DELIGHT!

Ahhh, beautiful 1^st picture of 2^nd grand baby!  We are over the moon again!  What is it about a whole new person being formed and coming into the world that brings such excitement and joyful anticipation to my heart?  Sweet baby – you are a delight!  We delight in you and who you are and all that God placed in you to pour out and share generously!

Delight, it seems people do not think much about it.  The word has fallen low on our list of regularly used vocabulary.  Just the word itself, actually saying it, verbally forms pleasure- DE- LIGHT!  It’s so full of promise!  A form of joy – delight is that brightening upon contact with, that ecstatic pleasure taken in something or someone.   It’s the look that loving grandparents have when they see their grand babies – eyes brimming over with love and thankfulness.  It’s that look that good mamas and daddies have - that radiant glow in their eyes for their beloved babies.  It’s that indescribable exhilarating sweetness!

God made us for delight!  We are formed, designed, to first receive delight from God (you can’t give what you have not received) and then we can properly delight in Him!  His true love for us delights us – we take pleasure in his love for us!  But the true place of delight unstoppable is when we delight in Him.  He is the place of significance and value, He holds untellable goodness – He is the source of all things excellent, noble, majestic, perfect, deeply beautiful, loving and kind – He’s holy – no other like Him, the pinnacle and manifestation of true goodness.  His heart is the only true, safe place to find value and worth in and to give value and worth to.  We are safe in His love and His delight in us is genuine.   When we were placed into Jesus (which truly – was before we were ever born) – His radiant look of love and delight were upon us – deeply engaging everything within us.    We have only to look into His eyes to engage once again, deeply.  And, we can practice learning how to do that more frequently and readily.  Funny, when we do that – we become delight!

I have some friends who have trouble looking into God’s eyes and seeing His delight for them.   There have been many things put into their path that has gotten in the way of them properly seeing God’s eyes upon them.  They actually think He does not even look at them or think about them at all.  They don’t know.   Some have been wounded and blinded by other people or situations and have taken that to mean that God is somehow bad or doesn’t care or that somehow, maybe, they just don’t measure  up to deserve His love and delight.  Well, the good news, no one measures up – no person is of themselves, without God, good enough to be worthy.  That’s what makes God’s over the top love and delight so very good!! Actually, God is just really that amazingly generous and kind.  He loves people, warts and all! No person alive is perfect – we all (if we are truthful) know that we have many flaws.  We’d like to think of ourselves as good persons (and we can fool ourselves by thinking we can somehow perform more good to sort of earn worth and outweigh the not so good in us – but, it is a sham, a lie).  The GREAT NEWS, God loves us when we could never be in any sense worthy of love – we could never earn His love and delight (though that is sometimes disconcerting as we prefer to run our own show and make our own way) .  Jesus came and gave himself in order for people to know and be connected to God, who loves them so very much.  He wanted every bit of connection with people, who He loves.  He knows who He has formed each person to be and He – the creator – is the only one who can properly value and fulfill each one.   Each one will only ever be fully who they truly are designed to be by Him and content, truly satisfied, in connection with Him.  All other “selves” we think we could be outside of connection with Him are false and unfulfilling.  They are counterfeits – cheap knock offs.  Many folks are walking around as cheap knock offs of themselves, shunning God’s love and delight and instead embracing their own lifeless, death filled “self –justification”.  They don’t know the maker invites them to live vibrantly fully alive in His delight as the real article.  I love telling them, helping them to ponder it, inviting them to just taste and see!   It’s something I delight in!

    Psalm 1:2

But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

 


    Psalm 18:19

He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.

Psalm 27:4

The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.

Psalm 37:4

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

I'm Expecting

I’m Expecting! Yeah, I’m over 50 now and have had 4 children, so, most people would not think it – but, I’m expecting! I want to shout it from the roof tops I’m so excited about it! Before, I never really thought something this wonderful would happen to me. No, no – Bob and I are not having another child.  But, yes, I am expecting!! 

