Working

Some would say that there is a dichotomy between bearing the name of Christian and the work that we do, if our job title has nothing to do with Church or Ministry work.

It's a false dichotomy.

Seriously.

For those who bear the name of Christian, ALL is ministry (With the admission that certain illegal and all immoral careers obviously don't fall into this category.)

Yes, Jesus called the 12 away from their careers to follow Him in His public ministry, but my argument is going back to Genesis in the garden of Eden.  Adam and Eve were created to walk with God but they also had the responsibility to steward the Earth.  The effect of the Fall is that man finds work to be painfully unrewarding, as the intimate communion of the Garden was broken.  His work no longer brings joy as when He worked with God.

God's plan of redemption through out history has been to reconcile man to Himself and restore the relationship on all levels.  This plan of redemption also includes God reestablishing His kingdom and dominion on Earth.

God could easily bring His kingdom about by force or coercion.  But He hasn't.  He's done it by love.  Sending His Son Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sin, revealing the love of the Father that would do anything to win the hearts of His image-bearers back to Him.

Not only did the Fall break the relationship between God and man, it also gave dominion to Satan on Earth.  We've been under him ever since.

When God took on humanity, lived the perfect life, died our death and then conquered death, He broke the hold of Satan on humanity.  Satan's kingdom didn't just disappear but now those who trust in Jesus, they are rescued from the Kingdom of Satan into God's Kingdom of Life.  So the Kingdom of God increases with those who turn to trust His leadership, who follow Him with all of their lives and through the work of Holy Spirit bring Jesus' kingdom and life where ever they go and into whatever they do.

As Jesus taught the disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

Paul also taught the early church to work as though working for the Lord and not for men.  This is what it means to put ourselves under His leadership.  Our intent at work, whatever our job title, is to bring His kingdom and push back the darkness and dominion of Satan.  Love.  Pray.  Work.  Know that you have the opportunity to make His name famous, to influence others to see and meet, and come to to know and trust the King.

We work, in all various fields, giving our best.  We love and care for those we work with and work for.  We strive for excellence and the final approval we look for is God.  We work to catch His attention.  We are faithful in all the little jobs we have to do.  This is the faithfulness and integrity that God looks for.  And we also take part in our call to subdue the Earth, as well as, love our neighbors as ourselves.  These two things done under Jesus' leadership are what push back the kingdom of darkness (For we could do them under our own leadership or the leadership of another and Satan wouldn't budge and inch).

This is the end we work towards because this we're on the way to Eternity.  God will come and finish establishing His kingdom back on Earth, and we want to be found working when He does.

just some sentences

Considering that it doesn't take much to improve on having to wear a uniform that includes a tie and a hairnet, I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to really dress up.  My co-worker and friend's wedding dance was a blast and it was a shock for another co-worker to see me in a dress.

Speaking of shock.  M was more surprised that I walked up with a beer in hand.  Typically, I don't drink alcohol, and I go through seasons where God has asked me to abstain, but I am no teetotaler.  Thing is I used to think not drinking made me better than people, then I turned 21 but I didn't know how to drink with a responsibility that I was comfortable with.  I couldn't hang out with people who I wrongly labeled any number of terms, "bad, wrong, immoral, etc..."

I got super uptight.  Time made me realize...the only person that can make me make bad choices: is me.  No one gets to rub off on me unless I let them.  It actually makes me more free to be their friends.  I'm so sorry  if you were someone I didn't get to know because of my fear and insecurity.  Forgive me.  Yes, I'm still going to tell you about Jesus, because I love Him and I want you to love Him too but I'm not pushing an agenda.  I'm gonna be your friend regardless and get to know, understand and love you.

I love working nights...seriously.  I stayed up until 6am after getting off at 3am to chill with Jesus.  The odd hours also give me the opportunity to meet some pretty awesome people.

The Covenant

Jesus, you are committed to Your Bride, the Church, with undying love and ferocity.  Jesus, your covenant was forged with your broken body and signed with your poured out blood.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. John 6:53-56

May Your Bride be purified and drawn with love and desire to your covenant and heart.  May she be one Bride, united and whole, that you died for.  

Sing

No censoring.  Pages of Divine Inspiration in front of me.  A heart that is aching to cry out.

A new song.  

The words never written down on paper but sung and remembered in the heart of Jesus.

