The Water's Cleaner on the Side

In my daily Bible readings (daily is more on an ideal than a reality at present) I have been crawling through the old testament and most recently dwelling in 2 Kings.  This morning was a good morning, meaning I didn’t sleep in and am able to read in peace and quiet.

2 Kings 5 is like an old friend to me.  The story of Naaman and the servant girl and the leprosy and the washing and the happy ending is one of the most memorable of my childhood.  Maybe it’s the young girl in the story, maybe it’s the miracle, or may it is that Elisha’s servant Gahazi has such a fun name to say. Either way, I was looking forward to reading it quickly this morning and going away happy.  Then I came to Naaman’s response to Elisha in verses 11-12:

“But Naaman was angry and went away, saying ‘Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.  Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?  Could I not wash in them and be clean?'  So he turned and went away in a rage.

I was cut to the quick.  I was shocked, because Naaman is just like me.  

At a very basic level, here we have an individual who has come to the almighty God (as a last resort) with their problem.  God shows mercy and gives simple easy instructions for how to miraculously fix the problem.  What a deal right?  Wow!  The God of the universe has given me exactly what I need to do for my well being which, I think we all can agree, he knows about best.  But what is the response?

Anger.

I heard my words in Naaman’s mouth.  “What?!  I thought that I was worth more than this.  I mean, look at who I am, look at where I come from! And while we’re on that topic, how far I’ve come!  First, I was expecting a little more decorum, like, show your face already!  And then, why are you telling me to go somewhere else and wash when I know you could just wave your wand over my problem and make it go away!  How insulting and unfair!”  Disappointment, frustration, and anger leave him puzzled and defeated, but why does he respond that way?  Why do I?  

Pride.

Go read it yourself!  Look at how he approaches God’s prophet and then responds:

-He bring silver, gold, and clothes

-He brings a letter from the King

-He comes with all his horses and chariots

-And stood at Elisha’s door (probably more like a hut) 

-He is insulted that he isn’t met personally

-He expects a fireworks-and-trumpets kind of miracle

-He says his water is much more sanitary (like seriously, I know better than you God)

But what did God want?  Simple obedience.  From where Naaman was there was a ton of humbling that had to happen for him to just simply do what he was told.

How do I come to God?  When I have a problem and I come to God for help, what is my attitude?  I can tell you exactly what it was this morning: pride.  I didn’t even realize it, but it was.  See, here’s the thing: I’m awesome.  (shocker) I grew up in a Christian home and have been saved for close to 16 years.  Because of the Holy Spirit in my life and my wholesome upbringing I was (blessedly!) kept from a lifestyle of lying, cheating, swearing, physical rebellion, drugs, promiscuity, fornication, and gossip.  I had my own sins, believe me! But I didn’t look like all the other sinners, so I got prideful.  I’m currently and active member of my local church, I’m in Bible studies and I want to see others get saved and grow.  My heart beats for ministry, I’m a pretty nice person, and, by God’s grace I’m getting better (becoming more like Jesus) all the time.  And that just the spiritual aspect.  SO. . . there’s my reputation, my family, my job, my status, my silver and gold, my horses and chariots, my letter, my background.  Don’t I deserve something special, after all? Let’s just do this my way, it will be much more pleasant.

Granted, I don’t consciously think this, but it is there.  Way. deep. down. it is there.  I’ve expected God to treat me a certain way because of me, and when He doesn’t I react the same way as Naaman.  Different words, if any, come out of my mouth, but the feeling is the same:puzzlement and frustration — the anger.  Instead of going and washing in the Jordan (whatever that looks like today.  It might be reading my Bible everyday.  It might be a long month of prayer and waiting.  It might simply be confessing my sin.) I get upset that God didn’t just snap His fingers and give me what I want.  Talk about being a Brat of a child of God!  That’s not the way a family works.

So, I was wrong.  I seem to be admitting that a lot recently.  I’m wrong.  I struggle with pride.  BIG TIME.  I can’t properly express all the different implications and applications from this piece of scripture right now, but I know this: I am just a sinner that Jesus saved.  I love Him.  He has my best interest at heart.  He will heal me(my ailment is called sin).  He loves me.  He expects obedience.  He expects me to struggle with and work through my sanctification (Philippians 2:12), but He hasn’t made it impossible.  I need to change my wrong expectations and humbly do as He says.  

