In recent years we have begun to use the "marked safe" logo or image to let our families and friends know that we are ok. This is used a lot on social media and other spaces, particularly during huge storms or crisis events around the world. Without going into too much detail you can tell your family that they don't need to panic, because you are fine.
I was reflecting on how we could possibly use this in a spiritual sense. We are not always aware of the storms that our loved ones are facing, but what if we could let each other know (via a sign or symbol) that we needed prayer or help? What if we used a "need prayer" logo, without going into elaborate details of our struggles, and others just started praying for us? Wouldn't that be great?
"But I am poor and needy; God, hurry for me. You are my helper and rescuer; Adonai, don’t delay!" - Psalm 70:6
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In essence, I believe Martin Luther King Jnr was emphasizing that once you have decided to invest every ounce of your resources into something, that this cause/person/belief makes you come alive.
Of course, we remember that Jesus said it like this:
"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." - Matthew 10:39
"We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body." - 2 Corinthians 4:10
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"People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway."
Mother Teresa's Anyway Poem - apparently this poem is on the wall of a children’s home in Calcutta (operated by Mother Theresa’s order, the sisters of Charity).
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There are many good definitions of prayer, but I was struck again by the fact that, through prayer, we are invited into a special conversation between friends. As soon as our prayers begin to shift towards only a list of: Please can you .... or, Jesus I would like....; then we are surely missing the point. And dare I suggest, that we are also then missing the blessing of having an amazing conversation with a friend!
What do you think?
Matthew 6:5-8
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.Living in Grace
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The very first thing we must understand is that there is a huge difference between being a Peacemaker and a Peacekeeper. And Jesus is calling us to be the former, without forgetting the latter (see Matthew 5:9). In trying to come to a deeper understanding of this sensitive topic, the following thoughts and definitions came to the fore:
“A peacemaker is someone who is willing to resolve conflict/turmoil in order to bring about peace with other people. Of course, this may involve engaging in conflict and tension, but always with the goal of healing and reconciliation."
· I guess the key in being a peace maker is that you have to exert some effort. One needs to be willing to roll up your sleeves and work at it. There is nothing passive about being a Peacemaker.
A peacekeeper, on the other hand, often chooses to avoid conflict, in order to keep the status quo (peace), although this is usually a very fragile peace in the first place.
For example, there were many Roman soldiers in the time of Jesus, who were employed as 'peacekeepers', but the Roman idea of Pax Romana (The Peace of Roman) was actually very far from true peace.
Ephesians 4:3 - Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.Thoughts: So, which one are you? Peacemaker or Peacekeeper?
I have to be
honest and say that I tend to lean towards being a Peacekeeper, rather than a
Peacemaker.
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Over the next few posts, we will explore a little more around this topic, but perhaps the best place to start is to reflect on these familiar words first:
Lord, make me an instrument of
your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (Saint Francis of Assisi)
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When Jesus challenged the Pharisees for doing the same thing, he said to them: "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” – Matthew 23: 23
Jesus was not saying that giving a portion of their spices was wrong, but rather that they also needed to practice Mercy, Justice and Faithfulness. They could not cut corners and choose only some things to practice in their faith - they needed to do it all.
Thought: What corners are we tempted to cut in our Christian Walk?
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“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit
Blessed is the lamb whose blood flows
Blessed are the sat upon, spat upon, ratted on
O Lord, Why have you forsaken me?
I got no place to go” – Paul Simon
The crowds that came to hear Jesus often felt like they were 'sat upon and spat upon' in a religious sense. They were hungry for the things of God, but had been overlooked and ignored, until Jesus showed up and changed all that.
If you are feeling a little 'sat upon' at the moment and that no one seems to care, why don't you turn to Jesus? Listen to his words of hope and consolation and remember that you always have a home in Christ.
Matthew 12:21 - "In his name the nations will put their hope."
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Was it for, being left in the bulrushes as a child? Challenging Pharoah? Being a Shepherd? Receiving the 10 Commandments? Leading the people through the wilderness?
Well, I guess all of these give us some insight into the events of his life, but they don't fully answer the question. When we turn to Numbers 12:3, we find the answer. This verse says:
“Anav me’od mikol ha-adam asher al penai ha-adama”–the most extremely humble individual on the face of the earth.
Moses was considered to be the humblest individual on the face of the earth. Wow, that is quite an honour.
Another translation for word 'anav' can also be 'meek.' Moses was chosen by God, because he humbly trusted in God 100 percent.
"Far more books get written about how to get more people in your church than how to get the people already in your church to have more humility and sincere love." - John Ortberg
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In our modern times the word 'Meek' has sadly come to mean: A doormat. Or someone who is spineless, or subservient or even passive. But surely it means more than this?
It was Aristotle who used the Greek word ‘praus’ (from which we get the word meekness) to describe the happy medium between ‘extreme anger’ and ‘being excessively passive.” He had the habit of defining every virtue by comparing 2 extremes and then resting in the middle of the two in a ‘happy medium.”
So then, we could paraphrase Matthew 5:6 with these words: “Blessed is the
person who is always angry at the right time, and never angry at the wrong
time.”
The other usage of the word ‘praus’ is the same as to speak of an animal that has been domesticated - for example, think of a Stallion. It is an animal that has learnt to accept control from its owner, but it also has the power to cause harm if let loose.
I guess, the main idea behind the word “meek” was strength under control - so, it is therefore not ‘weaknesses at all.
Thought: How does this sit with you? Do you find it easy to find this perfect balance?
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"The soul must long for God in order to be set aflame by God's love; but if the soul cannot yet feel the longing, then it must long for the longing. To long for the longing is also from God."- Meister Eckhart
"All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of his mercy
As deep cries out to deep"- Brenton Brown
Thought: As you long for the presence of God, I pray that you would encounter God's mercy and grace.
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As we are reflecting on the Beatitudes at the moment, I have been challenged by the word 'meekness.' What does it truly mean to be 'meek?'
Sadly, we have come to understand meekness as being passive or even downtrodden. But is this what Jesus is speaking about when he says: "Blessed are the meek?" Do we need to become like a 'human mouse' in order to please God?
Colossians 3:12 - "Therefore, as the elect
of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness,
longsuffering."
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