Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thankful for Freedom (different than the cliche...)
It really seems "Thankful Season" more than I've ever noticed... For a while there, I was picking a different letter of the alphabet each day (in chronological order to make it easy)...one day I posted "H words".
"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23
I've really taken a look at each component of this verse over the years, and keep coming back to it.
Sacrifice= Whether in the Hebrew culture of killing the perfect animal and cutting out the fat and kidneys to place and burn just so... Or using the word as we do contemporarily: Sacrificing isn't the easiest thing to do. It takes determination. It honors the Lord and ministers to him. I LOVE this! Ministering to Jesus, loving on him.
It prepares the way for God to show us salvation from HIM!
Salvation. Yes, in Greek, it's /sozo/ which means "saved, healed, delivered", but this is an OT verse, so it's Hebrew. #3468 Yesha from #3467 Yasha (notice any root?...)
Liberty, deliverance, help, salvation, freedom; welfare, prosperity...to be open, wide, free. When one has plenty of room in which to move, feeling safe and secure. To be delivered, saved, to get help/; to deliver, give victory, to help; to take vengeance, to preserve. Rescue, to defend cause. At first, the word pointed to a physical deliverance from very real enemies or catastrophies. Later, "save" developed a theological meaning. God is concerned about our physical well-being, our emotional status, and the salvation of our souls. He has the ability to save us from anything which would harm us.--Zodhiates
This reminds me of Betsie Ten Boom. You probably know the story... When she and her sister Corrie were in a Nazi death camp for housing and protecting Jews, they were in an area of the camp that was infested with fleas. The fleas were multiplying in their hair, on their skin, in their sparse bedding and clothes. They met with a growing group of believers to pray and remind each other of the truth of Scripture and the goodness of God. One day while remembering the verses in Thessalonians: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus...." Betsie began to thank God for the fleas.
Corrie didn't think this right (had a hard time coming into agreement, if you know what I mean).
Yet, later they overheard the guards arguing about who was going to go check on their area. "I'm not going in there! It's flea-infested! You go..." The fleas were actually keeping the guards away so they could freely have Bible Study and pray together.
With this in mind, I'm thinking about being thankful for the not-so-obvious this year. Instead of my usual "favorite things" lists which includes things that are outright delightful to me (Misty Edwards, candles, agave nectar, perennial flowers that come back effortlessly, dreams, sunshine, acrylic painting...), I'm going to thank God for the harder things...a sacrifice.
The dark season in North Idaho, that we're in the midst of currently. (Would the Christmas lights be so special if it stayed light until 8:30 and the sun was shining all day? Would the term "Father of Lights" be so meaningful if there were nothing with which to contrast it?)
The financial shaking... (true priorities, true place to put our trust, freedom to generously give as He directs, freedom from fear...)
The relational shaking... (true, solid friendships, getting free from fear of man, pressing in toward "hearing" and understanding)
The religious shaking... (Getting free from religion and what will inhibit my future even if the circumstances are painful and I never would have chosen them myself; depending on love and getting free from depending on rules or what others say in order to press in to the interactive, accessible(!) voice of God for myself. *)
*No, this doesn't mean I don't want or have people to "speak into my life", I'm just learning to be careful about who I allow to and why.
Awareness of my darkness (so full freedom can be pursued, celebrated and sweetly enjoyed) Not thankful for the darkness, but rather for the awareness. The light shining on it. The Master did say "The truth will set you free." Therefore, the courage to see the truth, rather than "You can't handle the truth!"-- Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men.
Experiential knowing (yada) revelation of the HUGE LOVE of God. Without which, none of the former would be bearable. Yada, Yada, Yada!
In other words, right now, I really am thankful that God is shining His light on areas that are actually dark. Things that he wants me to see because He loves me and wants me free. He's letting me see things that aren't easy to see, because He's giving me the strength to handle it even when it hurts and upsets the apple cart. To be able to say: That system isn't God's system. Two things I've been praying lately: 1) Shine Your light on what You want me to see (not what I want to see or anyone thinks I should see). 2) Change me, transform me, help me cooperate with You on this (renew mind, etc.)
The thing that really struck me about Zodhiates definition of "salvation" is the repetitive idea of FREEDOM.
Disclaimer: I'm not saying to be thankful for the enemy's work in our lives, nor am I a fatalist (Whatever's going to happen is going to happen...) The enemy asked permission to test Job and he DID steal, kill and destroy. Anything that happens is allowed by God, though not necessarily authored by him. BUT! What I'm trying to say is that I'm thankful and trust that he can work ALL (that's what it says) for good. So, through the relational shaking (even if the enemy and our own unhealed natures had the biggest play in the beginning) we learn how beautiful forgiveness is and how to continue in it, be humble in Spirit, and pursue love. "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." -- Joseph to his brothers, Gen 50:20
I keep hearing the declaration of the three men as they were heading into the fiery furnace:
"Oh Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this natter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from you hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." A few verses later, Nebuchadnezzar says: "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
Isaiah 43:2 "When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." (Danny Steyne: You can't set fire on fire!)
Romans 8:18 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."
James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
"Isn't it wonderful that our lives are in the best possible hands and we don't need to worry about a thing?"--Christi Carlson Hrbacek ("In fact, we are commanded not to."--me. Matt 6:25, Phil 4:6)
Shalom and Happy Thanksgiving!
"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23
I've really taken a look at each component of this verse over the years, and keep coming back to it.
Sacrifice= Whether in the Hebrew culture of killing the perfect animal and cutting out the fat and kidneys to place and burn just so... Or using the word as we do contemporarily: Sacrificing isn't the easiest thing to do. It takes determination. It honors the Lord and ministers to him. I LOVE this! Ministering to Jesus, loving on him.
It prepares the way for God to show us salvation from HIM!
Salvation. Yes, in Greek, it's /sozo/ which means "saved, healed, delivered", but this is an OT verse, so it's Hebrew. #3468 Yesha from #3467 Yasha (notice any root?...)
Liberty, deliverance, help, salvation, freedom; welfare, prosperity...to be open, wide, free. When one has plenty of room in which to move, feeling safe and secure. To be delivered, saved, to get help/; to deliver, give victory, to help; to take vengeance, to preserve. Rescue, to defend cause. At first, the word pointed to a physical deliverance from very real enemies or catastrophies. Later, "save" developed a theological meaning. God is concerned about our physical well-being, our emotional status, and the salvation of our souls. He has the ability to save us from anything which would harm us.--Zodhiates
This reminds me of Betsie Ten Boom. You probably know the story... When she and her sister Corrie were in a Nazi death camp for housing and protecting Jews, they were in an area of the camp that was infested with fleas. The fleas were multiplying in their hair, on their skin, in their sparse bedding and clothes. They met with a growing group of believers to pray and remind each other of the truth of Scripture and the goodness of God. One day while remembering the verses in Thessalonians: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus...." Betsie began to thank God for the fleas.
Corrie didn't think this right (had a hard time coming into agreement, if you know what I mean).
Yet, later they overheard the guards arguing about who was going to go check on their area. "I'm not going in there! It's flea-infested! You go..." The fleas were actually keeping the guards away so they could freely have Bible Study and pray together.
With this in mind, I'm thinking about being thankful for the not-so-obvious this year. Instead of my usual "favorite things" lists which includes things that are outright delightful to me (Misty Edwards, candles, agave nectar, perennial flowers that come back effortlessly, dreams, sunshine, acrylic painting...), I'm going to thank God for the harder things...a sacrifice.
The dark season in North Idaho, that we're in the midst of currently. (Would the Christmas lights be so special if it stayed light until 8:30 and the sun was shining all day? Would the term "Father of Lights" be so meaningful if there were nothing with which to contrast it?)
The financial shaking... (true priorities, true place to put our trust, freedom to generously give as He directs, freedom from fear...)
The relational shaking... (true, solid friendships, getting free from fear of man, pressing in toward "hearing" and understanding)
The religious shaking... (Getting free from religion and what will inhibit my future even if the circumstances are painful and I never would have chosen them myself; depending on love and getting free from depending on rules or what others say in order to press in to the interactive, accessible(!) voice of God for myself. *)
*No, this doesn't mean I don't want or have people to "speak into my life", I'm just learning to be careful about who I allow to and why.
Awareness of my darkness (so full freedom can be pursued, celebrated and sweetly enjoyed) Not thankful for the darkness, but rather for the awareness. The light shining on it. The Master did say "The truth will set you free." Therefore, the courage to see the truth, rather than "You can't handle the truth!"-- Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men.
Experiential knowing (yada) revelation of the HUGE LOVE of God. Without which, none of the former would be bearable. Yada, Yada, Yada!
In other words, right now, I really am thankful that God is shining His light on areas that are actually dark. Things that he wants me to see because He loves me and wants me free. He's letting me see things that aren't easy to see, because He's giving me the strength to handle it even when it hurts and upsets the apple cart. To be able to say: That system isn't God's system. Two things I've been praying lately: 1) Shine Your light on what You want me to see (not what I want to see or anyone thinks I should see). 2) Change me, transform me, help me cooperate with You on this (renew mind, etc.)
The thing that really struck me about Zodhiates definition of "salvation" is the repetitive idea of FREEDOM.
Disclaimer: I'm not saying to be thankful for the enemy's work in our lives, nor am I a fatalist (Whatever's going to happen is going to happen...) The enemy asked permission to test Job and he DID steal, kill and destroy. Anything that happens is allowed by God, though not necessarily authored by him. BUT! What I'm trying to say is that I'm thankful and trust that he can work ALL (that's what it says) for good. So, through the relational shaking (even if the enemy and our own unhealed natures had the biggest play in the beginning) we learn how beautiful forgiveness is and how to continue in it, be humble in Spirit, and pursue love. "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." -- Joseph to his brothers, Gen 50:20
I keep hearing the declaration of the three men as they were heading into the fiery furnace:
"Oh Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this natter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from you hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." A few verses later, Nebuchadnezzar says: "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
Isaiah 43:2 "When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." (Danny Steyne: You can't set fire on fire!)
