Clothing of Christ

My heart breaks amidst all the discord and dissension. Friends and families going at each other over their opinions. It is all so sad…

We are not called to live like this! We are called, yes commanded, to love one another. God didn’t tell us to agree on every topic, as a matter of fact just the opposite. We are to love, to seek out the other’s perspective and be Light and Love to one another.

So I give you a new command: Love each other deeply and fully. Remember the ways that I have loved you, and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways. Everyone will know you as My followers if you demonstrate your love to others.

John 13:34 & 35 ~ The Voice Version

It would probably do us all a wondermous amount of good to remember that Christ did not come to condemn this world. To live as Christ means, neither should we.  Because here’s the deal with that…God has all the rights to condemn the world. He’s Perfection, we’re not. Our opinions, our perspectives are limited to what we can see, know and formulate. We cannot know another person’s heart and motives and they cannot know ours. And the only truth we can ever truly know is Christ.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

but to save the world through Him.

John 3:17 ~ New Living Translation

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.

 No one can come to the Father except through me.

John 14:6 ~ New Living Translation

And no matter what our thoughts are on any subject, what is with all of this finger pointing and claiming to be “right”? It would be a great idea to stop and ask our own soul, “What is my heart’s motive in all this?...Where is my ‘need’ to be right coming from?”

You have searched me—my heart and soul—awakened me from dreaming and tested me.
    You’ve found nothing against me.
    I have resolved not to sin in what I say.
⁴ The path violent men have followed,
    I will not travel. Violence is not my way.
Your ways and Your voice now guide my journey.

Psalm 17:3 & 4  ~ The Voice Version

When we assume that we have all the answers, we quickly move to thinking the other person must be wrong. And even if that were so, we’re still called to love and not condemn and to encourage those around us into the loving arms of Christ… “I have resolved not to sin in what I say.” . Spewing at and judging others accomplishes the opposite and works as a way of self-elevation. (I’m right + you’re wrong = I’m better)   

All this erects walls, where there should be paths of Peace ~ Digs chasms of chaos, where Grace would build bridges to peoples souls.

 Be humble. Be gentle. Be patient.

Tolerate one another in an atmosphere thick with love.

Ephesians 4:2 ~ The Voice Version

Father, may our prayer be for the clothing of Christ…

 

 Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Colossians 3:12

The Glisten of the Reign

It is a beautiful day today. Another thunderstorm blew quickly thru and in the light rain that followed the labyrinth is beautiful. The weight of all this rain has the bamboo and duranta bowing over. It looks like a beautiful arched “ceiling” of bamboo as you enter. There is new growth everywhere! Flowers are blooming and bulbs are punching thru with beautiful blooms.

Walking in the labyrinth, under the bamboo, the rain drops were few, but the shimmer of them was amazing! It was as if the bamboo trunks were all glowing…and oh, the birds did sing. It seemed like time stopped to hear creation sing. I felt as if I was standing right in the middle of Psalm 150:6

 

“…Let every living, breathing creature praise God!    Hallelujah!”

It is so very precious how God does this for us. He blesses us with glimpses that glisten with praise. We get soooo busy we can miss it and it is all around us. Creation, and we’re part of that, are here to praise, to shine Him to the world. As He reigns in our lives, as HE fills our souls with His Life giving presence, we are His Light in this world ~ to this world. And when we are seeking after Him, we cannot help but to lift our voices in praise to the One who brings us up from the darkness in this world, to the shimmer of His reign in our very souls.

” Creation was made for this! Drench the plowed fields, soak the dirt clods with rainfall as harrow and rake bring her to blossom and fruit. Snow-crown the peaks with splendor, scatter rose petals down your paths, All through the wild meadows, rose petals. Set the hills to dancing, Dress the canyon walls with live sheep, a drape of flax across the valleys. Let them shout, and shout, and shout!

Oh, oh, let them sing!”

Psalm 65:10-13

There’s just nothing like standing in the rain with God, really! I did tho’,  finally make the turns to leave the labyrinth and saw, along the fence as I was leaving, several egg shells on the ground. It is the beginning of summer, so all of the new little ones are flying out of the nests up in the bamboo. It is so very sweet to think that this little whitewing was a part of the chorus being sung over my head right then.