Piece of Pie

I am not sure how many people read this blog. I feel I should mention that this blog is like a practice space for me....I'm practicing writing. It's a discipline I would like to be more skilled in. So I read and write and just keep at it. The main part of the discipline at this point is to simply not discard something. I discard almost every thing I pray and process through, in terms of taking the opportunity to share it. In keeping with bucking that trend-here is a little piece of pie from my soul to yours (if that's ok?)!

I just finished a challenging, yet extremely hopeful book by Heidi Baker. I immediately picked up an oldie from John Eldridge. At the end of the H.B. book, she said something to the effect that if you are not in love with Jesus, stop ministering, go fall in love with Jesus, then let everything you do come from that. Then the J.H. book jumps into practically illustrating daily intimacy with Jesus. Something I think all of us probably never need to stop looking at. 

These are two very different writers, with very very different ministries. And it hit me smack in the head! Somehow I forgot, we all have our piece of the divine puzzle, or pie, or what-have you. There is a message God wants each of our lives to speak. As we get to know Him, give Him pieces of Heart, learn how much He likes us...learn what we are and who He is...a word or message gets clearer and clearer. 

I find this HUGELY encouraging. I cannot say whatever it is you are meant to say. You can't say what I'm mean to say. But we all have something beautifully unique...The billions of people on this planet all have super special, necessary word from Jesus to say with their lives. 

May we continue to let Jesus in further and further in our deep, dark places, and into our bright shining places and let the message get more and more clear and bold through us-what ever it may be. Enjoy the differences! 

Jesus

The last several months, the verse having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, has been rolling around in my spirit, wanting some attention. Then Jim and I were just randomly talking about the church increasingly wanting to conform to be socially acceptable (DCtalk song anyone?).

We talked about how a lot of people seem to be comfortable talking about God, but not about Jesus. Then Jim said the phrase from that verse. Having a form of godliness, but lacking the power thereof.

Jesus is the variable between Christianity and any other religion. Yet, He is mentioned so little. And the Cross is avoided, it feels.

I've been reading books by Heidi Baker lately, because I just can't settle for being comfortable in my tiny little world. I need to be jostled, shook up, confronted. She never stops mentioning, LOUDLY, Jesus!  She never lets Him out of the attention of her reader. It's really helping me to  not forget about Jesus. Because I do.

I think He is very uncomfortable to talk about. He did things we can't imagine or understand; and we don't try to understand either. He was such ridiculous love, to people we can't stand, and to us. He is recorded as being angry/mad/mean once. And that meanness was directed at the church. He turned over tables, kicked people out of the temple, in what has been described as a rage. The church. Us. People who wear His nametag.

I am most definitely on this list of those who do not understand our Jesus.

But we need to keep saying His name. He longs for us to make mention, to remember. To not forget His cross. There was a cross, beatings, blood, tears, spit, weapons involved with Jesus' life. That is the power...His blood fell, and with it FREEDOM crashed to the Earth and is still here.

Jesus, because of this cross, is the POWER THEREOF. May we not deny or ignore Him.

2 Timothy 3:5