Romans 8:18 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed."
James 1:2-3 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
"Isn't it wonderful that our lives are in the best possible hands and we don't need to worry about a thing?"--Christi Carlson Hrbacek ("In fact, we are commanded not to."--me. Matt 6:25, Phil 4:6)
Shalom and Happy Thanksgiving!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
This one time at Burning Man....
Hmmmmm. Thank You Father! Where to begin?
Alright, I'm going to free-flow it: The first thing that occurs to me is that "write-ups" are written in first person, from the point of view of, in this case, me. So, I want to make it clear that anything good and perfect was the result of Holy Spirit, and that we were a team. I'll give first person perspective, but it is not to call any attention to myself. Luke did it, I'll try.
There was a marked difference this year in grace on the camp. The white dome tent went up quickly and (fairly) easily. At first it was a group of us girls and I was astounded. Then Shane came to help and it went even more smoothly. I just kept repeating, "There's such a grace this year!"
It seemed that there was a different flavor of ministry each day: The first day we started out with "Spirit Surge"--a drum circle and intercession. It was so powerful. People were drawn in, and shock waves went out. From processing each night in the RV with my new friend Amy, I learned that much of what we were experiencing was a fulfillment of understanding and proclamation by her intercessors in Minnesota. She kept repeating how powerful the Spirit and intercession was and that it was said in advance that we wouldn't see what a difference our presence made in the area as the sound and prayer and praise and dance was released.
As people would come and go, our team would connect with them and give them a picture, insight, blessing, prayer, etc.
That first morning a guy with a sheik headdress came and started drumming next to me. I asked Holy Spirit, "What is the treasure in this one?" and heard: "righteousness". How to deliver that word in non-christianese...? I grabbed Jesse (team member, father figure, make-and-fix-anything-guy) and asked this man what his name was. Justin. Confirmation.
He left with Father's blessing, an affirmation that he was created to recognize truth and live accordingly, and tears in his eyes.
Then Lita came in. Topless with a cool, hand-created utility skirt. Again tears mixed with beauty. The Spirit of Truth, and the Awesomeness of Creator coming and loving. The next time she stopped by, she was covered, and said that we were the most meaningful encounter she'd ever had at Burning Man. "The love, the depth of love...."
Time out here to expand on that. Both years, I've hungered for and prayed for crystal clear words of knowledge that will convince people that God sees, knows.... And yet, it always comes down to love. A little GB* who says it best:
"There are some very impressive religious activities: speaking in tongues, prophetic powers, understanding all mysteries, having all knowledged, mountain-moving faith....Yet they are all devoid of any value if they are not done in love. They are nothing more than religious noise--a noisy gong or clanging cymbal.
"We have perhaps heard this passage too many times to readily appreciate how utterly radical it is. Paul was saying the the only criteria that matters when assessing the value of any activity is this: Is it done in love? Does it ascribe unsurpassable worth to others, and does it increase people's capacity to ascribe unsurpassable worth to others?
"Christians are often impressed by miraculous powers, supernatural gifts and altruism. And there's certainly nothing wrong with these acts. But if they aren't motivated by love and don't promote love, we are to consider them altogether worthless."
This is what I felt the grace on: love. Throughout the week, and amongst our team, one for another. Because, you know, sometimes it's easier to have love for someone you don't know, but it was alive in our camp first. Thank You, Love, for dwelling with us.
Bethany, a gorgeous black woman from Australia, came in that first day too. I don't remember what it was I said to her, but she replied back to me: "Oh yes! I received my Nigerian name when I was 25. It means "God has done something good!" I blessed that all over, up and down, that her eyes would see and her spirit would recognize every time God was up to something good. Then she smiled and said, "And my real name is Bethany! You know, like....Bethlehem!"
(Funny on so many levels, but I found out later that she had told someone she was agnostic. She came back two days later and received much more).
Tamara came in, wearing very little and dancing very seductively. I saw a crown of light and truth for her. I approached, asked if I could speak to her spirit, and told her she was loved. Tears. Then I told her I sensed that Creator wanted to give her a gift. A crown of truth and light. And that if she would receive it, I would place it on her head and she could ask for the Spirit of Truth and Light to come and show her what He wanted her to see. She received it, and I believe she saw herself being held. I told her it was something she now had. That she could ask any time for Truth to shine on something. Later, Melissa introduced her to Creator, and she received the baptism of Holy Spirit.
A little aside here: The theme of Burning Man this year was "Evolution". And yet, to my knowledge, we never received any resistance when we spoke about Creator and what He had placed into these precious ones as treasures and gifts to be recognized, celebrated and released. Light in the darkness. That's where it's most notable, attention-getting, beautiful. I mean, c'mon, fireworks in the daytime? Creator shines at Burning Man.
And there was Mary: "She loves words" tatooed on her shoulder. We gave her some words. And hugs, blessings, hope and healing.
And India: from Athens, GA, but part Creek Indian. Hmmm, Creek. "That's where I'm from! Montana!" She smiled and said yes. At the end of this encounter, speaking destiny words of inventions and problem-solving, I gave her a pendant I'd made with a picture of Amelia Earheart and the word "STRETCH". Then I asked her for a blessing, her being Creek, and me being from Montana. She said she would like to, but didn't know how. I told her it was a chance to stretch and she'd do well. She took my hands and said, "I bless you and your people with peace and with wisdom. And I bless your land with peace." I felt so honored, and pleased that she'd learned and been able to release what we'd modeled. I received peace. At the end of the trip, Marilyn gave me a hug and said, "Sonja, you're so serene." I laughed and said, "I like that! I think I'll begin repeating it! I am serene...I am serene." She said "Your playa name could be Serenity." Those who know me...
And April, who had team members coming over one after another, building and loving, prophesying and blessing. And those were the highlights of my encounters from day one.
When I met Amy at the airport, she was foreshadowing. She said, "You know, you can love someone just with your eyes." This jump-started a remembrance of a teaching I'd heard by Arthur Burk. You know how nature preceeds invention? Like how the Wright Brothers looked at birds to design the airplane? Arthur talks about fiber optics and the transmission of information wirelessly, and how this takes place in eye-contact, referencing the verse about how the eye is the lamp of the body, and if your eyes are good, the whole body will be filled with light.
(great teaching, order at plumblineministries.com)
So: I would look at people very intentionally, left eye to left eye (right brain to right brain), and tell them they were loved. Later, I learned how this played out in Amy's ministry.
On day two, during a trip to the banos, I sensed that there was a thing on dreams for the day. I love it when Papa shares something in advance so I can participate. I ministered to a beautiful girl named Charlie, from Hollywood. There was so much fear and wounding, she said she wasn't good at talking, and yet she had so much to release. When I prompted her to invite the Spirit of Wisdom, she said she couldn't do it out loud. She said she'd do it in her head and let me know when she had. Spirit showed up beautifully ("Beautiful" being another word I'd heard over the week and heard many echo), and Kelly came over and said she saw Charlie as a warrior princess with a dagger in her boot, using it to cut off evil and shine forth truth (Or something like that, sorry Kelly), regardless, this resonated with Charlie who let loose with several rare, shy smiles at Kelly as she went back to flagging and dancing on the dusty land. As I spoke of Creator, she said, "I know. I had a dream about Him. He was riding a big wave on a surfboard and smiling and waving at me. Later that day, I was behind a car with a bumpersticker of a surfer riding a wave and was reminded." I asked her who she thought it was in the dream. She said, "Well, I think it was, you know, Christ." I told her I thought she was right. She said (and I heard this so many times), "I think this is why I came to Burning Man. This was the most amazing encounter."
And then the village of Israelis.... Four beautiful girls from Israel and a doctor from Iran. Naomi came first, was touched and returned with the rest of them. They sang us a song called "Woman of Valor" based off of Proverbs 31.
Scott also came in that day. He'd had recurring dreams of wandering aimlessly, looking for something that would satisfy. Merry and I spent quite a bit of time with him, and I stumbled over some words and was able to say, "I don't think that came out right", but did get to clarify. He was blessed by Jesse, and then revealed that he had walls up with women. I did some "identification repentance", asking him to forgive for where he'd been hurt, used and manipulated by women. He was open to this and forgave. In the end, Merry and I agreed that maybe we should have just left it with the dream interpretation, as he was (admittedly) quite cerebral and not that open. The next day, however, I ran into him at the sno-cone stand. "Wow. You really gave me a lot to think about yesterday. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening just reflecting. I didn't even go out or drink last night. And I had diarrhea this morning. I really received a cleansing. Thank You." Goes to show you never can tell.
Another day, another revelation in the bano. This time, I felt Jesus was saying, there's a special grace on truth to be received today. Tell it like it is. Perhaps it's the political and economic climate, but people seemed to have less walls up against God this year. The encounters this day were deep and clear. Elisha came in, struggling with fibromyalgia and her head being in the way of her spirit. She wanted the blockage to go, and she received the Truth, forgiving herself and her father, and receiving forgiveness. She was healed of pain, and stayed for several hours as Melissa discipled her, explaining the other encounters that were taking place. Then she just wanted to listen to Caleb's music, so Melissa made a clean place for her to lay down under the speaker.
