Spiritual Warfare

Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, `Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. - Zechariah 4:

In my last post, "Emptying Out" I learned that to follow Jesus is to empty out our spirits so that Jesus - the Holy Ghost can enter.  Since God has given us free will, we need to ask for his Spirit.   As Zechariah states absolute power corrupts and those who wield physical, economic, and emotional power can do great damage.  The Spirit of God is  different in that we yield our own human will so that God, who always operates from love, can work through us.    I have also learned that the Bible is full of God's promises when we live in accordance with his Word and that he wants us to be blessed (happy).  There are so many distractions in this world, reading his Word and building communities (his Church) remind us to focus and discipline ourselves so we can be blessed by living in accordance with his Word.  

This leads me to think about spiritual warfare.   So when should we take up "the sword" and can we wield it in such a way that is consistent with God's will?  My answer is God will wield the sword (righteousness and justice) if we "empty out."  Spiritual warfare is the battle between our sinful nature and the love God has instilled in us within our souls and the presence of the Holy Spirit.  To relinquish our will and our human sense of "security" sometimes requires us to be in opposition to others which is seen as another form of "spiritual warfare", but as Proverbs 3:1-4 says:  

"My son do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.  Let love and faithfulness never lead you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your hear.  Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Emptying Out

At church today our pastor, Randy, preached  on Choosing to Change" based on the first two Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
"Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted."

Randy is a gifted preacher who gave me pause to think about how God interacts with us.  Randy said to be poor in spirit is to empty out ourselves (our spirits) and to mourn means to recognize our wretchedness and despair in our sinfulness. This prepares us for God to change us and make us blessed (happy).  We must do this because we are unable to make any meaningful change under our own power. The only true comfort and hope for us is for God to change us instead of what we so often attempt to do on our own by escaping through emotional crutches.   To follow Jesus requires us to empty our spirit so Jesus  can enter and change us.

With God all Things are Possible

“But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

- Matthew 19:26 (NKJV)

I was listening to the PBS Newshour and heard an interview with Rebecca Goldstein the author of Plato at the Googleplex.  In the book Rebecca alternates between exploring the Plato of his times with an imaginary Plato thrust into a contemporary United States who then debates through dialogues with scientists and leaders.   Rebecca remarked that the contemporary America was similar to the Greek society of Plato in that America is now in a post monotheism society.   She said there is a domination of scientific and economic thought in our society.  She stated that the Humanities including philosophy needs to be juxtaposed against all that science tells us, for us to understand ourselves as a whole.

I was educated at a Jesuit University and therefore, theology was part of the curriculum.  My experience is that although the humanities are rich in perspectives of what it is to be human, without an understanding of theology we cannot expand our thoughts beyond what it is to be a physical human being.  That in and of it limits what we can achieve.  The experience of God is a way of proceeding based on a philosophy that there is a greater intelligence that is omniscience and infinite and can achieve what the collective humanity cannot.  When we look to God, we understand that there is a greater power at work, and by being consistent with that power there are no limits.  "With God all things are possible."

Guideposts

“A post next to a trail or road that has a sign on it with directions for travelers.”

- Definition of a guidepost – Merriam Webster Dictionary

Many Christians believe that signs and coincidences are guideposts from God telling us we are on the right path.  I recently was diagnosed with a chronic illness that I believed could not be managed.  I asked Jesus for a miracle and worked at improving my diet and exercise to improve my "numbers."  On Friday, I got my latest tests back and there was a dramatic improvement.  I was so happy!  I realized that the change was not solely of my own volition.  When I arrived home from the doctor's appointment, I found a Guideposts publication in my mailbox reminding me of God's "messages."

I met into my older neighbor Margie, and her dog Snuggles while I was walking today.  We talked about her knee surgery and my diagnosis and God's will.  She said it would be wonderful if we learned at an early age how God's will works.  She said we go through our daily lives unconscious of God's will at work.  As we age we begin to see patterns in our life where God has taken care of us and provided the right opportunities when we needed them.  Margie said of course as we become aware of God at work in our life, we begin to look for his will (discern) which is not always clear at that moment.  I am learning discernment is to focus on doing what is right in my heart in accordance to God's Word.  Then I don't have to worry about what comes next, God will take care of it.  