Then, can I joyfully say with Naaman, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but [the LORD]. (2 Kings 5:15) 

Shoeleather Love

^Koolau Mountains, O'ahu, Hawaii^

My Dad used to teach a class at our co-op called Shoeleather Christianity.  He would explain it to me by saying he was trying to give Christianity shoes.  Walking the talk.  What does living this radicalness look like in "real life?"  He'd probably call it orthopraxy now... I should call him and ask.  Anyway, it got his students to think about how they should live their faith every day, hour and minute.


The class I find myself in now is "shoeleather love," if you will.  More and more I feel that love is all that matters.  Hear me out.  If you know me personally you know I could take or leave the romance bit.  I'm talking about real love.  Love that seeks the other person's best no matter what the cost to self.  Love is sacrifice.  Love is patience.  Love is for your enemies and those who hurt you as well as for your friends.  Love is a gift, a word, a back-rub at just the right moment.  Love is time. Love weeps with those who weep.  Love rejoices with those who rejoice.  Love is slow to anger.  Just read I Corinthians 13 folks.  Love never ends.

This is BIG.  So here's the deal.


I know from the Bible that life is short, heaven and eternity is real, and only what I do for Christ matters (forever!).  I also read in the Bible that Christ says the first and greatest commandment is to love God.  I'd say "first and greatest" is a good place to start, wouldn't you? Great.  So...loving God.

What does that look like?  How do I do this with every fiber of my being every minute of my life?

That's the question.  I don't have the answer yet, but I'm going to be sort of journalling through my meditations and conclusions here, and I'd love your help.

Let's put some shoeleather on this and wear it out!

Sure as the Dawn

“Come, let us return to the Lord;

for he has torn us, that he may heal us;

he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.

 After two days he will revive us;

on the third day he will raise us up,

that we may live before him.

Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;

his going out is sure as the dawn;

he will come to us as the showers,

as the spring rains that water the earth.”

Hosea 6:1-3 

He will heal.  he will bind.  he will revive.  he will raise.  he will come.

Let us return!  Let us press on to know the Lord.

Press on.

He will come.

Sure as the dawn.

What's your name?

I was listening to KLOVE in the car the other day and the song "Hello my name is" by Matthew West came on.  It, particularly the second half, has been stuck in my head ever since:

Hello, my name is child of the one true King 

I’ve been saved, I’ve been changed, and I have been set free 

“Amazing Grace” is the song I sing 

Hello, my name is child of the one true King 

I am no longer defined 

By all the wreckage behind 

The one who makes all things new 

Has proven it’s true 

Just take a look at my life 

What love the Father has lavished upon us 

That we should be called His children 

I am a child of the one true King

How cool would it be if when we introduced ourselves, this is what people would see!  Have you thought about that?  I'm sure you've thought about how people see you and what they think of you.  Everyone does.  Why else do you comb your hair in the morning?  Why do you walk a certain way or say certain things?  We're always self evaluating how people see us.  How do people se ME? 

I do it all.the.time.  "Instead of how do they see me?" I should be asking "do they see Jesus?"

Did they notice that my outfit is impeccable today, or did they see Jesus helping that little girl tie here shoes? 

Did they admire my earrings or did they see my eyes sparkle when I told them my little sister got saved on Saturday?

Did they complement my voice, or did they see that all the dishes were done?

Did they see your average 19 year old, or did the see a child of God?

I'm done with self.  I'm done with masks.  I'm done with facades.  

I'm saved.  I'm changed.  I'm free.  Amazing Grace is my song.

In the words of the popular Sunday school song, "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine."  When I say "Hello, my name is Joanna..." I want people to see Jesus.  I want them to see I'm different. 

I want them to see a child of the one true King.

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain."

Philippians 2:14-16

Love isn't Fair

"They're wrong. 

They say "all is fair in love and war," but they're wrong.  

Nothing is fair in love and war... Love is even more unfair[than war].  That deep love, true love, not the physical, worldly, sensual, self-seeking infatuation, but love that we can have because God loved us.