Ed came in and Caleb heard much in the natural and in the spirit. As he helped bear the burden and bring Ed to a point of release of so much pain and sadness, the cry came forth and that was noted in the camps around us. In our tent, no eyes were dry, including both of Saul's, who had just come in. Jesse held Ed, blessing him with the heart of his True Father, as he released tears and cries of pain that had been inflicted on him by his natural father. Ed also stayed for hours that day, surrounded by love and with a clear understanding of the choice that was his to make.
Saul. Comes in with the words "Wine for Water" written on his torso and asking about healing through sound. Saul? Really? Marked for Transformation. Yes, indeed. He witnessed Ed's released and was touched to the core. The healing was tangible. Then He asked the Spirit to come and locked eyes with Amy.
[Aside....So, Amy and I had been processing nightly. She told me of her travels to Brazil with Randy Clark, the wild and undeniable impartation (fire and eyes) that she'd gotten there, and her trip to Haiti where she'd been used in deliverance, just through looking at people in their eyes. I'm so glad I had this background for a grid for what took place with Saul.]
So they were just looking at each other for maybe 10 minutes, but it seemed like longer. Intercessors everywhere, and Cindy doing prophetic acts (unlocking his heart, the cross over his mind) based on her spiritual sight, that he responded to. Amy said later that the demons were trying to intimidate her. Suddenly, she breaks into laughter and they are hugging each other. Cindy frames it. "You feel that? That is Jesus. Yes, you know? He loves you. He set you free."
Like I said, a special grace on truth that day. He got filled with Holy Spirit, has quite a Russian sounding tongue, and saw visions that reminded me of Akiane's painting of the pyramids. We sent him back to his camp hours later with 3 flats of water.
And then the Mayas. Again from Israel. 20 years old and just out of the army where they were teachers of what to do with tanks. One had a special revelation of Father. "I believe that what you are saying is true." The other had a problem with why God would allow evil things to happen. But tears, tears and tears as she heard about His love. They came back to our camp two times later the same day, 3 times total.
We prayed for Mike, our neighbor, the prey-er ("They thank ME to take a shower! They come, take their clothes off on top of my RV, let me take pictures, and they thank ME!"), and his eyes felt tangibly better. Heal his spiritual eyes, too, Father. This year our neighbors were different than last year. To boil it down, gay on 3 sides, leering porn-ish on the other. There was the "Paradise Motel" with the pink trailer and flamingos. They gave out sno-cones each day, with the flavor menu written on their butts. So we got showers (in our swimsuits), sno-cones, trampoline and Brazilian music. Light shines brightest in the darkness. Great Grace this year, thank You, Daddy!
And HUGE thanks to those who prayed and supported me financially. I'm asking Abba for a full reward for you, financially, in dream interpretation/prophetic evangelism and that your friends and families receive sozo from Jesus.
So I feel kind of like Hebrews 11...("And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about John-O, Iranian Guy, Other Scott, Miriam, Late Night Visitors, Woman in Yellow Skirt, Girl at Temple, Nico....) God blew my mind this year, through the uniqueness of encounters. I saw first hand the power of warfare/prophetic dance as Melissa and Kelly would literally change the atmosphere, "swatting demons away", and our guests would comment on the transformation/freedom in them. And the "deliverance without words" yet tangible! If learning not to speak "Christianese" has been a fun stretch, learning to minister without words totally blows my "verbal processing, wordsmithing, exhorter" mind. But, with the mind blown, it's Spirit to spirit. So cool, so much freedom to follow the Spirit. I'm thankful to Father and my teammates for showing me mucho. Much more than I can write now, but ask me about more sometime....
And lots of laughter! (thanks Hailey and Bethany) and Wonder (thanks Charlotte and wonder-woman herself, Cindy) and funky new clothes (thanks slutgarden) and SO MUCH thanks to all of you for your patience, your hard work, wisdom, fearlessness, songs, dance, freedom, sweat, dark chocolate covered potato chips, and above all things: love.
Much love, Sonja
*GB=Greg Boyd. From his book, "Repenting of Religion--Turning from Judgment to the Love of God" page 56. I highly recommend any of his writing.
Alright, I'm going to free-flow it: The first thing that occurs to me is that "write-ups" are written in first person, from the point of view of, in this case, me. So, I want to make it clear that anything good and perfect was the result of Holy Spirit, and that we were a team. I'll give first person perspective, but it is not to call any attention to myself. Luke did it, I'll try.
There was a marked difference this year in grace on the camp. The white dome tent went up quickly and (fairly) easily. At first it was a group of us girls and I was astounded. Then Shane came to help and it went even more smoothly. I just kept repeating, "There's such a grace this year!"
It seemed that there was a different flavor of ministry each day: The first day we started out with "Spirit Surge"--a drum circle and intercession. It was so powerful. People were drawn in, and shock waves went out. From processing each night in the RV with my new friend Amy, I learned that much of what we were experiencing was a fulfillment of understanding and proclamation by her intercessors in Minnesota. She kept repeating how powerful the Spirit and intercession was and that it was said in advance that we wouldn't see what a difference our presence made in the area as the sound and prayer and praise and dance was released.
As people would come and go, our team would connect with them and give them a picture, insight, blessing, prayer, etc.
That first morning a guy with a sheik headdress came and started drumming next to me. I asked Holy Spirit, "What is the treasure in this one?" and heard: "righteousness". How to deliver that word in non-christianese...? I grabbed Jesse (team member, father figure, make-and-fix-anything-guy) and asked this man what his name was. Justin. Confirmation.
He left with Father's blessing, an affirmation that he was created to recognize truth and live accordingly, and tears in his eyes.
Then Lita came in. Topless with a cool, hand-created utility skirt. Again tears mixed with beauty. The Spirit of Truth, and the Awesomeness of Creator coming and loving. The next time she stopped by, she was covered, and said that we were the most meaningful encounter she'd ever had at Burning Man. "The love, the depth of love...."
Time out here to expand on that. Both years, I've hungered for and prayed for crystal clear words of knowledge that will convince people that God sees, knows.... And yet, it always comes down to love. A little GB* who says it best:
"There are some very impressive religious activities: speaking in tongues, prophetic powers, understanding all mysteries, having all knowledged, mountain-moving faith....Yet they are all devoid of any value if they are not done in love. They are nothing more than religious noise--a noisy gong or clanging cymbal.
"We have perhaps heard this passage too many times to readily appreciate how utterly radical it is. Paul was saying the the only criteria that matters when assessing the value of any activity is this: Is it done in love? Does it ascribe unsurpassable worth to others, and does it increase people's capacity to ascribe unsurpassable worth to others?
"Christians are often impressed by miraculous powers, supernatural gifts and altruism. And there's certainly nothing wrong with these acts. But if they aren't motivated by love and don't promote love, we are to consider them altogether worthless."
This is what I felt the grace on: love. Throughout the week, and amongst our team, one for another. Because, you know, sometimes it's easier to have love for someone you don't know, but it was alive in our camp first. Thank You, Love, for dwelling with us.
Bethany, a gorgeous black woman from Australia, came in that first day too. I don't remember what it was I said to her, but she replied back to me: "Oh yes! I received my Nigerian name when I was 25. It means "God has done something good!" I blessed that all over, up and down, that her eyes would see and her spirit would recognize every time God was up to something good. Then she smiled and said, "And my real name is Bethany! You know, like....Bethlehem!"
(Funny on so many levels, but I found out later that she had told someone she was agnostic. She came back two days later and received much more).
Tamara came in, wearing very little and dancing very seductively. I saw a crown of light and truth for her. I approached, asked if I could speak to her spirit, and told her she was loved. Tears. Then I told her I sensed that Creator wanted to give her a gift. A crown of truth and light. And that if she would receive it, I would place it on her head and she could ask for the Spirit of Truth and Light to come and show her what He wanted her to see. She received it, and I believe she saw herself being held. I told her it was something she now had. That she could ask any time for Truth to shine on something. Later, Melissa introduced her to Creator, and she received the baptism of Holy Spirit.
A little aside here: The theme of Burning Man this year was "Evolution". And yet, to my knowledge, we never received any resistance when we spoke about Creator and what He had placed into these precious ones as treasures and gifts to be recognized, celebrated and released. Light in the darkness. That's where it's most notable, attention-getting, beautiful. I mean, c'mon, fireworks in the daytime? Creator shines at Burning Man.
And there was Mary: "She loves words" tatooed on her shoulder. We gave her some words. And hugs, blessings, hope and healing.
And India: from Athens, GA, but part Creek Indian. Hmmm, Creek. "That's where I'm from! Montana!" She smiled and said yes. At the end of this encounter, speaking destiny words of inventions and problem-solving, I gave her a pendant I'd made with a picture of Amelia Earheart and the word "STRETCH". Then I asked her for a blessing, her being Creek, and me being from Montana. She said she would like to, but didn't know how. I told her it was a chance to stretch and she'd do well. She took my hands and said, "I bless you and your people with peace and with wisdom. And I bless your land with peace." I felt so honored, and pleased that she'd learned and been able to release what we'd modeled. I received peace. At the end of the trip, Marilyn gave me a hug and said, "Sonja, you're so serene." I laughed and said, "I like that! I think I'll begin repeating it! I am serene...I am serene." She said "Your playa name could be Serenity." Those who know me...
And April, who had team members coming over one after another, building and loving, prophesying and blessing. And those were the highlights of my encounters from day one.
When I met Amy at the airport, she was foreshadowing. She said, "You know, you can love someone just with your eyes." This jump-started a remembrance of a teaching I'd heard by Arthur Burk. You know how nature preceeds invention? Like how the Wright Brothers looked at birds to design the airplane? Arthur talks about fiber optics and the transmission of information wirelessly, and how this takes place in eye-contact, referencing the verse about how the eye is the lamp of the body, and if your eyes are good, the whole body will be filled with light.
