Definitions

Dedicated to my Pastor, Rev. H Leon Ben-Ezra on the occasion of his retirement

def·i·ni·tions

You taught us what those church words meant

Always pointing to the One He sent.

“Believe the gospel. First repent.”

You taught us definitions.

Through many sermons some of us wept

And I confess through some I slept

But even so, I did not forget

All those definitions.

Hope – waiting on God His promises to keep.

Joy is optimism

Glory – His beauty that runs so deep.

You taught us definitions.

“It always begins with prayer!”

You showed us to not despair

For when your life was not so fair

You lived those definitions.

And now it’s off to Illinois you go;

To Peoria and Chicago

But as you leave always know

You’ve left us with true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, praiseworthy

Definitions.

The Suck It Up Sisters - Part 1 Vacuums vs Milkshakes

Recently, I had a disagreement with a very dear friend.  There was a function neither of us was looking forward to attending. I sucked it up and went. She cancelled out at the last minute, which I did not find out until I got there.

Angry, I sent her a text from the party that said if I could suck it up then she should have as well and shown her face. I was wrong - for being angry and for my mean-spirited text (and for all the evil thoughts I had that no one ever saw or heard or even knows about).  I went to her and apologized - to her and to God.  Both gave me their forgiveness.

A few days later she and I exchanged texts:

ME:  I'm going to order us t-shirts that say "The Suck It Up Sisters".  Should our logo be a vacuum cleaner or a straw?

SHE:  Ha! Ha!  Definitely vacuum We suck up all our garbage. :) Plus straws make me think of milkshakes and now I want a milkshake. :D

With all due respect to my friend, she's wrong,  The logo should be the milkshake. It's not our job to do the cleaning because Jesus already has. For example:

"Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow..." (Is 1:18)

And then there's:

"For all of us have become like the one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment..." (Is 64:6) BUT...  "He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying 'Remove the filthy garments from him'.  Again he said to him, 'See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festive robes.'" (Zech 3:4) (emphasis mine)

To support the milkshake, there are these verses:

"Taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Ps 34:8)

"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Ps 119:103)

"Your words were found, and I ate them; and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts." (Jer 15:16)

Certainly, there are times when we're called to "suck it up".  There is:

"Then Jesus told His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me."  (Matt 16:24)

And:

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Yet, all too often I suck it up in the wrong manner for the wrong reasons.  I put on a mask of happiness because "God loves a cheerful giver" (2Cor 9:7) or at least that's the reason I tell myself. In fact, it's more likely I don't want people to think badly of me or I want people to think I've got it all together.

Removing my mask makes me vulnerable.  There will be people offended or who won't like the real me (ouch);or some will try to comfort or help me, bruising my self-reliant pride (double ouch); or they will confront me on some sin they see (oh, just kill me now!).

In so many instances, my reasons for sucking it up are sinful. Yet, as my pastor often says, once something is identified as sin it's easy because we know the remedy for sin - repent and believe in the gospel. Yes, I know it's easier said than done; but it's true and well worth the effort

The Promised Land was described as a land flowing with milk and honey. The Word speaks of fruits of repentance (Matt 3:8).  I see a strawberry milkshake there, folks!  Or banana smoothie whatever your pleasure.

It's really hard to suck up the milkshake through a mask.  The little mouth holes aren't big enough and they knock the straw around. To fully enjoy what God has offered us through Jesus we need to remove our masks.  Some of those around us might be surprised by what we really look like, some will be frightened away.  But those that know and love us best already knew what we looked like anyway.  And none of them know us better or love us more than Jesus.

Jesus' Curfew - A Poem

About two months ago my friend, Adiel and I went to Poets' Hall to listen to some folks read their poetry.  We had a great time meeting people from all walks of life coming together to share their compositions from a variety of poetic styles.  We enjoyed ourselves so much that we returned and now have vowed that at our next visit we will actually share some of our work (eek!).

