Proverbs 4:20-24-My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
"Whenever you talk about a dream, you used a little bit of energy from that dream in order to do so. And by talking, you run the risk of spending all of the energy you need to put that dream into action. know the power of words." Paulo Coelho
Words carry with them energy and life. What words or Word you give ear to, as well as the words you speak and center your conversations upon, determine many things. Words are like currency, each one either banking or spending, many times making deposits and withdraws of proportions only identifiable in hindsight. Many times either showing the interest of a wise investment or the overdraft of careless shortsighted living. Each sentence either adding or detracting value from the currency itself. Printing more money doesn't make you rich.
Ecclesiastes 12:11-12 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.
Words have power. Study your words, they're origins, they're natures, they're frequencies. They will lead you to a deeper understanding if they are the currency of the shepherd, giving life and health, or a foreign currency, valueless to actually purchase what you ultimately desire.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
"they hated me first" aka "don't take it personal"
John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
To bring truth into darkness either produces one of two things. Either humility, repentance, and faith, or hatred, attack, and destruction. Jesus reminds, "If the world hates you" begins with an "if" to remind us that it is possible that as those that carry light into darkness, there are times that the light will be received, welcomed, embraced. Yet it hangs at times as a big "if"
The opposite is also possible. The light, shining acutely on the darkness, often exposing what is being purposefully hidden (either because of it's grotesque nature or it's clear idolatrous reality), causes such a deep resistance and attack from an individual, that the only clear explanation is that, in brining light into that darkness, just the presence of the light itself, is exposing and threatening the very core of that persons existence and identity.
Challenging someones perception of themselves ( their functional identity) is dangerous business, but it is exactly the nature of the light (truth) to do so. That is why even questioning someone is taken as an accusation. When this happens, most certainly the light has exposed a nerve ending, and some form of response will ensue, usually combative, always painful.
The difficult thing about such interactions is to remember that the light (truth) is the source of conviction and exposure, not you the carrier of the light. That is why Jesus comforts his disciples reminding them that they hated him first. What makes this so difficult to remember in real time is that the person on which the light is falling, rarely sees beyond the agent of delivery, simplifying the situation to a "me vs. you", and unable to perceive the gift of the light for what it is. It is only seen as attack, personal vendetta, who wins (?).
This passage is clear. If you carry the light into darkness, you will be received or hated. Both are to be expected as possible. And the real tension for the agent of light? Will the potential response dictate the willingness to bring the light. Fear of possibilities, though real, can and should never have the final say.
Hard huh. But it's not personal. It's only personal, if you cease to look to the light you bear.
To bring truth into darkness either produces one of two things. Either humility, repentance, and faith, or hatred, attack, and destruction. Jesus reminds, "If the world hates you" begins with an "if" to remind us that it is possible that as those that carry light into darkness, there are times that the light will be received, welcomed, embraced. Yet it hangs at times as a big "if"
The opposite is also possible. The light, shining acutely on the darkness, often exposing what is being purposefully hidden (either because of it's grotesque nature or it's clear idolatrous reality), causes such a deep resistance and attack from an individual, that the only clear explanation is that, in brining light into that darkness, just the presence of the light itself, is exposing and threatening the very core of that persons existence and identity.
Challenging someones perception of themselves ( their functional identity) is dangerous business, but it is exactly the nature of the light (truth) to do so. That is why even questioning someone is taken as an accusation. When this happens, most certainly the light has exposed a nerve ending, and some form of response will ensue, usually combative, always painful.
The difficult thing about such interactions is to remember that the light (truth) is the source of conviction and exposure, not you the carrier of the light. That is why Jesus comforts his disciples reminding them that they hated him first. What makes this so difficult to remember in real time is that the person on which the light is falling, rarely sees beyond the agent of delivery, simplifying the situation to a "me vs. you", and unable to perceive the gift of the light for what it is. It is only seen as attack, personal vendetta, who wins (?).