How can it be?  Yes, Mary asked that same question and she was a virgin, never with a man.  The angel told her how the Holy Spirit would come over her and she would bear the child Jesus, who would save the whole world.   It’s the same with me!  Though I'll not have a baby - the real Jesus is being formed and born in me.  It's an expectant life - not knowing exactly what will play out, but knowing the greatness of the One who made it all and is active in every moment. Mary, you’re such a great encouragement in modeling how to walk through this. When I gave my life to Jesus and accepted the blood of his life given for me and received the newness of His resurrection – the Holy Spirit also came over me and now I too am expecting - bearing Jesus.  May it be to me as you have said, Lord.  Could you tell, am I showing yet? New moms, we're always wanting to show. Haha!

Each new moment with Jesus growing in me is a wonder.  Though there are days where there is no room in the crowds of the people of the world for Jesus to be birthed - birthed he IS!  Where many hearts are not open to his coming, there still are angels and host in the heavenlies announcing Him with great joy, shepherds in fields who see the signs and wise men – there are still those who come, who rejoice and gladly and humbly bear him the gift of their hearts.  Oh and I have the aches and pains that new birth brings, I’m certainly walking and moving differently these days.  My gait is changed drastically – you cannot be expecting without THAT! But, the evidence of the new Jesus life in me only makes me more and more overjoyed. I'm so grateful. The little kicks and movements of Jesus in me – they delight me so and fill me with awe! My soul magnifies you, Jesus. What an amazing life, he is so very real in me.  I never expected so much goodness and I marvel. Yep, there’s no denying it now, I’m heavy with expecting!  And, I loved putting on the new clothes attendant with expecting Jesus – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control – these are not only beautiful and stylish (better than anything I’ve ever worn before and they are so me now!), but they are so functional (they allow me the freedom I need with growing Jesus in me).  And, remodeling has been taking place too - my life and my family's life - we have new areas fit and continuing fitting for the King of Kings!  Do I sound a little giddy?! Well, really I am and I don't care who knows it! :) It is brash and too much! Yes, it is. Because Jesus really is THAT GREAT! And the good news of not only His coming, but coming to live in us - well, IT IS JUST TOO MUCH!  I can take no credit for it - but I shall take great joy in thankful outrageous rejoicing about it! Isn't that what makes good news so good?!!  It is worthy of a real response that big and bigger! 

Ahh, and as I look around – so many others throughout history, now and into the future are expecting too. It’s quite a maternity ward, the earth!  Men and women, children and elderly, people of every tribe and tongue on the earth – Haha!  Quite a Kingdom, I'd say.  You can always tell when you meet an expectant one (wherever they are in their gestation), they are always glowing with Jesus – oh, He shines quite marvelously! The further on they are, the more He’s out front!  Ha!

Are you expecting too?  Oh, my dear friends and family - I wish for you the same as me, that you would also be expecting Jesus in you.  And, I don’t just wish it on Christmas (though that is a fabulous time to enjoy Him).  I pray it and wish it every day, for you - truly! Our heavenly Papa’s joy over you and all your loved ones this Christmas! And wonder – the deep kind that makes your mouth kind of drop open a bit – wonder of Jesus!  Love and hugs, oh yes, if you can get your arms around me - Haha!

Invisible

I glanced at him speaking with a woman as I walked into the grocery store.  A wave of pain hit me as I looked at my watch and hurried in. Goodie week necessitated crackers, cream cheese and salsa, so I’d left a little early to pick them up on the way to work.  As I brought my items to the one open register there he was, this young man talking with the checker about a phone.  The white hospital wrist band peeked out from under his hoodie sweatshirt sleeve as he stood talking.  The checker asked the man to wait as she called the store manager, and then turned to greet me.   As I was swiping my debit card I had a prompting to get cash for this man and hand it to him.  I never carry cash – but when I get promptings I purpose to act immediately upon them.  As I finished up my transaction the store manager came and was talking with this man.  I felt torn – I thought that I was supposed to give this to him, but he was walking away with the manager.   I picked up my bags and halted, looking to see again, then walked out.  I thought, “Well, Papa, I thought you said to give this to the man, but maybe I didn’t hear you right”.

