The "Other World"

I'm reading A. W. Tozer's Pursuit of God, and just finished the chapter on Apprehending God   The chapter talks about understand God as a real personality, a reality, not just an ideal.  To begin to understand God in this manner, we have to accept the reality that there is another world out there, a spiritual world.   Tozer points out that the very root of Christianity lies in belief of a spiritual world, the invisible.  Yes, I know conservative, fundamentalist Christians tend to downplay the spiritual realm, but I don't understand why.  It was never really discussed when I was a child.  In fact, aside from talk about the Holy Spirit, I feel like I was actively discouraged from believing in another, spiritual, world.  I remember being told that while Satan exists, demons don't, or at least they don't affect us at all. They are unconcerned with Christians.  At least that is what I thought.  But now that I am older and wiser (?), I know that there is another world, a spiritual world.   It is very real.

 We live on two planes - one of them is this earthly world, the physical world that we are a part of; the world that we live, breath, eat, drink, work, play in.  But we also, as Christians, must be conscious of the "other world", the world where our souls are in touch with God.  That is the world where He speaks to us.  Yet at the same time, and this is what so many Christians want to deny, that world is also populated by evil. It's the same world where Satan and his host reside. Yes, I do believe that there is a spirit world out there that we cannot see, but certainly can know.  If our eyes were opened to that spiritual world, and we could really see what is going on, I do think that quite possibly it would be as the author Frank Peretti described - angels and demons

standing, watching. One waiting to jump on every opportunity to defeat and destroy, and one (Christ himself, in the form of the Holy Spirit) standing guard waiting to fight at our simple command.  That's the whole point of the armor of God. Why else are we instructed in Ephesians 6 to put on the armor of God, a spiritual armor, if we aren't in battle against spiritual forces? 

I thought of the hymn, Open My Eyes.  The author, Clara Scott, asks God to open her eyes to the truth that God has for her, to understand His will.  However, it's risky really asking God to open our eyes to the spiritual world.  I believe that when we do, we see the other things, the things that we don't want to see.  Yet Lord, I still pray that you will open my eyes.  If I am fully protected by His armor, then having my eyes opened to the spiritual realm is actually pretty exciting! 

Lord, help me put on your armor - the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, my feet covered with the gospel of peace, holding onto the shield of faith, with the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.   Then, and only then, am I prepared to see the other world, and everything that it contains.  

Listen to a beautiful piano version of the hymn http://tinyurl.com/p6pke93

Interruptions - And God's Grace

We are creatures of habit. We all have habits that we preform automatically, without really even thinking about.  We get up about the same time, go about our business generally in the same order, drive to work using the same route, follow the same routine during our day, sit in the same pew at church, and get a little disoriented when our routine is interrupted by something. 

But life will often interrupt.  The little interruptions I can handle, it's the big interruptions - the bad news from a doctor, the phone call in the middle of the night, the computer network crashes (dealing with that at work for two weeks now!), the request for help from a daughter who is 2000 miles away and simply cannot write her paper alone - that force us to put our own agenda away and do what God has asked us to do.  I can't make it through them with out a bountiful amount of grace from Him, and He provides it in bushel baskets. 

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials he multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Words by Annie J. Flint

Pasted from <http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/g/hgmgrace.htm>

Taking things for Granted

This blog entry is not the most well-written one, but I want to post it anyhow because I feel it needs to be said.

I watched the I Stand Sunday  event yesterday, then saw this prompt in one of my books:  Think about the things that we take for granted that deserve our gratitude:

We have:  (in absolutely no particular order)

Clean air

Clean water

Abundant food available

Opportunities galore - to work, go to school, worship, come and go as we wish

Technology at our fingertips to explore the world

Our families

Electricity and running water

A roof over our heads

Schools for our children to attend and the right to educate them as we see fit

Freedom to travel across state lines without having to show "papers" at the whim of a government official

The freedom to worship God without fear that our doors are going to be rammed in and our pastor jailed

Many in other countries do not have these things that  Americans and we as Christians take for granted.   Think about those who live in refugee camps without even the most basic amenities.  Having worked with refugees and after attending the Refugee Roundtable this summer, the conditions they live in are severely lacking.  And we complain when our internet is slow?   There is a constant joke going around about "first world problems", I've even said it myself, but it does cause me to stop and think, and pray for those who are suffering.  We have medical care that is world renown.  Ebola may be a scare, but we can get treatment for it as soon as symptoms arise.  In other countries, they often have to wait until they are too far along, which contributes to the mortality rate.   We run to the doctor for the slightest sniffle.

I think of those who are in countries where the church is being persecuted on a daily basis. Those who have to meet huddled together, with someone watching out the window.  Those who cannot freely move about without fear of a bomb going off near them, or being kidnapped and killed because they are not the right faith.  Those moms who send their children off to school, not even knowing if they will see them again that night because of the on-going, constant war in their countries.  We have so much freedom, and have had it for so long that we assume it will always be this way. But we are in danger of losing some of those freedoms.  There are people here who would deprive us of the freedoms we possess.  With tomorrow being election day, if we want to preserve some of the freedoms, we must do our part.  

Freedom of speech.

Freedom to worship God how we want.

If you want to maintain those to, then you need to exercise the third:

Freedom to vote.

Please exercise that freedom tomorrow.

Crisis Management

Cry.

Momentarily immobilized.

Pray.

Brood. 

Fret. 

Worry. 

Talk, talk, talk ...........then talk some more.

Pray some more, crying out to God for help.   

