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Blog: Reality AND Faith

Blog: Trevor Drinen

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Where is God's wisdom in the midst of my reality?

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Where is God's wisdom in the midst of my reality?

Scripture

God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people—I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!” -2 Chronicles 1:11-12

Observation

I’m always inspired by Solomon’s choice to ask God for wisdom. He could have asked for anything and yet his wish was to lead God’s people well. God blessed this unselfish act and He promised Solomon wisdom and so much more.

My prayer is that I would all have more wisdom – wisdom to discern right from wrong, moral from immoral, good from evil – and in today’s world where everything is up for grabs and standards are changing at breakneck speed, that’s not as easy as it used to be.

As a Christian, we often feel the tension of being in the world, but not of the world need wisdom. Lines are being drawn, sides are taken and friendships are tested, as we have to stand firm for God. We want to be able to speak to those who need it the most, but the world is pulling us further apart by making the extremes more acceptable.

How can I still be a positive influence, if people don’t see us as relevant? Can I seek wisdom from God for self promoting / selfish reason? If God knows everything and know the outcome of Solomon’s choices why was he granted this gift of wisdom?

Application

It’s here I’‘m thankful that God extended wisdom to Solomon despite his outcome - why? Because it give me hope.... despite my selfishness, inward focus, and countless flaws....

So how can I personally apply what I have pondered and learned?

Wisdom in the midst of my reality is found in simple obedience to God’s word. What does that look like? Today, I’m in need of following Solomon’s example and simply being with Jesus... learning to listen....(listening is so hard at times).... to hear His voice..... and when to respond.

Prayer

God, once again I find myself convicted. I’m amazed how much YOU desire to guide me as I come before YOU and be still for a few minutes. Help me not be selfish as you teach me eternal / timeless wisdom! Help me show others the way home, back to the Father, and how to develop a genuine relationship with YOU. My prayer isn’t that God will bless my family with material and temporal riches because I ask for wisdom, but rather that we can win others to Christ because of that wisdom. Thank you for the conviction of Your Spirit, correcting my heart, soul and mind back to You. YOU are my steadfast hope. Please help me to please You.... captivate my heart, my mind, my soul, and help me live in such a way that honors YOU.-Trevor

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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Essentials, as I live for Jesus

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Scripture
“remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” -1 Thessalonians 1:3

Observation
Paul encourages the Christians in Thessalonica in his introduction of the quality of their faith, hope and love. The church was previously planted and established by Paul, before persecution made it’s way to them. This left the Christians to develop their faith in a land influenced with idolatry, rituals of religion and questions about life after death.

Sounds like a modern day struggle.

Application
What is essential to cultivate a genuine growing relationship and walk with Jesus?

Remembering, that Christ’s time has been examined by historians. Faith is not a blind action but a logical reaction to historical evidences.

To have faith in Christ is key. The work of faith, living out my conviction and belief in Him is part of my Christ honoring responsibility.

Labor of Love speaks to me in areas I need to live out - especially when I get lazy, weary or when I don’t feel like loving those who irritate me. I have the love of Christ in me - do I have the labor of love living through me?

Steadfastness of hope in Jesus. This speaks most loudly to my heart. My mind, heart, emotions waver. I hope in Christ, but he steadfastness part hits me. I question my steadfast hope in Christ, to really aid me to be a Jesus witness. Especially living out my “work of faith and labor f love” for others.

Bottom line: Jesus help me cultivate a genuine growing relationship with you.

Prayer
God, once again I find myself convicted. I’m amazed how much YOU desire to guide me as I come before YOU and be still for a few minutes. I have lived “less than” I should unto you, towards others. I should know better. I should live better. Thank you for the conviction of Your Spirit, correcting my heart, soul and mind back to You. YOU are my steadfast hope. Please help me to please You.... captivate my heart, my mind, my soul, and help me live in such a way that honors YOU.-Trevor

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Monday, May 7, 2012

Rape, Shame, Isolation... where’s the redemption?

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Reality AND Spiritualism

Rape, Shame, Isolation... where’s the redemption?

