spiritual lessons – Page 182

What is Your Shelf Life?

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot…

Eccl. chapter 3

They also serve who only stand and wait.– John Milton

Our spiritual lives are cyclical, or seasonal. We move in and out of seasons that take us through various experiences and different theologies and thinking. There have been times when all I could think was about ‘evangelism’. Than I went through a period when ‘teaching’ was everything. Morning, noon and night. Teach, teach, teach. I have walked through seasons of prayer; and parenthood or work issues.

There are many dozens of these spiritual excursions. Each season brings us something neat. And demanding. There will be unique concerns around each place you visit. Jesus, who is in charge of turning us into disciples, has itineraries and dossiers on each one of us. He knows the lessons we have already undertaken. He is going to teach us our next unit.

Sometimes what it is, is a lot of scariness, anxiety and work. I’ve heard it said, more then once that Jesus is more concerned with our character than our comfort. His followers have had to traverse some nasty terrain. They’ve had some ugly falls, and blisters and ‘charley horses’. He did not ‘issue’ them shoes with wings.

Let’s be honest–I am currently in a season of illness and pain. It’s funny, I have been in ministry over 20 years. I sit in this classroom and it is the hardest thing I have ever done. Remember, staring at the clock, using your secret powers in order to make the bell to ring sooner? That’s me, right now.

When we live in spiritual seasons, we are amazed how quickly they change from one to another. Very little remains the same. And, if you’re dealing with mental illness things are usually more fragmented. My Bipolar turns me into a liquid. I float over there and then over here. From moment-to-moment I can be anywhere. I am unstable. This makes things problematic, but not impossible.

This particular season I have been put on the shelf. For the most part, I’m in the dark, I’m on the bottom, pushed to the back and I wait. I know He hasn’t forgotten me. Over the years, I have observed this and I do have a general idea of ‘how it works’. But God is faithful, if not patient. That blesses me, and infuriates me, at the same time.

I came across a quote by John Milton, and it has been solace for me for months. “They also serve who only stand and wait.” I am assured that I have not escaped my Master’s heart.

Below are the lyrics from Larry Norman (and an CCM artist by the name of Honeytree). Look for them, or this song on YouTube.

I Am a Servant

I am a servant, I am listening for my name,
I sit here waiting, I’ve been looking at the game
That I’ve been playing, and I’ve been staying much the same
When you are lonely, you’re the only one to blame.

I am a servant, I am waiting for the call,
I’ve been unfaithful, so I sit here in the hall.
How can you use me when I’ve never given all,
How can you choose me when you know I’d quickly fall.

So you feed my soul and you make me grow,
And you let me know you love me.
And I’m worthless now, but I’ve made a vow,
I will humbly bow before thee.
O please use me, I am lonely.

I am a servant getting ready for my part,
There’s been a change, a rearrangement in my heart.
At last I’m learning, there’s no returning once I start.
To live’s a privilege, to love is such an art
But I need your help to start,
O please purify my heart, I am your servant.

And I can’t say anything else. B

We Have No Control

Lord, I know that a man doesn’t control his own life.
He doesn’t direct his own steps.

Jeremiah 10:23

As we step into what matters, we find this simple verse. Simply put, we have no idea about control. We step out in ignorance, we don’t understand this concept of turning one’s life over to someone else. This grates against everything we profess to understand.

There is no control. He declares Himself to be completely and utterly in charge. At this point, we must back-off and just assume that He is in charge. There has been a determination at the highest of points. We always are available to connect with Him at these levels. We simply come and ask for all mercy that has been stated.

I don’t turn anything off. I most certainly open my heart to all that is available and retrievable. I can’t dwell on anything above and beyond this. When He comes, He generates a dynamic that works its way into our hearts.

The simple fact is that we have been brought to a definite assurance of a divine life. It is freely given. We do nothing to deserve it. We advance with this concept and idea cemented into our hearts. Nothing can be offered, it has already been done so. All we can do is to absorb the kindness that has been offered and then step tentatively forward.

My trust is in His character. He comes to me and it makes perfect sense. I start connecting the dots. And it makes me understand His goodness. His love has been extended to me, and all I can do is turn to Him, and let Him in. There is nothing but His love for me that can affect me in this way.

Spirit Technology

We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit.

Gal. 5:25

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.

Gal. 5:25, The Message

I have heard it said, ‘If you want drive out evil, you must let good come in.’ This recognizes a spiritual displacement. In fluid technology, or even hydraulics we first find out that a vacuum is a very rare condition. And we see that different liquids separate naturally. The lighter density will always go to the top. My dear wife loves her oil and vinegar dressing on her salad, but she has to shake it before she pours.

We have it in Paul’s counsel: “Walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” If allow the Spirit leads us, we will be moved toward more and more of Christ; for He will kindle in our hearts more love for the Saviour, and we shall become more and more deeply interested in the things Jesus is doing. The Spirit is not only the source of Christian life but also the only power to sustain Christian life.

The result will be that we shall care less and less for the world. But we should say what the Bible says, ‘It’s all about Jesus, who is a Lord and King over all.’ Light will always drive out darkness. And love pushes hate away. And goodness will always sends hate packing.

Photos: Rag Picking the Net

This is admittably an eclectic and eccentric collection. I feel like a ‘rag-picker’, scrounging around to find things that are shiny, and pretty. Maybe more like a big black crow, hauling junk away to store on my hard drive. Baubles and buttons. Shiny things. A marble.

Here’s this Sunday’s collection. There is a sort of a common denominator, I started by posting sayings and quotes, but ended up with everything.