caveats and conditions and commiseration

There's a major hitch in God's command to husbands and wives, and that hitch is the thing that feels most restrictive, most difficult.  It's the thing that fuels the rebellion stirring in our selfish hearts.

God says, "Wives, respect your husbands in everything," there is no caveat, no "out."  He doesn't say to show respect if the husband is respectable, respectful, or good.  He doesn't command respect when a husband loves his wife well, lives a godly life, or goes to church every week.  He simple tells wives to do it - respect. That's what's hard.  We want there to be a condition.  We want the husband to earn any and all respect we send his way, because that's generally how this earthly life works.  We perform well: we are rewarded well (or we expect to be).  We are kind to some stranger: usually kindness is reciprocated.

But with this simple command, there is no prerequisite.  It's simply a matter of obedience on the part of the wife.  The other command of husbands loving their wives has the same application. There are no conditions to extending love; it is only that we are to love.

Aren't you thankful there are no conditions to God's grace?  I guess if there were, it would not be grace.

Joy!

Knowing that you're following what God wants you to do brings joy -- it's obedience.  Joy does not live alone - it shares tight quarters, or even depends upon, obedience.

5.5.2011

Jesus - Power!

Blind Bartimeus -- Sight!

Lame man -- Walks!

Lazarus -- Alive!

Debts -- Paid!

Sins -- Forgiven!

10 Lepers -- Clean!

Centurion's Son -- Healed!

Daughter of Jairus -- Awake!

Fall on your knees...

The Just
The Holy
The Right
The Good
The King
The Humble
The Creator
The Savior

lies here before you in a manger.
a simple bed
for feeding animals
a simple bed of nourishment for others
hope for eternal promise


The Master
The Judge
The Exalted
The Victor
The Life
The Conqueror
The True God
The Great I AM

sits before you at his throne.
at the right hand of the Father
holy in all he does
right in what he determines
perfect in what he creates
worshiped for who he is

Come, fall on your knees before such a God, such a King, such a Baby as this Jesus, such a Savior.

Fall on your knees
this holy night.
This ground is sacred

living water

Living water

Feeds

Grows

Nourishes

Washes

Cleanses

Sustains

Satisfies

Quenches

Moves

Refreshes

Transports

Regulates

Circulates

Opens

Restores

Where there is Jesus, there is hope. There is living water, active, powerful, keeping. 

“Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.””

‭‭John‬ ‭4:13-14‬

depth

It seems to me that people I encounter are much like a vast body of water.

Each person comes with his or her own level of depth.

There are some that are so deep, my diving gear prohibits me from traveling that far with them.

And with others, I hardly require my snorkel, as we remain strictly at the surface.

I think it's fascinating that the ocean stretches so immeasurably, allowing a variety of depth for a variety of needs.

People are much like that.  Depth mixed with surface is a delicious combination.

Without the depth, I'd never experience the deep reaches of the water, seeing coral reefs, myriad ocean life, hues of blue, or feel the change in temperature and pressure.

Without the surface, I'd miss the warmth of the sunshine, the tiny bodies of fish life, the plants that stretch toward the sunlight, the reflection of the sun on the sandy bottom.

People are a delightful experience, each with his/her unique flavor and complexity.

What a creative God.

Elaina

It was the best of times

It was the worst of times

I was in my third year of college 

I was in a less-than-exciting Shakespeare class 

Enter Elaina Styblo

Somehow, the dreary readings of familiar plays took on a new light, a new life

Elaina and I met, partnered up as assignment forced us together, and began a 16-year friendship. 

She brought the laughs, the light, the wit, the Blues Brothers, the challenge to my thinking. 

We sipped coffee, shared life, watched movies, quoted lines, played Shakespearean roles for our class, laughed till sides ached when the British student teacher walked straight into an easel while trying to cooly wave our way. We talked books, marriage, Jesus, Mao, and Freddy Mercury. Dietrich Bonhoeffer took on a whole new dimension through the eyes of Elaina.  I learned more about Oscar Romero than I knew about the first martyr Stephen. I loved sharing life with Elaina, and it makes me ache when I realize she's no longer a text away. I no longer have her witty comments in an instant. I miss her perspective, her passion, her perseverance. 

I text her: "We're watching "Lincoln" tonight. Have you seen it?" She writes back: "I've not seen it, but I don't think it ends well for Lincoln."  

She said the things I wished I could say but feared to verbalize. And, she said them well. 

A Chinese friend stands at the ladies' tea to share how she's experienced love in my church; she is a stranger to Elaina. No matter. E has encouragement for anyone in her path, stranger or not. Chinese friend: "I'm so sorry. My English is not very good." We're at the neighboring table, so E says, "Right. Your English is awful. You should hear my Chinese!"

So, what sticks with me? How am I better for having known Elaina Styblo? She was the real deal. I got what everyone else got. She was no chameleon. She was true. I left her each time with the reminder that it was okay, and expected, that I embrace who I am. God, the unique Creator, takes great delight in me, in each of His designs. 

Thank You, God, for Elaina. Thank you for her life. Thank you for her giving, investing, pursuing, hoping, loving life. May I be to others what she was to me.