Category: church

holy moments

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Each day, I find myself surrounded by holy moments.  Not because I work at a church.  Actually I think that’s the opposite reason I experience these moments.  It’s in working out things.  Talking to people.  Expressing pain.  Expressing beauty.  Expressing love, care and concern in whatever way I can.

I love passing along verses to people.  Especially lately verses that have been so convicting in my own heart and life, I just know I have to share them with others because they’ve impacted me so greatly.  I don’t do it to tell them they need to change, I just throw it out there, because I know it’s changed me.

I experience God in many ways, one of them is in running.  Another is in creation and the beauty of all that is around me.  And another, just as of lately, has been in people.  Now I don’t consider myself a total “people person”, but lately there have been many precious conversations that have caused me to just gently be reminded that God is here.  With me.  Holding my hand.  Wiping my tears. Giving me dreams again.  He’s here.  He uses other people to sometimes show me things I’ve never thought of before.

Holy moments.

Lately I’ve been taking prayer walks.  During the day, especially since it’s been so nice lately.  Walking around the apartments near the church and just praying fervently.  That our church would learn and see how to have compassion and love for these people… these broken people who are so different from us.  Who live with their boyfriends or girlfriends, who have many children.  Who have many tattoos.  Who smell bad.  Who cuss us out.  Who want nothing to do with church.  GOD… how can we love these people????  Our church has been put in this location for a reason.  Why are we not broken over wanting to see these people in church and praying for their salvation?

When I read the gospels, I see this picture of Jesus and I wonder… what would he do, now?  What would he think of our high walls, gates, and beautiful clothing?  What would he think that we are shutting the world out of our “holy” place?

Met with a friend yesterday who goes with a group of people to narcotics anonymous weekly.  She said that meeting is more spiritual to her than any other church service she’s been to.  Because it’s real.

Holy moments.

They are all around us.

In a smile, a warm touch, a friend, an enemy, in working through our bitterness.

Embracing the holy moments.

holy week

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Holy Week this week.

Lent has been different this year for me.  Not as intentional as I’ve been in the past.  Honestly, I tried to give up facebook for the entire 46 days, just to have some extra focus.  Then it turned into just checking it if I needed to, and then just not wasting my time on there.

There are more important things going on around in the world than what your friends are saying on facebook.  That’s for sure.  I value my friends greatly, but more importantly, I value my REAL friends, the ones who are in my life and who pursue me as a friend, and that usually is distinct from facebook.

So much more I COULD say.  But I won’t.

This week is interesting, because it’s so full of the ancient, but also the new.  This goes in the realm of good, and of evil.  It seems the deceiver works extra hard these leading up to Easter days too.  Thinking he still has victory, somehow, someway.

But we have the victory.

Because HE lives.

It’s beautiful.

I’ve often thought about this, but I wondered, why is it that I’ve come to embrace and love the cross so much more as I’ve grown older?  The answer is simple: because I know I need it.  When I was younger, I didn’t see my need for it.  I was “good enough”.  I didn’t really do anything that bad.  But now I know.

Now I know I’m lost without the cross. Without the sacrifice.

This morning I read Matthew’s account of the crucifixion.  And cried.  Matthew 27.  Just the thought of Jesus bearing all the sin of the whole world on his shoulders still makes me weep.  I’m not being overly spiritual here.  Think about it.  The weight of everything we’ve ever done or will do weighing on him.  Pulling down on perfection.  White becoming black with no reason, no cause. Just love.

Humbling.

Why do we still slap him in the face and hurl insults at him today?  We do this through our actions and thoughts.  Every moment.  We are non-holy beings.  How could we ever deserve to be called holy?  Righteous?  Loved?

I plead with you my friends, can we strive to seek him?  Serve him?  Turn away from darkness into light?

Through his grace.  Through his grace alone.

Isaiah 53:3-6
(emphasis mine)

 3 He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.

 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
   it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
      the sins of us all.

solitude, silence, and God’s word

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“In solitude, we come to know the Spirit who has already been given to us.  The pains and struggles we encounter in our solitude thus become the way to hope, because our hope is not based on something that will happen after our sufferings are over, but on the real presence of God’s healing Spirit in the midst of these sufferings.”