Marked for Battle

In the midst of last week, I didn't see it.  Until this afternoon, it didn't occur to me the pattern that was weaving its way in.

The three days as the one in charge.  Those three days included a student melting down on me.

The last one was the most intense.

Yes, I know the target is on me by the Holy Spirit as I have invited Him to transform me by His Light and refine me by His Fire.  He's certainly doing that.  I'll even go so far to say that He allowed the meltdowns to check my heart and turn the heat up.  

On the flip side I am well aware that the hand of the enemy was also on the encounters I had. I won't minimize or overstate what I witnessed.  I say with conviction that what I saw in those children was nothing short of demonic.

How can I say that?

Anger, fear of abandonment, defiance, a young child convinced they are a bad kid.

On two of the three occasions, I had the time and opportunity to speak love and truth into these children.  Oh, what it takes to bring out what a child is actually thinking and gently correct lies they believe.  Being firm that the behavior was inappropriate while affirming that they have dignity and worth.  If only I could have openly prayed over each one.  If only I could have prayed for each of the single mothers (another pattern) these little ones belonged too.

I have wept over their brokenness.  I'm not a saint or perfect.  I lost my temper with one of these children, not coming from love or humility, but frustration and demanding spirit.  Impatiently, I almost rushed off, when a frustrated mother just needed someone to listen.  I leaned on the Holy Spirit for the direction of questions, for the words of affirmation, for the love that overcame my fleshly desire to run from these problems, from the brokenness.

Lord, prepare me.  Give me eyes to see.  Gird me with Your Armor.  Train me to fight for those who can't fight for themselves.

Freedom Looks A Lot Like Slavery

This could go two ways.  I'll go both for the sake of the way my brain processes things anyway.

Take 1:

Demand your rights.  No one can take anything from you or tell you to do anything you don't want to.  You are the keeper of yourself, your body, your life, your stuff.  But how often do we miss the chains that come with this supposed freedom.  Like increasing isolationism, racism, sexism, and most other isms as we hold so tightly to our own rights that we marginalize everyone who is different from us.

Does this sound like freedom to you?

We put chains on others.  We end up still in chains because when we are our own sole advocate, the weight of our actions still comes down on our own heads and we make a lot of noise when some one oppresses us but all it is is a cycle of oppressed:oppressor:repeat.

Freedom = slavery

Take 2:

Lay down your life.  Willingly.  Lay it down in love.  Love for the One who alone stands as the advocate for not only the sins committed against you, but also for the sins you committed against others.  You surrender your right to accuse others and to live offended.  You find forgiveness and the empowerment to pursue righteousness wholeheartedly.

Does this sound like freedom to you?

We take our new found freedom, the forgiveness of sin that only Jesus can give, because He alone is sinless.  Our chains being taken away, we find more freedom and joy in forgiving others, setting them free as we have been set free.  We become slaves to righteousness, sold to the cause of purity of heart, meekness and holiness; to the cause of the kingdom of God.

Freedom = slavery

Bothered: A Post About Oneword 365

Choosing the word Burn for one of my Onewords (yes, have two this year) has proven to be well, ... bothersome.  In a good way, of course.

Why?

Because, wanting to burn, wanting that fire, means I put myself square in the Holy Spirit's cross-hairs.  It is a hot and refining fire.  I'm seeing all of my small compromises.  Oh...no they aren't a BIG deal.  Except they reveal all the little ways I choose to listen to someone or something other than God.

Remembering Jesus' words recorded in Matthew:  When we are faithful with the little, God will give us more.  If I want more, I have to be faithful in the little.

Add on top of this my pastor provoking the church to pray big and then engage with the world around us.  See, I'm good with praying, but fear most of the time keeps me from being the messenger I am called to be.  In essence I hide in prayer instead of praying for God to work and then joining Jesus in working. 

I am so convicted of my own selfishness and pride.  

I hear Jesus calling me to join in His joy by joining Him in the harvest and I'm waving Him off, "I'm praying for workers, Jesus, don't You see?"

"So come speak, come work with Me."

But I don't want to go because, I can feel the darkness in me.  The laziness, the indifference.  So to burn, to be refined AS I pray and cooperate with Jesus.  In the action, He will break the fear, He will break my willingness to choose compromise instead of obedience.

And I will know Him.  I will burn for Him.