(great teaching, order at plumblineministries.com)
So: I would look at people very intentionally, left eye to left eye (right brain to right brain), and tell them they were loved. Later, I learned how this played out in Amy's ministry.
On day two, during a trip to the banos, I sensed that there was a thing on dreams for the day. I love it when Papa shares something in advance so I can participate. I ministered to a beautiful girl named Charlie, from Hollywood. There was so much fear and wounding, she said she wasn't good at talking, and yet she had so much to release. When I prompted her to invite the Spirit of Wisdom, she said she couldn't do it out loud. She said she'd do it in her head and let me know when she had. Spirit showed up beautifully ("Beautiful" being another word I'd heard over the week and heard many echo), and Kelly came over and said she saw Charlie as a warrior princess with a dagger in her boot, using it to cut off evil and shine forth truth (Or something like that, sorry Kelly), regardless, this resonated with Charlie who let loose with several rare, shy smiles at Kelly as she went back to flagging and dancing on the dusty land. As I spoke of Creator, she said, "I know. I had a dream about Him. He was riding a big wave on a surfboard and smiling and waving at me. Later that day, I was behind a car with a bumpersticker of a surfer riding a wave and was reminded." I asked her who she thought it was in the dream. She said, "Well, I think it was, you know, Christ." I told her I thought she was right. She said (and I heard this so many times), "I think this is why I came to Burning Man. This was the most amazing encounter."
And then the village of Israelis.... Four beautiful girls from Israel and a doctor from Iran. Naomi came first, was touched and returned with the rest of them. They sang us a song called "Woman of Valor" based off of Proverbs 31.
Scott also came in that day. He'd had recurring dreams of wandering aimlessly, looking for something that would satisfy. Merry and I spent quite a bit of time with him, and I stumbled over some words and was able to say, "I don't think that came out right", but did get to clarify. He was blessed by Jesse, and then revealed that he had walls up with women. I did some "identification repentance", asking him to forgive for where he'd been hurt, used and manipulated by women. He was open to this and forgave. In the end, Merry and I agreed that maybe we should have just left it with the dream interpretation, as he was (admittedly) quite cerebral and not that open. The next day, however, I ran into him at the sno-cone stand. "Wow. You really gave me a lot to think about yesterday. I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening just reflecting. I didn't even go out or drink last night. And I had diarrhea this morning. I really received a cleansing. Thank You." Goes to show you never can tell.
Another day, another revelation in the bano. This time, I felt Jesus was saying, there's a special grace on truth to be received today. Tell it like it is. Perhaps it's the political and economic climate, but people seemed to have less walls up against God this year. The encounters this day were deep and clear. Elisha came in, struggling with fibromyalgia and her head being in the way of her spirit. She wanted the blockage to go, and she received the Truth, forgiving herself and her father, and receiving forgiveness. She was healed of pain, and stayed for several hours as Melissa discipled her, explaining the other encounters that were taking place. Then she just wanted to listen to Caleb's music, so Melissa made a clean place for her to lay down under the speaker.
Ed came in and Caleb heard much in the natural and in the spirit. As he helped bear the burden and bring Ed to a point of release of so much pain and sadness, the cry came forth and that was noted in the camps around us. In our tent, no eyes were dry, including both of Saul's, who had just come in. Jesse held Ed, blessing him with the heart of his True Father, as he released tears and cries of pain that had been inflicted on him by his natural father. Ed also stayed for hours that day, surrounded by love and with a clear understanding of the choice that was his to make.
Saul. Comes in with the words "Wine for Water" written on his torso and asking about healing through sound. Saul? Really? Marked for Transformation. Yes, indeed. He witnessed Ed's released and was touched to the core. The healing was tangible. Then He asked the Spirit to come and locked eyes with Amy.
[Aside....So, Amy and I had been processing nightly. She told me of her travels to Brazil with Randy Clark, the wild and undeniable impartation (fire and eyes) that she'd gotten there, and her trip to Haiti where she'd been used in deliverance, just through looking at people in their eyes. I'm so glad I had this background for a grid for what took place with Saul.]
So they were just looking at each other for maybe 10 minutes, but it seemed like longer. Intercessors everywhere, and Cindy doing prophetic acts (unlocking his heart, the cross over his mind) based on her spiritual sight, that he responded to. Amy said later that the demons were trying to intimidate her. Suddenly, she breaks into laughter and they are hugging each other. Cindy frames it. "You feel that? That is Jesus. Yes, you know? He loves you. He set you free."
Like I said, a special grace on truth that day. He got filled with Holy Spirit, has quite a Russian sounding tongue, and saw visions that reminded me of Akiane's painting of the pyramids. We sent him back to his camp hours later with 3 flats of water.
And then the Mayas. Again from Israel. 20 years old and just out of the army where they were teachers of what to do with tanks. One had a special revelation of Father. "I believe that what you are saying is true." The other had a problem with why God would allow evil things to happen. But tears, tears and tears as she heard about His love. They came back to our camp two times later the same day, 3 times total.
We prayed for Mike, our neighbor, the prey-er ("They thank ME to take a shower! They come, take their clothes off on top of my RV, let me take pictures, and they thank ME!"), and his eyes felt tangibly better. Heal his spiritual eyes, too, Father. This year our neighbors were different than last year. To boil it down, gay on 3 sides, leering porn-ish on the other. There was the "Paradise Motel" with the pink trailer and flamingos. They gave out sno-cones each day, with the flavor menu written on their butts. So we got showers (in our swimsuits), sno-cones, trampoline and Brazilian music. Light shines brightest in the darkness. Great Grace this year, thank You, Daddy!
And HUGE thanks to those who prayed and supported me financially. I'm asking Abba for a full reward for you, financially, in dream interpretation/prophetic evangelism and that your friends and families receive sozo from Jesus.
So I feel kind of like Hebrews 11...("And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about John-O, Iranian Guy, Other Scott, Miriam, Late Night Visitors, Woman in Yellow Skirt, Girl at Temple, Nico....) God blew my mind this year, through the uniqueness of encounters. I saw first hand the power of warfare/prophetic dance as Melissa and Kelly would literally change the atmosphere, "swatting demons away", and our guests would comment on the transformation/freedom in them. And the "deliverance without words" yet tangible! If learning not to speak "Christianese" has been a fun stretch, learning to minister without words totally blows my "verbal processing, wordsmithing, exhorter" mind. But, with the mind blown, it's Spirit to spirit. So cool, so much freedom to follow the Spirit. I'm thankful to Father and my teammates for showing me mucho. Much more than I can write now, but ask me about more sometime....
And lots of laughter! (thanks Hailey and Bethany) and Wonder (thanks Charlotte and wonder-woman herself, Cindy) and funky new clothes (thanks slutgarden) and SO MUCH thanks to all of you for your patience, your hard work, wisdom, fearlessness, songs, dance, freedom, sweat, dark chocolate covered potato chips, and above all things: love.
Much love, Sonja
*GB=Greg Boyd. From his book, "Repenting of Religion--Turning from Judgment to the Love of God" page 56. I highly recommend any of his writing.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
trust
About a year ago, last summer, I had a vision in the middle of the night. I saw an amber TV screen flashing, and along the bottom were scrolling these words in black:
"I request that you trust Me" or "Because you don't trust Me."
This was news to me, but the message was clear. God was letting me know that I didn't trust Him. And if a dream is a whisper, wooing you closer to inquire of Him to explain the mysteries..., this "night vision" was a SHOUT. Crystal clear so there would be no misinterpreting.
I didn't know I had a problem with trusting God, so I decided to investigate. I looked up the word. There are two of them in Hebrew, and both are clear images meaning: "To flee from a place of danger and take refuge in a safe place." In fact "take refuge" is a pretty good translation. This is seen several times in parallel imagery in the Psalms:
"You are my refuge, My God in whom I trust". In fact, different versions of the Bible translate these interchangeably.
Psalm 18:2 in the KJV: The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.
In the NIV: The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
So, I confessed, I studied it out, and nothing really changed. I didn't know how to trust. And I didn't even know that I didn't know yet.
Fast forward three months or so: crisis, process, pain, loss, betrayal, grief, disappointment, seeing ugly things about myself, process of forgiving- especially myself, etc.
Jesus said to me:
"You talk alot about me, you think alot about me, you read alot about me, you sing to me, you hear my voice, you prophesy, you connect the dots, but you don't spend a lot of time just you and me, interactively. You're not truly present with me. You're not real with me. You don't trust me."
So, I gave it a shot. I pictured myself under the shadow of His wings, next to His heart, in a safe place where I could be real with what was hurting. I asked him to hold back the enemy, to make it safe, to close the eyes and ears of the enemy who would hold anything against me or interfere. I bawled and wept and cried as I told Him about the shame, the fear, the hurt, the 'not wanting to feel this way', etc., and something lifted. I was still alive. His love met me there and brought healing. On repeated occasions.
Last summer when I looked up the word, I saw it meant "to flee from danger/to take refuge".
I just looked it up again to make sure I had it right and there is another meaning for both Hebrew words and the Greek, that slipped by the first time: "to confide in". This is what trusting looked like for me. Telling Him my secrets so I wouldn't have to bear them alone. Bringing the darkness to the Light. And then there's no darkness. A concealed wound is an unhealed wound. The enemy would try to keep us from this "secret place" and in darkness.
So began my adventure with what I've come to call "interaction with the Voice of Love".
