Further Up and Further In

Discernment is the tickling apart of truth from deceit. Discernment is the sharing authentically, and the noticing of emotion and reaction. Discernment is laying aside our pride and our fear and releasing to objective observation.   It takes humility.   It takes open ears.   It takes clear hearts. Discernment is well-done in community. Those who know you and who love you may be good sounding boards but they may also sway the decision to avoid their own pain, hurt, fear or baggage.   A trusted community with some healthy distance from the issue may yield the truest insights. God does not delight in being un-accessible.   God is not a trickster.   God is not hiding.   Deception comes from our hearts and from the evil one. Can we clear away the “noise?” Can we hear the heart of God?   What rings true? The Bible can offer a measuring stick.   Jesus himself used scriptures in Matthew 4 to rebuke the deceit of Satan. The wise and ...

But how do I know?  How do I know if I am choosing hard things or choosing self-abuse?  How do I know if I am being refined or being exploited? Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness… (Matthew 4:1) We must be Spirit-led. Even the most spiritual, selfless endeavors, if not Spirit-led are folly. David was a man after God’s heart.   He said to his prophet-friend Nathan, “my heart’s desire is to build a beautiful temple for God.   Here I sit in a palace of finery while God dwells in a dusty, blustery tent.” Nathan said – “God is with you, follow what your heart tells you.” But that night, Nathan had a dream. God said, “Excuse me? Were you going to get my input on these plans that you’re making for me??” (2 Samuel 7, paraphrase) Don’t get caught making plans for God. Oh sure, you are welcome to tell God all your great ideas. But then, let God be God of “the plan.” Man makes plans in his heart, but God directs the steps (Proverbs 16:9). Lea...

How is my relationship with God?             Is my heart oriented to seeking, listening and obeying or do I need to pursue a spiritual discipline to refocus?   Think of the parable of the vine and the branches in John 15.   Which areas of my life are producing fruit?   Which parts of me need pruning or other care from the master gardener? How is my relationship with myself?             Am I loving, kind, encouraging and supportive (to myself) like a good friend?   Have I become overindulgent to myself?   Or, the other extreme, am I lacking self-directed grace?   Read Colossians 3 and notice what speaks to you about yourself. How is my relationship with my community?             Are my eyes open to invest in those around me?   Am I open to receiving help from others?   Which c...

 Lent is a time of stretching – testing – trial.  A time in the wilderness. Traditionally, we fast (resetting our relationship with our self), pray (resetting our relationship with God) and give alms (resetting our relationship with our community.   We withhold comforts. We push our bodies.   We gain a healthy dose of suffering.   We stretch our time and energy – can I really pray three times a day?   What about 100?   We stretch our pocket books… well… do we?? Do we stretch our finances like we stretch our hunger (a question for another time)? We stretch, bend, push, embrace discomfort, challenge our routines – but do we ever truly reach the point of suffering?   Do we need to?   Is that important? Before he began his official ministry, the story goes that Jesus went to the wilderness to be tempted and tried - forty days of solitude and fasting. Whether forty days “literal” or forty days “symbolic” (health professionals will advise you...

  Abundance and Generosity Dipping into the endless abundance of an infinite Love-Being. I have all that I need. I have capacity to absorb the needs of others.   My own needs are fully-met. I have ability to be generous – because I’m not giving out of MY supply of time, energy, and love.   I am accessing (as much as I am able) the stores of an infinite Love-Being (who encourages me to give generously).   … more than I could possibly ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). This is not a call to live in abusive relationships – intimate relationships need to be safe. This is not a call to self-abuse. This is not a glorification of suffering – suffering sucks. This is an encouragement that when you reach the end of yourself – you can’t show up one more hour let alone one more minute!   Rest.   Take the time and space that you need.   But also, REST in the knowledge (faith) that you CAN.   You can because it’s not YOUR strength that will get y...

You may not bet the kind of person to eat a vegan diet in the month of January as a post-holiday reset. But I am. You may not be the kind of person to read self-reflection books on minimalism and community building just because they sound interesting. But I am. You may not be the kind of person who pours over lists of my intentions and energy expenditures – prioritizing my money and schedule according to my values and beliefs (budgets and planners are moral documents). But I am. Fasting, solitude, silence, reflection, prayer, introspection, rest… These are things that I do – I don’t know if I can say for “fun” but, in a way, I do delight in them.  They nourish my soul.  I choose to spend my “free” time on them. They help me find meaning. At the same time, I 100% understand that not all people are built this way. That’s ok.  That’s “good” even (in the Genesis 1 kind of “good”).  I am made like me.  I am not made like you.  For instance, I am not made to be s...