See you again

“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.*

'See you again'. 'I will come back'. 'Come visit me'. 'Stay in touch'. 'Come back soon'. 'Goodbye'.

Saying 'Goodbye' is hard. It has the feeling of finality. On the other hand, saying the German equivalent 'Auf Wiedersehen' is easier, as it suggests a reunion, directly translated it is closer to 'see you again'. A description of travelling can be condensed to goodbye's. Saying hello, meeting new people, exploring new places is exciting and fun. But they all conclude at once time or another with which hurts, especially when one lives so far away!

I cannot count how many connections I have made and people I have met in the last 6 months! Each time I wonder how I can fit another person or place into my life, into my heart. And yet, somehow I continue to add people and places. And when it comes time to leave, to move on, I leave wonderful people behind in beautiful place. No matter where I go, I will have people not there with me. (At least in this day and age it is easier to stay in contact with people all around the world!)

This transition has reminded me of Jesus and a few situations recorded in the Gospel of John. When one can no longer be present, in the same location, farewells are hard. For me saying goodbye to my young cousins was really hard. Because, for them, my going away is incomprehensible. When one asked, 'when will you next come and visit?' and I had to answer 'I'm not sure, but most likely after you've started school', the confusion and disappointment on her face was heartbreaking. I can only imagine how hard it would have been for Jesus and his close friends when it was drawing near to the end of His time on earth...

Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going". ...Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”**

Where Jesus was going was really another world away, it is foreign and unimaginable to us, more beyond-our-understanding than Australia is to a 5 year old child. The journey longer than 3 hours by car... is there even such a place??? That one cannot reach by car or walking!???!

As I leave, I welcome one and all to visit Australia. It is a beautiful country, and there is much to see and the people are great (if I do say so myself)! I hope to offer advice or a place to stay if someone does need it, when they are in my part of the world. I have been welcomed into numerous homes while on my travels and I look forward to returning the favour. Jesus too was going, -however His journey was far more significant than mine!- to somewhere we cannot reach by plane or car, yet, He wasn't escaping from us, but rather going to prepar a place for us. One day, He'll show us His place, and welcome His friends in! How exciting! He explained:

'In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”***

All in all, this has been a (long) holiday, and so in reality I am returning 'home' to Australia. And so I reflect on what Jesus said to the man whom he healed of deamon possession in Gerasenes*, to go home and share all the wonderful stories and experiences of how Jesus has answered prayer, provided, blessed, restored, supported and encouraged. God is great. Goodbye's are hard, but with Jesus they are not final. Because whatever happens, in Christ, we have the promise of eternal life, where one day I will see my spiritual brothers and sisters again!

*Luke 8:39 (whole story found in verses 26-39)
**John 8:21,23-24
***John 14:2-4

Best Friend!

'The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.'*

Best Friend. It has a lot of images and memories for people; some priceless, funny, heart warming, and rich memories. Others may have more complicated or painful memories, of misunderstanding, betrayal, or loneliness. I have both.

It can be deeply hurtful when a close friend breaks trust, King David too felt this pain; 'Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.'** It's so hard to understand, deal with, and forgive.

There is one friend I can count on, no matter where I am, or what time of day or night it is, how long I want to talk, regardless of how angry or happy I am, they want to hear from me and love being with me. Even if I fail on my side to be such a good friend, I can trust their side to be constant.

My Best Friend has experienced great pain, indescribable rejection, overwhelming loneliness. And through those experiences He can be such a good friend to me! He understands life, because He lived life! I cannot comprehend just how forgiving and compassionate and loving God is, in giving His Only Son. I am speechless when I reflect how Jesus reached into our lives, experienced life on earth, became a man, so that we could know God as Friend, as well as Lord and King!

Jesus told His followers, 'You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.'****

We can know God as Father in a personal and intimate way! We can know God the Son, 
Jesus, as a Friend and Brother! This is all possible because we are not alone, God gave His Spirit to all who believe, so that we can be part of this intimate relationship. God's Spirit speaks our language and the language of God, groans when we don't have the words, and comforts us with peace when we need it.

Last year every few days on my way to uni there was a busker who played his Chinese string instrument, the erhu****. Please take the time to listen to the following link and reflect on what a great Friend Jesus is!

...Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer. ...

*****

*Psalm 25:14
**Psalm 41:9
***John 15:14-15
**** if you want to hear what it sounded like... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41vSo_qEPY4)
***** What a Friend we have in Jesus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XRmGEbH0qs)

Bus Stop

"Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness."*

A lot of the funny stories I hear and tell often revolve around something done not-so-wisely. I'm not sure how much bragging of our foolish acts is useful. In saying that, I am now going to tell a short tale of one of my foolish acts... my hour waiting at a bus stop.

I was sitting on a bus, going to an unknownn destination I had only seen the name of on a map. Thankfully buses in Germany have a screen that shows which bus stop is next. Alleviating me from having to explore everything through google street view! Or ask anyone for help and directions. On this particular occassion however, the name of the town was not the name the bus had for the stop, and so I stayed seated and said nothing. 

The only problem was, this was the last bus for the day. Once the bus has passed my suspected stop I finally I asked an elderly lady if I had indeed missed my stop. I had.

So there I was, at dusk, in a small village! It was either laugh or cry! Somehow I had managed 5 months in Europe without getting lost of missing a stop, and now, here, in the middle of 'no-where', I was stuck! It was extremely hard to make that call and try to explain to my host. They were very kind and willingly came and picked me up. My hour at that bus stop was a time to reflect on my pride.

There are a lot of words I would like to be able to take back. Wish out of peoples ears and back safely behind my lips. There are several things I wish I had never done. There are things I wish I had taken the time and care in doing, without the arrogance that I can do it alone.

Wise people think before they act. It's common knowledge, and yet, does not happen often, that one does 'look before you leap'**! The Apostle Paul warns against thinking we are wiser than we actually are. Something I am now in the process of learning to notice in myself. 'Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.'*** Ultimately, admitting we aren't wise is a really wise thing to do! I conclude with a Proverb, 'When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.'****

*Proverbs 13:16
**Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables Chap. 19
***1 Corinthians 3:18-21a
****Proverbs 11:2

something smells

'Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.'*

...enjoy a little Vivaldi as you read this post... 

 

**

 Spring is here! And all my senses are waking up! I am noticing things I didn't know were missing, including, ants (can't say I missed the flies!)! I can hear birds and water flowing. I can feel the warm sun on my skin and the grass under my feet. I didn't notice just how little I have been using my nose until spring arrived. And suddently I can smell dirt, flowers, manure, rain, pollen...

I have been enjoying living for the last 2 months near a river, I walk to it every couple of days. It thrills me to see everything change slowly from what appeared -at least to me- as dead, now blossoming with colours! Fresh. Fragrant. Full. The fragrance of spring brings hope to my heart that life and growth do exist -even in unlikely places-, and so I seek to emulate spring by sharing the joys of life in fellowship with God; the Creator of such a pretty season!!

How did God walk? Not litterally, how did he put one step in front of the other, but what is God's example? There are a few places in the Bible where God walks, the ultimate walk was Jesus' walk to the cross. As you read the four Gospel accounts one thing is clear, Jesus went willingly. He didn't put up a fight, or give reasons why it was all a mistake. Instead, he was silent and went without a fight. He didn't do it to save face and 'be brave until the end'. He walked in the way of love, willing to die so that God's anger could be satisfied, and we could be spared.

This good news is not something to be kept behind closed doors, but to be shared! The Acts of the Apostles recount of people going out and telling of this life changing information. Paul was very passionate about spreading the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.*** In the synagogue in Thessalonica he 'went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined'.**** Paul later, when writing to the church in Corinth, explains that:

 'Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.'***

I tell what I do because I believe it to be true, but also because I have been given the Spirit of love, self control and power*****. I share knowing that God has given me (and all Christians, for that matter) a task to do here on earth, to proclaim Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and Saviour. We do this with Christ's authority. Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.'******

And so I ask myself, am I smelling? How smelly am I? I'm not asking myself when I last had a shower, but rather how intentional I am living my life. Are you living intentionally? Are you smelling? How smelly are you?

*Ephesians 5:1-2
**Vivaldi The Four Seasons 'Spring' 
***2 Corinthians 2:14-17
****Acts 17:2-4a
*****2 Timothy 1:7 
*****Matthew 28:18-20b

sleep on it

'count the patience of our Lord as salvation'*

There are some things that really get on my nerves, make my teeth clench and my fists form. If pushed I can get into a blind rage, and seek the highest authority I can find nearby to put forth my complaint of injustice. And, worse still, if nothing seems to be happening the way I want it, I take it into my own hands and forge through on my own; sidestepping authority, ignoring advice, determined that I am right.

In the past few months I have been reading through the Psalms. Early on I came across this verse that was a bit uncomfortable. So I decided I needed to reflect on it a while, I wrote it in my journal and have tried to read it and act upon it:

"Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent."**

Be silent. I laugh when I think of that. Me, silent? I've tried fasting from talking a few times. It is amazingly challenging! But what is so overwhelming about this statement is, that I am advised to stay quiet precisely when I am burning to shout and say something!

At first I wanted to write a blog post about how sometimes it is ok, good even, to be angry and shout out against injustice. But the more I reflect on it, the more I think that's not really what it's about, bbecause the next line says:

'Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.'**

I have spoken a little in another post ('old snow') about some things God requires from our sacrifices. I will only add that our sacrifices comes hand in hand with our trust that God is who He says He is, and He has done what is written about Him in the Bible, and He will do what He has promised.

Yesterday, I was out riding my bike around town, and like in many situations, I was singing to myself. I enjoy listening to Christian music, and so it is often what comes to mind first. I found myself singing a line that struck a cord, it felt like another answer to my problem of anger...

 'Oh, if ten thousand years go by
We will wait
Let us tell of his great love
He will come
For his patience means salvation'***

God will return one day, but every day that He has not come, every night that He gives us to sleep out our anger, is another day to share His love. He is angry because he loves so deeply. He waits because he is patiently waiting for more people to repent of their selfish living and recognise Him as the Maker and Judge.

God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love****. Jesus taught that God is merciful, and in the same way we should be merciful to others. He talked about this in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant***** (I encourage you to read it for yourself). It shows how much God -the King- has forgiven me and how little in comparison I -the servant- should forgive others.

Jesus begins the Parable by saying that we should forgive a brother or sister who sins against us 'seventy seven times', meaning MANY times! We shouldn't count how many times we forgive, and at the 76th time say, this is your last chance! Rather, it is an example of the patience of God's continued forgiveness that we should continue to forgive no matter how many times.

I think this reaches further than just things that happen against us personally. I often get worked up about issues that weren't done personally against me, or affect me per se. Yet I think this 'slow to anger' still applies. To wait and sleep on it. Hopefully I will then have a better way of dealing or responding to things, than the initial passion and rage I feel like acting upon. And so now, as well as reflecting on not letting anger control me, I now remember God patience with me, which gives me the strength to do the first better.

p.s. I'm sure this 'slow to anger' is wise, as it is found numerous times in Proverbs, including 14:29, 15:18, 16:32 and 19:11!

*2 Peter 3:15 
**Psalm 4:4-5
***We Belong to the Day, by Michael Morrow (2006) 
****Psalm 86:15
*****Matthew 18:21-35