8-26-2018 Tomorrow's Bread

“Give us this day...” ―Matthew 6:11a

“That’s what you should do.”

Lord, this is how it typically starts―your not-so-subtle calls, coming out of the mouths of my friends, family, and supporters. They hear me spout off on some idea, patiently listening, waiting for me to eventually (hopefully) gel my thoughts into some kind of coherent concept. Most often, they then nod politely, indicating that my hypothesis is not necessarily inspiring them the way it does me. But occasionally, seemingly accidentally (certainly not by my design―if it were, it would happen much more frequently!), my ramblings resonate and the listening party will exclaim in one form or another, “Yes!” then encourage me to develop and share the notion.

I’ve learned to heed these directives. They seem to coincide with times when I have already charged ahead on some other course and am fully engaged chasing whatever dream d’jour I’ve convinced myself will keep me out of trouble for the moment. Out of the blue, I’ll blurt out to someone, a nugget that seems completely off the path from where I’m focused; and that’s when you speak through them, “That’s what you should do.”

What? I’m already busy! I’m already doing what I think you want me to do. I have no time, I have other plans, I have…I am…resisting you. As a matter of fact, when such challenging invitations occur―when confirmed by scriptural scrutiny―I’m confident it’s you speaking into me via another vessel.

Long story short, Lord, I recognize you did it again today. A friend and I were sipping coffee and casually talking about, among other things, your Prayer, spoke by you in Matthew 6 and Luke 11. I nonchalantly mentioned the Greek word used for “daily” being epiousios which I had discovered translates better as tomorrow rather than daily and coincides with an Old Testament illustration. You provided enough manna…nourishment for the Israelites…to feed them for the day and also for the following Sabbath, so that the people could rest in your presence rather than worry about toiling, at least one day out of the week. So, when I say the prayer, that particular portion more often than not comes out as, “Give us this day, tomorrow’s bread.”

My friend stared at me for a moment before reacting, “That’s what you need to do! You need to write a book of devotions based on God providing what we need in advance of when we need it.”

I do? I remember thinking. I’ve already started on another new book idea and have spent valuable time in research. There are other people better suited to writing devotionals; that’s never been a “thing” for me. Besides, Patti and I are about to embark on a trip half-way around the world to visit our son and their family in Korea. When we get back, I'll have blogs to blog,  I'll need to focus on ministry and work and…on and on. I can’t just up and switch gears; that would interfere with my personally pre-planned purpose. That would be against my practice of RUT Management, wouldn’t it?

Ordinarily, veering onto another course would be counter-productive, except of course when you offer a spiritual shoulder-tap to inform me I’m on the wrong RUT path and am offering more excuses for the “why not” rather than exploring the “why”. You are the only One so adept at pin-pointing those times. I’m coming to know your voice better, Teacher.

So, that’s what I should do. That’s what I need to do. That’s what I will do. And here it begins.

I’ll start with the very provision in the prayer that includes with your will being done. Lord, bestow to me this day, tomorrow’s feeding, that I can rest and reflect in it, dwell in it, learn from it and share it with any who desire to know you and your way, better. I ask, that as I go about my daily routine, you lead me beside still waters to nourish me with whatever wisdom you choose to reveal, that I may be lead on a path of righteousness, for your name’s sake.

Who knows, maybe this will resonate with others as well. That is for you to know, and for this servant to find out.

Amen.

Mark C. 

8-5-2018 Shalom from Shoah

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. 

No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. ―Isaiah 35

I’ve got a commission Lord! After our first days in the land, I pulled our group together to take the pulse of our venture to-date. “You’ve seen some great things so far and today we have some extra time. Is there anything or place you would like to focus on?

“Jesus,” came the group reply. A singular focus. It seems that all the forward-thinking planning on what inspires in your land; it all boils down to the hearts and minds of those who are seeking inspiration. To a person, this group was…is unique. They expressed gratefulness at visiting ruins and hearing historical context, but it seems there was just one thing they wanted more of.

Not that this was a problem whatsoever. I was thrilled actually. But it did require some adjustments and quick calls to pull in other sites more focused on your earthly ministry. Simple enough, right? Until I looked at our existing itinerary and remembered that our next day entailed a visitation to Yad Vashem; what Westerners typically refer to as The Israel Holocaust Museum. How does that coalesce with a focus on You, son of God?

I can answer the question safely now because you, Lord walked me through the issue. First, the place, Yad Vashem is not only about the Holocaust―the elimination of 6 million Jews during WWII. It is ALL about the sufferings of those (mostly Jews, but also others) who did not recognize Hitler as the supreme power. The better term for that suffering of the survivors, is the Hebrew word―Shoah which aptly translates as Calamity.

Second, the Shoah and the Holocaust are events you are personally aware of. Not only did you experience both during your own physical lifetime, but your Spirit was engaged in preparing those who suffered and even raising up protectors during those very dark days of the Twentieth Century. Of course, the bitterness with which some view your work then, is still palpable. “Why didn’t God step in to save the victims? No Supreme Being would allow such terrible suffering,” I have heard expressed from dark voices seeping from cynical minds.

And who can argue? It was terrible. All suffering is. Even yours…especially yours. I’d say that the most terrible suffering was on the cross, when you chose to die for people who were blaming you even then for not stepping in to save them―So Ironic. Yet as I think on it, I believe there was an even more terrible day of strife; when, in the Beginning, you breathed life into human beings who were given the perfect opportunity to commune with you…and they chose to separate themselves from you. I can’t know that kind of ripping from the spiritual womb. By the time I arrived on the scene, I was born ripped apart. Now I’m trying desperately to figure out, not why you would let the Holocaust and Shoah (my Shoah too) play out, but why you would not have wiped the slate clean and started a new more acquiescing creation.

And in that question is knitted your incredible answer. You knew us (intimately) before we knew ourselves; fashioned with a free-will choice to say “yes” or “no” to your existence. Why are we so surprised that when we say “no” and live out that lifestyle, terrible things happen? Floods happen, Romans happen, Hitlers happen; The current state of post-modern thinking and practices happens; We―divided and arrogant, and selfish and proud―happen: Amazing that we blame that on you.

Hmmm, so my worries about providing an experience at Yad Vashem that would speak to your life, lived, bled and resurrected, Jesus, were unfounded. We saw you there and we experienced your hand of desired relationship extended to all: victims, perpetrators and spectators. You offer the answer we all seek. Do we really want to hear it, submit to it? How unfair that you, King of the universe should be the one making the rules: we want our own rules with none of the consequences. And so the Shoah goes…on and on and...

Lord on our visit to your land, in that place of specific tragic memories, I found hope. People keep coming. They are helped to not forget that such atrocity can happen again. Some who visit even dedicate themselves to seeking you more deeply, earnestly considering if you do or do not exist―in that, there is great hope for restoration.

I pray others find the answer as I have found the answer. I pray as we prayed that day, that this moment, all moments, are all about you Jesus, bringer of Shalom from Shoah.

Amen,

Mark C.