Wednesday, January 2, 2013
MeccaMusing: Read It Again, Please!!
MeccaMusing: Read It Again, Please!!: Well, Good Morning - I've surprised myself writing again so quickly, but it is really "re-gifting the gift." I wrote this story about the p...
Read It Again, Please!!
Well, Good Morning - I've surprised myself writing again so quickly, but it is really "re-gifting the gift." I wrote this story about the power of our words and the feather pillow on August 15, 2012.
It is powerful for me, and it has special clarity this morning. I have been cleaning out my closet, all of the drawers in my bathroom, under the sink in my bathroom and just getting things in order. Do you know what I keep finding? Read below and let me know if you figure it out.
How many of us have said things we wish we could take back? We can apologize, ask for forgiveness, and by the miraculous power of the blood of Jesus, forgiveness can be complete; however, words spoken are always available to our arch enemy to use against us. Never confuse the source of the voice that speaks to you.
In James 3, there is a perfect description of how we know that what we are hearing and experiencing is from the Lord. He tells us that words spoken to us by the Lord Jesus are "first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. [that produce] Peacemakers who sow in peace and reap a harvest of righteousness." When our words produce the same results, we know our tongue has been tamed by the Holy Spirit (we certainly can't do it.)
It is powerful for me, and it has special clarity this morning. I have been cleaning out my closet, all of the drawers in my bathroom, under the sink in my bathroom and just getting things in order. Do you know what I keep finding? Read below and let me know if you figure it out.
August 15, 2012
I have a feather pillow that I love because I do sleep so sweetly when I use it. It conforms to the shape of my head and shoulders, and that is a good thing. I do have to double case it because the feathers tend to stick out of the pillow and can prick the skin - not a good thing.
The other day I noticed a slight separation in the seam which means several feathers could escape. I keep finding them. Just when I think they are all cleaned up, I find another. They are elusive little devils. They are so light and airy that it is impossible to gather all of them up.
It reminded me of a story I heard about a man who had repeated something that had caused great harm to another's reputation. He desperately wanted to make amends and asked his parish priest what he should do.
The priest told him to break open a feather pillow and put a feather on the door step of every person that knew what he had told and to come back when he was finished. Sure enough, the man came back after a couple of days and asked what he should do next. The priest told him to go gather all of the feathers back up.
The man couldn't believe what the priest had told him to do. He retorted, "I can't do that, all of the feathers have blown away." To which the priest replied, "I know, so have your words. Once they are spoken, they can never be taken back."
I immediately thought of the old idiom, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me." That is not true, is it? I have a broken little finger on my left hand that doesn't bother me one bit. I broke it playing softball at recess in the 5th grade; but I can think of words that were spoken to me by my 5th grade teacher that the devil still uses to try to discourage me.
How many of us have said things we wish we could take back? We can apologize, ask for forgiveness, and by the miraculous power of the blood of Jesus, forgiveness can be complete; however, words spoken are always available to our arch enemy to use against us. Never confuse the source of the voice that speaks to you.
In James 3, there is a perfect description of how we know that what we are hearing and experiencing is from the Lord. He tells us that words spoken to us by the Lord Jesus are "first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. [that produce] Peacemakers who sow in peace and reap a harvest of righteousness." When our words produce the same results, we know our tongue has been tamed by the Holy Spirit (we certainly can't do it.)
Back to the Present - January 2, 2013
If you guessed that I keep finding those pesky feathers, you are correct. With each feather, I thought, "I can't believe these things are still swirling around." (I really have cleaned and vacuumed since August). They are nearly impossible to catch.
After finding several in different places, I remembered the story I told back in August. Here, 6 months later, I was still trying to retrieve feathers I didn't even realize were there.
The Lord spoke so sweetly to me again. "Mec, my Word is as powerful as a two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
The thought then came to me that God, Himself has placed such ultimate Power in His Word, and because we are made in His image, our words also have great power. The fallacy for us is that we are fallen, and our words don't always encourage or heal. They often destroy or discourage. (I'm sure there is some great theological truth in the correlation between the power of God's Word and power of our words, but I haven't been studying the concordances lately).
I'm just sayin' that those feathers are still wreaking havoc in my cleaning world six months later. I wonder what encouragement or discouragement (havoc) our words spoken in August are still reaping.
Lord Jesus, "'set a watch before my mouth and keep the door of my lips,' so that not only can I approach this day with joy, but all who come in contact with me today will experience your joy because my words have been encouraging."
OK, that's all. Later this week I'm going to share something I learned walking this morning. Oh, it's good to have the Lord speaking freely to me again. Love to my dear friends and family. Mecca
Monday, December 31, 2012
MeccaMusing: Gentleness instead of a "Whuppin'."
MeccaMusing: Gentleness instead of a "Whuppin'.": Good Evening Dear Ones - Happy New Year! What a wonderful holiday season. Frank and I spent Thanksgiving with "my people," and Christmas...
Gentleness instead of a "Whuppin'."
Good Evening Dear Ones - Happy New Year! What a wonderful holiday season. Frank and I spent Thanksgiving with "my people," and Christmas with "his people," (Frank's terminology). For New Year's Eve and Day, we are at home with each other - right where we want to be.
Frank and I are so blessed, and there is not one blessing in our lives about which we can boast. We have done nothing to merit God's grace and goodness, but we are oh so grateful and humbled at His great love for us.
I have started about five different blogs over the past two weeks. I have had many thoughts about the Lord and His word, and yet, I have had the most difficult time getting my thoughts together. I just couldn't seem to get clarity on anything to say.
Now, for those of you who know me well, you realize there is definitely something "turble" ("terrible" for those who need translation), at work for me to have trouble finding something to say.
I began praying, asking specifically why I was struggling, finding no clarity, and why my thoughts seemed forced. I asked if there was anything in my heart I didn't know about - or knew about and hadn't taken seriously.
I began praying, asking specifically why I was struggling, finding no clarity, and why my thoughts seemed forced. I asked if there was anything in my heart I didn't know about - or knew about and hadn't taken seriously.
BINGO! That last question was the winning ticket.
I had something in my heart that my Heavenly Daddy had been speaking to me about for a few weeks. I realized what it was the minute I asked Him to search my heart and point it out to me so there was no way I could miss it.
Have you ever experienced someone saying something to you, and you hear it; but it doesn't register with you for a few seconds. I hope I am not the only one to whom that has happened; but I have literally taken a few steps, maybe gone around a corner and stopped, realizing someone had spoken to me, and I hadn't responded. I "heard," but I didn't "listen" until later.
That's what I had been doing - hearing, but not listening as the Lord gently prodded me about what I was harboring in my heart.
Do you know what struck me as amazing about the Lord showing me my sin? It was the way He did it. When I finally "listened," I remembered His sweet nudge, gentle reminder, patient repeating of the nudge, firm but kind rebuke, His patient endurance at my ignoring Him.
Think of that. The God of the universe is speaking through the Holy Spirit to my heart, and I'm ignoring Him. Though He is all powerful and had the right to do so, He didn't condemn or demand. He persisted in His pursuit of this disobedient child with patience and gentleness.
That's what rings true to my heart - gentleness - being considerate, kind, tender, and compassionate. I am in awe of the character of Jesus and so convicted at my lack of gentleness at times when I probably need it the most.
His gentleness and goodness brought me to repentance (Romans 2:4). In I Cor. 4:21, He even asks the question, "Now which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of correction, or with love and in a spirit of gentleness?"
I read a sermon by Paul Fritz on gentleness that left me with two challenges:
Gentleness doesn't mean weakness. You can release someone from a job, initiate difficult conversations, or speak a truth that is difficult to hear and do it all with gentleness.
My prayer is that I will demonstrate the wonderful fruit of the spirit, "gentleness," in every relationship I have - including the one I have with myself.
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to me in a spirit of gentleness, instead of a rod of correction. We called that a "whuppin'" when I was growing up; and believe me, I remember it.
