A little schmaltzy perhaps but this song from the early 70’s keeps coming to mind this week. . .
For Those Tears I Died
Words and Music by Marsha Stevens
You said You’d come and share all my sorrows,You said You’d be there for all my tomorrows;I came so close to sending You away,But just like You promised You came there to stay;I just had to pray!
And Jesus said, “Come to the water, stand by My side,I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied;I felt ev’ry teardrop when in darkness you cried,And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died.”
Your goodness so great I can’t understand,And, dear Lord, I know that all this was planned;I know You’re here now, and always will be,Your love loosed my chains and in You I’m free;But Jesus, why me?
And Jesus said, “Come to the water, stand by My side,I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied;I felt ev’ry teardrop when in darkness you cried,And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died.”
Jesus, I give You my heart and my soul,I know that without God I’d never be whole;Savior, You opened all the right doors,And I thank You and praise You from earth’s humble shores;Take me, I’m Yours.
And Jesus said, “Come to the water, stand by My side,I know you are thirsty, you won’t be denied;I felt ev’ry teardrop when in darkness you cried,And I strove to remind you that for those tears I died"
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
WRESTLING
“Wrestling with God is not a bad thing. It’s impossible to wrestle with someone who is far away from you. You can only wrestle someone who is close to you. Sometimes we interpret it as failure, but I think God sees it as intimacy.” (Stuff Christians Like Blog 1/30/2011)
I’m not sure how common this is with the younger folk these days. Does anyone remember when you were younger (a long time ago for this guy) when perhaps your dad or an annoying uncle or an older cousin would play a little “rough” with you. I remember times like that and they were fun but at times it could be frustrating too. I remember times when the “bigger” person would put his hand on the top of my head and hold me at arms length while I would stand there flailing about trying to reach him. Because my arms were shorter, I could swing like crazy but never make contact. The person being held would often want to stop in frustration while the holder would continue on thinking it was great sport. Sometimes it would be a good old, get on the floor, wrestling match. This was usually fun even when the older loved one who could “pin” you at any time but was just enjoying the play. I remember doing this with my kids too when they were younger and it was always in good fun.
Recently, I came across the above quote on a blog I enjoy reading. (Stuff Christians Like by Jon Acuff) and was struck by the point that we really only “wrestle” with those we love and are close to. (Unless you are into competitive wrestling, which is completely different and not what I’m referring to.)
I am familiar with wrestling with God. As, I’m sure, almost everyone is. In those most difficult times when we can’t figure it out, when we can’t figure God out, when things go wrong and seem so completely different from the way we would do it, we “wrestle” with God. Why, why me , why her! We get angry, we yell, we cry, we feel entirely helpless and sold out. I get the mental picture of God holding my head at arms length while I flail about swinging, kicking but never really reaching Him with my swings. I also see myself, when exhausted by the exercise, falling into the strong, soft, comfortable arms of God and receiving the biggest, lovingest (apparently that’s not a word, spell check didn’t like it, but I do so I’m leaving it in) hug I can imagine.
Many people have told me that it’s ok to be angry with God, that He has big shoulders and can take it. I think, as this quote states, it is more than that. I think God loves us so much He is pleased that as we struggle we take that struggle to Him. That indicates a level of dependence, of intimacy, that we simply do not have with someone we know really doesn’t care what we think. This verse from 1 Peter 5:7 comes to mind “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Simply put God invites us to cast our burdens, struggles, complaints, anger right at Him because He cares for us, perfectly.
So I will try to remember that. When those things I feel are so wrong inevitably come my way, instead of pouting, having a snit and walking away from God, I pray that I will feel compelled to “wrestle” with my loving heavenly Father and that he will let me have it out with Him until I simply fall into His arms.
Forever Loved
“Wrestling with God is not a bad thing. It’s impossible to wrestle with someone who is far away from you. You can only wrestle someone who is close to you. Sometimes we interpret it as failure, but I think God sees it as intimacy.” (Stuff Christians Like Blog 1/30/2011)
I’m not sure how common this is with the younger folk these days. Does anyone remember when you were younger (a long time ago for this guy) when perhaps your dad or an annoying uncle or an older cousin would play a little “rough” with you. I remember times like that and they were fun but at times it could be frustrating too. I remember times when the “bigger” person would put his hand on the top of my head and hold me at arms length while I would stand there flailing about trying to reach him. Because my arms were shorter, I could swing like crazy but never make contact. The person being held would often want to stop in frustration while the holder would continue on thinking it was great sport. Sometimes it would be a good old, get on the floor, wrestling match. This was usually fun even when the older loved one who could “pin” you at any time but was just enjoying the play. I remember doing this with my kids too when they were younger and it was always in good fun.
Recently, I came across the above quote on a blog I enjoy reading. (Stuff Christians Like by Jon Acuff) and was struck by the point that we really only “wrestle” with those we love and are close to. (Unless you are into competitive wrestling, which is completely different and not what I’m referring to.)
I am familiar with wrestling with God. As, I’m sure, almost everyone is. In those most difficult times when we can’t figure it out, when we can’t figure God out, when things go wrong and seem so completely different from the way we would do it, we “wrestle” with God. Why, why me , why her! We get angry, we yell, we cry, we feel entirely helpless and sold out. I get the mental picture of God holding my head at arms length while I flail about swinging, kicking but never really reaching Him with my swings. I also see myself, when exhausted by the exercise, falling into the strong, soft, comfortable arms of God and receiving the biggest, lovingest (apparently that’s not a word, spell check didn’t like it, but I do so I’m leaving it in) hug I can imagine.
