SPIRITUAL SURPRISES AHEAD

IN YOUR FAITH JOURNEY

 

 SURPRISES COME

THE FAITH JOURNEY takes you down side eddies and trends in fits and starts, like Y's in a road. You are stopped. You consider. You pray. You choose a direction, that is, until you come to the next big thing. One spiritual discovery, which started when I was in my forties, is that a life dedicated and fully surrendered to God will go His way, not your way. You can't foresee what God wants to teach you or how He wants to use you. They come at you and then they become like markers in a road less traveled. God draws you close and closer as He teaches you more and more. Throughout this process you become more like Christ.

MY CONFESSIONS

In 2008 I made a major directional change that, in retrospect, opened a previously unknown door wide open. This caused me to see and know in ways that fundamentally changed my perceptions and point of view. Then this, in turn, altered my view of Christianity as it relates to Christ's Church. 

I first stepped into this with a visit to an Anglican church that holds a traditional view of Scripture. The liturgy moved my spirit in a strange way though I was kicking and screaming, no, no, no, that's not right, inside of me. I didn't believe they were accurate in their interpretation of biblical truths. A year later I was on an eye-opening search comprised of orthodox, catholic, and episcopal beliefs. I wanted to know where there was unity--if there was unity--and I asked God to show me. 

A decade before this I had been on another search. That time I wanted to know Christ; I asked Him to teach me. And He did. I have never been the same. I love Him in a personal way as a result of seeking Him without reservation. That's when God showered me with His love and became Lord of my life. 

Now I was on a new search to know His Church wherever and however I would encounter it.

I look back and am amazed by the way books and people came into my life with little effort on my part. I became aware of my own ignorance as to the global Church and the limitations of my past, narrow view as a Protestant Evangelical. I read Augustine of Hippo, G.K. Chesterton, Thomas Merton, Thomas a Kempis, Brother Lawrence, St. Ignatius, Hannah Whitall Smith, Annabelle Skarin, mystics like Julian of Norwich and modern day contemplatives like Carl McColman, and more. I knew so little. I'd heard Augustine mentioned for as long as I could remember but knew next to nothing about him nor his role in church history. For someone who loved God, my naivete concerning these things was appalling.  

A PLACE OF CHRIST

I stepped out and left my preconceptions about Catholicism behind. I'd been taught about the errors, warned about the rituals and their beliefs, now I would see it up close for myself. I made weekly visits to a Trappist monastery, a place where the peace astounded as it enveloped my being. Some of what I learned and experienced was life-changing and exploded my prior understandings. I took notes, compiled my thoughts into a notepad. 

I met with a hermit monk, who was theologian, priest, teacher, and confessor, who had known Thomas Merton. In a beautiful meeting of the minds, he and I talked it through. We discussed our church traditions, differences, and similarities.I had read a couple of his books, and he had read my book, which I had left with personnel for him a few months before. He was the most joyous person I have ever met. Our conversation is a cherished highlight in my life.

The whole matter was like entering an alternate universe by seeing Christ in the forefront in a new, expansive, and impactful way. I sensed a greater reverence for the holy writ and the Eucharist, far different from my Protestant roots. This resonated in my spirit. Still, it was all about Christ. My faith and beliefs expanded remarkably as grace and connection, peace and goodness, flowed in and through me.

 IN CHRIST ALONE

Though I remain Protestant in my spiritual practices, beliefs, traditions, doctrinal positions, and theology, I have greater charity toward the Church at large and more understanding as to my part in it. I look at the identity in Christ factor, the love for others' factor, and the spiritual motivation factor. Church unity is found in Christ alone, see Ephesians 4. I now get why C.S. Lewis wrote as he did. He didn't want to alienate any Christ followers who believed somewhat different than him in matters of biblical interpretation, some doctrinal positions, and some church traditions. I believe he understood what was at stake, where divisive shunning becomes the rule rather than the gathering around the cup and body of Christ, which should be the way. 

Like the example set before me, I also have tried to model that way of sharing Christ in my writings. I want people to know Christ, first and foremost, and to love Him with all their heart, mind, and soul.

C.S. Lewis had something to say and he said it. I, too, have something to say that is worth saying. Christ is the answer. He offers life to the soul. He forgives, redeems, and heals. He offers life to all who believe. His love is transformative. Christ's life in His followers is broken bread and poured out wine.

APPLICATION

1.You will not be sorry if you ask God to teach you. 

2. You will not be sorry if you ask God to reveal Himself to you. 

3. You will not be sorry if you surrender your way to God's way. 

True, living, authentic relationship with God takes the burden off you as you give your desires to God. You can have intimate fellowship with God that speaks life to your soul. Give your life to God. Accept Christ's offer of salvation. For the already spiritually reborn, stop living a scripted Christian life. 

1. Let Christ flow unrestrained in and through you. 

2. Embrace all that He offers you. 

3. Open your life to His leading.

Allow newness to enter. Let Jesus change you as He wills (this is a hard saying). Give Him full access to your life. Such is the abundant life in Christ. 

Christ is the answer. Love is the medium. Grace is the freeing agent.

I wish you well on your spiritual journey.

