From. Through. To. HIM.

Spending more time in the Old Testament has proved to bring a greater understanding of the grace of God. As I read the words I’ve read before, that so often ring with rules and standards, my perspective begins to change as I begin to look for the character of God revealed in the structure He gives to His people. As I read Exodus and Leviticus, the theme that starts to emerge is one of holiness.   The holiness of God that demands a holy place and people becomes evident.       Further internalizing this truth begins to change the tone of the words that I am reading.   Where once commands seemed harsh and impersonal, now they seem tender and gracious. A holy God that can only exist within a holy environment could easily pull away from humanity.   How much easier it would be to leave the people of Israel to themselves.   But, He doesn’t. The laws and rules and standards and structure are all for the purpose of creating a space in which God...

It’s good Friday.   The words of Bonhoeffer ruminate in my head and the world around me vacillates between winter and spring. The day, the words, the surroundings speak of death. Those trailing flowers I pass by every day on my way to work have moved from tiny buds to full-fledged blooms and I’m reminded that death always brings about life. The words of a wise man, spoken years ago in a time of vision seeming to die, ring in my head again: “In order for something new to come, something has to die.” It speaks a hope over the death of dreams and a season that has made me aware of just how failing my flesh is.   The thoughts leave as quickly as they enter and I go about my day. I find myself skimming the newspaper handed to me by the man changing my oil.   My eyes are drawn to a section on chronic pain and I read about a newer perspective of doctors regarding this issue: the focus has shifted from attempting to take away all pain, to trying to re...

There’s nothing like being in the midst of holiday traffic to make you consider thoughts of the season. It’s as I’m driving down a often seasonally-congested road that my mind wanders to what I will be giving different people for Christmas this year.  I’m trying to come up with ideas for things that each person really could use, but also something creative that they may not have thought of needing.  I want it to be practical, but also have a unique flair.  I think about my desire to get just the right gift and suddenly I’m struck by a new thought:  The ability to give a gift like that requires knowing the person.   Perhaps, then, our deep desire to give just the right gift, and our excitement over receiving such a gift, exists because it proves that we know and are known. And, of course. Should we expect any less from an action reflective of the greatest gift ever given? We have been given a gift that is practical, yet extravagant; needed, y...

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. This sentence comes right after a verse about giving up sins.   And I’m contemplating what it looks like to give up my sinful ways of thinking and replace it with the way Jesus thinks.  I’m wondering what it means to “put [him] on.” And the weather has begun to change, so I pick out a shirt that I haven’t worn yet that’s more suited for this fall-ish weather.  It’s one of many hand-me-downs that my best friend has given me. And I go to church, and the thing I keep sensing the Spirit telling me is that I am loved.  That I need not consider the thoughts and opinions and judgements of others, but rather listen to what He is speaking over me: that I am fully loved. That I need to really believe that I am not perfect, nor will I be here on this earth. That most of the anxiety and uncertainty that I experience is because I keep trying to reconc...