paul because of his history. Later in the letter he lists some of the situations he has been in – thrashed with forty lashes five times; beaten with rods three times; stoned; shipwrecked three times; in danger from all kinds of people and in all kinds of situations and so on... (See 2 Cor 11:23 for the full list). If anyone needed God’s comfort it is Paul and he says he always gets it. What a testimony!
And there’s more to his comment. The comfort he receives has breadth and depth to it.
The comfort Paul speaks of has two sides to it – the word “comfort” is both a picture of soothing and also a picture of strengthening. It’s a combination of a parent gently and soothingly tending to a little “wounded soldier” who’s fallen over but also dusting them off and saying. “OK. Let’s have another go at this”. We often use ‘encourage’ as a synonym for ‘comfort’, meaning that we’re trying to speak courage into someone who’s facing troubles.
The Bayeaux tapestry is a series of woven cartoons of William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066. One panel shows a bishop on his horse poking a big lance into the backs of a line of soldiers getting ready to embark for England. The caption reads, "Bishop .... comforts the troops". That’s obviously not the soothing side of the word!
In all his troubles Paul knows the tender compassion of his loving Father but he also experiences God planting courage and strength into him to get back up and go on. May we, like Paul, receive both the gentle soothing and the strong encouraging and fortifying love of the Father of compassion and God of all comfort.
The Bible is full of “throw away lines”, brief comments or asides that are packed full of meaning. I noticed one in last week's passage, 2 Corinthians 1:4.
Paul says that God 'comforts him in all his troubles', a simple remark, but one that carries a lot of weight for Paul because of his history. Later in the letter he lists some of the situations he has been in – thrashed with forty lashes five times; beaten with rods three times; stoned; shipwrecked three times; in danger from all kinds of people and in all kinds of situations and so on... (See 2 Cor 11:23 for the full list). If anyone needed God’s comfort it is Paul and he says he always gets it. What a testimony!
And there’s more to his comment. The comfort he receives has breadth and depth to it.
The comfort Paul speaks of has two sides to it – the word “comfort” is both a picture of soothing and also a picture of strengthening. It’s a combination of a parent gently and soothingly tending to a little “wounded soldier” who’s fallen over but also dusting them off and saying. “OK. Let’s have another go at this”. We often use ‘encourage’ as a synonym for ‘comfort’, meaning that we’re trying to speak courage into someone who’s facing troubles.
The Bayeaux tapestry is a series of woven cartoons of William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066. One panel shows a bishop on his horse poking a big lance into the backs of a line of soldiers getting ready to embark for England. The caption reads, "Bishop .... comforts the troops". That’s obviously not the soothing side of the word!
In all his troubles Paul knows the tender compassion of his loving Father but he also experiences God planting courage and strength into him to get back up and go on. May we, like Paul, receive both the gentle soothing and the strong encouraging and fortifying love of the Father of compassion and God of all comfort.
From Misery to Ministry
I am still chewing on how God comforts us so we can comfort others - and was reminded of this quote:
“I am struck by the number of persons who are led to undertake a most creative work through their experience of their own or the world’s deep misery. They move from the initial experience of misery to some form of soul-searching and through to an experience of mystery, before they are led to the work they feel called to do. In moving from misery to meditation, to mystery, to ministry, these persons are, in fact, moving from compassion to contemplation to communion to creative commitment.
Afterward, they have no trouble telling me how they came to do what they are presently doing; but as they are moving through misery to meditation, however, they usually have no idea of what is happening to them, or of where their life is leading them. They are hurting and scared to death. As the cycle completes itself by moving from mystery to ministry, however, it is as though their pain reveals its purpose. All along it is meant to teach them
• How to be true to themselves,
• How deep their spiritual resources go,
• How to be true to a Power beyond themselves,
• And how to serve others creatively with compassion.
What went down in pain, then, comes up in praise; what went inward in suffering comes outward in service.
(From ‘The Art of Passing-over’ by Frances Dorff)
“I am struck by the number of persons who are led to undertake a most creative work through their experience of their own or the world’s deep misery. They move from the initial experience of misery to some form of soul-searching and through to an experience of mystery, before they are led to the work they feel called to do. In moving from misery to meditation, to mystery, to ministry, these persons are, in fact, moving from compassion to contemplation to communion to creative commitment.