Just then, as I’m stepping off the curb to open my car, the man walks out of the store and right in front of my parked car.  “Ha-ha!”.  So, I pull out the cash and walk over to him.  I let him know that I didn’t know if it would be helpful, but that I had been prompted to give him some cash.   Up close, he looked very fragile and alarmingly bruised and battered.  The purple mottling on his right temple and dried bloody cut over the bridge of his nose along with the haunting look of pain in his eyes completely assaulted me.   He thanked me and began to tell me that he’d had seizures and was just discharged from the hospital. He had no ride, no phone and needed to try to call someone.  He said everyone looked at him as though he were a monster or some sort of serial killer and all of them sent him off - no help.  I only saw a lost pain filled person in front of me. I asked him his name.  “Tyler”, he said. “Tyler, would it be alright if I prayed for you?”  “Yes, actually, I really need that”, he said.  So, he sat on the bench in front of the store and I prayed for him for some time all the things Jesus poured out over Him.  At that point I looked at Tyler.  I was not yet, but soon would be late for work.  But, I felt God prompting me to care for this man – regardless of late.  I asked the Lord what else I was to do for him.  “Tyler,  I don't have a phone, but, do you have a place you are staying?” I asked.  “No, my girlfriend is out of town.  And, I can’t stay with my dad.  He gets really angry and violent”.  I mentioned the Salvation Army, right up the street. He noted that his friend’s mom lived right down the street and if I gave him a ride there he could find someone to stay with.  I sensed no danger, but I check in with Papa, “Is this how we go?”  <Green light.>  So, into the car I load my bags and unlock the passenger side for him.  He thanked me.  As we drove down the street, he admitted that he was actually having seizures because he was coming off of drugs. He admitted he’d had alcohol today, but was off drugs.  I told him I’m part of a 12 step program at my church for addictions – Celebrate Recovery, so, I’m familiar with that.  He notes he needs to be in a program.  I gave him the info for our program and encouraged him to go.  As we pull up to his friend’s house, he tells me he really appreciates that I treated and saw him like a human being and not a monster.  I pray for him again and tell him to get into a 12 step, it will really help him.  He thanks me and says, “God bless you”.  “Tyler”, I say, as he’s ready to open the door, “Jesus says He loves you and He wants you to know He is with you. He wants you to turn to Him and trust Him. Go to a place where they know Him.”  As I drove away, I completely lost it.  I’m crying my eyes out for this man no older than my youngest daughter – 23 or so.  I cried out, in my car, breaking off assignments and partnership with lies and addiction over this man.  I asked God’s close walk with him and provision for him to have the help he needs. 

It is sort of interesting what comes to me as I think about Tyler.  Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem - in their need (a mother in labor) with crowds for the census - it became acceptable for people to ignore their need.  They became invisible.  I always had the impression when I was young that people offered the manger to Mary and Joseph.  Don't they always make it seem that way in the nativity plays? But, it wasn’t that way at all.  Luke 2:4-7 says “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”  Mary and Joseph were in the city when Mary went into labor and gave birth – no rooms, no cover, no family.  And they just had to deal with it. Jesus’ first bed was a feed container.  It wasn’t quite the same, but similar – in Tyler’s need, people didn’t see him as a real person.  People looked at him and were so overwhelmed that they did not dare to engage his need.  It became acceptable for him to become invisible to them as a person, justified.

Wow, it’s so humbling.  I am on my face deeply grateful. God, in Himself - The Father, Jesus and The Holy Spirit– He saw our impossible need and we were not invisible to Him.  He is never overwhelmed by our needs.  He saw us as real people and He didn’t back away or vacantly tell us to move on.  He cares deeply.  He loves us.  And, He stepped up, himself, into our pain, sin, brokenness and death and took care of every need.  He did it before the foundations of the earth, at Calvary and…He still does.