At that first visit, a reporter from the Erie Times-News was there interviewing some of the artists and audience members.  When the article was published a few weeks later I read it with interest.  In the article, the proprietor of Poets' Hall, Cee Williams was quoted as saying their only rule was "no Jesus after 10:00 pm".  Later, on his Facebook page Cee said he hoped people realized he was only kidding when he said it.  I have no reason to believe otherwise; I've got quite the talent for quick quips that can be taken the wrong way, so I can relate. 

Yet, the idea that there was a time limit on Jesus got some ideas percolating in my head.  This is what was brewed. 

Dedicated to Cee

Jesus’ Curfew

“No Jesus after ten-o’clock”, said Cee,

Albeit, with a grin.

“They’re a rough crowd here.

We can’t possibly let Him in.

He’ll feel uncomfortable and awkward

The LORD we might offend.

To His religious sensibilities

We can’t possibly attend.

The folks that come have been abused and hurt

And down on their luck.

They need to release their pain

Quite often they say ‘Fuck’”

The Lord listened to all of this

And then He spoke to Cee

“You’ve got it all wrong

Who did I hang out with when I lived in Galilee?

They were tax collectors and fishermen

Even prostitutes.

It was to the overly religious crowd

My message didn’t compute.

When my friends and I hung out and talked

The language could turn blue

(Although when those guys cursed

It was in Hebrew).

I conquered sin and death, my friend.

I've been to hell and back.

With your repentance, God’s forgiveness

My love you’ll never lack.

So the folks at Poets’ Hall are earthy.

I really like that!

Remember when God created man

It was with dirt in which He spat.

So ten-o’clock’s my limit, huh?

That curfew I will flout.

‘Cause I’m King of kings and Lord of lords

How ‘ya gonna keep Me out?”

Power Up - NaNoWriMo Prayer - Day 4

Dear LORD,

Bless my writer friends with the energy and stamina to complete the 50,000 word task set before them.  Guide them to make right and healthy choices - to not stay up (too) late, not overdose on caffeine and sugar, but to make healthy choices so they may stay alert and focused.

Keep their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual batteries charged.  And also keep their electronic batteries charged up, as well!  In this day of laptops, Wi-Fi, and Internet don't let them suffer technical glitches that would discourage them.  May the only power surge they experience be one from Your Spirit, that encourages, inspires and helps them in their writing.



Let the River Run - NaNoWriMo Prayer Day 3

Dear LORD,

I pray for my NaNoWriMo friends that the words flow from their hearts and minds through their fingers and on to the paper (or computer screen).  The current might be fast or it might be a mere trickle, but let them be comfortable with the pace with which You have set to release their thoughts.

If any dams should block their way, I ask You to break them up; pulverize them so their creativity might stream forth.

 

 



God and the Great American Novel - NaNoWriMo Prayer Day 2



So, it's day two of National Novel Writing Month  or NaNoWriMo.  I'm thinking about all my writer friends and wondering how to pray for them today.  Did you know God is an author, too?  Sure, we all know He wrote the Bible (I don't think any of my NaNoWriMo friends aspire to that level) but the Word also says He is the "author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).

God knows what it is like to write, to create, just as they are doing.  Though He does not struggle to find just the right word, and has never had to edit Himself; still He knows the process and how much work it is to compose.  When He created us in His image, one facet of His personality that He imparted on them was the love of words and The Word. 

The entire Hebrews passage follows for context:

  1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.                                Hebrews 12:1-3

NaNoWriMo is just one small lap in the race set before you all.  I pray that in this portion of the race you are able to set aside all the encumbrances, sins and distractions that might keep you from your goal and that you endure this challenge to the final chapter.

No No NaNoWriMo

A number of my writer friends are partcipating in NaNoWriMo (that's National Novel Writing Month for you ill-informed), in which they will attempt to write a. 50,000 word novel by the end of November.

I am not participating. I do not write fiction. Correction: I do not write fiction WELL so I am wisely forgoing the attempt.

However, because I love my friends and want to support them in this adventure, though I will not be accompanying them I will help them "carry their baggage". That is, I pledge to pray for them each day of their novel journey. 

Today, I ask God to bless their efforts. It is from Him they received their gift and desire to write.  He blessed them with great imaginations. During NaNoWriMo, may they bless Him back with their compositions.