This passage is clear. If you carry the light into darkness, you will be received or hated. Both are to be expected as possible. And the real tension for the agent of light? Will the potential response dictate the willingness to bring the light. Fear of possibilities, though real, can and should never have the final say.
Hard huh. But it's not personal. It's only personal, if you cease to look to the light you bear.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
response to rebuke displays ones true wisdom or folly, humility or self protective pride
Proverbs 9:8-rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
To love those who rebuke you, regardless of how they do it, or even if they are right, means you live with the presupposition that cultivation of humility is a great gift from the lord, and a large part of him making us into his likeness.
When we get hung up on which parts of the rebuke were "right" or "wrong", or lost in analysis of exactly how they did it and why (assigning motive is dangerous and ultimately unknowable to man- 1 Kings 8:39) we miss the simple gift that a rebuke is able to be received as a gift in any form, depending on ones perspective of oneself.
Pride is what makes a rebuke un- receivable. Growing humility and gospel stability give grounds for reception without the need for self protection and absolutism (it's either entirely right or wrong, and I can only accept any or all if it, if it's entirely right)
When self defense is our mode of operation, pride is alive an well, because we only defend what we love most. But with the gospel, which scripture calls our only true defense and hope, we are set free to receive and respond in love, with Christ in his rightful place in our hearts, our justifier, defender, and fulfiller of our deepest longings. We can be thankful, because a rebuke reminds us of our utter dependence on God for all things, and serves as a check for our ever resilient pride that lives to fight another day.
I struggle profoundly to live in what I just wrote. Regardless, I believe it is true. Lord have mercy on me, that I receive all rebuke as an invitation to examine my own heart and allow the gospel to cultivate new humility in me, and have grace for myself and others, as we give the gift of rebuke.
Proverbs 27:5 Better is open rebuke, than hidden love.
To love those who rebuke you, regardless of how they do it, or even if they are right, means you live with the presupposition that cultivation of humility is a great gift from the lord, and a large part of him making us into his likeness.
When we get hung up on which parts of the rebuke were "right" or "wrong", or lost in analysis of exactly how they did it and why (assigning motive is dangerous and ultimately unknowable to man- 1 Kings 8:39) we miss the simple gift that a rebuke is able to be received as a gift in any form, depending on ones perspective of oneself.
Pride is what makes a rebuke un- receivable. Growing humility and gospel stability give grounds for reception without the need for self protection and absolutism (it's either entirely right or wrong, and I can only accept any or all if it, if it's entirely right)
When self defense is our mode of operation, pride is alive an well, because we only defend what we love most. But with the gospel, which scripture calls our only true defense and hope, we are set free to receive and respond in love, with Christ in his rightful place in our hearts, our justifier, defender, and fulfiller of our deepest longings. We can be thankful, because a rebuke reminds us of our utter dependence on God for all things, and serves as a check for our ever resilient pride that lives to fight another day.
I struggle profoundly to live in what I just wrote. Regardless, I believe it is true. Lord have mercy on me, that I receive all rebuke as an invitation to examine my own heart and allow the gospel to cultivate new humility in me, and have grace for myself and others, as we give the gift of rebuke.
Proverbs 27:5 Better is open rebuke, than hidden love.
Friday, June 10, 2011
When keeping your youth, stunts your growth.
Wisdom increases with mortalities embrace.
This is why modern mans infatuation with prolonging our adolescence, has created a society of well funded adult teens, lives lacking true wisdom, only seeking gains that sustain the illusion and keep them from the reality-"you days are numbered."
Proverbs 1:7,29 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. [29] Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord,
This is why modern mans infatuation with prolonging our adolescence, has created a society of well funded adult teens, lives lacking true wisdom, only seeking gains that sustain the illusion and keep them from the reality-"you days are numbered."
Proverbs 1:7,29 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. [29] Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord,
Thursday, June 9, 2011
the costs of mistaking the groan
Most people mistake they're groaning as justifiable dissatisfaction and therefore live as disgruntled pursuers of fantasy, never understanding the truth of the groan, destroying everything in their lives under the auspices of seeking it's fulfillment.