 ***

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Meditation 2

 

GOD'S GRACE FOR TODAY

 

God's Grace and You

GRACE PERSONIFIED

• The story of Jesus is a story of grace.  
• The theme of Jesus' life's purpose and His doings is fully-lived grace. 
• The spiritual already-lived past bespeaks of grace. 
• The spiritual future-joy promises abundant grace. 
• This spiritual present-moment infuses grace in the divinely awakened.

 ABOUT GRACE

I have spent much of the past fifteen years talking about love: Christ's love, God's love, our need for love, the need for loving others, and the importance of love in the world. Not enough have I devoted my thoughts to ponder the gift of grace given to us by God through Christ.

This week I've been reading a book by Charles Spurgeon about prayer, The Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life. He emphasizes how prayer is wrapped beautifully in grace. Another book I'm reading is by author Eugenia Price, The Burden Is Light: A Spiritual Autobiography. She shares her story of waywardness until the grace of God entered her life and changed her heart.

I was astounded the first time I read in My Utmost for His Highest that it is good for us to have difficult people in our lives. Who wants to be around difficult people? Not me. Yet grace is most apparent when it is applied as it is being lived out. Our lives are an example of this. God gave us undeserved grace. We were recipients of His grace. To live grace with difficult people means we approach the Source of all grace by allowing ourselves to be grace-filled through His divine mercy and grace. Then we will act accordingly to the ways of grace in the difficult situation. Our flesh roars to the surface more often than we care to admit, but it is soon overtaken by God's grace that lives in and through us.

Grace, besides love, is the great compelling and fulfilling of the spiritual reality in life and living. A true Christian is "living-grace" to the lost, unawakened world. Grace does not see division or hopelessness. Grace sees hope and life and resurrection in the small to big things.

It's all about grace. It's all about love. It's all about Christ. It's all about redemption. It's all about life and living through the new life that can be had in Christ Jesus. "Grace, grace, God's grace; Grace that will pardon and cleanse within."

 God’s grace is freely given, not duly earned.

APPLICATION

Every time we pray, the very act of praying, is in supplication of God's grace. Awareness of God's grace becomes a way of viewing life through the spiritual lens of grace. Your life alters when grace becomes your partner throughout the day. Conversations and actions are converted to spiritual happenings once this is realized fully in you. 

Annoyances become opportunities to extend grace, to live grace, to be grace to others. To do this well requires supernatural grace to flow freely in us, through God's enabling. Since God is grace, He can liberally give us grace, from out of which, we are, in turn, able to give forth His grace to others.

1. Do you have a difficult person in your life right now? (I do) 

2. Ask God's grace in your interactions with them; then watch what happens.

3. God will help us.

WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

Open the door when opportunity knocks.

Opportunities diversify. A few opportunities do you well. Some mess you up. It helps to be discerning when it comes to unproven opportunities. Sometimes, though, the door swings wide open.

You have been praying, seeking and trusting God for it, but you’re cautious. You don’t always know when the opportunity is right. You wait. Then boom! You know this one is absolutely right.

How blessed it is when opportunity knocks and you know God is in it. That happens every so often. You don’t always have time to think about it. You have to act, and you have to act right now.

I made a lower offer on a house and the owners wouldn’t budge. I made an offer on a second house and then withdrew it. The house was in a flood zone. And a third house. It was misrepresented. I had never owned a home, had always wished to, had never had the stability. And the dream died. It wasn't working for me.

I stopped making offers. Three years later, now retired from teaching, I am praying while I take my daily walk when I sense God telling me “It’s time” to re-enter the house market. Days later I tell my mother. The next Sunday, guess what?

A church friend tells my mother that she plans to put her house on the market in a couple of months. My mother calls me about the house. She bubbles with excitement. I am curious but cautious.I check out the neighborhood. Modest and quiet. Maybe?

Mother calls the lady. That very same day, a couple hours later, we go to see the house.  My agent, my mother, and I take a walk-through. The house looks like we were expected. It is in pristine condition. The design, what I’m looking for. The owner, gracious.

We tour the house. The house is perfect for my needs. It even has an extra bedroom--an office for my writing. Yes, yes, yes! The three of us step outside. My agent asks what I think. “I love it,” I say. The house is perfect for my needs. Not too big and not too small.

 I'm getting hopeful.

My agent says, “Look up, Norma.” An enormous rainbow arcs the sky above us

As I write this I am in the office of that house.

I am the Flag, by Ruth Apperson Rous

 

I am the Flag

by Ruth Apperson Rous

 

I am the flag of the United States of America.

I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.

There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.

My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.

Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.

My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.

My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.

My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.

My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.

I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.

I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home.

I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.

I am as old as my nation.

I am a living symbol of my nation's law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

I voice Abraham Lincoln's philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people,for the people."

I stand guard over my nation's schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.

I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display.

Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.

I have my own law Public Law 829, "The Flag Code" - which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations.

I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.

Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.

I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.

If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.

Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.

As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less.

Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.

Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.

God grant that I may spend eternity in my "land of the free and the home of the brave" and that I shall ever be known as "Old Glory," the flag of the United States of America.