I don't want to be a hypocrite, because they arn't hip with it!

After listening to sermon on Sunday I have been meditating on my “posture” as Christian. I have not been mediating on if I am or am not sitting up straight in the pew! I do have one or two better things to think about. Ok so getting that silliness out of the, what does “posture” mean?

Looking in the dictionary you will read:

 pos·ture  (pschr) n.

1.  a. A position of the body or of body parts: a sitting posture. b. An attitude; a pose: assumed a posture of angry defiance.

2. A characteristic way of bearing one's body; carriage: stood with good posture.

3. Relative placement or arrangement: the posture of the buildings on the land.

4. A stance or disposition with regard to something: "Those bases are essential to our military posture in the Middle East" (Gerard Smith).

5. A frame of mind affecting one's thoughts or behavior; an overall attitude.

Not terribly helpful. Number 5 is the only one that gives us any insight. One of the definitions that the speaker gave on Sunday was “posture is what we believe and how we behave and act.”

As a Christian I believe certain things, such as all human life is valuable because we are all created by God and made in His image. That is my “thinking” or “belief” part of my Christian posture. The part I have been mediating on is the behaviour or action part. It is one thing for me to believe something but it is quite another thing for me to act out that belief.

The other part of this mediation has been on my words, which are essentially my thoughts spoken out (not all of them as that would be both overwhelming and at times disturbing). I can say and think many things, such as that I need to love my neighbour as love myself. I both think and say that this is truth; I believe that as follower of Jesus I should actively love people around me. Do I behave or act this out? Sometimes, but to be honest not even half the time. I more often than not get angry rather than be patient, I am rude rather than kind, I am rough rather than gentle, and the list goes on and on! Oh gosh!

I need to be putting my actions where my mouth is! I can talk the talk but do I walk I walk the walk? The honest answer is no. I enjoy talking about loving people, debating the ins and outs and pointing fingers. But to be honest I do not always enjoy loving people. This reflection has humbled me.

One of the conclusions I have come to is that I need to shut my mouth more often. Instead of talking about loving people I need to start loving people! This can only be done by the grace of God. I have been praying, and I would really appreciate your prayers. My desire is that I would be like Jesus. I want to love people with more than my words; I want to love them with my actions. I need this transformation to happen because I am not ok with being a hypocrite. Thank Jesus that He is faithful to complete the good works He has begun in me.  Amen!

Mother God?

It is Mothers Day today. In honor of all mothers and women out there I am going to spend a little time reflecting on God as a mother/female.

I know that this topic can be very controversial. This is not going to be an extensive argument; I am only throwing out a few verses and thoughts for you to chew on. Note: that I did not come up with this list on my own, I googled references to God as a mother in the bible, and this is some of what I found.

Please read, and ask God to speak to you, if there is any truth in this may it sink into your hearts and minds and impact your relationship with God in a deeply intimate way.

Female Images of God in the Bible

   

Genesis 1:27 Women and Men created in God’s image

“Humankind was created as God's reflection: in the divine image God created them; female and male, God made them." 

Hosea 11:3-4 God described as a mother

God: “Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I who took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.”

Hosea 13:8 God described as a mother bear

"Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and tear them asunder...”

Deuteronomy 32:11-12 God described as a mother eagle

“Like the eagle that stirs up its nest, and hovers over its young, God spreads wings to catch you, and carries you on pinions.”

Deuteronomy 32:18 God who gives birth

“You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.”

Isaiah 66:13 God as a comforting mother

God: “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

Isaiah 49:15 God compared to a nursing mother

God: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”

Isaiah 42:14 God as a woman in labor

God: “For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept myself still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor, I will gasp and pant.”

Jeremiah 44:25 Queen of Heaven

“Thus says…the God of Israel: You and your wives have accomplished in deeds what you declared in words, ‘We are determined to …make offerings to the queen of heaven and to pour out libations to her.’ By all means, keep your vows and make your libations!”

Psalm131:2 God as a Mother

“But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.”

Psalm 123:2-3 God compared to a woman

“As the eyes of a servant looks to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to you, YHWH, until you show us your mercy!”

Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 God as a Mother Hen

Jesus: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

Luke 15:8-10 God as woman looking for her lost coin

Jesus: “Or what woman having ten silver coins, is she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Compiled by the Women’s Ordination Conference: http://www.womensordination.org/ - (202) 675-1006 - woc@womensordination.org

When I pray to God I never say Mother God, it is only ever Father God. God has decided to relate to us as a Father and of course Jesus was a male. There are all kinds of practical and cultural reasons for this and ultimately God knows best and has a reason for choosing to relate to us as a male and I am going to accept His decision, because He is GOD!

