Divine Appointments

Thank the Lord Jesus Christ for divine appointments. Thank you, God. I am really thankful for the smallest, most mundane and seemingly insignificant meetings. But to my soul they are the world and the breath I need to press on as a pilgrim. You  know what I need in the tiniest measures. Thank you for reprieves and help me to appropriately understand and accept them.

I Was So Upset Last Night

Excerpted from an email with a friend about an event last night at a local "intellectual" coffee shop.

"Oh wow, that was one experience that I will never forget. Especially after I woke up this morning and saw the news about the Ambassador in Libya and the flag in Egypt. I will write more about the talk later once I can better process it. Ramadan was okay, although I didn't agree with a lot of what he said about economic openness being the best way to achieve peace rather than imposing democracy-which of course has its problems.

But the part that left me so heavy-hearted and infuriated were the "so called enlightened liberal intellectual" old people who were the opposite of open minded and just wanted to hear America-bashing. They were loud, boo-ed people they didn't agree with, heckled, and were otherwise emotional and irrational. I read this line about Politics and Prose, and I really really experienced it last night with the people there: (Politics and Prose is a)  "veritable temple of upper Northwest Washington culture." (I never want to identify with this culture, God help me!)

I wish I could have asked your question. The line was immediate and very long for questions, so I didn't stand a chance. I just went to find PB to cry on his shoulder. Okay, I didn't cry but I felt like it. (Some of) the audience would not even tolerate the intimation that there is PRESENT DAY oppression and problems with the revolutions that happened over the past years. That is what I mean when I say that they are so closed minded. I could almost picture them covering their ears and writhing on the ground, unable to listen to any claim of oppression or persecution in the "inspiring" Arab Awakening.

So it would have been wonderful to have you there, it would have helped my spirit immensely. I prayed a lot before I went, and hoped to see other loving and kind-spirited, thoughtful Muslims and Arabs. Instead, there were mostly America-hating old liberal people who wouldn't let a good question get in without their obfuscating and
being very very distracting.

Okay, you can probably detect my consternation. Enough venting. I hope you have a wonderful, beautiful and inspiring day. I am going to pray for Libya, Egypt, and America."


Peace!
Juliet

More on Intercession of Saints (Including our Friends and Neighbors)

Yet one more reason to ask others to pray for you (specifically those who are more spiritually mature than you).

Two days ago, I wrote about the Oswald Chamber's article about the importance of the righteousness of the soul making the petition. I also quoted the verse: the prayers of a righteous man availeth much or the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective.

Here's another one for today from James chapter one:

5 jIf any of you lacks wisdom, klet him ask God, lwho gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But mlet him ask in faith, nwith no doubting, for the one who doubts is like oa wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 phe is a double-minded man, qunstable in all his ways.

You will see here the the most effective prayer is one asked "in faith, with no doubting..." and the person who doubts is a "double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

So I should ask for prayer from individuals who have faith and not doubt, who are not double minded, and believe that their petitions will receive their answer from God, whether yes or no.

I also must continue to draw near to God through Christ and purify my heart and walk in his light, and raise my own praise and petitions to God as He asks me to. I am definitely not advocating for giving up self-prayer in favor of asking others to pray. But in the event that I would like my prayers to reach and extend farther, I want those with the purest hearts and the greatest faith to pray for me.

Dazzling Witness

Because I am a contemplative person, I experience a lot of internal change. Sometimes I am unable to communicate that change to other people, who may not benefit from my spiritual growth without my communication of the experience. This leaves me feeling ineffective sometimes in sharing my faith and life with others, and being "useful" as a witness of God.

In today's Utmost for His Highest, Oswald writes, "If you keep your relationship right with God, then regardless of your circumstances or whoever you encounter each day, He will continue to pour rivers of living water through you. And it is actually by His mercy that He does not let you know it... God uses the reaction of your life to your circumstances to fulfill His purpose, as long as you continue to walk in the light as He is in the light."

This is extremely comforting and powerful. My witness is ALWAYS on, and it is God's mercy that I don't know it. Hopefully the darkened world is dazzled by the Grace of God in my life and growing thirstier and thirstier for him.