“The Word of God is not a word to apply in our daily lives at some later date; it is a word to heal us through, and in our listening here and now.”

“The Word of God is always sacramental.  In the book of Genesis we are told that God created the world, but in Hebrew the words for ‘speaking’ and ‘creating’ are the same word.  Literally translated it says, ‘God spoke light and light was’.  For God, speaking is creating.  when we say that God’s word is sacred, we mean that God’s word is full of God’s presence.  On the road to Emmaus, Jesus became present through his word, and it was that presence that transformed sadness to joy and mourning to dancing… The word that is read and spoken wants to lead us into God’s presence and transform our hearts and minds…”

Henri Nouwen, from “With Burning Hearts”, and “Making All Things New”

“Come Sinners to the Gospel Feast”

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Here are the beautiful words to one of Charles Wesley’s hymns, I don’t know the hymn, but the words are touching, and so rich.  I’ve been reading through a book for the past year or so, divided into 52 weeks with different Wesleyan meditations.  Each lesson includes a different hymn by Charles Wesley; this is one I recently read, then discovered again today, and was touched.

This is the book here, if you are interested, “A Life Shaping Prayer”.

Come, sinners, to the gospel feast;
let every soul be Jesu’s guest;
Ye need not one be left behind,
For God hath bid all humankind.

Sent by my Lord, on you I call;
the invitation is to all:
Come, all the world; come, sinner, thou!
All things in Christ are ready now.

Come, all ye souls by sin oppressed,
Ye restless wanderers after rest,
Ye poor, and maimed, and halt, and blind,
In Christ a hearty welcome find.

This is the time: no more delay!
This is the Lord’s accepted day;
Come thou, this moment, at his call,
And live for him who died for all!

prepare the way

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Prepare the way for the LORD.
A voice.  In the wilderness.
Calling.  Shouting.
PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD!

 

I was reading in Isaiah 40 this morning, actually, I was reading at first in Luke 3, then refrenced back to Isaiah 40… the prophecy of John preaching in the wilderness.

John’s central message was preparation, but part of that preparation was “proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”.

The Season of Advent has finished, and we are now in the Season of Christmas.  The central theme of Advent is looking at Christ’s first coming, but looking forward to his second coming is also another theme that is often overlooked or missed.  This morning, I was struck with a question I hadn’t really thought about before…. what does it mean for US to prepare the way of the LORD?  For his second-coming?

Verse 5 in Isaiah 40 talks about the Glory of the LORD being revealed and says, “all people will see it together” in NIV, in another translation it says “and all flesh shall see the salvation of God”.  I still can’t help but think of the second-coming of Christ in this statement.  All people saw the salvation of God in the face of Jesus Christ, but when he comes again, we will ALL see with our own eyes what we’ve lived out in faith.  It also made me think of 1 Corinthians 13, the latter part of the chapter, verse 12,it says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known…”.

Soon we will see it all together.  The Glory of God.  Revealed.  The fulfillment of our faith and salvation in the face, body, and death of Jesus Christ, and in his return for us.  What do you think, what does it look like for us to help prepare the way for the LORD today?

I think Matthew 28:18-20 gives us just a small glimpse of our duty and role

Repentance, Forgiveness, Baptism… same message still today!

memories

MeridithLeave a comment

Summer.  2006.  Four years ago.

I am automatically transported there when I listen to Hillsong United’s “United We Stand” album.

Came to My Rescue.  Currently has 73, no wait, now 74 plays on my itunes.  I love that song.  That’s my song, then, and now.  “In my life be lifted high, in our world be lifted high, in my love, be lifted high”.  I’m drawn into God’s presence through these words.  “Falling on my knees in worship, giving all I am to seek your face, Lord all I am is yours.  My whole life I place in your hands, God of mercy, humbled I bow down, in your presence at your throne”.

So, Summer 2006.  I was an intern at FBC, doing worship, youth, and anything else anyone told me to do.  Now, this is my place of employment, and also is the church I grew up in.  It was a hard summer.  But good.  A summer of letting go, and a time of embracing new things.  Many of the high schoolers at the time (I kind of became the youth pastor that summer), are now in college, and are some of my good friends today.  I love you guys, you all know who you are.