 That's usually the pattern when I have a crisis to deal with. Eventually I get to the point where I can look at a crisis objectively, see exactly what the problem is and come up with a game plan to deal with it.  Usually after spending a lot of time praying for guidance, the steps become clear.  Sometimes the steps take  a very long time to complete, other times they can be completed quickly, with the crisis resolved; it all depends on the crisis. 

For example, I've dealt with some crises that did not lend themselves to quick resolutions.  They were big issues - a wayward child, a broken marriage.  Those kinds of crises require incremental steps.  Do this.  Now do this.  Then on to the next thing.  They often take years to resolve.  Those crises are taxing.  They take a toll on emotions, physical health, and can take a spiritual toll as well.   But it is in the middle of those crises that God reveals Himself and His character. Those are the times when the most spiritual growth occurs. 

I see God working the most when I am at my lowest. When the crises seem overwhelming, those are the times I cling to Him more than ever.  I think of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet.  He was dealing with a huge crisis,  the rejection of Yahweh by the nation of Israel, the fall of Jerusalem, captivity of the people.  The Jewish people were facing the consequences of their sin, which often is the reason most crises come.  This wasn't a crisis that was going to be resolved in a few short weeks/months/years. In fact, it has YET to be resolved.  But in the midst of his lament over God's judgment, he pens one of the most memorable passages in the Bible,  Lamentations 3:19-25 (NASB)

Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.

Surely my soul remembers

And is bowed down within me.

This I recall to my mind,

Therefore I have hope.

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“Therefore I have hope in Him.”

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,

To the person who seeks Him.

This is what I need to remember when dealing with a crisis.  The Lord is faithful, and his mercies are new every morning.  He will triumph over any crisis. 

Explain Love

My journal prompt today was a challenge.  How do you explain love to someone who has never experienced it?  Everyone has experienced love.  I would have once said that this is a true statement, but think immediately I think of children who have suffered abuse at the hands of those who should love them the most - their parents.  I'm not sure how I would describe love to them, it would have to be shown in real, tangible ways.  They need to know that they are cared for; spiritually, emotionally and physically.   They need to feel all three of those.  Emotional love  is shown by positive affirmation, even when they are doing something wrong.  They need to know they have worth even when they make mistakes or even intentionally disobey and sin.  Words of affirmation, along with a hug are so important. 

Physically they need to feel safe and have all their physical needs met - food, clothing and shelter.  Not exceeded, but basic needs met.  This doesn't mean they HAVE to have all the latest doo-dads; even the poorest child in the most poverty stricken nation feels love when their basic needs are met, combined emotional love.

Spiritually - they need to know that they have a heavenly Father who really, really does love them, so much that He sent His only son to die in his place.  Sometimes communicating this is difficult, especially if they are missing the other two.  And as long as I've been a Christian, I'm not sure I communicate this very well at all.  When they feel the Lord drawing them and the seed has been planted, they will understand this love. 


Wow, this part is a lot tougher.  How DO you explain the love of the Heavenly Father to someone who has never experienced it?  You can't use "christianese", they don't get it.  You can't just tell them God loves them, they don't see or understand it. You can't tell them all the stories in the Bible, they don't want to listen or have an argument for each and every one of them.  You have to live it.  It is through encounters with us, believers, that they experience the love of the Father.  A rather sobering thought to start today.  

Wow - three in one day - a new record for me :)  But I wanted to go ahead and put the recipe for chicken paprikash on here, since I mentioned it and several people have asked. So without further adieu:

Ingredients:

3 eggs, beaten 1/2 cup water 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons salt   1/4 cup butter 1 1/2 pounds bone-in chicken pieces, with skin

1 medium onion, chopped 1 1/2 cups water 1 tablespoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 cup sour cream

Directions:

1.	Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat. In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1/2 cup of water. Gradually stir in 2 1/2 cups of flour to make a stiff batter. Using two spoons, scoop out some batter with one spoon and use the second to scrap off the spoonful of batter into the boiling water. Repeat until several dumplings are cooking. Cook dumplings for 10 minutes or until they float to the top; then lift from the water and drain in a colander or sieve. Rinse with warm water.
2.	In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter and add chicken; cook until lightly browned, turning once. Add onion to skillet and cook 5 to 8 minutes more. Pour in 1 1/2 cups of water, and season with paprika, salt, and pepper; cook 10 minutes more, or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear. Remove chicken from skillet and keep warm.
3.	Stir 2 tablespoons of flour into sour cream; then slowly stir into the onion mixture remaining in the skillet. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, and cook until thickened.
4.	To serve, add dumplings to the sour cream/onion mixture, then spoon onto dinner plates adding a piece of chicken.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2014 Allrecipes.com

Printed from Allrecipes.com 10/4/2014

My variation is to use boneless, skinless breasts and add chicken bullion to the broth for more flavor.  For the dumplings, make them pretty small and they will turn out much better. This is a great freezer meal, and it's even better the second time! Oh, and if you can get hot paprika, go for it, but be careful unless you really want it HOT! ;) 

An error :(

I realized while reading the blog over that I made it sound like the other people in my office do not care how they dress. That is absolutely not true. Without putting my foot even further into my mouth, suffice it to say I'm sorry, I did not intend for the statement to read like it does.  I enjoy finally having a job where I can dress in something nicer than shleppy clothes. So if you read my other blog, please read this one as well and know that blogging still has a learning curve for me!  I usually write, walk away and come back to re-read, then post. Today I didn't and I regret it.  So my apologies!