Don't Have Enough Time? Whose Voices are You Following?

"I Don't Have Enough Time!" How many times have you made that cry? In our 24/7, gadgetized techi world with all of its instant gratifcations whose expectations are we meeting or not meeting? Whose life is more stressed out? (Now that's one we could probably all claim 1st Place in the one-up-manship contest.

On the day I was having a BIGTIME "time" meltdown, I also agreed to help lead a women's Bible Study entitled, The Frazzled Female. What I didn't count on was teaching the lesson entitled "I Don't Have Enough Time!" In the book the author states,

In my seminars I ask the question, "What causes you to be frazzled?" "Not enough time" is always at the top of the list.

It's probably at the top of yours too.

The author (Cindi Wood) sent us to John 9-12, which included The Parable of the Good Shepherd. In this passage which I know so well, and in a time I made to pull away from everything else to hear from the LORD on this lesson, I believe He did reveal to me a whole new way to look at this Word from THE WORD.

In the story, Jesus begins by talking about sheep knowing their shepherd's voice. The sheep won't follow any other voices, because the know the shepherd will lay His life down for them to protect them. Jesus calls the other voices those of strangers, thieves and robbers wishing harm on the sheep. Of course, He speaks of Himself as THE GOOD SHEPHERD. His sheep hear His voice and follow Him rather than those that would mean them harm. In return the sheep experience abundant life.

When we consider all the possibilities of the day -- all the voices calling our name -- all the activities that seem so important -- and we say let the multi-tasking begin -- Just whose voices are we following anyway? The strangers, the thieves the liars and the cheaters wishing to steal our precious time and energy. They may not even be the big things (probably not). But how about all the little stuff that just isn't that important.

Personally, I spent about 4 hours the week of my time meltdown just shopping for a necklace for a certain outfit that I had a vision about and hoped to wear to an event this weekend. Was it worth it. I can say absolutely "NO." My mission was unsuccessful and in the whole big scheme of things it really doesn't matter. I have another that will be beautiful, and carries no additional cost of precious time and resources. Whose voice was I listening to? The vision of my own crazy flesh and a bit of ego, I'm sure. That voice was a thief. A thief of about 4 hours of my time. That's not a lot, but certainly could have been used in a much more productive way, with much less stress.

When the layers are peeled away -- when we truly give the long "to do" list to The Good Shepherd and follow His voice, I wonder how many items on that list are really that important? He may require us to make some tough choices, but if we follow THE SHEPHERD'S voice He promises,

They may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10 (NASB)

I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. John 10:10 (The Message)

An abundant, more, better than I ever dreamed of life. That sounds like more than enough time to me! WOW!!! Consider consulting THE GOOD SHEPHERD (JESUS) and listen for His voice when choosing how you use your time today. You may just have more than you ever dreamed of!

Why I Do What I Do Everyday

"What's my reason for getting up in the morning and do what I do every day?" I just came across the question being asked by the author of another blog . . . Live Your Dreams The author is hoping that others would leave their answer. I wasn't quite sure how to do that, but believed it might be an interesting question for a quick blog entry of my own.

From my profile, you know that I'm committed to living my life for Jesus every day. . . a Scripture from Ephesians says it all:

For by grace are you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God -- not because of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

We're so precious to God that He gave everything for our salvation. He created us for the plans He had for us before the beginning of time. What a privilege to get up and do whatever He has called us to each and every day!

The hot air balloon at the top of the post (and the one in my profile as well) are one of my dreams . . . No, they have nothing to do with this post except that I was responding to the LIVE YOUR DREAMS question . . . so included one of mine here!!! Someday I'll be up, up, and away in one these . . . I pray it's one day soon!!!

Jesus' Paid the Ultimate Price for His Bride

Mohar: the price a prospective groom paid to her family to secure the betrothal. To secure The Church as His Bride, Jesus the Christ paid an enormous mohar. The price was the ultimate in shame, pain, and a most brutal and agonizing death. We commemorate His ultimate sacrifice/payment today. How does your heart respond?

SHAME: Spit on; dressed up as a silly looking king (purple robe & crown of painful thorns) and mocked; beaten; hit in the face; made to carry His own cross . . . His reaction:

Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won't let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side [a] of God's throne! So keep your mind on Jesus, who put up with many insults from sinners. Then you won't get discouraged and give up. Hebrews 12:1-3 CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH VERSION

PAIN: Emotional and physical -- endured in silence, while we complain loudly of headaches, stomaches, and the like.

