Let's dream bigger shall we?
Do we believe in a God who created the universe or don't we?
Are we straining towards and anticipating a time when everything, every single thing is made perfect and new?
Or are we settling for half-finished?
Unrealized
Unfulfilled
Unsatisfied
Hiding the uncertainty. Shoving into corners our questions and doubts.
I will not settle for so little. Not plastering smiles over sorrow. I will not settle for tomorrow, when today we're crying out for hope.
I will not settle for a little, when I know God is more. He does not pat us on the head and just tell us it will be worth it someday. Today he also cries with us, weeps with us, heals us, redeems us, carries us, loves us. Today.
If God is who we as Christians say he is, then he is able to heal and restore beyond any and everything we think possible. And when we witness him do it, do miracles it's like a great bubbling up, and laughter. Because of course he has done it. Suddenly it's all clear then. The reason, the timing, the waiting.
I've been crying out to and waiting for you God. I've been waiting for you to break through and fix the unfixable. I'm thirsty to see your goodness God. I want to see you overwhelm with hope those who've lost all hope. I want to see your healing restore. I want to hear laughter that's whole. I want things to be made right. Every thing, not just some things.
I want your kingdom to come.
Our father who art in heaven.
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done.
On earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today, our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.
Amen.
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Saturday, March 2, 2019
Words Don't Scare Me
Words don't scare me. But ideas do.
An idea can destroy kingdoms.
An idea can demoralize nations.
An idea can take root in your soul and poison it until there is nothing left but cold desire and a thirst for something that never was and can never be.
Fear is an extremely potent sort of idea.
The idea that if the worst could happen, it may happen and it will happen. The idea that everything is hopeless, inevetable. Without cause or reason.
Fear says it cannot be overcome. It tells you it cannot be quenched. It tells you it is a virus. Well a virus is like getting a cold.
Yes, that's right. You can protect against it, get flu shots. You can spritz your hands with sanitizer, clean the doorknobs, isolate yourself from coworkers and friends. Yet sometimes even then it will find you. It can catch you unawares.
Then what do you do? If you have a cold you deal with it accordingly. You rest. You drink water. You rest some more.
And the cold doesn't go away, but you manage. Even a particularly persistent cold never lasts forever.
Fear can paralyze. Fear can sting. Fear can poison. But fear cannot kill.
Fear cannot cause you pain. But it is a type of pain. So don't fear what fear can do. Do not fear whatever it is you fear.
Pain is not the worst thing that can happen to you. Because there is beauty there. The greatest poets, athletes, geniuses, works of art have a depth to their joy that comes from the pain they've been put through.
So whether or not you fear has very little do to do with what will happen. And what will happen has little to do with whether or not you fear.
An idea can destroy kingdoms.
An idea can demoralize nations.
An idea can take root in your soul and poison it until there is nothing left but cold desire and a thirst for something that never was and can never be.
Fear is an extremely potent sort of idea.
The idea that if the worst could happen, it may happen and it will happen. The idea that everything is hopeless, inevetable. Without cause or reason.
Fear says it cannot be overcome. It tells you it cannot be quenched. It tells you it is a virus. Well a virus is like getting a cold.
Yes, that's right. You can protect against it, get flu shots. You can spritz your hands with sanitizer, clean the doorknobs, isolate yourself from coworkers and friends. Yet sometimes even then it will find you. It can catch you unawares.
Then what do you do? If you have a cold you deal with it accordingly. You rest. You drink water. You rest some more.
And the cold doesn't go away, but you manage. Even a particularly persistent cold never lasts forever.
Fear can paralyze. Fear can sting. Fear can poison. But fear cannot kill.
Fear cannot cause you pain. But it is a type of pain. So don't fear what fear can do. Do not fear whatever it is you fear.
Pain is not the worst thing that can happen to you. Because there is beauty there. The greatest poets, athletes, geniuses, works of art have a depth to their joy that comes from the pain they've been put through.
So whether or not you fear has very little do to do with what will happen. And what will happen has little to do with whether or not you fear.
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