What's up with "being"?

The idea of "being" is based heavily on Brother Lawrence's, The Practice of the Presence of God (Download your own copy here). Being in God's presence is my breath. Your life, and my life, will be in stark contrast to one another.  If we aren't careful, we believe the lie that we should finish our check lists, race through scheduling, and run an efficient life so that at the end of the day, we can worship God.  Instead, I choose to purposefully live in the truth that living is breathing worship, a relationship with the God who is now-here. 

Brother Lawrence's fourth conversation brings such to light:

"He told me that all consists in one hearty renunciation of everything which does not lead us to God in order that we may accustom ourselves to a continual conversation with Him, with freedom and in simplicity. 

"That we need only to recognize God intimately present with us, and to address ourselves to Him every moment, that we may beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful, and for rightly performing those which we plainly see He requires of us; offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we have done. 

"That in this conversation with God we are also employed in praising, adoring, and loving Him unceasingly, for His infinite goodness and perfection... That our sanctification did not depend upon changing our works, but in doing for God's sake which commonly we do for our own...

"That the most excellent method he had found of going to God was that of doing our common business without any view of pleasing man (Galatians 1:10; Ephesians 6:5) and, (as far as we are capable) purely for the love of God."

Living in the Now: Keeping Lent

Lenten fasting is the ultimate practice of creating space for being: deliberately making room to be with the God Who is very now-here. This is a season of being in relationship with God, rather than crossing the fine line of sacrificing a guilty pleasure to learn more about God.

My 98-year old wise mentor said we would all have our hands full for the season of Lent if we truly practiced Sabbath keeping. "Why is everyone so afraid of rest?," she asked. She's totally right.

This challenge was set before our congregation:

This Lenten season, let's consider abstaining from a source of comfort that would be a substitute for God. Let's also consider taking up the discipline of moving toward one another in community.

Both sound pretty uncomfortable. And relevant. This is my Lent to learn to blurt my opinion less often, and hear more quickly. To ask better questions of my neighbors, to make space to hear God's answers.  Practice dying to self, and to hear God's heart.

Living in the Now: Being Present

Living in the "now" is a good wrestle; tiring, molding, and satisfying. My "now" spans boundless time, days on end, carrying very little stress, and bringing constant quiet. My past, pounding to-do list has shaped me much more than I realized. At first, I thought that I had forgotten how to be fully present, how to breathe worship. On second thought, maybe I never found that heart.

For me, its tough not to live in the past; those experiences that have shaped. Its difficult to not live in the future; those possibilities that are unknown. I hide in piling on the projects, reorganizing that closet for the umpteenth time, and refining some sort of method. Right now, the "now-here" is where God has placed me. Saying this out loud is one thing, but claiming peace while speaking it has been a tough chew.

Journey with me. Let go of the habitual thinking of, "Wow, it must be nice to be YOU....". We cheapen each other's journey in this thought. Worse, we discount our own.

My prayer is to be here, now--which asks me to look full into the face of Christ, to see His passion for me, to see His heart, to trust completely. Lord, grant me the courage to be in the now-here, with fullness of heart. Teach me to abide.

Practically Pumpkin

Can I just testify that we have a widow's jar of oil in our cabinet, except it is an endless supply of pumpkin? My sweet husband bought an entire flat of pumpkin at the grocery store last year. Granted, in his favor, pumpkin is a seasonal item and one must stock up. But that was much more extreme than I intended when sending him with a list (my dad did this once with a flat of sauerkraut; trust me, I know this could be worse).

Pumpkin and curry are a great combo. There are delicious, numerous savory soups that are loaded with pumpkin. Grandma's pumpkin bread recipe is now famous in our circles, and is often a special request. While I can barely muster the idea of eating more pumpkin for Thanksgiving pie, I'm really thankful for how God has used pumpkin as a constant reminder of His presence in my kitchen.

I promise you, our supply is still brimming, even though we have put pumpkin in everything for the last 10 months. Pumpkin is our inside family joke. A super food, its been a blessing (challenge?) to find ways to use it creatively. My pumpkin journey has often reminded me of the widow's oil (2 Kings 4), as God provided for her as she paid down debt. Its just like God to use something so practical and every day to remind me that He cares about each detail of my life. Something so ordinary can abundantly remind me of God's love that is now-here, and even more abundant.

Living in the Now: Seek His Face

This verse has been on my heart a lot in the last few days. I need this reminder as I have such an "off" day that I could really damage some relationships. I want to remember that this means the Lord is able to be sought, continually. God's desire is for my best, and this command can be fulfilled. Holding onto this truth demands that I must let go of the lie that I have to wait until my "to do list" and "check list" are fulfilled. I'm in His presence, right now, humbly.

Psalm 105:4

Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!

I appreciate the reminder from Matthew Henry, Our devotion is here stirred up, that we may stir up ourselves to praise God. Seek his strength; that is, his grace; the strength of his Spirit to work in us that which is good, which we cannot do but by strength derived from him, for which he will be sought. Seek to have his favour to eternity, therefore continue seeking it while living in this world; for he will not only be found, but he will reward those that diligently seek him.