“Amnon said, “Send the servants out of the house.” After they had gone, 10 he said to Tamar, “Serve the food in my bedroom.” Tamar picked up the bread that she had made and brought it into Amnon’s bedroom. 11 But as she was taking it over to him, he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me!” 12 She answered, “No! Please don’t force me! This sort of thing isn’t done in Israel. It’s too disgusting! 13 Think of me. I’ll be disgraced forever! And think of yourself. Everyone in Israel will say you’re nothing but trash! Just ask the king, and he will let you marry me.” 14 But Amnon would not listen to what she said. He was stronger than she was, so he overpowered her and raped her. 15 Then Amnon hated her even more than he had loved her before. So he told her, “Get up and get out!” - 2 Samuel 13:9-15

Tamar’s brother Absalom said to her, “How could Amnon have done such a terrible thing to you! But since he’s your brother, don’t tell anyone what happened. Just try not to think about it.” Tamar soon moved into Absalom’s house, but she was always sad and lonely. When David heard what had happened to Tamar, he was very angry. But Amnon was his oldest son and also his favorite, and David would not do anything to make Amnon unhappy.” - 2 Samuel 13:20-21

Internally, I find myself screaming out:

“GO GET AMNON - Absalom! BEAT HIM UNTIL HE CAN BARELY WALK!!!! BE A RESCUER OF THOSE THAT ARE WEAKER! HONOR YOU SISTER, YOUR FAMILY, & YOURSELF!!!! MAKE SURE AMNON WILL NEVER CASE THIS PAIN TO ANOTHER!!!!”

As a bi-stander / reader.... I can feel Tamar’s pain and Absalom's unsettling, growing hatred toward Amnon.

A few questions come to mind:
Why is this in the Bible?

Why do individuals intently inflect so much pain on others?

Why are people capable so such great evils without remorse?

Despite David’s favoritism, why didn’t his anger move to him justice or disciple?

Amnon’s actions mixed with David’s inaction totally FRUSTRATE, INFURIATE, IRRITATE, & ANGER ME!!!!

Despite Amnon’s knowledge of the bible (Leviticus 18:11) prohibiting sexual relations between half-brothers and sisters he still acted - why?!?!?!!!! Was it his overwhelming desire for her? Come bro!!!! Self-control!!!!

Was it this desire mixed with his cousin, Jonadab’s advice - to lure Tamar into his quarters by pretending to be sick and desiring her to cook a special meal for him? Now that makes more since but defiantly does NOT make it right! The sinister / master mind is reviled.... but what’s in it for Jonadab?

Was Jonadab trying to find favoritism with Amnon as he was the heir-apparent to David’s throne?

Sometimes, the end game “why?” can not be found and that can leave my soul and mind in turmoil.... I can’t ask these men, I can’t sit and talk, or trying to understand them because i have no relationship with them... and I can’t take the pain, hurt, and action away Tamar...

What I do know from being molested is their are years of shame, isolation, and mind games that continue to follow.... ....

So, where is the redemption for Tamar (me / others)?

For Tamar, is it found two years later, when Absalom sends his savants to kill Amnon at a feast to which he had invited all the kings’ sons (2 Samuel 13) to avenge the wrong committed against his sister?

Where is redemption found?

My personal application

One of God’s greatest gifts and curses for mankind just maybe the FREEDOM to choose.

Jesus doesn’t express disapproval of Tamar (me / others).

Jesus doesn’t declare Tamar (me / others) to be unfit.

Redemption is found in knowing that Jesus came for those hurting and in need. Through time and walking with

Jesus Tamar (myself / others) can experience FREEDOM & GRACE from LIFE MOST HURTFUL MOMENTS.

“43 You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.” 44 But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you.” -Matthew 5:42-44 CEV

Redemptions road doesn't always look as I picture it in the moment of pain......

Prayer

God, often I look for a way to make wrongs - right - and in so doing I consider committing another wrong. It’s here I remember the moment I crossed paths with the man who molested me.... I remember hearing his voice.... the emotions that were triggered.... and then hearing and watching two little kids cry out, “daddy!” Lord, protect those children and change that man’s life.... bring him to the point of change or .... ..... ...... God, for those that have giving into a dark plot, intentions, and desires.... may YOUR justice come.... however, YOU choose to bring it.... YOUR WILL not mine BE DONE... I once again trust YOU to direct me towards the path of redemption - captivate my heart and mind once again.... help me crave time like this daily!!!! Thank you God. -Trevor

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Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Sacrificial -OR- Relational Actions

“Jesus and his disciples were walking through some wheat fields. His disciples were hungry and began picking and eating grains of wheat. 2 Some Pharisees noticed this and said to Jesus, “Why are your disciples picking grain on the Sabbath? They are not supposed to do that!” 3 Jesus answered: You surely must have read what David did when he and his followers were hungry. 7 Don’t you know what the Scriptures mean when they say, “Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others?” If you knew what this means, you would not condemn these innocent disciples of mine.” - Matthew 12:1-3, 7 (CEV)

Observation

Man, I wrestling with this text.... So, let’s take things back to figuring out who God is and what God looks like.

In the book of Hebrews, the Bible says, “God is a consuming fire.” This basically means that God changes us. He changes the way we look and the way we think. There is nothing more powerful than Him, nothing more aggressive than Him and nothing more able to shape and bend to His will than God.

In Psalm 144:2. It says, “He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge.” So not only is God a consuming fire, but He is a refuge, a shield, a fortress and a castle. So not only does God change whatever He touches, but if we run to Him and run into Him, He is our protector, He is our defender and He is our provider. “I am your fortress. I am your shield. I am your protector.”

And then the last and most common picture that God is most painted with and the way that God has chosen to communicate Himself to us most consistently is with the term “Father.” So God is a consuming fire, God is a fortress, shield and provider, but He is most often in the Bible simply called Father. Now that’s a tough one. It’s tough because all of us, regardless of who you are, had imperfect men as fathers. When that happens, we begin to believe that God is like our earthly father. So if our earthly father didn’t have enough time for us, didn’t want to bother with us, abandoned us or didn’t care about us, then if we’re not careful, we’ll believe that God is like our earthly fathers. All earthly fathers are broken.

In Matthew 12:7 Jesus emphasized, “Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others?” Is Matthew 12:1-7 talking about developing a genuine personal growing relationship with Jesus verses merely going through the actions? God’s purpose in sending His Son was NOT to condemn us - the Law already did that! God’s purpose in sending His Son was to save us from condemnation (personal & eternal) through the work Jesus fulfilled on the Cross.

My Personal Application

Now here’s the best news that I’m going to be able to give anyone ever. This consuming fire, this fortress, this shield, this protector, this provider, this infinite all-powerful God Father in heaven longs to adopt us as sons and daughters, to correct and make right the shortcomings of our fathers and to fill in where they have failed.

Wow, I can’t believe how this plays out!

Let’s go Galatians 4, starting in verse 3. “In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.” Let me try to explain this as easily as I can. You and I have one thing in common – we are sinners. I’ve lied! Have you? That’s unanimous. I’ve taken something that’s not mine (my kids candy)! Have you? So if we have all told lies, then we are all liars. If we’ve all taken what’s not ours, we’re thieves.

Watch what happens next in the text. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” So you’re a sinner, I’m a sinner, you’re a thief, I’m a thief, you’re a liar, I’m a liar, you worship other things besides God and I worship other things besides God. All of this is true, so we’re under the Law and condemned. So Christ comes and He obeys all the rules. He literally breaks no rules. He obeys all of them and says to us that if we’ll believe in Him, He will give us His goodness and take from us our badness or our rebellion.

Now Jesus did not come to bring your rules to be followed. Because you already know the rules and you can’t keep them. The problem is not the action. The problem is my heart. So what I need is a new heart, not to do better at following the rules. It has been my experience that most people with a church background struggle with this idea. It’s the difference between grace, an acknowledgment of what grace is and a belief that I can control my own salvation with my behavior.

So what he’s describing in this text in Galatians is that, after my sin is taken from me and I’m given this sonship, the heart change is we cry out, “Abba! Daddy! Father!” Which means I know He’s for me, He loves me and He has made a way for me. So I pursue Him rather than run from Him. And that takes care of the bad stuff. The bad stuff doesn’t get removed from my life because I try not to be bad. The bad stuff gets removed from my life when I find something that is more beautiful, lovely and desirable than the bad stuff.

It’s here I need to stop offering sacrifices of action and continue to focus on extending to others all that Christ has extended to me. “Instead of offering sacrifices to me, I want you to be merciful to others?”

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