Man may have good ideas, understanding, knowledge, wisdom and tools in their tool belt; but the Holy Spirit knows what to do in each instance.
I remember watching a movie a few years ago. At the end, this Mexican child, who had just seen his father murdered, was walking down the street, kicking a pebble. I started crying and thought of the trauma, shock, fear and terror that were lodged in his spirit. I thought, "How are we going to bring healing to these children?" Even IF we could send trained counselors to every orphanage in Latin America, even IF the money was available and people would take time out of their schedules, even IF there were translators with a grid and those willing to travel, The process seems so long, so hard, so overwhelming. To lead them through forgiveness, repentance for judging their fathers for abandoning them, to renounce foundational lies written on their souls, teaching 'boundaries', etc.
And after wondering for years about how to heal the world, Jesus said, "It doesn't have to be that complex. I can do it. Trust Me. You can teach them to ask, to listen, to trust (to flee from danger to safety and to confide), to interact. To combine what they hear from Me with the faith that I will give them. I know what to do every time."
Psalm 118:8 "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man."
I've been to counseling and I've been to Jesus. I LOVE my counselors, those who have loved me with Jesus' love, and encouraged me, heard from Holy Spirit, brought deliverance, words of knowledge, appropriated His wisdom and helped me get 'unstuck'. It's definitely helpful, I'll go again, I'm not saying there's not a place for it, we need each other. It's both/and.
But give me Jesus.
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13)
I'll end with that. Blessings in the process, Sonja
P.S. I've been re-reading the Psalms replacing "trust" with "flee to a safe place" or "confide in". Rich and helpful.
Psalm 13:5 "I find a safe place in your unfailing love. I confide in you there. My heart rejoices in your salvation/healing/deliverance."
"I request that you trust Me" or "Because you don't trust Me."
This was news to me, but the message was clear. God was letting me know that I didn't trust Him. And if a dream is a whisper, wooing you closer to inquire of Him to explain the mysteries..., this "night vision" was a SHOUT. Crystal clear so there would be no misinterpreting.
I didn't know I had a problem with trusting God, so I decided to investigate. I looked up the word. There are two of them in Hebrew, and both are clear images meaning: "To flee from a place of danger and take refuge in a safe place." In fact "take refuge" is a pretty good translation. This is seen several times in parallel imagery in the Psalms:
"You are my refuge, My God in whom I trust". In fact, different versions of the Bible translate these interchangeably.
Psalm 18:2 in the KJV: The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.
In the NIV: The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
So, I confessed, I studied it out, and nothing really changed. I didn't know how to trust. And I didn't even know that I didn't know yet.
Fast forward three months or so: crisis, process, pain, loss, betrayal, grief, disappointment, seeing ugly things about myself, process of forgiving- especially myself, etc.
Jesus said to me:
"You talk alot about me, you think alot about me, you read alot about me, you sing to me, you hear my voice, you prophesy, you connect the dots, but you don't spend a lot of time just you and me, interactively. You're not truly present with me. You're not real with me. You don't trust me."
So, I gave it a shot. I pictured myself under the shadow of His wings, next to His heart, in a safe place where I could be real with what was hurting. I asked him to hold back the enemy, to make it safe, to close the eyes and ears of the enemy who would hold anything against me or interfere. I bawled and wept and cried as I told Him about the shame, the fear, the hurt, the 'not wanting to feel this way', etc., and something lifted. I was still alive. His love met me there and brought healing. On repeated occasions.
Last summer when I looked up the word, I saw it meant "to flee from danger/to take refuge".
I just looked it up again to make sure I had it right and there is another meaning for both Hebrew words and the Greek, that slipped by the first time: "to confide in". This is what trusting looked like for me. Telling Him my secrets so I wouldn't have to bear them alone. Bringing the darkness to the Light. And then there's no darkness. A concealed wound is an unhealed wound. The enemy would try to keep us from this "secret place" and in darkness.
So began my adventure with what I've come to call "interaction with the Voice of Love".
Man may have good ideas, understanding, knowledge, wisdom and tools in their tool belt; but the Holy Spirit knows what to do in each instance.
I remember watching a movie a few years ago. At the end, this Mexican child, who had just seen his father murdered, was walking down the street, kicking a pebble. I started crying and thought of the trauma, shock, fear and terror that were lodged in his spirit. I thought, "How are we going to bring healing to these children?" Even IF we could send trained counselors to every orphanage in Latin America, even IF the money was available and people would take time out of their schedules, even IF there were translators with a grid and those willing to travel, The process seems so long, so hard, so overwhelming. To lead them through forgiveness, repentance for judging their fathers for abandoning them, to renounce foundational lies written on their souls, teaching 'boundaries', etc.
And after wondering for years about how to heal the world, Jesus said, "It doesn't have to be that complex. I can do it. Trust Me. You can teach them to ask, to listen, to trust (to flee from danger to safety and to confide), to interact. To combine what they hear from Me with the faith that I will give them. I know what to do every time."
Psalm 118:8 "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man."
I've been to counseling and I've been to Jesus. I LOVE my counselors, those who have loved me with Jesus' love, and encouraged me, heard from Holy Spirit, brought deliverance, words of knowledge, appropriated His wisdom and helped me get 'unstuck'. It's definitely helpful, I'll go again, I'm not saying there's not a place for it, we need each other. It's both/and.
But give me Jesus.
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13)
I'll end with that. Blessings in the process, Sonja
P.S. I've been re-reading the Psalms replacing "trust" with "flee to a safe place" or "confide in". Rich and helpful.
Psalm 13:5 "I find a safe place in your unfailing love. I confide in you there. My heart rejoices in your salvation/healing/deliverance."
Friday, June 12, 2009
desert wonderings
In defense of the desert: A lot of people that live there have pools. Ha. Actually, it just occurred to me that I actually DID live in a desert for awhile. A lot of redemptive names going on in the desert: "Oasis of Hope", "Desert Springs", etc. (Hermiston feel free to chime in.)
I've been kicking around this desert theme for a few months now, originally taking off from the verse in Hosea 2:14 "Therefore I am going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor (Trouble) a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth...." --God
At first this tender speaking was surprising to me. Like Hosea's wayward wife and God's wayward Israel, I didn't believe I deserved it. Read: earned it. In other words, my religious mindset was screaming but God was so sweet. So He spoke to me of love and grace and hope and mysteries.
About two months ago, I read some internet "word" by Frank Viola about the desert. It's been awhile since I read it, but three things were seared into my spirit. I'm going to number them so that he gets credit, but know that I have taken these and expounded....
1) You don't settle in the desert. I'm listing this one first as a kind of disclaimer, because of all of the fun that I'm managing to have in this desert. But the point is: The desert is not our inheritance, it's the Promised Land! The temple was not built in the desert, the milk and honey was not in the desert. Eyes on the prize! We must look ahead and not settle.
So: how did some of us get here? We were either led here by the Spirit, or it was sprung on us. I really don't think anyone chooses the desert, but it does have it's purpose.
John the Baptist, Luke 1:80 "And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel." I like the fact that it's 1:80. As in: Do an aboutface.
John's message was "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." Repent is often defined as going in the opposite direction. I like Bill Johnson's take: "Change your way of thinking." (see note: irony alert)
Jesus himself was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. The Israelites escaped Egypt, only to be pursued, then crossed the Red Sea and watched its same waters drown the Egyptians, only to find themselves in: the wilderness. (These two words are interchangable...Strongs 4057) God had mentioned the Promised Land, but sprung on them: the desert. Desert Springs.
Why the desert?
2) The desert is where we get detoxed of religion. First example being the Israelites. They needed to get the slavery out of them before they could handle the freedom of the Promised Land. Evidentally it took a whole generation dying off. THIS IS SERIOUS!!!! We REALLY need to "change our mind" about some things. I'm not gonna say what because I don't know, could be different for everyone. But! Evidentally of the "best of the best" from each tribe, only two (Caleb and Joshua) believed God at his word despite the signs, wonders and miracles they had seen.
The second example: Paul. Formerly a Christian-killing Pharisee named Saul, this guy spent 3 years in (you guessed it) the desert (Gal 1:17-18) before meeting with the other apostles. I would guess the Lord spoke tenderly to him there, revealing the amazing message of grace to this religious man and it took three years in Arabia to accomplish this. I'm sure he needed to detox from a lot of religion.
As I said earlier, I was surprised by the amount of the religious spirit I had.
3) In the desert, you eat manna. Manna is a type of Jesus. John 6:30-35: "So they asked him, 'What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' Jesus said to them, 'I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.' 'Sir,' they said, 'from now on give us this bread.' Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life.' "
The religious people were asking for a sign, and then saw that there was something better: Bread from heaven. A caution, then, would be not to grow so used to the Manna, like the Israelites did and go back to sign-seeking. (If you know me, you know I love signs, and they surely follow those who believe, not the other way around.) It's all about Jesus and the Manna is such beautiful provision. It reminds me of the Delirious? song: "Most of all, I love to hear Your Voice O God."
Manna was the Hebrew word for "What is it?" In other words, while you're in the desert, ask questions! "Call to me and I will answer you and I will show you great and unsearchable things you do not know." --God. This is of course a promise to all, but there's something beautiful about desert desperation and provision and the closeness of Jesus.
I'll conclude with this: The desert is not our destiny, but sometimes we must go through the desert to get to it. While we don't necessarily like "process", God uses a whole bunch of processes to produce strong-spirited sons who "who so love the people in this world". The kingdom is at hand, the Spirit is our guide, Jesus is Faithful and True and our Father is very, very good. Taste and see.
