Monday, November 08, 2010
He believes in me
God's word to us can be very .very personal . So much so that when you try to share that , noone believes you. Lots of the miracles in the Bible are like that . Miracles are clearly not for show - public show that is . Miracles are for those in distress and those who need something that God is prepared to give them ( He doesn't always give us what we want but He does listen and if its good he may well say wait )
Wow - when it happens . I have been on the campaign trail ( the electorate isn't worried about our leaders - i am about them having another term ; the indifferent politics of this day will go down in history ). I have to supervise children at work and children in charge . It makes me depressed when church people aren't prepared to be something special and relevant to attract the attention of the world to His message about " something new" and relevant . even the often heartrending reminder that so many people are more interested in building change than people change (today we had an architect here)
didn't really phase me as much as it normally does .
I had some good quality time with Brian sharing my thoughts and those of MLK"Its not the bad people i worry about but the good people who say nothing " . The overall effect of the day though is not good .I thought as i went to bed "who really believes in me' and knows my passions- more who really supports me in my passions - "believes in me' sums it up BEST ; .I went through my best friends; the list of names and faces didn't help - there were always areas where they " didn't understand"
I drop into bed thinking i need something special. I get up I turn up to john 7 :5 ( not the whole passage just that verse). 'Even his family did not believe in Him' . What a blow
So he believes in us even though noone else on earth does, or doesn't make such efforts to remind us - isn't that amazing !
Wow - when it happens . I have been on the campaign trail ( the electorate isn't worried about our leaders - i am about them having another term ; the indifferent politics of this day will go down in history ). I have to supervise children at work and children in charge . It makes me depressed when church people aren't prepared to be something special and relevant to attract the attention of the world to His message about " something new" and relevant . even the often heartrending reminder that so many people are more interested in building change than people change (today we had an architect here)
didn't really phase me as much as it normally does .
I had some good quality time with Brian sharing my thoughts and those of MLK"Its not the bad people i worry about but the good people who say nothing " . The overall effect of the day though is not good .I thought as i went to bed "who really believes in me' and knows my passions- more who really supports me in my passions - "believes in me' sums it up BEST ; .I went through my best friends; the list of names and faces didn't help - there were always areas where they " didn't understand"
I drop into bed thinking i need something special. I get up I turn up to john 7 :5 ( not the whole passage just that verse). 'Even his family did not believe in Him' . What a blow
So he believes in us even though noone else on earth does, or doesn't make such efforts to remind us - isn't that amazing !
This idea of belief
No one whose ever followed the Master for a long time can , like his disciples did, not question why the road seems so hard.The wonderful joy of the walk is that He always provides relief along the way - a special and personal type of encouragement that could only ever come via the angel armies .
Why don't people believe ?
Why didn't his own family believe ? As if Jesus hasn't got enough to worry about with the Jews wanting and willing to kill him ,John 7 records the depressing reality that even his brothers didn't believe in him. Patronizing him they give him some advice .People do that --they give you advice, often dopey and unthinking advice as the disciples did - " This is how you can be taken seriously" they said . Yet they weren't taking him seriously and they were close to him ; Heartbreaking because to give yourself for others and have that care thrown back at you - its tempting just to " get on with your own life "
How do you feel when you are patronized ? when people feel sorry for you . When its publicly , as it was there, it can drive people to the edge . Patronizing people is one of the most hurtful things we can do to each other; When done privately its easier to dismiss the comment as " what would they know" . "They don't know me , they don't believe me ? Hard though very hard if its your partner who truly loves you as Jesus loves you.
I had a recent bad reaction to someone saying, because I am always busy, " you don't need to do that so how about you don't'-full stop no questions The person was in charge and was genuinely concerned that i had too much on my plate around the church BUT they weren't really prepared to ask me what I though t about why I did what I did .
Its not hard to listen is it ? Ask God - he truly knows because He truly cares . So few people talk to Him. When we talk to each other , how often do we really listen . God more they, is really trying to help - His words worth more than a million others .
On my tombstone i would be tempted to say " why didn't you ask me when you saw me stressed by lots of work -with the words " How can I help ? "
If you have felt patronizing yourself , you have my complete sympathy( sympathy here contrasted with and presumptive talk about 'what you should do" - its so easy to spoil a listening session with your suggestions" . "Yes dear" is often all you need to say - the highly paid couch professionals prove it.
What does all this teach us about why its hard to believe ? Well for starters- its very hard to listen . Let a bit of listening to God' s clear and spoken word to you be your source of inspiration for this day .
Why don't people believe ?
Why didn't his own family believe ? As if Jesus hasn't got enough to worry about with the Jews wanting and willing to kill him ,John 7 records the depressing reality that even his brothers didn't believe in him. Patronizing him they give him some advice .People do that --they give you advice, often dopey and unthinking advice as the disciples did - " This is how you can be taken seriously" they said . Yet they weren't taking him seriously and they were close to him ; Heartbreaking because to give yourself for others and have that care thrown back at you - its tempting just to " get on with your own life "
How do you feel when you are patronized ? when people feel sorry for you . When its publicly , as it was there, it can drive people to the edge . Patronizing people is one of the most hurtful things we can do to each other; When done privately its easier to dismiss the comment as " what would they know" . "They don't know me , they don't believe me ? Hard though very hard if its your partner who truly loves you as Jesus loves you.
I had a recent bad reaction to someone saying, because I am always busy, " you don't need to do that so how about you don't'-full stop no questions The person was in charge and was genuinely concerned that i had too much on my plate around the church BUT they weren't really prepared to ask me what I though t about why I did what I did .
Its not hard to listen is it ? Ask God - he truly knows because He truly cares . So few people talk to Him. When we talk to each other , how often do we really listen . God more they, is really trying to help - His words worth more than a million others .
On my tombstone i would be tempted to say " why didn't you ask me when you saw me stressed by lots of work -with the words " How can I help ? "
If you have felt patronizing yourself , you have my complete sympathy( sympathy here contrasted with and presumptive talk about 'what you should do" - its so easy to spoil a listening session with your suggestions" . "Yes dear" is often all you need to say - the highly paid couch professionals prove it.
What does all this teach us about why its hard to believe ? Well for starters- its very hard to listen . Let a bit of listening to God' s clear and spoken word to you be your source of inspiration for this day .