Afterward, they have no trouble telling me how they came to do what they are presently doing; but as they are moving through misery to meditation, however, they usually have no idea of what is happening to them, or of where their life is leading them. They are hurting and scared to death. As the cycle completes itself by moving from mystery to ministry, however, it is as though their pain reveals its purpose. All along it is meant to teach them
• How to be true to themselves,
• How deep their spiritual resources go,
• How to be true to a Power beyond themselves,
• And how to serve others creatively with compassion.
What went down in pain, then, comes up in praise; what went inward in suffering comes outward in service.
(From ‘The Art of Passing-over’ by Frances Dorff)
Monday, November 15, 2010
The Lord our Dwelling Place
Ps.90:1 "Lord you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations."
The comfort or discomfort of our outward lives depends largely upon the dwelling place of our bodies; and the comfort or discomfort of our inward life depends similarly upon the dwelling place of our souls. Our dwelling place is the place where we live, and not the place we merely visit. Our souls need a comfortable dwelling place even more than our bodies...and where the soul is full of peace and joy, outward surroundings are of comparatively little account.
The Lord declares that He has been our dwelling place in all generations, but the question is, Are we living in our dwelling place - or are we wandering, hungry, thirsty and faint? (Ps 107) The Lord urges his invitation upon us. "Abide in me, and I in you" and he goes on to tell us what are the blessed results of this abiding. The truth is, our souls were made for God. He is our natural home, and we can never be at rest anywhere else. "My soul longs, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."
How shall we describe this divine dwelling place? David describes it when he says: "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; in him will I trust; he is my shield, my high tower, my refuge, my Saviour." This means that when we live in our dwelling place we shall be perfectly safe and secure from every assault of every enemy. I do not mean no trials will come...but they cannot penetrate into the sanctury of the soul, and we may dwell in perfect peace even in the midst of life's fiercest storms.
The fortress we are called to is soft, tender, and full of comfort; "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." (Ps.91:4) Like a mother hen with her chicks, we are enfolded, protected and comforted. Here there is no fear. Say what the psalmist says "I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."
From 'The God of all comfort' by Hannah Whithall Smith
The comfort or discomfort of our outward lives depends largely upon the dwelling place of our bodies; and the comfort or discomfort of our inward life depends similarly upon the dwelling place of our souls. Our dwelling place is the place where we live, and not the place we merely visit. Our souls need a comfortable dwelling place even more than our bodies...and where the soul is full of peace and joy, outward surroundings are of comparatively little account.
The Lord declares that He has been our dwelling place in all generations, but the question is, Are we living in our dwelling place - or are we wandering, hungry, thirsty and faint? (Ps 107) The Lord urges his invitation upon us. "Abide in me, and I in you" and he goes on to tell us what are the blessed results of this abiding. The truth is, our souls were made for God. He is our natural home, and we can never be at rest anywhere else. "My soul longs, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."
How shall we describe this divine dwelling place? David describes it when he says: "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; in him will I trust; he is my shield, my high tower, my refuge, my Saviour." This means that when we live in our dwelling place we shall be perfectly safe and secure from every assault of every enemy. I do not mean no trials will come...but they cannot penetrate into the sanctury of the soul, and we may dwell in perfect peace even in the midst of life's fiercest storms.
The fortress we are called to is soft, tender, and full of comfort; "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge." (Ps.91:4) Like a mother hen with her chicks, we are enfolded, protected and comforted. Here there is no fear. Say what the psalmist says "I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust."
From 'The God of all comfort' by Hannah Whithall Smith
Sunday, November 14, 2010
God's astoundingly simple plan
I keep pondering on why the Father puts us 'in Christ'. The N.T. is full of this truth - and yet we seem to miss it's implications and it's power.
1. Being in Christ means we are 'hidden' in him - he clothes us and our Holy God sees only the perfect life and sacrifice of Jesus - so we are acceptable - we don't have to work for our own righteousness.
2. Being in Christ means we are loved equally with Christ! This seems astounding to us, because we see our 'miserable little selves' as seperate and 'unworthy'. But he makes us worthy by placing us 'in Christ'. What a simple solution!