More Goals, and prayer requests

I added some more thoughts/goals/prayer requests. For one thing, I am still trying to "get" that at Confirmation I will be given tangible/literal/objective gifts of God's graces. So, I am wondering about all the little latent "inklings" I have of gifts....for art, for example. Will this seed and hint of gift sprout into something more overt and activated? Hmmm.....this is one thing I will pray for. Another, that I am specifically asking for, is that I will be able to stop biting my fingernails!!

I would love that. Whether or not this will be a manifestation of my "giftedness" at Confirmation, I will nevertheless add it to my "goal" list.

NOT MY NAILS, but similar

Goal: Let my fingernails grow and not bite them!!

My Goals, because, as I quoted before, "If you don't change, you die."

GOALS

Read through the Pulitzer Prize winning book list backwards from 2011 back to 1917.
Learn to hold a handstand for at least thirty seconds.
Volunteer somewhere on the weekends.
Get up at 5am to go to the gym, Mass, and study Scripture before work.

Asking for Intercession of those more Holy?

I have always struggled with the notion that some people’s prayers may be more effective than others. It makes me cringe inside to think that God is more willing to respond to some than to others. But there is the verse in James that says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Or more commonly translated, “The prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective.” (James 5:16).  Some people will claim, “Who is more righteous than the saints in heaven?”

Some individuals I know ask for intercession from the Saints and Mary, because their prayers are pure and effective as they are righteous and alive in heaven with God. I still have a hard time believing that Mary asking something of God on my behalf is more effective than me just asking God myself, since I do have a direct line to the Father. However, I hold my opinions rather humbly these days, and have been open to hearing otherwise from God. 

This morning, I read My Utmost for His Highest, and realized that the spiritual state and quality of the individual praying does indeed matter in God’s response to the prayer. So this leads me to consider the fact that yes, of course the saints and Mary are more saintly and holy than I am because they are in heaven with God. And maybe it is true, then, that God would be more responsive to their prayers than mine, based on Oswald Chambers’ meditation for today. If this is true, then, it is a good reason to ask the intercession of the saints. Why don’t you read for yourself?

The Spiritual Search (My Utmost for His Highest)

 What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? —Matthew 7:9

The illustration of prayer that our Lord used here is one of a good child who is asking for something good. We talk about prayer as if God hears us regardless of what our relationship is to Him (see Matthew 5:45). Never say that it is not God’s will to give you what you ask. Don’t faint and give up, but find out the reason you have not received; increase the intensity of your search and examine the evidence. Is your relationship right with your spouse, your children, and your fellow students? Are you a “good child” in those relationships? Do you have to say to the Lord, “I have been irritable and cross, but I still want spiritual blessings”? You cannot receive and will have to do without them until you have the attitude of a “good child.”

We mistake defiance for devotion, arguing with God instead of surrendering. We refuse to look at the evidence that clearly indicates where we are wrong. Have I been asking God to give me money for something I want, while refusing to pay someone what I owe him? Have I been asking God for liberty while I am withholding it from someone who belongs to me? Have I refused to forgive someone, and have I been unkind to that person? Have I been living as God’s child among my relatives and friends? (see Matthew 7:12).

I am a child of God only by being born again, and as His child I am good only as I “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7). For most of us, prayer simply becomes some trivial religious expression, a matter of mystical and emotional fellowship with God. We are all good at producing spiritual fog that blinds our sight. But if we will search out and examine the evidence, we will see very clearly what is wrong— a friendship, an unpaid debt, or an improper attitude. There is no use praying unless we are living as children of God. Then Jesus says, regarding His children, “Everyone who asks receives . . .” (Matthew 7:8).

Cellular Regeneration

The pop science that I am familiar with tells us that every decade or so, the human body completes a cycle of cellular regeneration, meaning that the old cells die out and are replaced with new ones without our even knowing it. You get a whole new body, then, every so often.

If you are reading this, you should thank me right now for not posting an image of a snake shedding its skin, which it also does periodically. Instead, I will stick with a butterfly life cycle as the symbol of choice moving forward.

In the past few years, I have undergone a complete regeneration, shed completely all of my life, and have grown into a new one. The metaphors could continue:  I have metamorphosed, from a worm to a butterfly. However I think the process continues on as long as we live. Worm, cocoon, butterfly, death. Worm, cocoon, butterfly, death. Worm....continued in perpetuity until raised to new life in heaven. According to a quote from Downton Abbey, we cannot resist change. It's futile: "If we don't change we die."

