slapdash #8: ian's little birdie story

hey kids-


ians here to tell us a lovely story today!  listen up listen up!  :)  i now pass the computer to the redhead sitting next to me of whom i speak:


This morning I was feeling burdened after working a 56 hour work week, feeling distracted from the important things, wondering if I was being led down the wrong path by simply trying to "be responsible".  I had gone for an early morning swim and sat in the sauna afterwards sweating and speaking with the Lord fretting that I would become like so many middle aged men who are married, work hard and no one hears from again.  Men who were once on fire for the Lord but fade away, not from the Lord per se but from bearing fruit.  I was beginning to worry that I would fall to the way side and that the Lord would let me.

I left the Y and began to walk across the park back to my apartment and 3 crows began to crow at me and they started taking turns dive bombing me.  They harassed me as I had never heard of crows harassing a human.  They were not guarding a nest but were merely out to harass me and I felt the Lord speak to me that the crows were sent as a warning that the enemy was after me and that I needed stop listening to him.  The birds of the air are always after the life giving seed of the gospel.  They hate it and seek to gobble it up lest the beautiful fruit of the Lord should spring up.  I prayed to the Lord to help me and told Him that I trusted Him to protect me from the enemy.  As soon as prayed the crows became silent and perched back in their tree.  A small bird then hopped up on the grass next to me cocked his head and gave me a look.  The Lord then reminded me that he keeps track of even the little sparrow and knows when one falls from the tree.  If He cares so much for this little bird how much more must He care for me.  As I walked up the front drive to my apartment small song birds swirled in the air before me singing sweet songs and I knew that the Lord was with me.

The enemy should never be allowed to perch upon our shoulders and whisper into our ears.  he is a wicked scavenger only able to steel and harass.  It is much better to flit through the air and sing knowing that the Lord loves us.

slapdash #7: the pleasure of God

I have been reading luke 12 for forever.  there's nothing like the words of Jesus, seriously.

it starts out warm and fuzzy..."fear not: you are of more value than many sparrows..."

and ends a little disconcerting: "...and that servant...shall be beaten with many stripes..."

at first i'm overwhelmed by stark encouragement and stark warning.  how can i ever measure up?  especially if i still struggle living out the encouragement part...i cant do the easiest thing, how can i ever do the hard stuff?

but remember, this is Grace Himself we are talking to.  i realize that Jesus wants us to have His thoughts- His perspective on the daily action of living- His definition of success.

so, in going for the big picture, i made a list as i went through the chapter asking myself, "what is Jesus' definition of doing a good job at this life.  what is He listing as something that brings Him pleasure?  what does Jesus define as success?"  these statements are only my own words, but maybe their summarization can work to our benefit.  its interesting, some of the ideas totally repeat themselves.  Jesus is an excellent teacher :)

GOD IS PLEASED WHEN I:

1-3: am real and genuine...when i take being real and genuine with God and man seriously.
4-5: fear God as the only one i am accountable to/answer to
6-7: dont live afraid because i know i am higly valued by Him
8-9: tell others about Him
10-12: give Him my tongue as His tool, and my heart rests peacefully on Him
15: am aware of the temptation/danger of covetousness.  He is pleased when i dont live my life based on the amount of stuff i have- it is an indicator that my treasure rests elsewhere
21: am "rich toward God."  he is pleased when He Himself is what my heart values.
22: dont worry about life or the body- realizing their proper place (ie, not priority in my heart)
24: know HOW He sees me- that i am valued by Him, that i matter to Him, because He knows it will affect how i live
26: choose trust over worry and anxiousness
27: when i look around and see His faithfulness in everything
28: have BIG faith
29: trust Him to the point of not having an anxious mind
31: seek His kingdom
32: realize that He very much wants to give us what we seek.  to know that the "kingdom" is ours and therefore not to fear
33-34: give up the temporal in exchange for the eternal.  when my heart's treasure is in Him
35-37: wait for Him/watch for Him expectantly.  he pronounces a blessing for those who are ready for Him
40: READY for Him to come
42-48: say in my heart as His servant, "my master comes at any moment.  i will preserve the man and  maidservants around me like a good steward.  i will be sober and aware."

there's so much love in this chapter...hear o israel...you shall LOVE Me...

o, how He wants us to LOVE Him, and to know truly that we are loved by Him.

slapdash #6: velveteen

this is a quote from the short story "the velveteen rabbit:" that made me cry:




"Real isn't how you are made,' said the Skin Horse. 'It's a thing that
happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just
to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.'

Does it hurt?' asked the Rabbit.

Sometimes,' said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. 'When you
are Real you don't mind being hurt.'

Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,' he asked, 'or bit by
bit?'

It doesn't happen all at once,' said the Skin Horse. 'You become. It
takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who
break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.
Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved
off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very
shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real
you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."
— Margery Williams Bianco (The Velveteen Rabbit)