This being said, God is Spirit (see John 4:24) and therefore God is neither male nor female. I think it is profoundly important to experience God as a Mother, because to only ever experience God as a Father is to miss out on experiencing Him fully. I have not entirely formulated this thought, but I do know that I need to experience God’s love, and since God is love, I need to experience God. I have had glimmers, but I want and need more! Maybe reflecting on God as my Mother will open my heart and mind to aspects of God that I have been missing out on.

What do you think? Is God not only our Heavenly Father but also are Heavenly Mother? If so, then are we missing out on parts of Gods character by limiting God to a male?

Losing My Life

Matthew 10: 39 He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 16: 25"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Mark 8: 35"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.

Luke 9: 24"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

Luke 17: 33"Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

John 12: 25"He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.

OK! I think I get the point: If I try and keep my own life, my ways of doing things, plans and ambitions I actually will not be truly living.  It is only when I surrender and give up my life, my way of doing things, my plans and my ambitions and let Jesus lead me in His way, His plans and His ambitions that I will be truly living.

In John 14:6 Jesus say that “He is the Way, and the Truth and the Life.” More and more I am trusting that He is really truly the Way the Truth and the Life. It is easy to say these words but difficult to trust and live out Jesus’ ways and His’ truths and His’ life, not my own.  

Going to War College is a step in faith as well as a testimony to the work Jesus is doing in my mind and heart. As I spend time with Jesus in prayer, praise and reading His Word, I am getting to know Him more intimately and I am learning that His ways are Truth and Life. As I let go of my ways of doing things, my plans and ambitions He is creating in me the desire to follow His ways. Moving to the DTES for a year to live and love among the some of the most  poor and broken of our society is not my way, but it is Jesus’ way and I am trusting that I will experience life and life to fullest as I walk with Jesus.

So, it is as I lose my life that I will I will actually find it? This sounds like foolishness, yet most of us have experienced it before. Think about how great you feel when you give a gift or you spend some time volunteering. You probably feel really great, right? This is just a small taste of giving up your life (time, money etc.) and finding a fulfilled life (fulfillment, joy, contentment etc.).  My challenged to you is to examine your own life, where are you holding onto your ways of doing things, your plans and your ambitions? My encouragement to you is to let go of your life and to pick up Jesus’ life, because He is the Way, the Truth and the LIFE! When you do this you will be truly living!

Is that you God?

How do you know what the will of God is? How do you “hear” from God? How do you know when God is calling you?

These are age old questions that people have been discussing since, I imagine, the beginning of creation.  I don’t have the answers; I am just part of the discussion. Today I would like to contribute to the discussion my recent experience.

How do I know that I am in the will of God? How do I know that I am “hearing” God’s voice? How do I know that God is calling me to go live in the DTES for a year?

One day as I was sitting at my computer working on filling out an application for a job and the thought came to my mind “War College. Go to War College.” At the time I believed that this was the inaudible voice of God because it was an unexpected thought and I had not thought about The War College in about 2 years.  I didn’t want to base any decision on one thought, even if I believe it is the voice of God, so I started to pray and ask for confirmations. I asked God to give me confirmations in His written word. I asked God to put Bible verses in my path that would confirm what I believe He had spoken to me. Throughout the decision making process, through my own reading of the Word, people around me, Sunday Church service, and Bible studies I received many Bible verses that confirmed in my mind and heart that The War College was in line with God’s will. I also sought out wise council. I emailed and phoned my pastors, mentors, family and friends that I trusted and asked them to be praying for me, to check out The War College website and let me know what they thought about it. I talked it all over with my pastors, mentors and family. I received full support from my wise council, another confirmation that this was the will of God for me.  While doing all this I prayed, I spoke to God, I journaled, I told God what I was thinking and feeling, I asked Him to open and close the doors, and I asked Him to confirm it in my mind and heart. One door that God opened, was that I had a tight deadline to get my War College application completed so that I could receive a 10% discount, and I made the deadline.  Maybe one of the greatest confirmations was that when I went to RAW, with a handful of fears I came home with peace and excitement. This is not an exhaustive list, only a short sample of how God has confirmed in my mind and heart that I am in His will, that I did hear His voice and that He is calling me into the DTES.

How do you know what the will of God is? How have you “heard” from God? How is God calling you and how do you know?

I would really like to hear your stories...

Spiritual Boot Camp

Spiritual Boot Camp Check out this article about The War College.

I will be writing something of my own over the next few days. I am just tierd and distracted today, and I am not in the right frame of mind to put my thoughts down on "paper." I hope you find this article interesting and insightful to what I will be doing next year.