Mercy.  

Forgiveness.

Grace.

Redemption.

Sacrifice.

  While technically they are just, they are not fair.  Why is there forgiveness, for example?  Fairness and forgiveness?  How does that make sense? It doesn't exist.  Fairness would be to hold the grudge and get revenge until the debt has been paid. 

 To give when you'll get nothing back isn't fair, but that is love.  To trust unquestioningly.  To sacrafice.  Why should you sacrifice?  That isn't fair, they should do their own work, pay their own consequences.  How is it that they get off free?  This isn't fair, but this is love.  

THIS is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins!  

This is sacracfice.  

This is forgiveness.  

This is love.  

This is my JESUS."

These words come form my journal a couple months ago.  I haven't shared my heart here before because it is scary.  Exposing yourself opens you up to getting hurt.  But sometimes you just can't hold it in anymore.

This past year I have learned more about love than I ever dreamed there was to know.  Coming to your knees again in realization of what it was that actually happened at the cross has a way of setting all your priorities straight.  

This Valentine's Day let's share the greatest Valentine to ever be given: the cross.  

Through our lives and lips let's show the world God's pleading to "Be mine."  Show them the only love  that fulfills and satisfies.  The love that is colorblind, status-blind, forgiving, and oh, so sweet.  That love that keeps on giving even when it is rejected over and over again.  

That love that sent Jesus to take the punishment that I deserved and die on the cross while I still hated and rejected Him!  It isn't fair.  I should have been the one killed for my sin.  Oh, how He loves us!

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8

This is the most amazing Valentine you will ever find.  Be HIS.

Prayer

I know you are all checking your RSS feeds and just want to see pretty pictures or read very short quotes, but I would ask you to slow down and just take the three minutes needed to read this hymn in its entirety.

Don't skim it.

Read it, and let it wash over your soul anew this Sunday afternoon.


Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
Uttered, or unexpressed;
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.


Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear;
The upward glancing of an eye
When none but God is near.


Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try;
Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.


Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,
The Christian’s native air;
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters rest with prayer.


The saints in prayer appear as one,
In word, and deed, and mind;
While with the Father and the Son
Sweet fellowship they find.


O Thou, by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way,
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod—
Lord, teach us how to pray.



You have the extreme privilege of speaking to the God of the universe, and he listens.

Is prayer your "vital breath?"

Winter Retreat +

How did I start the new year? A wonderful week of Bible study with about 25 other Christians! A.K.A. Winter Retreat + at Story Book Lodge Christian Camp.

Story Book Lodge is a ministry that hosts bible retreats and bible-centered youth camps in Northern Minnesota.  All of the cabins are unique to a particular fairy-tale or tale found in your typical story book, hence the name.  But  this camp makes a ministry of telling the greatest (true) story of all time to hundreds of kids, families, and teens every year: the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Many people in our church are/were heavily involved in counseling youth camps and going to family camp so we heard about it when we moved here to Rockford 11 years ago.  We went to family camp one year later and for various reasons and schedule conflicts, haven't gone since.

My Mom thinks I need to get out more and actually interact with humans more than school books, so she suggested that I go.  Then some friends from our chapel invited me to ride with them.  Things added up and before I knew it I was studying the prison epistles and starting to pack my bags!

The girls from Rockford: Carolyn, Casey, Moi, Natalie, Carolyn

Bright and early January 1 we hopped in the car and dove into 3 days of intense Bible study.  There weren't very many people there, but I guess I'm just used to conferences with loads of people I couldn't possible hope to meet.  Here, it was more like family, and they were.  They were my brothers and sisters in Christ and everyone was there for the same reason.  To study the Bible and grow spiritually!

That is rare.  Everyone was encouraged to participate in the study (most did). 

The difference in this weekend and your typical "retreat" though wasn't what happened during the study (even though that was amazing and I actually learned way more than I usually do at conferences) it was the attitude of the people when the study ended.

Abby - Beth - Grace - Ben

It wasn't, "put away your Bible and let's talk about stuff that is going of for real."  THIS was real.  The Bible is alive and relevant!  It is changing us!  No matter what games we played (there were quite a few) or meals were eaten the focus was still the same.  God and his work.  I was able to bring up things that the Lord had been teaching me and discuss them with people...who actually wanted to listen!

It was unbelievable.  The talks I had, the people I connected with.  Wow.  It was so edifying.  I can't explain it any other way.  The atmosphere was contagious with joyfullness (and illness, actually.  Our numbers were cut at least in half by the last session.  No, they didn't die, silly.  They kept to their rooms.)

Carl

Dominoes.  I learned how to play Mexican Train.  Fun stuff. :-)  Except the 4 year old beat me I think.

Chess

Said 4 year old and his Dad. ;-)  What can I say, he is really smart.

Puzzles.

I loved the relatively small group of people.  I had the chance to learn everyone's name and hometown, if not actually sit down and talk with them for a while.

Jordan - Anna

Uno.

Grace - Eric

Chinese checkers?

Philip - Carolyn

Cribbage.

Ryan

Solitaire

Brittany - Hosannah - Grace - Abby - David

Berenyce - Guy - Hosannah

John - David

Justin

Music.

Mimi and Hosannah. :-)

 Jordan - Caorlyn

Abby - Kristina

Cleaning.

Dominic and Kelly and Hadassah

Sledding.

Bruising.

oh wait...

Broomball.

My bad. Literally.  You should have seen my knees!  Molted purple spots each of them, 5 inches across.  And my rear-end.  It hurt to walk and sit for at least a week after camp.  Oh, and by the way?  SO worth it. :-)

Rook. (And the newlyweds. :-)

Dancing.

I can't seem to go anywhere without teaching someone how to swing or waltz.   This time it happened 20 minutes before we went home!

Cooking.

Grace - Do you know Grace?  I was astonished to finally meet her and find out that she only lives a state away!  I "know" her, and her sister Sarah from their Bright Lights ministry and Sarah's book Before you Meet Prince Charming.  I've been following Grace's blog for a while now.  I couldn't believe that she was there.  We had some really great talks and I might get to see her again this summer!  I love it when that happens. :-)

Reading.

Grace and Ben. :-)

Whispering.

+Carolyn Atherley  +Natalie Atherley + Beth

Hugging. ish?  and Photobombing. 

Love you guys.

Heel clicking.

Way to go Mimi!

Lyndsey

Letter-writing.

Eating.

+Casey Campbell 

Drinking.

Abby - Grace - Beth

Talking.

Kelley - Ian

Some matching game.  Forgot the title

Eric

Studying.

Hymn-singing.

This felt like a little piece of heaven.  I couldn't stop smiling while I was singing, and that isn't so great for tonal quality.  It was one of those moments.  Somebody said "Sick or not, I'm singing!"

Sleeping.

We got there just before dinner on the night of the first session and people were still there from the week before so there weren't any beds available.  Uncle Bill opened up another cabin just for us Rockford girls.  It was a blast.  After scheduled time was well over you could find us all bonding and talking and on occasion swing/waltz/or salsa dancing in our cabin.

Jeremiah - Carolyn - Philip

Pointing.

Hannah - Anna

Laughing.

Beth - Kristina - Mimi

Picture taking.

Beth - Hannah

More picture taking... on sunrise walks out over the frozen lake...

Casey - Carolyn

Posing.  On woodpile in front of the perfect light.  Yes I made my friends put there lives on the line and  sit in snow.  No I was not the one who suggested stand in the smoke.

Grace - Beth

Matching.

Back rubbing

Acquaintance making  Friend making.

Casey - Natalie

Seeing. ;-)

Path-taking.

Beth

Smiling.  It was so nice to spend time with this sweet girl.  I've known her for almost a decade, but we have lived hours apart and never really connected till we started meeting at Bible studies.

Peeking.

Ben apparently had a super lousy hand, so he had to show everyone who wasn't playing.

And two pictures that don't fit anywhere else.

Moi - Casey - Carolyn

Hey look!  I actually was there! (on that bitterly cold wind-swept expanse of ice) Don't worry, we only took out hats off for the picture. :-)

Memory making

Uncle Bill

Leave taking.

And there you have it!  A small sampling of the week. :-)  Next up some actual takeaways from the Bible study portion. :-)  They may be spread out throughout the year though.