I've been kicking around this desert theme for a few months now, originally taking off from the verse in Hosea 2:14 "Therefore I am going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the Valley of Achor (Trouble) a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth...." --God
At first this tender speaking was surprising to me. Like Hosea's wayward wife and God's wayward Israel, I didn't believe I deserved it. Read: earned it. In other words, my religious mindset was screaming but God was so sweet. So He spoke to me of love and grace and hope and mysteries.
About two months ago, I read some internet "word" by Frank Viola about the desert. It's been awhile since I read it, but three things were seared into my spirit. I'm going to number them so that he gets credit, but know that I have taken these and expounded....
1) You don't settle in the desert. I'm listing this one first as a kind of disclaimer, because of all of the fun that I'm managing to have in this desert. But the point is: The desert is not our inheritance, it's the Promised Land! The temple was not built in the desert, the milk and honey was not in the desert. Eyes on the prize! We must look ahead and not settle.
So: how did some of us get here? We were either led here by the Spirit, or it was sprung on us. I really don't think anyone chooses the desert, but it does have it's purpose.
John the Baptist, Luke 1:80 "And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel." I like the fact that it's 1:80. As in: Do an aboutface.
John's message was "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." Repent is often defined as going in the opposite direction. I like Bill Johnson's take: "Change your way of thinking." (see note: irony alert)
Jesus himself was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. The Israelites escaped Egypt, only to be pursued, then crossed the Red Sea and watched its same waters drown the Egyptians, only to find themselves in: the wilderness. (These two words are interchangable...Strongs 4057) God had mentioned the Promised Land, but sprung on them: the desert. Desert Springs.
Why the desert?
2) The desert is where we get detoxed of religion. First example being the Israelites. They needed to get the slavery out of them before they could handle the freedom of the Promised Land. Evidentally it took a whole generation dying off. THIS IS SERIOUS!!!! We REALLY need to "change our mind" about some things. I'm not gonna say what because I don't know, could be different for everyone. But! Evidentally of the "best of the best" from each tribe, only two (Caleb and Joshua) believed God at his word despite the signs, wonders and miracles they had seen.
The second example: Paul. Formerly a Christian-killing Pharisee named Saul, this guy spent 3 years in (you guessed it) the desert (Gal 1:17-18) before meeting with the other apostles. I would guess the Lord spoke tenderly to him there, revealing the amazing message of grace to this religious man and it took three years in Arabia to accomplish this. I'm sure he needed to detox from a lot of religion.
As I said earlier, I was surprised by the amount of the religious spirit I had.
3) In the desert, you eat manna. Manna is a type of Jesus. John 6:30-35: "So they asked him, 'What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' Jesus said to them, 'I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.' 'Sir,' they said, 'from now on give us this bread.' Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life.' "
The religious people were asking for a sign, and then saw that there was something better: Bread from heaven. A caution, then, would be not to grow so used to the Manna, like the Israelites did and go back to sign-seeking. (If you know me, you know I love signs, and they surely follow those who believe, not the other way around.) It's all about Jesus and the Manna is such beautiful provision. It reminds me of the Delirious? song: "Most of all, I love to hear Your Voice O God."
Manna was the Hebrew word for "What is it?" In other words, while you're in the desert, ask questions! "Call to me and I will answer you and I will show you great and unsearchable things you do not know." --God. This is of course a promise to all, but there's something beautiful about desert desperation and provision and the closeness of Jesus.
I'll conclude with this: The desert is not our destiny, but sometimes we must go through the desert to get to it. While we don't necessarily like "process", God uses a whole bunch of processes to produce strong-spirited sons who "who so love the people in this world". The kingdom is at hand, the Spirit is our guide, Jesus is Faithful and True and our Father is very, very good. Taste and see.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
GOLD
"But He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold". Job 23:10
"You're going to make it. And you don't need to look good in the process. You sure don't need to worry about looking good." --William Finch
Me--I have a feeling there's a test coming...
CA friend: "And what would the purpose of the test be?"
--That I come forth as gold?
"Sonja, you already are gold. It's already there"
10 min later. Phone rings. I almost don't answer it...
William: "Hey! I'm so glad you're my friend! You're a gold nugget! I have this dream I want to talk to you about..."
Same verse, different version: "But he knows where I am and what I've done. He can cross-examine me all he wants, and I'll pass the test with honors."
So, I'm reading this other verse, that's never really been soothing..."Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles.' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers'!"--Jesus (Mt 7: 21-23).
I start to dialogue with Jesus: I noted that he said, "I never knew YOU", not "you never knew ME". "I don't get this! How can you say you never knew someone, when you say that you know every word on our tongues before we say it and that you wrote all of our days in your book before one of them came to pass?"
I was thinking...I've at least prophesied... and have been used in some minor miracles and certainly aspire to more. He said, "It's about freewill. Any place that you choose to hide from me, because you're afraid of what you'll find, or you don't trust me, or it's too painful, or whatever excuse, conscious or not, any place that you hide from me, I won't "know". (and of course biblical knowing is quite intimate). And if I can't know you there, in your sin, in your shame, in your fear, in your regrets, embarrassments, anger, failings...If you don't trust me to be a safe place and bring it all to me, being real with me, and letting me know you there... then I can't show you how beautiful my love is for you there, and heal you there, and begin to grow something beautiful of that fertilizer (shit). That IS the will of my Father. That you let me love you, transform you...you have nothing to prove. That you come to me and rest in me and be transformed by me. Beautifully dependent on me.
Isaiah 45:2 "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."
I'm "on a sabbatical for personal reasons". I love the word sabbatical. It means a year off, and it means rest. God had the Israelites sow and harvest the land for 6 years, and on the seventh, they were to let it lay and rest, unplowed and unused. This was to take care of the poor and the wild animals. They were to do this with their grain fields, their vineyards and their olive groves. (Grain, wine and oil...) I love it that God himself made a big deal of resting on the seventh day, of letting the Israelites delight in it, and emphasizing it in the New Testament too. Hebrews chapter 4 is all about it. "Lets make every effort to enter that rest." and He highlights keeping your heart open to his voice in the SAME context, and also that he is able to sympathize with our weaknesses! And that we can go directly to his throne whenever we need help. It's referred to as the "throne of grace" and it's where we find grace and mercy whenEVER we need it. This is all in the SAME chapter about entering his rest as a lifestyle. "Today if you hear my voice, do not harden your hearts." (Heb 4:7) The thing is, his voice is so beautiful, so freeing, so healing, so inviting..."Come up here to my throne of grace! I'll give you just what you need. I'll give you rest. No more striving, trying harder, worrying what others think. I'm delighted with you, I want to spend time with you. I love you!"
So I've been spending interactive time with what I've come to call the "Voice of Love". He is ALWAYS there when I call on him, when I ask a question, ask for more explanation. He lets me know that he's pleased with my faith, with my progress, with my honesty. He shows me pictures, explains them, and we have a lot of fun together. He isn't uncomfortable with my tears or my emotion. In fact, I am repeatedly assured that he know just what makes me tick, since he created me, uniquely and in his image. In Hosea, God says, "I will allure her to the wilderness and I will speak tenderly to her." At first I was surprised when he spoke so tenderly. Sad but true. I had such shame from a performance-oriented society (that we all live in) and certain "religious" beliefs, that I thought that if I wasn't going to church (I know! How can you go to what you ARE?), I didn't deserve to be spoken to tenderly. But he is relentlessly kind and tender. He's shown me where I've bought into the system of performing and the idol of looking "good", but he's shown me in such a beautiful, gentle way, so that he can free me from it. So I'm getting "inner healing" and hope, just by hanging out with him and engaging with the good things he wants to do in me and for me. I can't get enough of him! I'm starting to evangelize "interactive time in his presence" in almost every conversation, if I get to steer it. Such as this note.
You know how the prostitutes loved him, and the "winebibbers" partied with him, and the children ran up to him? He really did have good news and a great vibe to share. Only the people that felt safe in the system of performing and having others perform, and trying harder, and shaming others for not trying hard enough... they didn't care for his brand of freedom. They didn't get his kind of unconditional love.
He's gently showing me in what ways I've been like that and is setting me free. That, yes, I've been religious, I bought into it and played the draining game, but he's restoring my innocence and enthusiasm and wonder. That he celebrates my little successes, that he loves is that I'm running more quickly into his arms when I'm feeling fragile or like I've blown it. He lets me know that when I''m vulnerable, feeling exposed or like I've blown it again, that he can do some of his best transforming work as long I as come. He gives me a picture of him resting in my heart on clean, white pillowcases, and thanks me for preparing resting places. He assures me there will be plenty more pillows and cases, he's got them ready for the dark corners, and he's going to walk with me into them with his flashlight, holding my hand. Treasures in darkness, riches in secret places.
Vision: I was in a rowboat, sitting, about 12 feet from shore. I see Jesus wearing black jeans and a black rock band T-shirt and a white belt. He starts wading and splashing through the water to get to me. He has a big smile on his face. He hops in the boat, and is standing up on one of the benches, making it pitch back and forth. I'm concerned that we're going to capsize. He smiles at me and says, "I'm not afraid to rock the boat." I laugh out loud while having the vision, and think, "Thus, the rock and roll T-shirt." He's fun like that, good like that, hanging out with me. We're having a good sabbatical. He's entered his rest (Heb 4:3), why not be there with Him?
(BTW: Stirthewater.com has some amazing exercises for awaking the seer/ hearer. Each exercise has seven stages of questions around a theme, and they provide some training wheels while the interactive dialogue becomes a way of life. I recommend.)
From The Message -- Jesus speaking:
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. You're blessed you when feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. You're blessed when you've lost it all. God's kingdom is there for the finding. You're blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning."