Many many blessings on you all, Maria

loving God and loving people

I ended my last post saying “I believe that Jesus wants to use this experience to continue to teach me about loving God and loving people” … OK that sounds all warm and fuzzy but what does it practically look like on a day to day bases?

To be honest I am not entirely sure. I think learning to love is a lifelong lesson.

This is some of what I think I may know about it at this moment in time, but I don’t doubt that these will shift and change as Jesus teaches me to love.

It says in God’s Word that we are to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. I understand that to mean I am loving God when I honour Him with my whole being, in all I do and say. I am reading through the book Song of Solomon right now, and Jesus is opening up my heart and mind to how much He loves me, and how He desires for us to be in an intimate love relationship. So, I think that I love God when I spend time with Him, in silence, mediation, prayer, praise, and reading His’ Word. As I experience God’s love for me in deeper ways, and love Him back, I will naturally start to love people more and more, because as I spend time with God I will become more like Him, as we do with anyone we spend a lot of time with, and since God is love, I will become more loving.

1 Corinthians 13 tell us that:

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies.

WHOOAAAA WOMAN! That is quite the list! If I put my name in front of each “item” of this list I would be a liar! So now what? I can see that this is love, and I’m clearly not measuring up. First, I take a deep breath and remember that Jesus is love and that His Spirit is working in me to produce His fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control! Second, I relax because although I am not this picture of love right now, I know that I am not the one who has to paint the picture, Jesus is, and He has promised that as I spend time with Him in an intimate relationship He will do all the painting!

So there you have it, I don’t know a lot, but what I do know is that the key to loving God and people in a practical every day way is to be in an intimate love relationship with Jesus through silence, mediation, prayer, praise and reading His’ Word.

That’s it for now. If you have any thoughts or comments I would love to hear them, let’s walk this journey together, learning and growing together and encouraging one another in the ways of LOVE.

A Purpose Driven Life

YOU: Why are you going to The War College?

MARIA: Jesus is compelling me to go.

YOU: What?

MARIA: Good question. Saying “Jesus is compelling me to go” does not necessarily bring clarity to the question. Let me try and explain what I mean by it.

For years and years now whenever I hear or read about people living extreme lives for, to and through Jesus I have almost physically felt a pull to go and do like wise. Then I start to think about all the things and stuff I would have to give up - comfort, space, free time - to only name a few and I think maybe it’s not for me. Two year ago, before I had been accepted into the University of Victoria’s Social Work program I was introduced to The War College and felt the pull to go. I told God, or maybe a better way of saying it is I suggested to God, that if I did not get into the Social Work program that I would go to The War College, but if I did get in then I would wait. After many months of waiting and praying I got into the University of Victoria!

Fast forward almost two years and it is the end of February 2011 and I am preparing to graduate, I have a plan, a plan to get a job and to start saving up money to get my own place. I had almost completely forgotten about The War College until one day while sitting at my computer filling out an application I hear God whisper, in an almost audible voice, “War College.” I will be completely honest my first thought was NO! No I’m not doing War College, I don’t want to do War College, I don’t want to give up my comforts, it is to hard for me, no I don’t want to go. Then I spent some time talking with God about it, reading the Bible and talking with some wise people in my life, and I quickly, within a week, knew that The War College was where God was directing me. I had a plan, a nice safe and clean plan, but God turned that plan on its head and reminded me of His plan. The best part of this story is that I want to do God’s plan, because this is what I desire to do, I had forgotten, but God had not and He is so faithful to remind me. Thank you God.

I am an extreme person. My mom who knows me best, next to God can testify to this, while actually anyone who knows me at all can be witness to this! Haha God created me this way, He created me to be extreme, to live extreme. When I am not, when I try to live a “normal” life, not there is anything wrong with a “normal” life if that is where God has placed you, I go off the deep end trying to find passion and meaning. I experienced this recently when I spent 5 months drinking and partying. One Bible study I was sharing with the group that I was bored, and this scared me because when I get bored I get in to trouble. My wise and gentle Pastor John said “I don’t think you are bored I think you are feeling like you have no purpose.” At first I did not agree, but after thinking about it I saw that he was dead on. The book that was the catalysis for me to decide to follow Jesus was A Purpose Driven Life. I remember reading that book and thinking I want to live a meaningful life, I want to have a purpose, and Jesus seems to have the answers, so I am going to follow Him. This is still true six years later; I want to live a life of meaning and purpose.

YOU: So, why are you going to War College?

MARIA: I am going to The War College because I believe that Jesus is calling me to go live and learn with some of the most broken and lost of our society. I believe that Jesus wants to use this experience to continue to teach me about loving God and loving people.