Unveiling Hope

Released in Captivity

There’s a bible story in the book of Genesis that tells of Joseph being falsely accused of rape by his employer’s wife. Joseph was a young Jewish man working for an Egyptian and in charge of his master’s household. He was a slave and therefore received no trial. He was sentenced to a lifetime of imprisonment.

Unfair things happen to in life. We may be falsely accused. We may be mistreated. We may be, in a manner of speaking, tried and sentenced without defense. In the book of Matthew, Jesus has something to say about how we should behave in these types of scenarios:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45 NIV

Joseph didn’t spend his time in his cell pining away for what might have been or seething in anger at the injustice that had been perpetrated against him. He made the very best of a bad situation and he looked toward the Light. Rather than dreaming about what he would do or say should he ever encounter his accuser again, he likely prayed that God would be merciful to her on her day in court.

Persecution is the perfect scenario for learning how to love one’s enemy and until we get better at it, we’re going to keep finding ourselves in similar unfair situations. When we are faithful to God, He remains faithful to us. Although Joseph spent time physically incarcerated his attitude toward his enemy gave him spiritual freedom that few can comprehend; he was released in captivity from the chains of unforgiveness and bitterness.

Joseph was released after two years. He was promoted second only to Pharaoh himself which made him Mr. Potiphar’s boss. Imagine the conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Potiphar: “Do you remember that young Hebrew you accused a couple of years ago? I sure hope you were telling the truth, because he’s my boss now and he’s invited us to the palace for supper.”

Love is the best defense. God is just and His timing is perfect.

My Secret Pain Exposed on Oprah?!

I believe that everything happens for a reason and in God’s perfect time no matter how wonderful or devastating it might be. Just this morning I felt that obsessive urge to start looking up various genealogy sites, graves markers, and hospital records - as I have done for an unfathomable number of hours in the past - in the quest to find out who I am. Merely touching an old photograph can set me off; each time an entire weekend is wasted believing that this time I will stumble upon what will change my life and don’t, I promise myself I will never again pursue the quest again.  Imagine my surprise today when I saw parts of my life story being narrated by Lady O herself only hours later.

Oprah introduced the world to her half-sister Patricia today. Patricia’s story was one that resembled a story of my own. She so aptly described the shame of walking around feeling incomplete and abandoned. It’s something I rarely talk about because, as a believer I feel an additional burden of shame because I convinced myself that as a believer – with the Spirit of the Most High God Almighty living inside me – I must be grieving Him each time I admit to feeling incomplete? Yet, the ignorance to one of life’s most basic questions, “who am I” plagues me far more than I ever imagined.

“I know those feelings.” I thought to myself as I listened to Patricia speak about wanting to feel complete – about wanting to leave a family legacy to her children – a connection to someone else on the planet. She spoke with a firmness of attitude when describing, so aptly, her faith that God would – one way or another – answer her prayers and fill that void in her life.

It sounds so cliché to say you had a “aha moment” watching the Oprah Winfrey show, but I did. I believe that every person on this planet who doesn’t know God has a hole – an incompleteness about them. Some call this the God-shaped hole. In my errant thinking I believed that if I really knew and loved God that should be sufficient and He should fill that hole completely – no questions asked. What I learned today was this: it is possible to have more than one hole in your heart. Only God can fill His place – and does, but when we trust Him with the other holes He fills them in His perfect timing. 

Girl's Treasure or God's Treasured?

I was speaking to a friend recently, trying to get to the root of an issue, when suddenly I remarked, “Not this again!” You would think after all the work that God has been doing in my life to remove the root of pride that, by now, there’d be nothing left! Sadly, there seems to be no short supply.

In my BC days, it seemed that I spent most of my waking moments trying to polish myself up for the world. It wasn’t because I was extraordinary in any way or form. In fact, I was quite the opposite. I was very insecure, filled with anger, and so brimming over with false pride to cover it all up that I kept a constant buffing vigil to make sure people wouldn’t see that it was only my surface that sparkled.

When I became a Christian, I was sure that my transformation would be spectacular, something for the world to see. I’ve watched God carefully chisel away at many of my facets. I believe I secretly expected that one fine day, He’d be done and I would be a precious gem, perfectly cut, and flawlessly displayed on His finger, at just the right spot, for His Light to shine through. Yes indeed! I’d be so filled with Light that I would just bedazzle the whole world with my glory – er – I mean His glory. Okay, I meant my glory. OY! Not this again!

A diamond is the hardest natural substance known to man. What people get often forget is that a diamond was diamond before it fell into the hands of a diamond cutter. Sure, who would want to wear a chunk of uncut diamond around town? That, my friends, may be the point. I think that’s the very part of the diamond that God prefers. God doesn’t need shiny and sparkly to know that there is value to a gem. We’re all gems to Him. I have spent so much time, since giving my heart to Christ, trying to be a gem that I forgot that anything I make has no intrinsic value. And, anything I make – I take credit for. I can polish myself up until I cause blindness, but I’ll never be as precious in any one else’s eyes but His – just the way I am – the Hope diamond – cut by the Master for the Master.

I see value in the natural; if it twinkles in the light, it’s got to be real. God sees precious in an entirely perfect way. If it twinkles in the Light, His Son must be in there somewhere. I believe God is taking me from the journey of worldly clarity and cut and making me a cut above in His eyes, not mine, and certainly not anyone else’s, lest I boast, which I do.

“God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification and redemption,” 1 Cor. 1:28-30.

Diamonds may be a girl’s treasure, but a diamond in the rough is God’s treasured.

Trying Too Hard

If you’re anything like me the struggle to live in balance is like sitting on a teeter-totter at the exact moment that your friend leaps off. The most often heard words for the first 15 years of my life were “you’re not trying hard enough!”

I always wondered, and still do, if you are trying is it possible to try harder? Is it a question of quantification? Can a person try harder than their best? If you try less than your best, are you even trying? Is it any wonder that people get stressed out in life?

At the beginning of my relationship with the Lord there was a great sigh of relief in my life. I think for the first time I can remember I actually felt relaxed. I felt accepted. I felt loved. I felt as if I was enough, but wasn’t limited to remaining as I was. I just was – no need to try – I just was.

It only took a few years however for me to realize that, occasionally, I find myself straining under the pressure of being, striving, and achieving to be better than . . . well – better than that – whatever that is. It’s in these times – when the vein in my forehead starts to pop – that I hear the Lord whispering to my spirit, “Don’t try so hard.” I like that. Are you trying too hard?

“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light,” Matthew 11: 28-30.

The Scarlet Letter

My eldest son was 5 years old when I discovered his first attempt at a cover-up. I had just finished cutting up vegetables to make with dinner and opened the cupboard beneath the kitchen sink to dispose of the cuttings in the trash. I saw his lunch bag in the garbage. I picked it up; his sandwich was still wrapped in saran wrap, not a bite missing.

He was playing with his toys in the living room. “Honey, did you eat your lunch today?” “Yeah,” he called back. “Are you sure?” “Yeah,” he answered. I began to think, does this child think I’m crazy and I won’t notice his lunch bag on the top of the trash? I began pondering the situation. Should I be pleased that he wasn’t sneaky enough to consider dropping it in the trash at school or even burying it beneath other trash in our kitchen? I had to address the situation, if not for the cover-up at least to make sure that he was being nourished.

I called him into the kitchen. He had no clue why I called him in there. Had I not given birth to him myself I would have wondered if he was really mine. “Is that your lunch?” He looked inside the garbage and looked up at me without blinking and said, “No.” “Are you telling me the truth? Because it’s important for little boys to each their lunches or they might get a tummy ache.” He drew a deep breath, prepared to stick to his story, and added, “Well, if I was that little boy I’d tell my mom I don’t like bologna sandwiches anymore, but I ate all my lunch.” And off he went. I decided to let him save face.

What I still can’t get over to this very day is the fact that once he threw it out, even though it was in plain view, to him it was forever gone as if it never existed. Would there have been a point to brand him with an LD  (lunch dumper) on his t-shirts similar to the large red “A” used to punish and humiliate Hester Prynne in A Scarlett Letter? I hardly think that approach would have done either of us any good and it certainly would not have accomplished what grace ended up producing. The legalistic approach would have laid a foundation for guilt and I didn’t want to encourage him to become more adept in his deception.

As adults, many of us often give this unmerited favour to children without a second thought. I have to confess that I have been guilty of not always extending this same grace to other adults. I think, as adults, we sometimes think everyone should be held to the same standards. The truth is, we are not all from the same place and we’re not all in the same place but we’re all supposed to end up in the same place. No one can get there alone, or on their own merit.

Hester Prynne ended up putting the scarlet letter back on. We don’t have to. Our letters have been permanently removed, as if they never existed. It seems only right that we clothe others in the same grace that covers us rather than clothing them with a scarlet letter.

A Natural Soldier or a Soldier in the Natural

Some people are born “naturals” – called to a profession or trade from the beginning. We may say that they are born with the talent and an innate affinity (passion) for what they do. It takes a special – called – kind of person to be a soldier in this world and I thank God not only for them but for their families.

Any good soldier is always prepared for battle whether engaged in battle or not. They wear not just uniforms but warrior mindsets. We may not always see their weapons but they are highly trained to be effective even without. Being a soldier isn’t a 9-5 job, it’s a way of life.

I think however that while we are not all natural soldiers we are all called to be spiritual soldiers in the natural. We are all called to battle the enemy of God’s creation. We are all called to be prepared for battle – the daily battles that wage war against us in this fallen world – we are to be prepared always to be able to read the landscape and see minefields with our spiritual eyes.

We may be moms and dads. We may be police officers, firemen, we may be teachers, or party planners, clergy or lay. We may be students or grandparents, caregivers or lifesavers. Whatever we are, whatever our calling, we must always be spiritually armed and dangerous while living in the natural.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Eph. 6:10-12.

One Said "Yes" and One Said "No"

Most people only see one side of us – the side we want them to see. A rebellious people-pleaser is a good term to describe the kind of person I was for much of my life. I’ve spent a good deal of my time on this planet much like the little boy who is repeatedly told by his teacher, “Sit down!” Eventually, he sits – but not without adding, “But I’m standing up on this inside!” That provokes quite a visual doesn’t it? Can you relate? Is someone you know just like that? Of course, not you. That is a fairly accurate description of most of my past relationships, including my relationship with God.

At some point in my life however, my legs, (and my spirit), became fatigued from all that standing; it wasn’t long after that realization that I raised the white flag and surrendered my heart to God.

Hypocrisy in a person’s life can often be a precursor to this type of attitude. You know the old saying, “do what I say and not what I do”. Words hold a world of power but if you really want to win someone over – words need to be backed up with action.

Jesus said, “If you love me you will obey what I command,” (John 14:15). I said yes, but I didn’t. Doing what He commanded required that I sacrifice my physical, emotional and spiritual comfort (I should say, “comfort zone”). The first six months of my surrender were spent standing up – for my rights and for my comfort. It wasn’t until I began studying the Scriptures, studying the people, their circumstances, their personalities and the sacrifices that were made by so many to prove their love by action – in obedience. God required it from The Beginning, and Jesus would require nothing less.

Abraham, Moses, and David all obeyed and, of course, they all had their “standing up on the inside” moments, but for the most part they obeyed and things went well for them, and those around them.

If you think rebellious people-pleasing is an oxymoron, how about surrendered-control? I feel as if my life is under complete control rather than being completely controlled. So, the old me said “yes” and didn’t, but the new me did – the new me prefers to sit at the feet of the Master of the Vineyard. What’s so wonderful is that if, one day, I do stand – I know that tomorrow is a new day.

“There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard. 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?’ ‘The first,’ they answered.” Matt. 21:28-31 NIV.

Tele-pathetic

Telepathy, if you believe it’s possible, is the transference of thoughts from one person’s mind to another without the use of the senses. Individuals who claim they are able to perform this feat are known to be “telepathic.”

There are some of us however, not involved in the occult or psychic world, who believe that other people are receptors of our thoughts – not telepathically communicated but just plain pathetically communicated and sometimes not communicated at all. Just to be on the safe side, I’m not saying anyone is pathetic, only that our skills at communicating can be pitiful.

Has this been an issue since languages were invented? No. In fact, way, way back people were so adept at communicating that they began building a tower to celebrate themselves. Being of one mind didn’t mean they shared their communications telepathically.

In truth, if any of us claim to be of one mind, or even one heart, the communication lines should be open and effectively used.

Silence is not always golden; it’s often black or white and rarely gray.

A picture can paint a thousand words, but are both parties into impressionism?

I’m okay, you’re okay . . . unless you tell me differently. “Good” “Fine” “Okay” are we really?

Words used over the centuries . . . millennia - have taken on meanings that not everyone understands correctly. I was always taught that the word “anxious” was a synonym for “excited.” That was a great way to greet the new boss, “I’ve been anxious about meeting you.”

People offend easily. Cultural differences are not always the cause. For the most part, when we set out to offend, there’s usually no question it’s exactly what we meant to do so, if one party is unsure clarification should be sought. None of us are mind-readers. If we say, “it’s all good” it should all be good. A great danger however is not as much in the miscommunication or misunderstanding as it is in the failure to seek clarification before assuming the worse was meant.

I don’t know how many times I’ve walked away from a conversation with a lump in my throat because I incorrectly read “between the lines” when all there was in between them was an empty space. I can’t begin to count the times that I unnecessarily stewed in offense over words that I misunderstood because I didn’t take the time, or courage, to ask plainly, “what did you mean exactly?” In retrospect, it’s clear to me now that I have acted "fine” when I wasn’t; I have believed that those who really know me and care about me should know what I’m thinking or feeling – even when I confirm the exact opposite.

A Perspective on Perspective

Not too long ago, my son and I were at the other end of the city – the part of the city where I lived when I was about ten years old. Like many parents, I had recounted stories about my childhood to him – that included the story of my long and lonely walks to school during those cold winter days. I drove around the old neighbourhood and showed him my primary school and the townhouse I lived in.

“Mom!” he said, “I thought you told me your school was like two miles away?! It’s like not even a block away!” A flashback to my childhood flooded my mind as I looked at my former home, and then the school, and then my home again. He was right, it was – at the very most – half a city block away. It was so much farther when I was smaller!

It seems that I have made a habit throughout my life of seeing things bigger than they are. I am far too easily intimidated when it comes to things that seem out of my reach, or difficult. I let fear settle in and over-power me as if I’m a tiny little minnow swimming about in the sea. Lately however, thanks be to God, I have come to realize that there is nothing – no one – greater and more powerful than He is. He is for me and not against me. He’s on my side. He cares about the small details of my life – every detail. When I look at what seems to be a battle before me, instead of feeling small and insignificant, I need to run to Him – I need a new perspective – His perspective – on every “battle” before me.

““When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."

"But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."

The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"

"But Lord , " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." Judges 6:12-14.

Are You Renting Out Space in Your Head?

I don’t like purses much. Mine is pretty small and as neat and tidy as I keep it, I can never find anything. I can’t carry a bigger purse for two reasons: 1) I’m only 5' 2” tall, so a big handbag will only make me look shorter; 2) if I have more space, I’ll probably cram more stuff in there and it will just force me to look twice as long and hard for whatever I need. And now for my super smooth segue … don’t ask me how my mind works … I can’t even find my wallet half the time!

I’m a thinker. I’m glad people can’t see inside my brain because it would probably look like one of those heavy, oversized handbags that put dents in women’s shoulders. There are times when there is so much clutter in my head I can’t think straight. Some people think I’m a “black or white” kind of girl, but there’s black, white, and about 40 shades of gray inside my matter.

I’m not a person who can simply shut things off by shear desire. The harder I work at ridding myself of those useless and fruitless thoughts the worse things get. It’s as if my brain is a condominium and I rent out space in my head. To be honest … it often seems that I’m not always very discreet about to whom I rent said space … he’s the joy killer and the peace stealer - public enemy number one.

There is only one sure fire solution; it works every time (so you’d think I’d just do it all the time). I’m sure if I spent more time with my nose in God’s Word there would be no space to rent. My thoughts would be where they should be. I would be focussed. I would be peaceful – always – and in all circumstances. God is a god of order not disorder.

Mark my words, the enemy knows where I am most vulnerable. He simply starts with a thought. He’s that guy. He’s the tenant from hell. But I am the one who consistently fails to really do what I need to do. I have to stop opening the door, and on those occasions when it’s too late – I need to turn to God, the One who is waiting, with His outstretched mighty hand, for me to give Him step aside and let Him serve an eviction notice.

“fear not, for I am with you;be not dismayed, for I am your God;I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 ESV.