Like most people, I am uncomfortable when I sense that other people are "putting me in a box" or giving me a "label". I guess none of us likes to feel that someone thinks they have us all figured out. It's an insult to think I've been oversimplified.
Recently I realized, however, that sometimes I am the worst culprit when it comes to putting me in a box. I don't know if it's a normal phenomenon that comes with getting older but I am becoming more aware of how often I do this to myself. There's a little verse in Jeremiah that may shed some insight on this increasing awareness.
Jeremiah 48:11 says: Moab has been at ease since his youth; he has also been undisturbed on his lees, neither has he been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into exile. Therefore he retains his flavor, and his aroma has not changed. (NASB)
This verse describes people who haven't been "emptied from vessel to vessel" - forced to adapt to new situations and environments. The consequence of not having to adapt is that "he retains his flavor and his aroma has not changed". I'm sure there are lots of exceptions but I have noticed that people who haven't had to move, haven't traveled, haven't dealt with people of different ages and beliefs, haven't had their lives shaken up in one way or another (perhaps through difficult circumstances) can easily become inflexible and have set ideas about the way "things ought to be".
The move to California has been a "pouring from vessel to vessel" for me. In a totally new situation lots of things have been stirred up and I've noticed things about myself that I may not have noticed if we'd stayed put. One of the things I've noticed are some of the boxes I've put myself in, some of the labels I've stuck on myself and become comfortable with over the years. Labels do simplify life and they aren't all bad but sometimes they can get in the way of growth and creativity.
Here's an example: Lately I realized that I had put myself into a "frugal" box and that box was keeping me from enjoying something that God has recently lavished on me (via my dear husband). It's time to get out of that box, even if it's only occasionally, and to let my "flavor" and aroma be changed by being poured into a new vessel. Hopefully, new avenues of creativity, joy and blessing for others will result. After all, it's not really about me, it's about becoming everything God has in mind for me to be. And for that, I gotta get out of that box.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Common Grace
Once in a while God gives us the ability to see just how fragile life is and what an amazing gift it is to be blessed with another day of life. Last night I was thinking about that and when I opened my eyes this morning it was with the realization that I opened them to a new day only by the grace of God.
A year ago I would have been hard-pressed to give a definition to "common grace". It was a concept I was vaguely aware of but hadn't thought about a lot. Over the past year I have become much more conscious of the concept, having been instructed in and reminded of it numerous times. Common grace is "common" because it is grace that is showered on all people, regardless of their spiritual condition or their recognition of the Giver of this grace. Common grace includes things like God's providential care of His creation, His restraining of evil in the world, His allowing mankind to live together without total chaos and His many blessings given through the use of mankind's intelligence - science, medicine and technology. "God causes His rain to fall on the good and evil" is a recognition of common grace. Common grace is "grace" because it is something that is totally undeserved by the recipients. God gives it because He is a giver, not because we deserve it.
Of course in a world that doesn't recognize God, common grace is unheard of. Being materialists, most of us think it's our jobs that provide for our needs, not recognizing that our ability to work and our job itself is a gift of God. In manifold ways we ignore the ultimate source, giving credit to the "second causes".
The only sane and reasonable response to an awareness of common grace is thankfulness. There's a whole lot of sound theology in the three little words "count your blessings". So today I'm thanking God for the common grace He showers in my life - things like waking up healthy this morning, starting and ending each day in the arms of a good man who loves me, the love of my family, food in my cupboards and refrigerator, the rain He's causing to fall on LA today, the blessing of music that pours from my CD player at the touch of a button, the mail system and my computer that bring me greetings from beloved friends far and wide, safety on the LA freeways. Of course all of these blessings pale in comparison to the surpassing value of the UNcommon grace He has poured out on me in Jesus' atoning death on the cross. But they are still there, day by day reminding me that the One who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, will with Him also freely give us all things.
An understanding of God's common grace helps me when times get tough. If my trust is in the Giver and not in the gift, my foundation is secure no matter what happens. "He does not fear bad news nor live in dread of what may happen, for he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him." (Psalm 112:7 Living Bible) The God who cares for the sparrows and lilies is also in sovereign control of my life. Life is much better when I spend it thanking God for His blessings than when I live in fear of losing them. May God open our eyes to His grace, common and uncommon.
A year ago I would have been hard-pressed to give a definition to "common grace". It was a concept I was vaguely aware of but hadn't thought about a lot. Over the past year I have become much more conscious of the concept, having been instructed in and reminded of it numerous times. Common grace is "common" because it is grace that is showered on all people, regardless of their spiritual condition or their recognition of the Giver of this grace. Common grace includes things like God's providential care of His creation, His restraining of evil in the world, His allowing mankind to live together without total chaos and His many blessings given through the use of mankind's intelligence - science, medicine and technology. "God causes His rain to fall on the good and evil" is a recognition of common grace. Common grace is "grace" because it is something that is totally undeserved by the recipients. God gives it because He is a giver, not because we deserve it.
Of course in a world that doesn't recognize God, common grace is unheard of. Being materialists, most of us think it's our jobs that provide for our needs, not recognizing that our ability to work and our job itself is a gift of God. In manifold ways we ignore the ultimate source, giving credit to the "second causes".
The only sane and reasonable response to an awareness of common grace is thankfulness. There's a whole lot of sound theology in the three little words "count your blessings". So today I'm thanking God for the common grace He showers in my life - things like waking up healthy this morning, starting and ending each day in the arms of a good man who loves me, the love of my family, food in my cupboards and refrigerator, the rain He's causing to fall on LA today, the blessing of music that pours from my CD player at the touch of a button, the mail system and my computer that bring me greetings from beloved friends far and wide, safety on the LA freeways. Of course all of these blessings pale in comparison to the surpassing value of the UNcommon grace He has poured out on me in Jesus' atoning death on the cross. But they are still there, day by day reminding me that the One who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, will with Him also freely give us all things.
An understanding of God's common grace helps me when times get tough. If my trust is in the Giver and not in the gift, my foundation is secure no matter what happens. "He does not fear bad news nor live in dread of what may happen, for he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him." (Psalm 112:7 Living Bible) The God who cares for the sparrows and lilies is also in sovereign control of my life. Life is much better when I spend it thanking God for His blessings than when I live in fear of losing them. May God open our eyes to His grace, common and uncommon.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Totally Random....
Every blog-less day that goes by makes it easier to not blog. To get over that hurdle I am now going to blog, even if it is something totally inane. Somehow having this empty space before me intimidates me if I think about having to fill it with something significant. So here are a few random thoughts that have been bouncing around my head like pinballs.
Before my mom died, I remember her telling me one day that she would "give everything I own just to have all the grandkids little again for just a day or two". It surprised me at the time but I've thought about it many times since then, reflecting on just how precious those days were to her. Now that we have our own little grandson coming to visit Grandma and Grandpa and scooting around the house I can understand her. TeeTee has taught Micah several hand motions so that even though he can't talk, he can express certain things. The other day when he came over I was holding him, just enjoying the warmth of that little body in my arms. He put up with it for a minute and then he looked at me and used the hand motion for "Feed me!" I had to laugh - he already knows what Grandmas are supposed to do and he lost no time in reminding me. I thought of my mom and knew she would agree with Micah - that's what Grandmas are for.
How many of our memories are associated with the kitchen? At least in our family I know that many of them are. Anne made a reference this afternoon to my favorite hiding place for things I didn't want the kids to eat beforetime: the vegetable drawer. I knew if they went foraging for a snack they weren't likely to look in with the carrots, celery and half-withered apples so I would often slip something I was saving under the aforementioned items and could rest assured that it was safe there. I think it was only recently that I revealed that secret and I may yet regret spilling the beans on myself.
I find myself reflecting often on my place in the flow of generations. Hovering over my shoulder are the memories of my own parents and grandparents. In front of me are my children and grandchild. Definitely one of the benefits of being middle-aged.
Before my mom died, I remember her telling me one day that she would "give everything I own just to have all the grandkids little again for just a day or two". It surprised me at the time but I've thought about it many times since then, reflecting on just how precious those days were to her. Now that we have our own little grandson coming to visit Grandma and Grandpa and scooting around the house I can understand her. TeeTee has taught Micah several hand motions so that even though he can't talk, he can express certain things. The other day when he came over I was holding him, just enjoying the warmth of that little body in my arms. He put up with it for a minute and then he looked at me and used the hand motion for "Feed me!" I had to laugh - he already knows what Grandmas are supposed to do and he lost no time in reminding me. I thought of my mom and knew she would agree with Micah - that's what Grandmas are for.
How many of our memories are associated with the kitchen? At least in our family I know that many of them are. Anne made a reference this afternoon to my favorite hiding place for things I didn't want the kids to eat beforetime: the vegetable drawer. I knew if they went foraging for a snack they weren't likely to look in with the carrots, celery and half-withered apples so I would often slip something I was saving under the aforementioned items and could rest assured that it was safe there. I think it was only recently that I revealed that secret and I may yet regret spilling the beans on myself.
I find myself reflecting often on my place in the flow of generations. Hovering over my shoulder are the memories of my own parents and grandparents. In front of me are my children and grandchild. Definitely one of the benefits of being middle-aged.
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