Paradoxical Acts

Had some marvelous good stuff come to me recently and just wanted to share. I was in a discussion recently, where the question was whether or not Paul had a standard model for The Great Commission [establishing churches] and I had a thought strongly come to me in the midst of that discussion. In Acts, Philip went to Caesarea and preached the gospel and Gentiles came to faith and had the Holy Spirit come upon them in the same way the followers at Pentecost did. It seemed to me that God was out ahead of his church guiding them in that Peter [and eventually all the Jewish Apostles] had to come to see for himself that God was indeed intent on including the Gentiles. At the point where I raised this initial part of my observation the leadership of the group I was sharing it in voiced to me that I was off topic - that the Philip story was anecdotal.  I did not go any further during this group discussion.  However, I did send my questions and further commentary regarding the full point I was going to make to the group leadership for clarification.  The point I had been coming to is that despite any standard elements that we may draw from Paul's methods of establishing churches - we must keep in mind that God is more than able and willing to steer His people in directions that may fall far afield of their comfort, patterns, established ways and "standard models". That while it is helpful to look at what Paul did in establishing churches and that indeed elements may still be effective and worthy of incorporating today,that God, first and foremost, is still the one who has plans that we do not always see (Peter and the other Jewish believers clearly did not see it coming). And that He, at times, will take us far outside of our plans, in fact in directions that may make our jaw drop (in the case of Gentiles – diametrically opposite in some ways to Jewish tradition and laws)! This did not seem anecdotal to me as a theme drawn from Philip's excursion and results. There is tension throughout God's word and paradoxical themes as well. We get to learn to trust God in the tension. To see He is big throughout what we cannot seem to reconcile at times. The model I took away is that God is able to guide His people and to effectively fulfill His plans. It was re-enforced in that I observe in scripture that in Jesus’ day the Jewish leadership is a perfect example of having great confidence that they knew the law and therefore represented and operated rightly on behalf of God. It actually gave them a false confidence in their ability to observe rules over relationship with and trust in God. We see Jesus harshly condemning this. Peter and the other Apostles and Jewish believers would have followed that Jewish model if not for their sensitivity to and strict adherence to acting in accord with the Holy Spirit's confirmation of the situation at Caesarea (even though you can see that they clearly struggled with walking that out over time). I believe it takes being willing to put our gifts, callings and understandings into God's hands at every turn and in all things seek His counsel to see with His eyes and in submission to His heart in all of our plans to rightly fulfill His plans. The same thing is true of the selection of church leadership. The Jewish Apostles walked with Jesus. They took this to mean their appointment was by man’s selection – Jesus selected them and they selected a replacement for Judas from those who had been among them with Jesus. And that would be a great reliable model, except the irony is that the one Apostle chosen to go out reaching to the Gentiles and expand the church (Paul) did not walk with Jesus while He lived and was not selected by the Apostles, but had a supernatural encounter with Christ and that changed everything. Those apostles who walked with Christ when He was alive on earth had to eventually also come around and they went God’s way in recognizing that Paul was chosen by God for this work.

Acts is peppered with such paradoxical representations of how things work. Hold the model loosely and be willing to trust and cling tightly to God. Do you know the plans of God? The Jews thought they did – they thought sacrificing animals, eating kosher and many other rules given by God would always be the standard way of being God’s people. For a time, they were! Then God brings Jesus, fulfills the blood requirement and messiah in a way completely outside of what they expected and then He brings in the Gentiles (WHO KNEW?!). We can easily fall into the same trap of thinking that our systems and models (drawn from outlines in God’s word) effectively fulfill God’s plans. Part of the reason I believe people get so mesmerized by models is that we feel so safe in them, so much in control. It’s not so much that models are bad – it’s when we put more of our trust in them than we do God. Seeing rightly and having proper discernment of God's word and how to walk takes relationship with God (it’s what we’re made for). These things seem particularly important because they fly in the face of self-sufficiency (which can easily creep in with models and formulas). People get really scared about relying on God. It absolutely crucifies the flesh and "self reliance/self-centeredness" to do it. It’s painful and worrisome, UNTIL, we see that God honors it and supports it and requires it and works His plans amazingly through it. It's a journey we grow in doing as we continue on in our faith into the image of Christ - no person is able to do it perfectly. Dependency on God requires true deep humility. Do we trust God’s word – of course we do! And we can only walk in properly interpreting God’s word through His Spirit. God loves humble submitted hearts and those willing to consult Him, ask for His vision and immediately follow His leading are never put to shame.

The group leadership that I came back to with my further observations noted that they saw what I was  getting at. God brings people into awareness. And, those who are still not convinced in their own minds – the great thing is that God is the one who unfolds things in line with where He is going. Everywhere in the Church - I believe the most important thing a person can do is to intentionally seek God and deepen and develop their intimate relationship with Him - #1 thing. Doing this through exposure to His word and relationally through His spirit. God’s partnering in a way right now that is breathtaking!! So excited!! Embrace the paradoxical nature of God and rest in sureness that He is able to fulfill His plans.

Stir It Up!

I am sitting in another moment of the “outrageous miraculous”!  If someone had told me, I would never have believed them. God, you love to do this to me!!  God kept telling me, and while I kept walking in the way He instructed, I certainly did not see it working out this way - AGAIN!!  Can you imagine, being put in a situation where you look around and just do not see it working out in the natural - but, you keep going because you see something on the horizon that just looks incredible?  God keeps showing something so unbelievable, so breathtaking that I am on tip toe to see it completely unveiled!  I am committed to keep ON!  And, it had begun some time ago in certain areas to be unveiled, but each part is more amazing to me that the last!!  And, the fullness is yet to come!

This week, a group I walk with has opened the door for women to have the potential to walk in the way God has been prompting for at a whole new level alongside men in leadership.   I appreciate how much of a huge stretch of faith this was for them and still is, but I am so proud of them and so thankful to God for His amazing goodness and again – HE GETS THE GLORY!!   He kept saying to me – “It’s coming, just watch!!”.  But, it arriving is still so unbelievable, that I am laughing with hysterical joy at His goodness!! 

God, you are so deeply good and committed to who you have made us to be.  Thank you that you lead and guide every part of that process and are more than able!  I didn’t know how it was going to happen – but, yet, I knew He was going to do it!  And, He did and is!  Thank you Jesus – you are the most chivalrous, kind and caring and you take such good care of every detail!

Last night I was with some friends and we decided to go on a “Jesus Walk”.  It was an amazing time with Jesus (He really is the best!!).  Just before it was time to go, I asked Jesus if he had anything for me – He handed me a little silver sugar shell.  I looked at it and didn’t really know what to make of it.  He explained to me that it was for His goodness.   He said many people have things in their cups - things that are bitter, lacking, less than and they believe their cups will always lack.  He said, “You, stir in my goodness.  It’s sweet, sustaining, full of hope and abundance and revives and refreshes”.  The goodness of God – it’s potent and the supply, well, it’s unending.  I can never run out!  Good thing I got me a spoon!! HAHA!  Gonna stir it in and stir it UP!!  :D

Defamation of God

The issues regarding women - wow, there is so much there.  I have written about men and women honoring, submitting to each other and uniting with each other in authentic synergy as the way God's image will be rightly represented on the earth and bring a fullness that God will use in amazing ways.  Well, in line with that I actually had a book given to me recently that - no kidding here - almost verbatim had written in it some of the things God's been showing me over the years and some that I've discussed with a few of my mentors just in passing.  This book (The Forgotten Feminine by Denise Jordan) got to the heart of what is going on.  All of the attacks and misrepresentations about women historically and worldwide come back to one thing - the enemy wants to destroy the image of God. Really sit on that for just a moment. This is also true of the attacks on men as well, but the feminine historically and culturally worldwide has been more thoroughly assaulted as a whole. God is fully both masculine and feminine as well as completely other. We also, though we are males and females - have a mixture of both masculine and feminine uniquely in us (though our predominant way of living each will typically be shaded by the maleness or femaleness of our bodies).  Each person has varying degrees of the mix (you clearly see this in the make-up of individuals - just like God, who has both). However, certain factions are so clearly against anything remotely feminine in a male or masculine in a female that contempt and condemnation have been instituted to control, shame and manipulate people into behaving in ways that conform to these faction's beliefs.  It has been so pervasive, so insidious, so normalized in our culture to put down and mistrust anything associated with the feminine and so bind the masculine to a rigid code of conduct that even many Christians do not recognize that this is an attack on God. Especially in the west, God’s feminine aspects are all but a side commentary in most bible studies.  God is clearly misrepresented as solely masculine in many churches and as more masculine in most churches.  God embraces the feminine – it is legitimately part of who God is. God never shames or treats feminine traits as less than, undesireable, untrustworthy or secondary to masculine traits.  Many misinterpretations of scripture have lent themselves to the impression that even God would mistrust the feminine - but it is clearly inconsistent that God would ever devalue what is part of who God is. And God is breaking out women and so as well men, in a way never before realized in the world.  It is a way that will bring unity with both and fullness of God's image to fruition. This is a huge paradigm shift in process and more is on the way.  

Even if you embrace women, how God will be using them will be very very different from what people have previously been used to and envisioned.  And, so much of this also has to do with a greater unveiling of who the person of The Holy Spirit really is as well.  The Holy Spirit has been mostly left out of church discussions and teaching. The Holy Spirit is the person of the Godhead who encompasses several of the feminine aspects of God, though He is not the only one - both the Father and Jesus also have feminine aspects about them. The Holy Spirit is the one who holds us in the midst of The Father and Son's presence and helps us to receive all that God has for us. God is bringing a whole new level of understanding of identity – of who God is and who we are and it's very exciting - ground breaking, I'd say! :D

What has come to me personally about this revelation is so freeing - for me.   I cannot tell you how much I tried to talk God out of tapping me to ever talk about this whole subject. Funny how that never works! :) These issues are very near to my heart (Hey, God put them there), but, I never wanted to be viewed as someone who must automatically hate men if I stood up for women.  That is how those who stand up for the feminine are characterized and viewed by much of the world. I really am a champion of both being everything God made them to be because I understand how vital valuing and truly understanding both really is.  But in learning this very important aspect of the whole issue - that it's actually God's character, image and representation under attack - I can't tell you how relieved I am. It's as though a huge burden has been lifted off of me.  I don’t have to feel as though I’m trying to defend me or solely women and that is a great relief. I can speak on this with glorious FREEDOM now - thank you God - Wow, that's good!  And, it’s just a tiny part of a much bigger picture that God is bringing into view.  Amazing good things on the horizon!

Invitation To Dance With Love

So, last week, when I read a blog like so many I’ve read before, that shamed, blamed and while truthful on some details fell very short of loving, I deeply longed for someone to just stand up and re-frame the entire conversation. I kept thinking, “Where are the champions who can see the real issue here and look at this in the real light?”  I wanted someone to call up the best, not the worst.  At that point, Papa said, “What about you, December?!”  And...here we are!

Right now, God’s heart is deeply vesting in rising up His children in honor, unity and love with Him and people.  It is the literal hallmark of His Kingdom on the earth. It is the glorification of Jesus, in fact.  While that is His agenda – many of His people are busy pointing fingers at each other (and the entire world) in anger.  All the while the enemy is laughing with glee. When you really look at it – the enemy is the ONLY one who wins in this when people indulge in tearing each other down.  It’s just a continual repetition of the consequences of the fall.   He has strategically focused the attention of people on other people as the problem and objects of blame, shame, contempt, disgust, constant turmoil and unrest.  He has deceived even those who love the Lord into looking at others (even within the body) as objects of shame, contempt and rage.

Don’t get me wrong – bad behavior is not acceptable on any side of this (I no way endorse it).  Even Christ overturned the tables of the money changers and confronted the Pharisees.  But, he also died for them and from the cross asked God to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing. Maintaining a relentless focus on only the symptoms of a well-known problem has continuously proven it is not the way to solve it.  Christ died to reverse all that the fall brought about and God’s Kingdom is unfolding in ever greater measure to bring light and life where darkness and death have reigned. 

The blog post I read recently (Your Husband Doesn’t Have to Earn Your Respect – by Matt Walsh) focused on women’s failure to respect men and in fact culture’s failure to as well.  I do not argue with this – it is true, men have been disrespected and portrayed in ways untrue and wrong.  Matt talks about the crisis level this has come to and reasons why men act out with poor choices due to disrespect.  He describes in great detail the problem and what should be instead.  What he does not do is talk about the underlying cause and how God’s word tells us to address it.  Saying over and over what “should be” is not the same as godly wisdom and instruction.  In fact, who has ever changed the mind of someone on the opposite side of their argument through putting them down?  Please, if you’re out there – raise your hand high because I want to talk to YOU!!  And truly, I’m not just talking about Matt here – I’ve seen plenty of women do the same in posts as well - tearing men up. Heck, people in general love to tear each other up over everything! It is repetitive, tired and just causes people to hide, defend, and find more ways to protect. Display of contempt re-entrenches each side in their own position more deeply. After all, most attack is about fear, control, manipulation and protection in the first place!  Humans feel entitled to defend their own bad behavior in light of someone else’s bad behavior.  Beloved, we are each accountable and answerable for our own actions and choices (and we’ve all made very bad choices – each of us has).  While much of this attitude may stem from the disappointment people have in others, unfortunately, focusing on other’s faults blinds us to the opportunity and responsibility we have within ourselves (If you want to make the world a better place take a look at yourself and then make a – change ~ Michael Jackson). 

All of us are on a journey and need compassion and help on that journey.  We also need to recognize that we NEED others.  Others (even oppositional ones) are part of US.  They are not just disposable, inconsequential, objects of oppositional contempt.  We need to recognize the truth and extend compassion and forgiveness to others as we do to ourselves (don’t we somehow get over it in time and let ourselves off the hook? Even when we’re disappointed at times - we justify and move on).  We need to recognize that, hard as we try, we can’t make ourselves to be our best selves – why are we so much more violently intractable with others when they can’t either? We do not have to embrace wrong behavior to embrace another person (even ourselves).  So many get twisted and stuck in their own pain and wounding that they truly believe that only distance, control and manipulation through blame, shame and contempt will keep them safe, protect them and somehow set right those terribly wrong individuals.  Truly, seeing, supporting and calling up the best in others and encouraging them to unite and commit to grow for themselves in Christ into their very best self is the amazing opportunity that we have here, instead.  And, most importantly, personally committing in Christ to intentionally do the same ourselves!

I had scriptures come to mind when I thought about how God thinks about all of this.

Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Matthew 10:16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

Ephesians 6:12  “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places."

Matthew 5:38-48 “Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, gift wrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

Galatians 6:1  “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.”

1 John 4:18  “There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].”

Beloved – let us be diligent, wise and indulge God’s heart of love and hope and not our wounding and misperception that somehow we can shame or coerce others into doing the right thing.  If people want to be right with full blown indignation and contempt – it can be done and is done daily, ad nauseam.  But, God has chosen and modeled a different way. His people will manifest that they belong to Him by shining His heart.  It is true that people will still make their choices – outcomes are not up to us.  But, fear never overcomes fear – only love can do that.  Our job is not to make others behave – it is to display and invite them into the glorious divine dance with Love.  And Love – Love amazingly does all the rest.