If complaining is the pornography of groaning, then relentless pursuit and commitment to the "groans" entire satiation, is it's adultery. Either with pornography or restless adultery, you cheapen the groan to an apparent place of "achievable", all the while drinking down lies that lead to your death, and the death of everything you use.
Proverbs 1:19 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; It takes away the lives of those who get it.
If complaining is the pornography of groaning, then relentless pursuit and commitment to the "groans" entire satiation, is it's adultery. Either with pornography or restless adultery, you cheapen the groan to an apparent place of "achievable", all the while drinking down lies that lead to your death, and the death of everything you use.
Proverbs 1:19 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; It takes away the lives of those who get it.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
self hatred is often just masked pride
Proverbs 15:32-He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.
Shame is prides cloak-William Blake
Pride, hiding out as shame, makes differing words and counsel un-receivable. Shame, not identified as the pride it is, makes the giving of counsel, and it's giver, unable to be perceived as anything but an assaulter, which is often not the case. Ones pride masked as shame makes everyone else the problem, which means the real issue is never addressed, and often gets protected from being so, by the false assignment of calling it shame, instead of the pride it is.
As a christian, to despise yourself, often stems from a need and commitment to a higher view of oneself than God holds. This context makes gained understanding not worth having, because receiving it would be an admission to your inherent need, striking at the heart of the pride itself. This is why, in your unidentified pride, someone loving you enough to discipline you with the truth can only be treated as an assault. Self righteousness most always looks like defensiveness, resistance, and passive aggressive attack.
Below are insightful comments on this issue from my friend Evy Brooks-
"but he wears this despise in such a way that he presents himself proud as a peacock because he can't even understand that he despises himself
and in this posture of self-deluded pride, he rejects the Lord but doesn't understand this either because the target of you/your words is close and easy
and so he denies himself of the very thing he proudly believes he is pursuing and defending,
which creates distance, walls, and ultimately he heads home with his greatest fear self-fulfilled: he is alone and ugly.
but you are the one who wears those names in his eyes, and you feel the loss he protects himself from."
Shame is prides cloak-William Blake
Pride, hiding out as shame, makes differing words and counsel un-receivable. Shame, not identified as the pride it is, makes the giving of counsel, and it's giver, unable to be perceived as anything but an assaulter, which is often not the case. Ones pride masked as shame makes everyone else the problem, which means the real issue is never addressed, and often gets protected from being so, by the false assignment of calling it shame, instead of the pride it is.
As a christian, to despise yourself, often stems from a need and commitment to a higher view of oneself than God holds. This context makes gained understanding not worth having, because receiving it would be an admission to your inherent need, striking at the heart of the pride itself. This is why, in your unidentified pride, someone loving you enough to discipline you with the truth can only be treated as an assault. Self righteousness most always looks like defensiveness, resistance, and passive aggressive attack.
Below are insightful comments on this issue from my friend Evy Brooks-
"but he wears this despise in such a way that he presents himself proud as a peacock because he can't even understand that he despises himself
and in this posture of self-deluded pride, he rejects the Lord but doesn't understand this either because the target of you/your words is close and easy
and so he denies himself of the very thing he proudly believes he is pursuing and defending,
which creates distance, walls, and ultimately he heads home with his greatest fear self-fulfilled: he is alone and ugly.
but you are the one who wears those names in his eyes, and you feel the loss he protects himself from."
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart (and ears) be also" Matthew 6:21
Elizabeth Elliot - "The more we pay for advice the more we are likely to listen to it. Advice from a friend which is free we may take or leave. Advice from a consultant we have paid much for personally, we are more likely to accept, but it is still our choice; we can take it or leave it. But the guidance of God is different. First of all, we do not come to God asking for advice, but for God's will and that is not optional. And God's fee is the highest one of all; it costs everything. To ask for the guidance of God requires abandonment. We no longer say, ‘If I trust you, you will give me such and such.' Instead, we must say, ‘I trust you. Give or withhold from me whatever you choose.' As John Newton says, ‘What you will. When you will. How you will.'"
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