Glimpses of Heaven

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”

-Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

This season’s finale of PBS’s Call the Midwife brought tears to my eyes.   Birth is the theme of this show, but this episode focused on the death, due to cancer, of one of the midwife's (Chummy) mother.  The mother had been distant, cold, and judgmental of Chummy and as a result, as her mother lay dying, Chummy couldn't bear to touch her.  A nun who was present explained how important touch is to someone who is dying and with her encouragement, Chummy loving attended to her mother giving her a manicure.  Chummy said her nurse’s uniform was her armor but she finally removed it and lay beside her mother who drew her last breath.   Another young midwife, Jenny, who had lost her boyfriend in an accident decided her calling was no longer as a midwife, but to nurse the terminally ill.  

I have been reading the book Glimpses of Heaven that was written by a Catholic hospice nurse who tended to many patients, including close family and friends, during her thirty-three career.  In the book she recounts how God helps transition patients to death through visions.  She loving cared for the patients who many times die at home surrounded by family.   Youth is so celebrated in our society it is hard to even contemplate aging and death.  Most deaths occur in the hospital and not in the comfort of one's home surrounded by loving family.  Because we often do not see death as a transition to a better life, we are reminded of our fears by others’ illnesses and death.  What was amazing about these hospice patients was how they were so happy and at peace at the end, as God carried their souls to heaven.

It is very sad, when someone leaves this life too soon due to illness, neglect, or an accident.  These souls are not able to complete their human journey.  But I have been thinking we can change our view of death so that the sick and old feel the loving touch of human hands as God calls them forward.

The Only Limits are Those of Vision

"The only limits are, as always, those of vision."  James Broughton

This was my quote on my daily calendar yesterday and it gave me pause to think.  I visited the optometrist yesterday who performed tests and pronounced my eyes as very healthy.  Then why is my vision so bad?  Of course the physical explanation is the curvature of my cornea.  But it also reflects a   limit to my vision.  I am in a place in my life where I want to fulfill my hearts desire, but I can't read the eye chart without help.

Todays quote is "To measure the man measure his heart."  Malcom Forbes.  I know what is my hearts desire.  To create and process symbols and for others to see the meaning.   In February I attended a wonderful ACTS (Adoration Community Theology Service) retreat put on the Catholic Church.  Yesterday my optometrist happened to be a fellow ACTS participant and  I was wearing the crucifix gifted to me by the women at the retreat.  What is God's message is this?  Am I called to the Catholic Church and this group of women at Our Lady of Providence?  Or does my heart desire reside in a Christmas House in Illinois?  Or somehow both?  This is where I ask for God's help.  I ask that God help so that I make my decisions based on my heart and not by reason.

Jesus and the Power of Response

Cast your burden on the LORD and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

- Psalm 55:22 (NKJV)

I have been contemplating why God does not cause evil.  I believe that God or love is shown in our human acts in response to evil or suffering.  But as I think deeper it is also God's love or relief from our burdens.  This is the presence of Jesus within us.  I knew a husband with a wife who suffered from ALS.  I got to know them late in her illness.  They lived in a simple, unadorned house where the husband met her every need - feeding, bathing, and caring for her.  When she died and I spoke with the husband, he sobbed and stated how very much Jesus had loved them.  I could not understand his response.  How could he believe that God loved them when to me they had both endured such suffering?  With time I am beginning to understand.  God is not in the act, but the response.  The response of Jesus is to lift the burden from us and carry "our cross" giving us emotional and mental relief so we do not worry.  The husband knew he wasn't caring for his wife alone.  He had such faith he was able to give his cross to Jesus.  But how many of us have the belief and faith to do so?  To ask Jesus to help us and truly believe that he will?  And isn't it amazing that Jesus can carry so many of our burdens?