I have lost a lot. God has gently asked me to give up a lot. Some has been taken from me. Some has been bloodied sacrifice. All of it was painful. But piece by piece it has all fallen away as new growth pushed out the old in preparation for the new. I do not see the future vision. I don't have the view. Only with perspective and time may I ever.

But at least I can be confident that God is calling me to growth and strength and pursuit of the Truth and Good that He has for me. I see how I am in transition into a whole new self, having let go of the old, and clinging to the new. I hope that my heart can catch up to what my mind knows is True. 

If you don't change, you die

"I was determined not to let it change me....It was absurd! If you don't change, you die."
- Matthew Crawley, Downton Abbey

Wall Art?

Strivings

Bitterness is a historian. Forgiveness is an ambassador. Mercy is a nurse. Grace is a philanthropist.

Physical Beauty

 "I believe Satan is aware of the great power we have through faith in Christ's glory. I believe that ancient enemy works to coerce us to prefer the visually stunning to faith. By design he has clouded eyes of faith with eye candy. Satan wants you to prefer your HDTV and retina display to things that nurture your faith. Satan hates when we behold the glory of Christ by faith. Unfortunately, his strategy seems to be working. Many today are more prone to enjoy the beauty of this world by sight than enjoy the glory of Christ by faith.

If you are hungry to see more of Christ's glory, here are a few suggestions. First, spend regular time in God's Word. Open the Scriptures on a mission to see the glory of Christ in His authoritative teaching, compassionate healing, powerful miracles, and humble sacrifice. Let the Old Testament show you the glory of Christ in the promises, prophecies, and predictions about who He would be and what He would accomplish. Let the rest of the New Testament show you the glory of Christ in His compassionate love for the world and glorious mission for His people.

Second, spend time alone with God in prayer, pleading with Him to increase your faith and show you more of His glory. Create regular space and time to think about and meditate on the glory of Christ. Prayerfully set your heart on God's Word, enjoy more of Christ's glory and be swept up in joy unspeakable.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. "

 - By Andrew Hess

Something to put into practice

Bible Study

I love studying the Bible. It is one of my favorite things to do. For the last ten years, I have more or less faithfully studies Scriptures, and I think that it has paid off mightily. I love this verse: "Physical training has some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for the present life and also for the life to come." 1 Timothy 4:8

I am almost done with another Beth Moore Bible study, which will be probably my 8th or 9th, with a few repeats here and there. Next, I want to start studying on my own. My friend Barbara is a great example for me. When she was in high school, she started writing Bible Studies for her sister. Now she is a bona fide scripture scholar, speaks Greek and Hebrew (!) and is getting her Master's degree from a renowned Bible college in Southern California.

This summer a friend and I are leading a Bible study for female interns on Capitol Hill. We decided to study the women in the Bible, and have so far studied Eve, Sarah, Deborah, Esther, and Ruth. The coolest part is that we decided not to follow a book but to come up with the study questions on our own, letting the Word of God speak for itself. I had never done this before, but it has worked really well.

I am also in a Bible study at my church where we are going through the book of Hebrews, chapter by chapter. It is really challenging, and we are studying the scripture and its text alone. It is really helpful.

I decided that as soon as I finish my current Bible study material, I am going to start studying Scripture topically, and my first subject will be "sin." I think it will be interesting to enter into that study for a few weeks and see what the whole of Scripture has to say about it. I pray that God moves my heart and washes me white as snow through the course of the reading.

Love It or Lose It

I am trying a new method of going through my clothes. Several years ago I decided to toss any item of clothing that I never or rarely wear, that had a prominent color or pattern that was not the most flattering, and that was ill fitting, unless I was willing to pay for alterations. That got rid of a lot of clothes.

Then there are some that still linger without my wearing them too often. Sometimes that is because they are "special" and cannot be worn casually. But there are others that sit on hangers week after month after year. I decided today to pick an item and either "wear it or toss it." If I cannot find a way to wear a particular item, it goes in the Good Will bin. If I decide after a day of wearing it that it is not something I love, then I will donate the garment to charity.

Either way, I must make a decision every day to "love it or lose it," or "wear it or lose it." If you see me wearing something that you don't think is particularly nice, please let me know, I really am trying to weed out things that aren't extra special.

