No Fence

When speaking on a particular subject, or voicing an opinion, people so often times think or say that others are “on the other side of the fence”. We happen to know our friends who live on the other side of the fence and they are fantastic! A gift of friendship we thank God for, always!

So no, I’m not talking about a physical fence, tho’ I guess it could come to that sometimes. I mean the living it out, talking and being together in life and then…wham!...there’s a fence!

As Christians, wouldn’t it be spectacular ~ earth changing ~ if we came to all realize there is no fence! We are one in Christ!

Oh, the chasms of pride and expanses of division that would be filled by Grace. The healing of singleness of purpose, all focused on the path of Jesus ~ of One Stride, One Mind led by One Love …and no fence!

 

Nehemiah 8:12 says…

Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

Oh, what a picture! “words that had been made known to them”! I think we humans assume our own understanding is all the truth there is. We live and operate from one understanding, one perspective ~ our own.

BUT we learn here, as Ezra read and taught God’s people, understanding was given to them. How often are people galvanized over a phrase and yet have no real “understanding” of the very words they are using. Our hearing of words does not equate to understanding, it is a gift of God. True understanding is a revealing by Him, to our hearts that brings us to where God is ~ to His will in every word, choice and situation. When Ezra read this to the people, it brought weeping and sorrow first ß that “realization” of the distance they were from God and the need for God…and then, in the understanding of life with God, came joy and celebration…and unity.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:1-6

 

Father, the sharing of Your Word and the gift of understanding brings unity to Your people. Our churches have not seemed to have that over the centuries. Not because Your Word is lacking, but perhaps because we “hear” and rely on our own understandings, filter thru our own agendas and do not “listen” and seek after the gift of Your understanding.

For the Joy of the Lord is our strength and in that there is no discord, only celebration of a life lived with You, in You and for Your glory!

 

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Psalm 133:1

 

How We Hear....

You guessed it! Whitewing are cooing, flowers are blooming and all is peaceful out back…just sitting back and hearing God’s creation amazes me every time.
Sitting out here always has me thinking about “how” we hear.  Cuz “what” we are hearing is important, yes… but the “how” determines the “what”, the depth of our hearing. Guess, as I sit in the calm of our garden, this all really amplifies the contrast of the world outside our fence. The world is soooo noisy, it is easy to go thru the day and only hear the clatter and clutter of things. It becomes “what” we hear and can form a wall that dampens the whispers of God to our soul.

He is God, He doesn’t have to yell, He speaks to us in so many unique ways! Nature, literature, people and places ~ the list is endless ~ He is always speaking to us, no doubt, but can we hear? Are we listening?

One of my favourite verses is….

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Just love this! It was written by the apostle Paul, yes…but since all Scripture is inspired by God, then that means that God wrote this, and all the rest, to us! For me, when I read this word with that in mind, it is like God is saying….

May the God of Hope (that’s Me, Your Holy Father and Friend, btw)

fill you with all ( ⇚it all belongs to Me, so yeah I can do that!)

Joy and Peace (whatcha get when you hang out with Me)

as you trust in Him, (you can do that…trust Me, lean on Me, I got this!)

so that (here comes the good part!)

you may overflow (no skimping on things for my kids!)

with Hope ( ⇚ that’s Me!)

by the power of the Holy Spirit. (You’re not in this life alone, I will never leave you or forsake you! I will always, always love you…come on kid, lean in, trust Me)

That’s my prayer for us all ~ that we will learn to lean in and “hear” God speaking His love over our souls. That each one will seek and find the unique way that God is speaking to us…

Wait…Listen…Do you hear that? ♥