I could take you through that album, and tell you many specific memories I have of listening to it while at work, running, or playing soccer with my High Schoolers.  Worshipping.

I’m not sure what the point of this blog is, but I needed to write it, especially as I was listening to it just now.

Funny how time changes, seems slowly at the time, but it’s fast.  Then, I was 21, now, I’m 25.  Been to many places, seen many things, when I hear the songs now, the meaning remains the same, even though the scenery has changed: God is constant, and I must surrender to him.  I’m pointed to worship the Lord in an indescribable way when I hear many of these songs, even still.  I’m pulled to my knees, again and again.  What else can I do but worship?

“There is no one else for me, none but Jesus”.  Wow, that song could be another blog of memories.

For now, good night.

wow.

MeridithLeave a comment

I know, I know.  I haven’t really posted anything lately, but it’s not because there isn’t anything going on…. far from that!!  Life is busy, life is confusing, life is… life.  Some days I feel like I’m just trying to survive and come up for a breath, then other days I’m just drinking in the air by bucketfuls.

I’ve been bit by the travel bug again.  I’ve been back for over a year from Thailand, and since then I haven’t done much traveling, but thankfully I was able to get away for a vacation to visit my dear friend Tiffany in Maui, and have a reunion of the groupies with Bridget too!!  It was good to get away, but now I just want to travel MORE!

Life is weird.  I don’t have a plan.  I’m here, and I’ll stay here until God tells me to move.  It’s weird because I feel like people are waiting to see what I do next, and I always think to myself, “dude, I don’t have a plan, I’ll do the work God gives me now, then when He wants me somewhere else, I’ll move on”.  I’ve been asked that a lot lately, just people wondering what my future plans are, and how long I plan to stay in Medford.  So yeah, if you were wondering that, I have no idea.  Life here is fine, but at times I feel myself falling into complacency, even apathy at times.  God has meant our lives to be an adventure of serving and knowing Him, how could that be mediocre?  I’m trying not to be there.  Just so you know.

This summer hopefully holds lake days, sun, lots of running, and who knows.  I love summer.  Can it be summer now?

I have no idea where this blog is going.

Thank you faithful readers, if there are any of you who’ve even made it to this point in the blog.

So, I’m reading The Forgotten God by Francis Chan (author of Crazy Love), and really enjoying it.  It’s nothing I didn’t already know, but it’s been really interesting to explore scripture with an emphasis on the Holy Spirit.  It’s an easy read too- I started the book on the flight back to Portland and read about half of it.  I’m trying to be better about finishing books.  I literally have about 20 books I’ve started, but just haven’t finished.  Sometimes some books need to be read slowly, to soak in all the information, that’s my philosophy.  But it’s not really helping me to move on to other books, I just start new books without finishing the others.  Weird.

I really don’t have anything else notable to report.  I am not taking classes at this time for my Master’s, things have just been too busy, so I figure I’d rather take classes when I actually have the time to do the work, instead of just doing the work to do the work.

Okay.  That’s all for now.  Maybe more later… more blogs than just once every two months.  I promise.

Blessings.

Lenten Reflections so far..

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Disclaimer: I am in no way claiming to know everything about everything with Lent, the church year, or any other fasts, I’m just reflecting on some thoughts I’ve had during lent this year.  Enjoy.

Lent is a really beautiful time, full of uniqueness of any other time during the year that I experience.  Growing up I never had any understanding of the traditional Church calendar, only Christmas and Easter being the most significant moments of celebration within the church.  Yet as I’ve grown older, I see that part of the rhythm of life walking with Jesus in my own spiritual journey has let me to see the great significance of the Church calendar, and how it can foster a new understanding of who God is through it.

Some things I’ve read recently through Upper Room, have described Lent as the “awkward” season, which I guess in many ways is true.  Lent is one of the longest fasts during the Church year, which can have many challenges, depending on what type of fast you are doing.  Lent leads us to the cross.  Yet again.  Separate from each Sunday being a celebration of Christ’s resurrection.  We are lead on a journey of sometimes barrenness, cleaning, reflection, prayer, and sometimes great trial.  Saying “no” to the “old man” of sinful nature is never easy.  Fasting from things we enjoy gives us just a taste of the pain Christ endured, but really, can we compare not having meat and diary for 40 days to the suffering and death of Jesus Christ?  Or the sacrifice of video games/sweets/facebook/television.  Seems insignificant to me.  Compared to the cost, yet shows us that at the same time.