Still approaching every day with joy...and approaching the Throne of Grace with humility and gratitude, asking for gentleness so that I can demonstrate the sweet spirit of Jesus.
P.S. Listen - Do you hear it? The trumpet sound? Be listening, don't miss it. How glorious it would be to see Jesus face-to-face this year. I would touch that sweet face. OK - I have to stop. I will write about that another day. Love you all so much. Mecca
I had something in my heart that my Heavenly Daddy had been speaking to me about for a few weeks. I realized what it was the minute I asked Him to search my heart and point it out to me so there was no way I could miss it.
Have you ever experienced someone saying something to you, and you hear it; but it doesn't register with you for a few seconds. I hope I am not the only one to whom that has happened; but I have literally taken a few steps, maybe gone around a corner and stopped, realizing someone had spoken to me, and I hadn't responded. I "heard," but I didn't "listen" until later.
That's what I had been doing - hearing, but not listening as the Lord gently prodded me about what I was harboring in my heart.
Do you know what struck me as amazing about the Lord showing me my sin? It was the way He did it. When I finally "listened," I remembered His sweet nudge, gentle reminder, patient repeating of the nudge, firm but kind rebuke, His patient endurance at my ignoring Him.
Think of that. The God of the universe is speaking through the Holy Spirit to my heart, and I'm ignoring Him. Though He is all powerful and had the right to do so, He didn't condemn or demand. He persisted in His pursuit of this disobedient child with patience and gentleness.
That's what rings true to my heart - gentleness - being considerate, kind, tender, and compassionate. I am in awe of the character of Jesus and so convicted at my lack of gentleness at times when I probably need it the most.
His gentleness and goodness brought me to repentance (Romans 2:4). In I Cor. 4:21, He even asks the question, "Now which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of correction, or with love and in a spirit of gentleness?"
I read a sermon by Paul Fritz on gentleness that left me with two challenges:
- to ask the Lord to help me exhibit greater trust and obedience to the Lord with the same spirit of Godly gentleness that He bestowed upon me;
- and to ask the Lord Jesus to help me respond with the utmost courtesy and respect to others since He has given me the privilege of representing Him with His truth.
Parents, are you gentle in your pursuit and correction of your children? Husbands and wives, do we treat each other with gentleness? Those of us in leadership - are we gentle with those who look to us for guidance, support, instruction? Do we remain gentle, giving the truth without condescension (Gal. 6:1)
My prayer is that I will demonstrate the wonderful fruit of the spirit, "gentleness," in every relationship I have - including the one I have with myself.
Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to me in a spirit of gentleness, instead of a rod of correction. We called that a "whuppin'" when I was growing up; and believe me, I remember it.
Still approaching every day with joy...and approaching the Throne of Grace with humility and gratitude, asking for gentleness so that I can demonstrate the sweet spirit of Jesus.
P.S. Listen - Do you hear it? The trumpet sound? Be listening, don't miss it. How glorious it would be to see Jesus face-to-face this year. I would touch that sweet face. OK - I have to stop. I will write about that another day. Love you all so much. Mecca
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
MeccaMusing: This Princess is Shouting.
MeccaMusing: This Princess is Shouting.: Dear Friends: I have missed you. I hope you have missed me. We have a special connection because we know and love the Lord Jesus and belo...
This Princess is Shouting.
Dear Friends: I have missed you. I hope you have missed me. We have a special connection because we know and love the Lord Jesus and belong to Him. I miss my brothers and sisters in Christ, and when I write, I feel that connection. I hope you do, too.
When I think of you, I picture you as you were the last time we saw each other. That's pretty cool because I haven't seen some of you for many years. In my heart and mind, you haven't gained any weight, your hair isn't gray, you don't have any wrinkles; you don't need teeth or glasses; your ears and noses haven't grown any longer (Did you know that happens the older you get?); and you still have all of your hair - in the right places! Amazing!
That works both ways, right?
I just had a precious thought. My Heavenly Daddy thinks of me without spot or wrinkle, (Eph 5:27) perfect, with no flaws, because He sees me covered by the blood of His sweet Son, that precious baby whose birth we celebrate this month. I'm so very thankful for that covering.
It's so hard to think of that baby as the Son of God who gave His life for me. It humbles me to think how much He loves me, to try and understand the depths of His mercy, and the riches of His grace.
Ok, I didn't mean to start preaching right away.
I had the privilege of having my mother with me a couple of weeks during this holiday season. I took her to suster's house in Greenville S.C. last weekend and have missed having her here when I come home from work.
I spent a lot of time just talking to her, asking personal questions, asking her to tell me stories that I had heard so many times but wanted to hear again. We laughed, cried a little, and sang old songs her mother used to sing. My mother is the oldest of her siblings still living, so she holds the knowledge now to the history of her family, knows the old stories, and can make them come alive with such personal conviction, humor, and passion. She lived them.
She cleared up some miscommunication from stories being told to someone, and then that someone telling it to someone else until the truth was lost or so muddled, it had morphed into something that didn't even resemble the initial tale.
I learned things I had never known and wondered how I could have known my mother for so many years, spent so much time with her and still not know all there was to know about her. The longer I know her as an adult and see her not just as my mother, but as a woman who has lived for many years and learned extraordinary lessons during her life's journey, I find there are layers to peel away and numerous things still to learn about her and from her.
When I really listen with my heart, I can hear the same old stories from a different perspective and sometimes understand what those stories mean to her just from the quiver in her voice, a smile, a tear, sometimes shades of regret, and often that far away look of "yesteryear." But getting those kinds of messages takes "listening with purpose."
When I see this woman as my mother and listen to her as my mother, I am experiencing her from a child's perspective, and I love her especially because she is my mother, and for what all that has meant to me in my life. When I spend time with her woman to woman, I experience her journey, the richness of her life, the lessons I can learn from her mistakes and her triumphs, and I grow up and mature a little more, while gaining a deeper love and appreciation not just for my mother but for the woman who is my mother.
Isn't that how we approach the Lord? We come as children, drinking the milk of the Word, loving the Lord because He first loved us. It is not until we have spent time with Him, listened to His heart and applied what we have learned that we mature in Him, get our "spiritual teeth" so to speak and begin eating the "meat of the Word."
That's when I become more like Him. I cannot fully comprehend the lessons from His earthly journey unless taught by the Holy Spirit. That takes "listening with purpose" on my part. When I do that consistently, the fruits of the spirit - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness - become more evident in my daily walk. I begin to really comprehend who I am in Christ because the Holy Spirit Who is my teacher explains what my position is in Christ.
I'm not just His child, I am joint heirs with Him, an heir of God (Romans 8:17). Because that sweet baby was born, died, and rose again, I have the privilege of being adopted. I am in Him, and He is in me (John 15:5). I will be able to partake of that glorious inheritance. That is not "milk." That is "meat." I am trying to comprehend it as I "chew" on it right now. I need mammoth teeth for this.
I believe Psalm 139:6 might explain exactly how I feel --- "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it."
I am so humbled before that precious baby in a manger. Thank you to my Heavenly Daddy for the birth of His Son, His love for me, my position in Christ because of the unsearchable riches of His mercy and grace.
Without Him, we are broken vessels in a broken world and cannot accomplish anything of eternal value. With Him, we are joint heirs, heirs of God.
I choose to walk with Him through this broken world. It is not my home. I have an eternal inheritance. I am the daughter of The King.
This princess is "shouting." And all God's people said, "Amen and Amen!"
Always approaching the day with joy - Mecca
When I think of you, I picture you as you were the last time we saw each other. That's pretty cool because I haven't seen some of you for many years. In my heart and mind, you haven't gained any weight, your hair isn't gray, you don't have any wrinkles; you don't need teeth or glasses; your ears and noses haven't grown any longer (Did you know that happens the older you get?); and you still have all of your hair - in the right places! Amazing!
