The trip to Israel was great. We were very blessed to be able to go. There was, as I had hoped and as some of you prayed, many "connection points" that were made there. A connection point being made with a place mentioned in the Bible and a connection made while there with the God of the Bible.
One connection was as I was standing on the Tell Megiddo looking out over what we would now call the valley of Armageddon. The valley is fruitful, peaceful place. Our guide explained that the mountain we could see in the distance across the valley was Mount Tabor, the scene of Israel's victory under the judge Deborah. The high hill with the city on top near it and actually closer to the valley was and is Nazareth. With that comment came a connection point. I never realized that Jesus lived most of his life looking out from Nazareth at what we would call the valley of Armageddon.
Here is what hit me - the Alpha and the Omega were here in this place. The one who created it all, the one who became flesh and dwelt among us all and the one who will come again to conclude it all where here in this place.
I grew thankful for what I knew about Jesus and how the more you know, the more you realize there is to know. He revealed God to us and we can know Him. But I also grew thankful for what I do not know. If everything were revealed to me of what would happen from this day until the day that the events in the book of Revelation regarding that valley are fulfilled, I know I could not stand it or find joy in life. There would be a dread of what is coming that would be greater than my capacity to trust.
What did Jesus think as he looked over that same valley from the elevation of Nazareth? I cannot say I can fathom it but I can say it makes me thankful for what I do not know. I am increasingly thankful that what I do know and what has been revealed, is enough - more than enough.
For the journey...
Tim
Friday, April 27, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Destination Influence
In getting ready for my trip to Israel, I was pouring shampoo from a large bottle into a travel sized bottle. As the smaller bottle began to fill something interesting happened. Because of the thickness of the shampoo, there began to be something of a "pile" or mound of shampoo in the middle of the travel bottle . The stream from the bottle of origin began to pour down the side of this little peak of shampoo in the middle of the bottle and started to move around the mound.
This made a hard task even more difficult because the travel bottle had a small opening and now the stream of shampoo I was pouring began to dance around making it difficult to keep from spilling on the edge of the travel bottle. Thankfully this dancing stream was short lived as the bottle filled up.
It dawned on me how the stream of shampoo became more determined by its destination than its origin. That should be a good thing for us to aspire to as Christians. As I was getting ready for this trip, my thoughts turned more and more to my destination. There were a lot of preparations to make for being in another country. The Christian life ought to be more and more like that as we mature. We should become more influenced by our destination than our origin. We should be getting ready for living in a new place. The difference between my trip and our journey as Christians is that my trip is temporary, our trip and destination as Christians is permanent. We are not getting ready for a visit there we are getting ready to live there eternally.
So what is influencing more of your life today - your place of origin or your destination? What preparations are you making for your journey? Why not start today?
For the journey...
Tim
This made a hard task even more difficult because the travel bottle had a small opening and now the stream of shampoo I was pouring began to dance around making it difficult to keep from spilling on the edge of the travel bottle. Thankfully this dancing stream was short lived as the bottle filled up.
It dawned on me how the stream of shampoo became more determined by its destination than its origin. That should be a good thing for us to aspire to as Christians. As I was getting ready for this trip, my thoughts turned more and more to my destination. There were a lot of preparations to make for being in another country. The Christian life ought to be more and more like that as we mature. We should become more influenced by our destination than our origin. We should be getting ready for living in a new place. The difference between my trip and our journey as Christians is that my trip is temporary, our trip and destination as Christians is permanent. We are not getting ready for a visit there we are getting ready to live there eternally.
So what is influencing more of your life today - your place of origin or your destination? What preparations are you making for your journey? Why not start today?
For the journey...
Tim
Friday, April 6, 2012
Fear Knot
There were days when I was younger that I would get away to the peace and quiet of a spring that ran along the back end of our property in Hope. When I needed to think, when I needed to seriously pray, when I needed to get away, that is where I went.
One spring day when I went there facing some big challenges (funny how I can't remember what they were now). I walked along the Live Oak lined gully that the spring trickled through. I had begun to feel the peace of God in me and I began to see that my problems were not so large. I really sensed that God was with me there.
