Saturday, January 21, 2012

Innocence

*Guest Post... by Grace Eldridge

I saw wide dark eyes when I opened the door. I had expected her to be asleep.

“G’morning little girl.” I took care not to talk too loudly or startle her.

“Hi Adie Gace.” She spoke in a barley audible whisper.

My little two-year-old niece slowly stood up and, when I held out my hands, stepped between them and waited to be lifted. She stood there, looking so small and also so trusting. How sweet is innocence! I didn’t have to pick her up. I could even strike her down, but she didn’t know that.

This little one wouldn't understand the sudden pain that blurred my vision. Sharp, cold pain. Pain for other little children who have felt things that innocence has not. Having just started to grow out of childhood myself, I am just beginning to understand what it is. The marring and distortion of childhood innocence is, by far, the hardest thing for me to forgive.

It seems that there are so many children who don’t have a true mother or father, or anyone else who would know them or their importance. In reality, every child, innocent or seemingly otherwise, has a Father who will teach them innocence. He, also, is stronger than I, and can forgive the ones who have so wronged his little children.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Emulate Imitation

My children are voracious imitators;
their attraction to mimic is irresistible,
their appetite for emulation insatiable.

Whether they are copying what they hear in movies
or simply impersonating friends, acquaintances and strangers,
their replication of voices and facial expressions
is awe inspiring.

It’s an art.

Imitation involves intricate listening skills,
complex body language awareness,
and a multifaceted eye for detail.

There is a constant awareness of others,
instinctively tracking tones, accents,
tongue usage, volume variations,
posture, movement, speed, timing…

Every conversation in our house
is peppered with a colorful array of imitations.

As a follower of Jesus, I am instructed
to imitate God…

“Therefore be imitators of God,
as beloved children;
and walk in love,
just as Christ also loved you
and gave Himself up for us,
an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
 ~Ephesians 5:1

…and to imitate the faith of other believers…

“I do not write these things to shame you,
but to admonish you as my beloved children. 
For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ,
yet you would not have many fathers,
for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 
Therefore I exhort you,
be imitators of me.”
~I Corinthians 4:14-16

“Remember those who led you,
who spoke the word of God to you;
and considering the result of their conduct,
imitate their faith.”
~Hebrews 13:7

The art of imitation
offers a heightened awareness
of what it is to “follow” Jesus.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Naval-Gazing

My father-in-law has been known to comment,
“She’s too busy examining her own belly button.”

To my surprise,
I discovered that my thesaurus includes the term,
“navel-gazing”
as a suitable replacement for the more socially acceptable
“introspection”.                                                                       

Forgiveness is one of God’s most precious gift to us.
Isn’t it interesting that the most difficult person for me to forgive
is myself.

It is in the midst of these experiences
that introspection (for the purpose of self-awareness)
can rapidly spiral downward into self-indulgence (self-focus).

God is not willing that I should take up residence
in this frame of mind.
His promises are true
and He is completely trustworthy.

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God
which was given you in Christ Jesus,
that in everything you were enriched in Him,
in all speech and all knowledge,
even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you,
so that you are not lacking in any gift,
awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who will also confirm you to the end,
blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
God is faithful,
through whom you were called into fellowship
with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
~I Corinthians 1:4-9

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Hard Things

“A friend told me some hard things today. I cried, openly.  I wondered at a friend’s ability to say something hurtful without finding any joy in doing so.  In that being willing to say the hard things is an act of friendship that most friends would definitely avoid.
 ~Kira

“Are we happy plastic people, under shiny plastic steeples, with walls around our weakness and smiles that hide our pain? What if the invitation's open to every heart that has been broken? Maybe then we'll close the curtain on our stained glass masquerade.
~Stained Glass Masquerade by Casting Crowns

“Learn this lesson: Not to trust Christ because you repent, but trust Christ to make you repent; not to come to Christ because you have a broken heart, but to come to Him that He may give you a broken heart; not to come to Him because you are fit to come, but to come to Him because you are unfit to come. Your fitness is your unfitness. Your qualification is your lack of qualification.”
~C.H. Spurgeon

Word of God Speak
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

…I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
~MercyMe
“They cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and He brought them out of their distresses.
He caused the storm to be still,
so that the waves of the sea were hushed.
"Then they were glad because they were quiet,
so He guided them to their desired haven.
"Let them give thanks to the Lord
for His lovingkindness…”
~Psalm 107:28-31

Friday, January 6, 2012

Path of Least Resistance


"The path of least resistance is what makes rivers run crooked."
~Elbert Hubbard (June 19, 1856 - May 7, 1917)


"The path of least resistance and least trouble is a mental rut already made.  It requires troublesome work to undertake the alternation of old beliefs."
~John Dewey (October 20, 1859 – June 01, 1952)

Path of Least Resistance
habit
fashion
the easiest way
characteristic practice

In physics, the path of least resistance
is the route which offers the least hindrance for forward motion
by an object where more than one potential pathway is present.   

For example,
water flowing downhill follows the path of least resistance
as it is pulled downward by gravity

Barriers may be placed in the path of least resistance
forcing the flow of water to a higher energy state
as a result of the increased resistance.
This allows the formation of potential wells,
where potential energy can be stored.

Love is not
the path of least resistance

"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous;
love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly;
it does not seek its own, is not provoked,
does not take into account a wrong suffered,
does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things. 
Love never fails…
…Pursue love."
~I Corinthians 13:4-8,14:1