This time, I’ve approached Lent differently than other times.  Prior to Lent this year, I realized the depth of my need for being filled by God’s presence and His Holy Spirit, so there have been many things I “cut out” or limited prior to the beginning of Lent this year, which was needed because of the kind of work I do for the Kingdom.  New habits during the day.  New times of worship, praise, refreshment.  I gave up something that actually seemed like it would be “easy”, but has turned out to be really hard… meat.  Who would have thought?  Anyway, instead of focusing on what I would give up, I added in a practice that has really opened my eyes.  I’ve studied the Old Testament a little more deeply, and I’m still stuck in Genesis, but have a much greater understanding than I had before.  All creation and history points us to the cross.

“All God’s plans have the mark of the cross on them, and all His plans have death to self in them”.

This blog isn’t meant to stir a theological discussion, so please don’t take it as that.  God is speaking into our lives each moment, I believe, and drawing us to himself through many of the mundane, typical, every day things that we do.  If I had not been more intentional about knowing him, I can tell you for certain that the difficult things I’ve encountered over the past few weeks would have been handled quite differently if I had not been in the place I’m in today.

Easter is near.  I can’t wait.  Honestly, it is a day I always have looked forward to.  Spring, and new life are all around us, but also the celebration of victory over death, and the new life we have in Jesus Christ.

Well, that’s it for now.  I’m looking forward to the tofu I will be having on my salad for lunch today.  Should be delicious.  I’m actually thinking I may order a steak on Easter, which I don’t think I’ve ordered a steak at a restaurant in years… hummm….

Blessings.

great read on Lent

Meridith1 Comment

Well, back to things that are more important, yet just as exciting, if not more so than The Bachelor…

Glenn Packiam is great.  He was the key-note speaker at a Worship Conference I attended a few weeks ago, and one of the Worship Pastors at New Life Church in Colorado Springs.  Check out his latest blog, on Lent…I wish I could have written it myself!  It was a great read, enjoy!

http://glennpackiam.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/why-im-observing-lent-this-year.html

Completely unrelated, check out David Crowder Band’s album “Church Music”… it’s inspiring!  I will admit, it has been a long time since I went to the store and purchased an entire album that had a physical CD with it, but I’m enjoying the tunes FULLY.  It’s very unique for them, but I’m loving every track!

Blessings to you all… all who are thirsty.  I’ll leave you with a great quote from Tozer… “Thirsty hearts are those whose longings have been wakened by the touch of God within them”…may you worship today and be touched by Him.

worship

Meridith1 Comment

I tend to forget how “new” the concept of congregational singing in worship really is.  There’s lots to be said about the history, but part of Martin Luther’s stand against the Catholic church was the initiation of singing in a language that the people understood (the Mass is in Latin, and at that time, most people didn’t speak or understand Latin), but also to include the singing of the people in worship services.  Then again, Martin Luther at the time also thought that organs were basically an instrument of the devil (some would probably still say this is true today!).  🙂

Anyway, John Wesley was actually an important person with the protestant development of congregational singing, and he urged worshipers to stand while they sang hymns.  This was in the 18th century, not really that long ago, in the scope of time.

John Wesley also gave some pointers and guidelines for singing, “Sing lustily and with good courage.  Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength.  Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan” -1761.

I’m not sure what he means by the songs of Satan, but maybe we could apply that to secular music today?  Gosh there are LOTS of great songs on the radio that are songs you just sing out without any fear (unless the window in your car is down)… so why should our worship be quiet on Sunday mornings?  And why are we always “half dead or half asleep”?  This is a call to let our praise be loud, exciting, and full of DRUMS I say!  (Interesting but here’s a fact about faster music, “Some churches use drums in worship; a beat slightly faster than of the human heart enlivens a group of people, gets them on their feet, and unites them into one vibrant body” -Gail Ramshaw).

Anyway, just a few thoughts to share with you all.

Hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving!