The world we live in today is dominated by extroverts. Out front, speaking to large crowds, entertaining important people, being seen... they are flashy, they attract, the create, they motivate, they sometimes forget...
The introvert. In the back, thinking, praying, planning, cleaning. Simple in appearance, humble in words, pushing others forward, yielding, wise... not of this world, but in it. So close to the Fathers heart, but at times forgotten by their own.
Jesus says,
"...Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.” (Luke 13:30)
Could it be that the kingdom of Heaven belongs to the introvert? Could it be that the gifts I have as an extrovert will no longer be as needed in heaven, and what will really matter is what the introvert has valued all along?
I smile to think that those that lift others up, those who yield, the "servants" of this world will have a more prominent place in the kingdom... already have a more prominent place in the kingdom. It forces me to again look at my view of this place, which I believe is in stark contrast with the kingdom of God, and value what my Father sees as beautiful, important, and valued.
The last shall be first, and the first shall be last... a point for the introverts.
Monday 27 June 2016
Monday 13 June 2016
A visit from Jesus
Little feet pitter patter to my office at 6:30 am... from the bedroom to the office. Little feet baring good news.
Face lit on fire with sleep still peeking its way out of the corners of her eyes she says,
"I just had the best dream ever! I was in a hospital bed, there was a big flash of light, and Jesus, the arch angel, and God were there. God touched one of my hands, Jesus touched the other, and I was healed. Then they all flew away and were gone. I woke up because I was crying in my dream, I woke myself up, because I was almost crying for real."
"Why were you crying?"
"because I was overwhelmed."
A beautiful smile crossed her six year old face, as she looked up to remember a moment in time she will never forget.
As I, her mother write this, I know my daughter has had an encounter with Jesus. (who btw has curly medium length hair). When hearing that it is a normal part of middle eastern culture to encounter Jesus in dreams, I prayed for Jesus to come into the girls dreams every night, asking for him to play with them and hang out... why not?
No reason to limit the way Jesus speaks to my children right? All we need to do is look at the word of God to know this is a legit way for God to communicate to his people... vision / dreams. But our intellect cannot handle it... a personal physical / spiritual encounter with the creator of the world... how can that be?
Faith like a child. It doesn't have to be culturally correct... She is a child.
Simple, unhindered free fall, faith. I cant wait for Jesus to visit me in my dreams...
Face lit on fire with sleep still peeking its way out of the corners of her eyes she says,
"I just had the best dream ever! I was in a hospital bed, there was a big flash of light, and Jesus, the arch angel, and God were there. God touched one of my hands, Jesus touched the other, and I was healed. Then they all flew away and were gone. I woke up because I was crying in my dream, I woke myself up, because I was almost crying for real."
"Why were you crying?"
"because I was overwhelmed."
A beautiful smile crossed her six year old face, as she looked up to remember a moment in time she will never forget.
As I, her mother write this, I know my daughter has had an encounter with Jesus. (who btw has curly medium length hair). When hearing that it is a normal part of middle eastern culture to encounter Jesus in dreams, I prayed for Jesus to come into the girls dreams every night, asking for him to play with them and hang out... why not?
No reason to limit the way Jesus speaks to my children right? All we need to do is look at the word of God to know this is a legit way for God to communicate to his people... vision / dreams. But our intellect cannot handle it... a personal physical / spiritual encounter with the creator of the world... how can that be?
Faith like a child. It doesn't have to be culturally correct... She is a child.
Simple, unhindered free fall, faith. I cant wait for Jesus to visit me in my dreams...
Sunday 5 June 2016
The Family Table...
There was a soft setting of gentle anticipation as the children sat and waited. Something they had known of, but never been a part of was about to happen. As the time drew near questions spilled out and gentle anticipation became excited curiosity.
"Do we go up?
and I stay here?
Is that bread?
Do we use wine?
What are they doing?
Why are we praying?
Does everyone eat?
Will everyone drink?
Why don't we use wine?
Can I have the one in the plastic container?
Why do we wait for everyone?
Can I eat it now?
now?
What about now?
Can I have more?
When will we do this again...?..."
And as we ate the bread, and drank from the cup, a deeper sense of community was known in this believers heart. A sense of sharing the load that others carried; children, elderly, pain, joy, hands opened, heart raised... Pondering all this in ones heart... feelings of complete satisfaction, of surrender, of being known and desiring more. A passing of the torch, a telling of the story, a story of a God redeeming all things in His time. Of a God loving all He has made, ALL he has made. Ancient wisdom, eternal wisdom, childlike faith...
A parents heart could not be filled more than in watching her children participate in the body's act of obedience with the Lords Supper. Taking in Christ Jesus; body, mind and spirit. A light switched on this week as this believer sat with family doing just that. A seal from the Father himself. A resting of His Spirit, dwelling in the midst of us... in each of us.
The Family table. Unity in the Body. Seal of the Spirit on whole families. Whole families in the body. The body sealed and anointed in the ability to do all of this. As the Father makes us each whole, boy girl, mom, dad, family, the body, and to the world. Being filled to be spilled out. Such beauty brings this believers Spirit to humble praise.
"Do we go up?
and I stay here?
Is that bread?
Do we use wine?
What are they doing?
Why are we praying?
Does everyone eat?
Will everyone drink?
Why don't we use wine?
Can I have the one in the plastic container?
Why do we wait for everyone?
Can I eat it now?
now?
What about now?
Can I have more?
When will we do this again...?..."
And as we ate the bread, and drank from the cup, a deeper sense of community was known in this believers heart. A sense of sharing the load that others carried; children, elderly, pain, joy, hands opened, heart raised... Pondering all this in ones heart... feelings of complete satisfaction, of surrender, of being known and desiring more. A passing of the torch, a telling of the story, a story of a God redeeming all things in His time. Of a God loving all He has made, ALL he has made. Ancient wisdom, eternal wisdom, childlike faith...
A parents heart could not be filled more than in watching her children participate in the body's act of obedience with the Lords Supper. Taking in Christ Jesus; body, mind and spirit. A light switched on this week as this believer sat with family doing just that. A seal from the Father himself. A resting of His Spirit, dwelling in the midst of us... in each of us.
The Family table. Unity in the Body. Seal of the Spirit on whole families. Whole families in the body. The body sealed and anointed in the ability to do all of this. As the Father makes us each whole, boy girl, mom, dad, family, the body, and to the world. Being filled to be spilled out. Such beauty brings this believers Spirit to humble praise.
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