Let's Be with That A Minute

     My sweet friend, Rhonda, and I once attended a community seminar on healthy eating for the digestive system.  The zealous woman in charge (bless her heart) was passionate about her subject.  Anytime she made a statement she wanted us to absorb, she would suddenly stop, gaze above our heads and say with a tinge of awe at her own sagacity, "Let's be with that a minute."  Silence. Crickets chirp. Just as suddenly, she resumed her animated speech on fiber and regularity.  
     We still say "Let's be with that a minute," when topics become awkward or uncomfortable, or when we're not sure how to respond to what other people (bless their hearts) say that makes no sense to us.  
     God, passionate about His Son, basically said, "Let's be with that a minute" to Peter, James and John after they witnessed Jesus' transfiguration on top of a mountain.  Peter, stunned by seeing Jesus in His glory and talking with Elijah and Moses (didn't they die?) began babbling about building three tabernacles.  God stilled Peter's mouth and hands by enveloping the group in a bright cloud: "This is my Son, Whom I have chosen; listen to Him." (Luke 9:35)  Then, according to Luke, they took more than a minute to process this revelation: "The next day, when they came down from the mountain, . . ." (Luke 9:37).
     Reading the print on Bible page doesn't let the Word sink in deep where we need it.  Repeating prayers doesn't do it either.  However, God's Word transforms our hearts and transfigures our lives when we take time to open ourselves and fully absorb His revelation and His voice.  Jesus and the three disciples were praying when heaven opened; they were prepared and in the right posture.  They stayed put to process God's Words and the hope of resurrection they saw in Elijah and Moses briefly appearing on earth.  Peter later wrote:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven for you."  1 Peter 1:3-4

Ah, Peter, you got it! Let's be with that a minute.

"Father, our culture teaches us to rush and do and we burn out quickly.  Guide our prayers to prepare our hearts and minds for  Your revelations.  Still and shush us to listen to Your Voice and to process what You're teaching us.Sometimes, we run down the mountain with a little knowledge and do more harm than good.  Transform and renew our minds, hearts and mouths.  May we swim upstream and refuse to be swept away by the rush of bits and pieces of Truth. 
In the Name of Jesus, Who prayed and Who fully pleases His Father. 

Let The Drain Begin!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." 
Matthew 11:28-29

Heavy hands, hearts and shoulders weary the soul - even when the weights we carry seem appropriate, good or inevitable. Jesus calls us to lay the burdens down and lift our empty selves for His blessing of rest.

  
Abraham emptied himself of his heritage and left the land of his fathers and their gods to be directed and filled as the father of a new nation who worshiped the one true God.

Ruth released her identity, leaving her family to stay with her mother-in-law to worship the God she came to know as faithful. She became the grandmother of David and part of Jesus' lineage.

Hannah poured out her grief about not having children at the altar and God filled her with a child, a spiritual leader for God's people in dark, uncertain times.

Moses gave up his excuses and self-conscious lack of gifts  for God to fill him with wisdom and power. This shy guy led the Israelites to witness miracle after miracle.

A sinful, repentant woman emptied an alabaster jar of extravagant perfume on the feet of Jesus.  In return, people criticized her harshly, but Jesus fulfilled her need.  She left the house with a drained jar and a new heart - forgiven, free, and at peace.  She's now part of our story of grace. (Luke 7:36-50)

Jesus Himself is the greatest example of the self-emptying we're to practice: 

 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,

 who, existing in the form of God,
did not consider equality with God
as something to be used for His own advantage.
 Instead He emptied Himself
by assuming the form of a slave,
taking on the likeness of men.
And when He had come as a man
in His external form,
 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death—
even to death on a cross.
 For this reason God highly exalted Him
and gave Him the name
that is above every name,
 so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow—
of those who are in heaven and on earth
and under the earth—
 and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

Then there are the others: 
Martha held on to her kitchen gadgets. As her hands busied themselves, her heart became resentful and accusing - critical of a sister who fed on Jesus' teaching. Martha traded knowing Jesus in that moment for maintaining her reputation as a superb hostess.  We've named a syndrome for her. 

The rich young ruler held on to his money and his self-righteousness instead of grasping eternity. Now he's known as someone who walked away from Jesus and nobody knows his name.

Judas grasped his own plans above God's plan for Christ. Filled with sin and remorse, he hung himself and I don't know anyone named Judas, do you?  

You, me - we tightly grasp our:
    regret, worry, control, 
    identity, work, excuses, 
    grudges, habits, attitudes, 
    relationships, locations, stuff . . . 
when He asks us to pour it out at the altar of His feet.


"Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing."  
1 Timothy 2:8



Lord, God, let the drain begin. Pry open our clenched fists.  Help us give every drop of what we value to You. May we lift empty, holy hands as clean, roomy vessels for You to fill with Your best - for always.
In the Name of Jesus Who emptied Himself for our sake and for God's glory!