(excerpt from Greg Boyd's "Seeing is Believing: Experience Jesus through imaginative prayer.)
"The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. Where the Holy Spirit is working, what is concealed will be revealed, and things will look as bad, or as good, as they really are. How things APPEAR will not be of concern, so how things ACTUALLY ARE can be openly addressed. Where the Holy Spirit is moving, sick people will be free to be unhealthy and thus will be free to be healed."
...
"Our lives, of course are far from perfect; we still struggle with sin. Yet what Scripture tells us is that all of our sin (ALL) has been taken care of, paid for, forgiven, and forever canceled. The worst thing about us has been exposed (that our sin was so awful, shameful and evil that Jesus had to die), and thus the only leverage Satan could use to keep us in shame and fear is forever gone."
(Greg's thesis is, in a nutshell, that what we believe to be true isn't always what we experience as real. Since these "real" beliefs came about through real experiential hurts, lies, etc., then we need to experience Jesus interactively to get our real and true to line up. This is done by resting in Him, listening, seeing, dialoguing, and NOT by trying harder to please him when he just wants to give us life for free.)
Sounds like hidden treasure that just may be on a narrow road less traveled. In a culture of performance, resting certainly is a narrower road...They don't call it "good news" for nothing.
He calls us the temple of the Holy Spirit. The pattern for the temple was that it was filled with gold, glory and His Very Presence...right at the Mercy Seat, where the blood covers.
"Please do not decline the new wine, or the skin that it comes in" --Cassandra Bartholomew
Grace and peace, Sonja
--originally a "note" from my facebook page
"You're going to make it. And you don't need to look good in the process. You sure don't need to worry about looking good." --William Finch
Me--I have a feeling there's a test coming...
CA friend: "And what would the purpose of the test be?"
--That I come forth as gold?
"Sonja, you already are gold. It's already there"
10 min later. Phone rings. I almost don't answer it...
William: "Hey! I'm so glad you're my friend! You're a gold nugget! I have this dream I want to talk to you about..."
Same verse, different version: "But he knows where I am and what I've done. He can cross-examine me all he wants, and I'll pass the test with honors."
So, I'm reading this other verse, that's never really been soothing..."Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles.' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers'!"--Jesus (Mt 7: 21-23).
I start to dialogue with Jesus: I noted that he said, "I never knew YOU", not "you never knew ME". "I don't get this! How can you say you never knew someone, when you say that you know every word on our tongues before we say it and that you wrote all of our days in your book before one of them came to pass?"
I was thinking...I've at least prophesied... and have been used in some minor miracles and certainly aspire to more. He said, "It's about freewill. Any place that you choose to hide from me, because you're afraid of what you'll find, or you don't trust me, or it's too painful, or whatever excuse, conscious or not, any place that you hide from me, I won't "know". (and of course biblical knowing is quite intimate). And if I can't know you there, in your sin, in your shame, in your fear, in your regrets, embarrassments, anger, failings...If you don't trust me to be a safe place and bring it all to me, being real with me, and letting me know you there... then I can't show you how beautiful my love is for you there, and heal you there, and begin to grow something beautiful of that fertilizer (shit). That IS the will of my Father. That you let me love you, transform you...you have nothing to prove. That you come to me and rest in me and be transformed by me. Beautifully dependent on me.
Isaiah 45:2 "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."
I'm "on a sabbatical for personal reasons". I love the word sabbatical. It means a year off, and it means rest. God had the Israelites sow and harvest the land for 6 years, and on the seventh, they were to let it lay and rest, unplowed and unused. This was to take care of the poor and the wild animals. They were to do this with their grain fields, their vineyards and their olive groves. (Grain, wine and oil...) I love it that God himself made a big deal of resting on the seventh day, of letting the Israelites delight in it, and emphasizing it in the New Testament too. Hebrews chapter 4 is all about it. "Lets make every effort to enter that rest." and He highlights keeping your heart open to his voice in the SAME context, and also that he is able to sympathize with our weaknesses! And that we can go directly to his throne whenever we need help. It's referred to as the "throne of grace" and it's where we find grace and mercy whenEVER we need it. This is all in the SAME chapter about entering his rest as a lifestyle. "Today if you hear my voice, do not harden your hearts." (Heb 4:7) The thing is, his voice is so beautiful, so freeing, so healing, so inviting..."Come up here to my throne of grace! I'll give you just what you need. I'll give you rest. No more striving, trying harder, worrying what others think. I'm delighted with you, I want to spend time with you. I love you!"
So I've been spending interactive time with what I've come to call the "Voice of Love". He is ALWAYS there when I call on him, when I ask a question, ask for more explanation. He lets me know that he's pleased with my faith, with my progress, with my honesty. He shows me pictures, explains them, and we have a lot of fun together. He isn't uncomfortable with my tears or my emotion. In fact, I am repeatedly assured that he know just what makes me tick, since he created me, uniquely and in his image. In Hosea, God says, "I will allure her to the wilderness and I will speak tenderly to her." At first I was surprised when he spoke so tenderly. Sad but true. I had such shame from a performance-oriented society (that we all live in) and certain "religious" beliefs, that I thought that if I wasn't going to church (I know! How can you go to what you ARE?), I didn't deserve to be spoken to tenderly. But he is relentlessly kind and tender. He's shown me where I've bought into the system of performing and the idol of looking "good", but he's shown me in such a beautiful, gentle way, so that he can free me from it. So I'm getting "inner healing" and hope, just by hanging out with him and engaging with the good things he wants to do in me and for me. I can't get enough of him! I'm starting to evangelize "interactive time in his presence" in almost every conversation, if I get to steer it. Such as this note.
You know how the prostitutes loved him, and the "winebibbers" partied with him, and the children ran up to him? He really did have good news and a great vibe to share. Only the people that felt safe in the system of performing and having others perform, and trying harder, and shaming others for not trying hard enough... they didn't care for his brand of freedom. They didn't get his kind of unconditional love.
He's gently showing me in what ways I've been like that and is setting me free. That, yes, I've been religious, I bought into it and played the draining game, but he's restoring my innocence and enthusiasm and wonder. That he celebrates my little successes, that he loves is that I'm running more quickly into his arms when I'm feeling fragile or like I've blown it. He lets me know that when I''m vulnerable, feeling exposed or like I've blown it again, that he can do some of his best transforming work as long I as come. He gives me a picture of him resting in my heart on clean, white pillowcases, and thanks me for preparing resting places. He assures me there will be plenty more pillows and cases, he's got them ready for the dark corners, and he's going to walk with me into them with his flashlight, holding my hand. Treasures in darkness, riches in secret places.
Vision: I was in a rowboat, sitting, about 12 feet from shore. I see Jesus wearing black jeans and a black rock band T-shirt and a white belt. He starts wading and splashing through the water to get to me. He has a big smile on his face. He hops in the boat, and is standing up on one of the benches, making it pitch back and forth. I'm concerned that we're going to capsize. He smiles at me and says, "I'm not afraid to rock the boat." I laugh out loud while having the vision, and think, "Thus, the rock and roll T-shirt." He's fun like that, good like that, hanging out with me. We're having a good sabbatical. He's entered his rest (Heb 4:3), why not be there with Him?
(BTW: Stirthewater.com has some amazing exercises for awaking the seer/ hearer. Each exercise has seven stages of questions around a theme, and they provide some training wheels while the interactive dialogue becomes a way of life. I recommend.)
From The Message -- Jesus speaking:
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. You're blessed you when feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. You're blessed when you've lost it all. God's kingdom is there for the finding. You're blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning."
(excerpt from Greg Boyd's "Seeing is Believing: Experience Jesus through imaginative prayer.)
"The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. Where the Holy Spirit is working, what is concealed will be revealed, and things will look as bad, or as good, as they really are. How things APPEAR will not be of concern, so how things ACTUALLY ARE can be openly addressed. Where the Holy Spirit is moving, sick people will be free to be unhealthy and thus will be free to be healed."
...
"Our lives, of course are far from perfect; we still struggle with sin. Yet what Scripture tells us is that all of our sin (ALL) has been taken care of, paid for, forgiven, and forever canceled. The worst thing about us has been exposed (that our sin was so awful, shameful and evil that Jesus had to die), and thus the only leverage Satan could use to keep us in shame and fear is forever gone."
(Greg's thesis is, in a nutshell, that what we believe to be true isn't always what we experience as real. Since these "real" beliefs came about through real experiential hurts, lies, etc., then we need to experience Jesus interactively to get our real and true to line up. This is done by resting in Him, listening, seeing, dialoguing, and NOT by trying harder to please him when he just wants to give us life for free.)
Sounds like hidden treasure that just may be on a narrow road less traveled. In a culture of performance, resting certainly is a narrower road...They don't call it "good news" for nothing.
He calls us the temple of the Holy Spirit. The pattern for the temple was that it was filled with gold, glory and His Very Presence...right at the Mercy Seat, where the blood covers.
"Please do not decline the new wine, or the skin that it comes in" --Cassandra Bartholomew
Grace and peace, Sonja
--originally a "note" from my facebook page
irony alert: the term "born again" has been hijacked by the very ones it was meant for...
Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night and gives him his approval: "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." He's wanting something, he's hungry, he knows there's something he needs that he doesn't have. There's something different about Jesus.
And Jesus doesn't commend him. He could have said, "Nicodemus! You are a Pharisee! You have studied, you are very knowledgeable..." Instead he confuses him: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
Relax. I'm not going to preach that phrase. The irony is that it's been hijacked by the very same class of people that Nicodemus represented. Knowledgeable, serious, religious people who really knew the word of God and the "right" thing to do in any cirucumstance.