Many people have told me that it’s ok to be angry with God, that He has big shoulders and can take it. I think, as this quote states, it is more than that. I think God loves us so much He is pleased that as we struggle we take that struggle to Him. That indicates a level of dependence, of intimacy, that we simply do not have with someone we know really doesn’t care what we think. This verse from 1 Peter 5:7 comes to mind “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Simply put God invites us to cast our burdens, struggles, complaints, anger right at Him because He cares for us, perfectly.
So I will try to remember that. When those things I feel are so wrong inevitably come my way, instead of pouting, having a snit and walking away from God, I pray that I will feel compelled to “wrestle” with my loving heavenly Father and that he will let me have it out with Him until I simply fall into His arms.
Forever Loved
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
2011
“. . . and don’t blame God, Pat. Death was never his idea. But life is. Please remember that. Life has always been his idea.” The Pawn – Steven James
2011 has arrived. Did you “stay up” as many do to see the clock turn to 12am on the eve of the New Year? It seems as if we stand at the doorway to greet the new arrival, hoping that if we are kind to it as it arrives maybe it, in turn, will be kind to us. After all, many of us have seen several (speaking of myself of course) of these new years come into our lives and with every one we say a little prayer asking for them to be kind. We hope and pray that each New Year will be filled with more blessings and less disasters.
Five years ago we did this very same ritual. When 2006 came to our doorway to join us, we prayed that it would be a blessed year. But for Phil and Lisa and their family and Carol and me and our family (and many others) 2006 was not kind at all. Five years ago today (January 5) Lisa’s husband Phil was taken to his eternal home where he is now with his Heavenly Father forevermore. Everything we know about Heaven tells us that it is an amazing place where our joy is complete, but I’m sure Phil would have preferred to have been allowed to spend a longer lifetime with his precious wife and his wonderful three children, all who were obviously his pride and joy.
Prior to 2006, I would say I didn’t know death. I wasn’t that familiar with it, not in an intimate way. After 2006 I would have to say that I am far too familiar with it. I hate it, it stinks, etc, etc. As Dad VH said, not so long ago, death is so disruptive. It takes a beautiful young family, with a future as bright as the stars and puts a big black hole in it. It changes every thing. Why God?? Why allow this?? Death almost always leads us to question God and his love.
Without getting real religious here trying to explain the why’s, I just want to say that God hates it too, probably more than we can imagine. I love this quote taken from a book I read some time ago. It hit me then as right on the mark, “. . . and don’t blame God, Pat. Death was never his idea. But life is. Please remember that. Life has always been his idea.” The Pawn – Steven James
I pray that whatever happens in 2011, a year sure to be filled with “arrivals and departures”, a year sure to be filled with good things and bad things, that I/you/we can remember that death and suffering were never God’s idea, that life and love and peace are. Phil, Carol and perhaps someone you have loved and lost know that to be true so much more so than those of us who “linger” here on earth.
Blessings to you in this year we call 2011. . .
“. . . and don’t blame God, Pat. Death was never his idea. But life is. Please remember that. Life has always been his idea.” The Pawn – Steven James
2011 has arrived. Did you “stay up” as many do to see the clock turn to 12am on the eve of the New Year? It seems as if we stand at the doorway to greet the new arrival, hoping that if we are kind to it as it arrives maybe it, in turn, will be kind to us. After all, many of us have seen several (speaking of myself of course) of these new years come into our lives and with every one we say a little prayer asking for them to be kind. We hope and pray that each New Year will be filled with more blessings and less disasters.
Five years ago we did this very same ritual. When 2006 came to our doorway to join us, we prayed that it would be a blessed year. But for Phil and Lisa and their family and Carol and me and our family (and many others) 2006 was not kind at all. Five years ago today (January 5) Lisa’s husband Phil was taken to his eternal home where he is now with his Heavenly Father forevermore. Everything we know about Heaven tells us that it is an amazing place where our joy is complete, but I’m sure Phil would have preferred to have been allowed to spend a longer lifetime with his precious wife and his wonderful three children, all who were obviously his pride and joy.
Prior to 2006, I would say I didn’t know death. I wasn’t that familiar with it, not in an intimate way. After 2006 I would have to say that I am far too familiar with it. I hate it, it stinks, etc, etc. As Dad VH said, not so long ago, death is so disruptive. It takes a beautiful young family, with a future as bright as the stars and puts a big black hole in it. It changes every thing. Why God?? Why allow this?? Death almost always leads us to question God and his love.
Without getting real religious here trying to explain the why’s, I just want to say that God hates it too, probably more than we can imagine. I love this quote taken from a book I read some time ago. It hit me then as right on the mark, “. . . and don’t blame God, Pat. Death was never his idea. But life is. Please remember that. Life has always been his idea.” The Pawn – Steven James
I pray that whatever happens in 2011, a year sure to be filled with “arrivals and departures”, a year sure to be filled with good things and bad things, that I/you/we can remember that death and suffering were never God’s idea, that life and love and peace are. Phil, Carol and perhaps someone you have loved and lost know that to be true so much more so than those of us who “linger” here on earth.
Blessings to you in this year we call 2011. . .
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