That works both ways, right?
I just had a precious thought. My Heavenly Daddy thinks of me without spot or wrinkle, (Eph 5:27) perfect, with no flaws, because He sees me covered by the blood of His sweet Son, that precious baby whose birth we celebrate this month. I'm so very thankful for that covering.
It's so hard to think of that baby as the Son of God who gave His life for me. It humbles me to think how much He loves me, to try and understand the depths of His mercy, and the riches of His grace.
Ok, I didn't mean to start preaching right away.
I had the privilege of having my mother with me a couple of weeks during this holiday season. I took her to suster's house in Greenville S.C. last weekend and have missed having her here when I come home from work.
I spent a lot of time just talking to her, asking personal questions, asking her to tell me stories that I had heard so many times but wanted to hear again. We laughed, cried a little, and sang old songs her mother used to sing. My mother is the oldest of her siblings still living, so she holds the knowledge now to the history of her family, knows the old stories, and can make them come alive with such personal conviction, humor, and passion. She lived them.
She cleared up some miscommunication from stories being told to someone, and then that someone telling it to someone else until the truth was lost or so muddled, it had morphed into something that didn't even resemble the initial tale.
I learned things I had never known and wondered how I could have known my mother for so many years, spent so much time with her and still not know all there was to know about her. The longer I know her as an adult and see her not just as my mother, but as a woman who has lived for many years and learned extraordinary lessons during her life's journey, I find there are layers to peel away and numerous things still to learn about her and from her.
When I really listen with my heart, I can hear the same old stories from a different perspective and sometimes understand what those stories mean to her just from the quiver in her voice, a smile, a tear, sometimes shades of regret, and often that far away look of "yesteryear." But getting those kinds of messages takes "listening with purpose."
When I see this woman as my mother and listen to her as my mother, I am experiencing her from a child's perspective, and I love her especially because she is my mother, and for what all that has meant to me in my life. When I spend time with her woman to woman, I experience her journey, the richness of her life, the lessons I can learn from her mistakes and her triumphs, and I grow up and mature a little more, while gaining a deeper love and appreciation not just for my mother but for the woman who is my mother.
Isn't that how we approach the Lord? We come as children, drinking the milk of the Word, loving the Lord because He first loved us. It is not until we have spent time with Him, listened to His heart and applied what we have learned that we mature in Him, get our "spiritual teeth" so to speak and begin eating the "meat of the Word."
That's when I become more like Him. I cannot fully comprehend the lessons from His earthly journey unless taught by the Holy Spirit. That takes "listening with purpose" on my part. When I do that consistently, the fruits of the spirit - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness - become more evident in my daily walk. I begin to really comprehend who I am in Christ because the Holy Spirit Who is my teacher explains what my position is in Christ.
I'm not just His child, I am joint heirs with Him, an heir of God (Romans 8:17). Because that sweet baby was born, died, and rose again, I have the privilege of being adopted. I am in Him, and He is in me (John 15:5). I will be able to partake of that glorious inheritance. That is not "milk." That is "meat." I am trying to comprehend it as I "chew" on it right now. I need mammoth teeth for this.
I believe Psalm 139:6 might explain exactly how I feel --- "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it."
I am so humbled before that precious baby in a manger. Thank you to my Heavenly Daddy for the birth of His Son, His love for me, my position in Christ because of the unsearchable riches of His mercy and grace.
Without Him, we are broken vessels in a broken world and cannot accomplish anything of eternal value. With Him, we are joint heirs, heirs of God.
I choose to walk with Him through this broken world. It is not my home. I have an eternal inheritance. I am the daughter of The King.
This princess is "shouting." And all God's people said, "Amen and Amen!"
Always approaching the day with joy - Mecca
Saturday, December 1, 2012
MeccaMusing: Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful
MeccaMusing: Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful: Dear Ones: What an unbelievably wonderful (capable of eliciting wonder or astonishment) Thanksgiving holiday we had. There are four of us...
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