Jesus goes on..."I tell you truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh and spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, "You must be born again." The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (((BORN OF THE SPIRIT!!!!!)))
Wow, that sounds unpredictable. Not at all like a formula. Not at all like "repeat after me". So what's He saying? Jesus responds to different people in different ways. He did NOT say "You must be born again" to the tax collectors, prostitutes, winebibbers or the woman at the well. Nicodemus was a very educated, respected member of the religious "who's who" at the time. The same people that Jesus in general called a "brood of vipers" and condemned as "blind leading the blind" and said "You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice the son of hell as you are." The last example particularly fitting with the irony of the phrase at hand.... Jesus used this phrase "you must be born again" to the upper caste of people in the religious system of the day. The very people who turn the phrase and preach it to those to whom it was never directed at by Jesus himself.
So what does it mean? I started thinking about it like a dream. What would the allegory be? The word picture of entering a second time into your mother's womb to be born? But Jesus says no, not flesh but Spirit. Starting all over.
Relearning to walk, relearning to talk, (in a new way--by the Spirit--new territory)--going from milk to meat... (incidentally THAT was also directed toward the Hebrews! Those who already knew quite a bit about the law). Nicodemus had the Torah memorized, as well as a whole bunch of added rules and commentary not even required by God, but tradition. What if Jesus was challenging that whole understanding? Saying: Start all over and learn from the Spirit, not from the mind. He challenges him right afterward: "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?" It seems as though Jesus is saying, "Now, THIS is ironic..."
Jesus was (IS) saying this to "the Church".
It kept echoing: Begin anew. Learn from the Spirit. No more assumptions. No more "American Christian"...where my culture flavors my hearing the Spirit.
That night, I woke up and looked at my digital clock. 1:01. Like "Blown by Spirit 101" Entry level, basic course. Foundational. Starting at the beginning. Learning the alphabet of a new language.
Later that morning, I woke up a second time too early. The clock said 5:23. I was born at 5:23 in the morning. A confirmation just for me. I was on to something here.
The question then: With the "western mindset", "Greek thinking" and plain old indoctrination, being told what to think, etc. Where to begin? There's NO FORMULA! It's a deLIGHTful adventure.
Holy Spirit may be teaching each person a different lesson and if we judge with our minds (trap), we will think the other person is whacked because they aren't learning the same lesson at the same time in the same way that we are.
It echoes what Jesus offers: "If you're tired, weary, burdened...come to me. Take my yoke upon you and LEARN FROM ME and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and my burden is LIGHT." We are not to be afraid. He's good, he's for us, anything's possible!
It time to hear and see for ourselves by the Spirit. Much of what is taught is worse than just pablum or boring. It is actually keeping people in bondage and limited, just like the people that Nicodemus represented. (I have nothing against Nicodemus, nor do I have anyone specific in mind as I write. I believe Nicodemus was sincere and "got it" as evidenced by the end of the story. And Saul became Paul, and "Nothing is impossible with God".) Jesus said repeatedly, "Those who have ears, let them hear." That's why we must be "born again" by the Spirit. This is for us, is it good, and I can't stress enough that we may be way further behind than we think. So, I might make some grammar mistakes along the way in this new language, I might fall down a few times while learning to walk, but nobody ever tells a baby to give up, it's too hard. We're just encouraged to learn (and keep learning) and hear (and keep hearing).
No one I know uses this phrase anymore, it's become quite offensive as in "Born Again Christian" synonymous with _______. (You fill in the blank). It's taken our voice out of the conversation. We are supposed to have GOOD news, not bad news, or at the least average news. Quite simply "You are loved by the Creator of the universe and he wants to show you things you've only dreamed of, before you quit dreaming. There is a better way. The way of no condemnation, a life-giving way. Shared with the Life-Giver. It's an adventure that never stops and he helps you as you mature into wild new things that he'll constantly reveal if you want." No one uses the phrase anymore, but taken in context, it just might bring a fresh wind of hope and possibility to the people in the institution. So that we don't produce "twice..."
Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his GOOD, pleasing and perfect will".
This was also written to Christians. And Paul was flat out saying they had a problem: their minds were in serious trouble, they were conformed to a worldly pattern.
I can't resist a Greg Boyd paraphrase here: It's like the Matrix. We've been programmed all wrong. That's exactly why we need to start over by the Spirit.
" 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him;'--BUT God has revealed it to us by his Spirit." 1 Cor 2: 9-10.
Okay, the WHOLE chapter! It ends with "But we have the mind of Christ".
Blessings to you, may your spirits be strengthened and encouraged by His,
Sonja
Coming soon:
*Where on the map do we learn this?
and
*PROCESS....
And Jesus doesn't commend him. He could have said, "Nicodemus! You are a Pharisee! You have studied, you are very knowledgeable..." Instead he confuses him: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
Relax. I'm not going to preach that phrase. The irony is that it's been hijacked by the very same class of people that Nicodemus represented. Knowledgeable, serious, religious people who really knew the word of God and the "right" thing to do in any cirucumstance.
Jesus goes on..."I tell you truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh and spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, "You must be born again." The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (((BORN OF THE SPIRIT!!!!!)))
Wow, that sounds unpredictable. Not at all like a formula. Not at all like "repeat after me". So what's He saying? Jesus responds to different people in different ways. He did NOT say "You must be born again" to the tax collectors, prostitutes, winebibbers or the woman at the well. Nicodemus was a very educated, respected member of the religious "who's who" at the time. The same people that Jesus in general called a "brood of vipers" and condemned as "blind leading the blind" and said "You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice the son of hell as you are." The last example particularly fitting with the irony of the phrase at hand.... Jesus used this phrase "you must be born again" to the upper caste of people in the religious system of the day. The very people who turn the phrase and preach it to those to whom it was never directed at by Jesus himself.
So what does it mean? I started thinking about it like a dream. What would the allegory be? The word picture of entering a second time into your mother's womb to be born? But Jesus says no, not flesh but Spirit. Starting all over.
Relearning to walk, relearning to talk, (in a new way--by the Spirit--new territory)--going from milk to meat... (incidentally THAT was also directed toward the Hebrews! Those who already knew quite a bit about the law). Nicodemus had the Torah memorized, as well as a whole bunch of added rules and commentary not even required by God, but tradition. What if Jesus was challenging that whole understanding? Saying: Start all over and learn from the Spirit, not from the mind. He challenges him right afterward: "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things?" It seems as though Jesus is saying, "Now, THIS is ironic..."
Jesus was (IS) saying this to "the Church".
It kept echoing: Begin anew. Learn from the Spirit. No more assumptions. No more "American Christian"...where my culture flavors my hearing the Spirit.
That night, I woke up and looked at my digital clock. 1:01. Like "Blown by Spirit 101" Entry level, basic course. Foundational. Starting at the beginning. Learning the alphabet of a new language.
Later that morning, I woke up a second time too early. The clock said 5:23. I was born at 5:23 in the morning. A confirmation just for me. I was on to something here.
The question then: With the "western mindset", "Greek thinking" and plain old indoctrination, being told what to think, etc. Where to begin? There's NO FORMULA! It's a deLIGHTful adventure.
Holy Spirit may be teaching each person a different lesson and if we judge with our minds (trap), we will think the other person is whacked because they aren't learning the same lesson at the same time in the same way that we are.
It echoes what Jesus offers: "If you're tired, weary, burdened...come to me. Take my yoke upon you and LEARN FROM ME and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy and my burden is LIGHT." We are not to be afraid. He's good, he's for us, anything's possible!
It time to hear and see for ourselves by the Spirit. Much of what is taught is worse than just pablum or boring. It is actually keeping people in bondage and limited, just like the people that Nicodemus represented. (I have nothing against Nicodemus, nor do I have anyone specific in mind as I write. I believe Nicodemus was sincere and "got it" as evidenced by the end of the story. And Saul became Paul, and "Nothing is impossible with God".) Jesus said repeatedly, "Those who have ears, let them hear." That's why we must be "born again" by the Spirit. This is for us, is it good, and I can't stress enough that we may be way further behind than we think. So, I might make some grammar mistakes along the way in this new language, I might fall down a few times while learning to walk, but nobody ever tells a baby to give up, it's too hard. We're just encouraged to learn (and keep learning) and hear (and keep hearing).
No one I know uses this phrase anymore, it's become quite offensive as in "Born Again Christian" synonymous with _______. (You fill in the blank). It's taken our voice out of the conversation. We are supposed to have GOOD news, not bad news, or at the least average news. Quite simply "You are loved by the Creator of the universe and he wants to show you things you've only dreamed of, before you quit dreaming. There is a better way. The way of no condemnation, a life-giving way. Shared with the Life-Giver. It's an adventure that never stops and he helps you as you mature into wild new things that he'll constantly reveal if you want." No one uses the phrase anymore, but taken in context, it just might bring a fresh wind of hope and possibility to the people in the institution. So that we don't produce "twice..."
Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his GOOD, pleasing and perfect will".
This was also written to Christians. And Paul was flat out saying they had a problem: their minds were in serious trouble, they were conformed to a worldly pattern.
I can't resist a Greg Boyd paraphrase here: It's like the Matrix. We've been programmed all wrong. That's exactly why we need to start over by the Spirit.
" 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him;'--BUT God has revealed it to us by his Spirit." 1 Cor 2: 9-10.
Okay, the WHOLE chapter! It ends with "But we have the mind of Christ".
Blessings to you, may your spirits be strengthened and encouraged by His,
Sonja
Coming soon:
*Where on the map do we learn this?
and
*PROCESS....
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