Then, my solitude was broken by the sound of a pack of barking snarling dogs. The sounded like they were somewhere down the gully on our neighbors property. They were some distance away, but as I listened, it sounded like they were coming my way. Thoughts began to race through my head, where did these dogs come from and what kind where they? It did not sound like they were some one's cow dogs rounding up our neighbors cattle. They sounded like this was a pack of angry dogs up to no good. There was a knot in the bottom of my stomach, what if they continue down this gully and see me? I did not want to find out what that would be like. Stories of dog attacks I had heard from the past sprang to mind.
I decided to run out of the gully and try to get to our truck before they could get to me. I made to the truck, out of breath and more than a little relieved. Then I stopped to listen again. I could hear the dogs in the distance, they were actually going away from me, still barking, snarling and sounding like they were fighting something. I was safe.
Then the oddest thought came to my mind - the disciples in the garden with Jesus as he prayed and Judas came with a mob to arrest him. They had all run away. I suddenly got a glimpse of what it must have been like. They were in the presence of the one who stilled their storms, brought them peace and guided their souls. Then something interrupted their solitude, an angry mob. I am sure they felt an even bigger knot than I did and they ran.
I understood then as I understand now, that fear can rob you of a lot of peace. The desire to survive in the presence of a threat can quickly overwhelm the presence of the one who brings peace. I felt ashamed. I had been there with God, gotten afraid and I had run away to save myself. I have never looked down on the disciples about their running again. I can see how easily it could have happened. They saw a real mob and saw their evil intent. I heard dogs in the distance and imagined what they might do.
The good news is that the one who brings us peace does not run but comes looking for us even in our fear, to bring us an even greater peace. I am glad I have a gracious God. I am thankful for the fear his son faced and overcame. When I think of what he faced, it gets me ready to truly worship him.
For the journey...
Tim
One spring day when I went there facing some big challenges (funny how I can't remember what they were now). I walked along the Live Oak lined gully that the spring trickled through. I had begun to feel the peace of God in me and I began to see that my problems were not so large. I really sensed that God was with me there.
Then, my solitude was broken by the sound of a pack of barking snarling dogs. The sounded like they were somewhere down the gully on our neighbors property. They were some distance away, but as I listened, it sounded like they were coming my way. Thoughts began to race through my head, where did these dogs come from and what kind where they? It did not sound like they were some one's cow dogs rounding up our neighbors cattle. They sounded like this was a pack of angry dogs up to no good. There was a knot in the bottom of my stomach, what if they continue down this gully and see me? I did not want to find out what that would be like. Stories of dog attacks I had heard from the past sprang to mind.
I decided to run out of the gully and try to get to our truck before they could get to me. I made to the truck, out of breath and more than a little relieved. Then I stopped to listen again. I could hear the dogs in the distance, they were actually going away from me, still barking, snarling and sounding like they were fighting something. I was safe.
Then the oddest thought came to my mind - the disciples in the garden with Jesus as he prayed and Judas came with a mob to arrest him. They had all run away. I suddenly got a glimpse of what it must have been like. They were in the presence of the one who stilled their storms, brought them peace and guided their souls. Then something interrupted their solitude, an angry mob. I am sure they felt an even bigger knot than I did and they ran.
I understood then as I understand now, that fear can rob you of a lot of peace. The desire to survive in the presence of a threat can quickly overwhelm the presence of the one who brings peace. I felt ashamed. I had been there with God, gotten afraid and I had run away to save myself. I have never looked down on the disciples about their running again. I can see how easily it could have happened. They saw a real mob and saw their evil intent. I heard dogs in the distance and imagined what they might do.
The good news is that the one who brings us peace does not run but comes looking for us even in our fear, to bring us an even greater peace. I am glad I have a gracious God. I am thankful for the fear his son faced and overcame. When I think of what he faced, it gets me ready to truly worship him.
For the journey...
Tim
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