3. Being in Christ means we are close to the Father's heart. We are near and dear - beloved and cherished, as we would feel about the sweetest little child or grandchild who we can't get enough of! Are we basking in this love?
4. Being in Christ means we share in his inheritance - the riches of his grace, the riches of his glory. Have we begun to explore these yet?
5. Being in Christ means the source of our life is in Him, not in the world around us or people in our lives. The loves and losses can be held lightly. We are his, and he is ours. Always.
Father has thought of everything. Can we trust in this marvel?
1. Being in Christ means we are 'hidden' in him - he clothes us and our Holy God sees only the perfect life and sacrifice of Jesus - so we are acceptable - we don't have to work for our own righteousness.
2. Being in Christ means we are loved equally with Christ! This seems astounding to us, because we see our 'miserable little selves' as seperate and 'unworthy'. But he makes us worthy by placing us 'in Christ'. What a simple solution!
3. Being in Christ means we are close to the Father's heart. We are near and dear - beloved and cherished, as we would feel about the sweetest little child or grandchild who we can't get enough of! Are we basking in this love?
4. Being in Christ means we share in his inheritance - the riches of his grace, the riches of his glory. Have we begun to explore these yet?
5. Being in Christ means the source of our life is in Him, not in the world around us or people in our lives. The loves and losses can be held lightly. We are his, and he is ours. Always.
Father has thought of everything. Can we trust in this marvel?
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The fruit of humility
"Clothe yourself with humility toward one another..." 1 Peter 5:5.
I wonder if we realise that Jesus was perpetually 'clothed with humility'? Do we not see him as that amazing person who could raise the dead and heal the sick and perform miracles; who had people falling at his feet with wonder? Yet if we looked at his life from the perspective of heaven, as the angels do... we would marvel at his humility - at his simple trust in his Father - at the containment of his unlimited powers - at the covering over of his glory - at his becoming a meek and humble 'child'...
Have we a right view of humility? It is not a cowering servitude, or a denial of our giftedness or uniqueness. It is a willing surrender of our 'glory' to serve the good of another, while at the same time an acknowledgement that we are 'nothing' without him - his life, his grace, his love flowing through us.
Humility serves our heart need to be at rest, to be secure in one who is greater than ourselves, to be safe from feeling we have to 'run the world' or carry the burdens of life alone. This is why God 'resists the proud' but runs to the aid of the humble of heart. Brennan Manning says "He not only cannot resist them, he cannot refuse them anything." (The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus)
I have been endeavouring to serve some people who I want to show Father's love to through mowing and clearing up for some days. It has brought me joy...despite aching muscles... and now I find I need to go further and ask for forgiveness for ways I have offended them in the past. Humility will lead us to stripping off any self-justification or feelings of superiority. But I am confident this will align me with Jesus and bring the Father joy more than ever.
I wonder if we realise that Jesus was perpetually 'clothed with humility'? Do we not see him as that amazing person who could raise the dead and heal the sick and perform miracles; who had people falling at his feet with wonder? Yet if we looked at his life from the perspective of heaven, as the angels do... we would marvel at his humility - at his simple trust in his Father - at the containment of his unlimited powers - at the covering over of his glory - at his becoming a meek and humble 'child'...
Have we a right view of humility? It is not a cowering servitude, or a denial of our giftedness or uniqueness. It is a willing surrender of our 'glory' to serve the good of another, while at the same time an acknowledgement that we are 'nothing' without him - his life, his grace, his love flowing through us.
Humility serves our heart need to be at rest, to be secure in one who is greater than ourselves, to be safe from feeling we have to 'run the world' or carry the burdens of life alone. This is why God 'resists the proud' but runs to the aid of the humble of heart. Brennan Manning says "He not only cannot resist them, he cannot refuse them anything." (The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus)
I have been endeavouring to serve some people who I want to show Father's love to through mowing and clearing up for some days. It has brought me joy...despite aching muscles... and now I find I need to go further and ask for forgiveness for ways I have offended them in the past. Humility will lead us to stripping off any self-justification or feelings of superiority. But I am confident this will align me with Jesus and bring the Father joy more than ever.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)