The Age-Old Debate: Can Women 'Have it All?'

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/07/why-women-still-can-8217-t-have-it-all/9020/?single_page=true

This is a long article but the gist of it: can you be both a good professional employee and a good mother and wife? The article discusses how hard it is, and possibly impossible, to "have it all."

I guess I don't really have any practical thoughts on what it would be like to be an employee and a mother. But I want to have the mindset that I am not called to "have it all" but to "have Him all."

The only thing I "want" is to stand before the face of God; my career and my family life is only in service to Him. So there can never be a conflict, ultimately. It may seem that way, but at every juncture, I will just choose Him and the rest will take care of itself. I don't want to 'have it all.' I just want to 'have Him all.' I merely have to lay down my personal desires in service to Him..."I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me."

I know this is an extremely spiritual answer, but at the end of the day, I trust in God's sovereignty and I want to put Him completely in charge of my life and my will. This song lyric below shows how we don't have to choose between "having it all" if we singleheartedly choose the One right thing and let him direct our lives. There is no conflict.

I'm giving you my heart, and all that is within
I lay it all down for the sake of you my King
I'm giving you my dreams, I'm laying down my rights
I'm giving up my pride for the promise of new life
And I surrender all to you, all to you

Ultimately, where God guides he provides the will and the way to make things work.

The mystical land of my imagination

Habits and Destiny

Habits and Destiny

  "The long practice of Christian habits embeds faith, hope, and love so deeply within a human life that they can preserve our lives and our character and predict our future activity."

"We are becoming who we will be . . . "

—Dallas Willard

"What shapes who we will become? According to Charles Duhigg, "becoming" happens through a three-step habit loop: cue, routine, and reward. In his The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business (Doubleday Canada, 2012), Duhigg provides scores of examples of habits that have revolutionized individual lives and entire corporations. Habits have helped sedentary, unhealthy smokers kick the cigarettes, start exercising, and become fit, healthy people. Habits helped the Indianapolis Colts, a once-failing professional football team, become Super Bowl Champions. Habits revitalized Alcoa, a once-ailing aluminum manufacturer, transforming it into a Dow Jones top performer. From individual to corporate life, habits manifest change and perpetuate behaviours that shape our lives.

Who Gets the Real Presence, and Who Says?

As someone who now attends a Catholic Church and chooses to abide by the rules and perimeters established by the Church for the good of the flock, I continue to hear many people share that the reason they ascribe to Catholicism is because of the Eucharist. They claim that the Eucharist is the Real Presence, the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus. Further, they claim that the Catholic Church is the only church that can enact transubstantiation because of their direct line of Apostolic succession. Apparently, people--many people--convert to Catholicism to partake of this Holy meal.

This is interesting to me, having been part of the Catholic Church all my life, as well as the Evangelical Free Church, Non-denominational Bible Churches, and the Anglican Church. I celebrated communion and remembered the Last Supper through the body and blood, bread and wine, frequently, in all of these churches. Never did I believe that the bread and wine was not the Real Presence of Christ. While I didn't think too much about it at the time, my default thought was that the elements were the true body and blood of Christ. I assume that many of the other members of those churches didn't consider what they were consuming merely symbolic, either. For the vast majority of Jesus-seekers, regardless of denomination or church affiliation, they view participating in Communion as in fact consuming the body and blood of Jesus, just as He stated emphatically at the Last Supper. To be clear--I have never been a member of a reformed or Baptist church, so I can't speak for their doctrine on Communion-- but in the churches I have experienced, I never considered Communion as a symbol but as the reality of the Eucharist.

This leaves the big question: is "thinking" one way enough? Is it the Real Presence because I think it is, or because the Church says it is, or because the right Priest of the right denomination makes the correct gestures and says the right words over the elements? I don't think so: it is the Real Presence because God makes it so...it is his spiritual law, and he can create and enact the great mystery at his will. Did I consume the Real Presence at my Anglican, Evangelical Free, and Non-denominational churches? I think so. But only God knows.

Big Problem

I am guilty on all counts! Lord, have mercy!


There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him:

• haughty eyes 
• a lying tongue
• hands that shed innocent blood
• a heart that devises wicked schemes
• feet that are quick to rush into evil
• a false witness who pours out lies
• and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Proverbs 6:16-19