He was beaten, he was tortured,
but he didn't say a word.
Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered
and like a sheep being sheared,
he took it all in silence.
Justice miscarried, and he was led off—
and did anyone really know what was happening?
He died without a thought for his own welfare,
beaten bloody for the sins of my people.
They buried him with the wicked,
threw him in a grave with a rich man,
Even though he'd never hurt a soul
or said one word that wasn't true.
Isaiah 53:7-9 THE MESSAGE

DEATH: Have you ever wondered what Jesus' thoughts were as He hung their on the cross, dying a death He could have forgone? Is the Holy Spirit whispering to your heart even a tiny realization of just how much He loves you and me -- the whole of His Church, His Bride here on this earth? No Bride's family could ever expect a greater price.

Still, it's what God had in mind all along,
to crush him with pain.
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin
so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
And God's plan will deeply prosper through him.

Out of that terrible travail of soul,
he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,
will make many "righteous ones,"
as he himself carries the burden of their sins.
Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly—
the best of everything, the highest honors—
Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch,
because he embraced the company of the lowest.
He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,
he took up the cause of all the black sheep.
Isaiah 53:10-12 THE MESSAGE

These thoughts have been prompted by a study of ATTNEDING THE BRIDE OF CHRIST by Martha Lawley, copyright 2005, Lifeway Publishing.

Foot Washing -- A Humble Service

Thursday evening of Holy Week -- Jesus served His disciples by washing their feet. That's not considered a very pleasant task. They walked dusty roads on their sandaled feet. The dust that hopped into their shoes, mixed with sweat on their feet from the warm climate would have made for some caked on mud. It's a good bet they may have sported blisters and callouses besides -- perhaps cracked skin. Yet Jesus possessed the humility for the task in spite of His status as God Incarnate.

In a Bible study session recently someone commented about our individual willingness to wash feet if that is the task God has prepared for us to do.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

My thoughts at that moment were, "God did plan for me to wash feet. Well not wash them exactly, but certainly to rub and massage them. As He has led me to the place where reflexology is a way of serving others, I'm also able to bring a touch of His love to their lives. Placing it in this Jesus' Light, brings a whole new dimension of understanding to the Thursday events of that first Holy Week. I'm humbled to offer myself for the task of this good thing He had planned for me long ago.

Jesus Anointed with Costly Spikenard

All 4 of the Gospel writers in the New Testament record an account of Jesus being anointed with costly pure nard or Spikenard.

Quiz:

1) Was He anointed on His head or His feet?

2) How many times during His ministry was He anointed?
a. 3
b. 6
c. 1
d. everyday

3) Who anointed Him with the precious oil?
a. Mary of Bethany
b. Mary Magdalene
c. An anonymous woman
d. All of the above

4) Where did the anointing(s) occur?
a. Simon the Leper's home
b. Lazarus' home
c. Simon the Pharisee's home
d. At the Last Supper


It is easy to assume these are all the same story. Closer reading will show they are actually 3 different occurences in Jesus’ life and in 3 different locations.
One was at the beginning of His ministry, one was 6 days before His burial, and yet another one was 2 days before His burial.

The time of Luke’s story is the early days of Jesus’ ministry at Simon the Pharisee's home most likely by Mary Magdalene. Our focus today is on the other two occasions.

Matthew & Mark write of the same occasion. This was 2 days before Passover at the home of Simon the Leper by an unidentified woman who anointed Jesus' head. John's story takes place 6 days before the Passover when Mary of Bethany anointed the feet of Jesus while he was at the home of her brother Lazarus.

Just to be sure, the Bible does not recount Jesus being anointed everyday or at the Last Supper.

The one litra of spikenard each used is worth about $2200 in today’s currency. (A 5ml bottle of pure therapeutic grade essential oil of spikenard retails for about $45.) The $2200 is equivalent to a year's wages for a common laborer around 30 A.D.

Some myrrh (also very costly) may have been mixed in with the spikenard as a fixative substance. The application of both spikenard and myrrh in the last week of Jesus life has some interesting implications. Both of these oils are known for their ability to heal wounds and scar tissue. When Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus’ 6 days before His death, Judas objects to such a valuable commodity being used to anoint Jesus’ feet when it could have been sold for a substantial amount and distributed to the poor. Jesus’ response to Judas was to say, “Leave her along. She bought it for the day of my burial.”

Myrrh was a customary burial oil, but spikenard was not. Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities . . . and with his stripes we are healed.” Jesus knew he was to receive a brutal flogging from the Roman soldiers in less than a week, just prior to His death. He knew His body would be covered with deep cuts and bruises in addition to the penetrating wounds of the cross. He also knew a miracle was to take place during his burial. Except for the scars on His feet, hands, and side, His injuries would all be healed without a trace.

While Jesus’ healing and resurrection was an act of God, and not the result of any oils applied just before or after his death, it is interesting that the oils Jesus received, twice in the last week of his life, are precisely the ointments that would have been chosen to treat such wounds to effect healing with little or no scar tissue. Spikenard's emotional effect in aromatherapy use has been known to be very powerful for anxiety. Jesus’ comment to Judas was as if He was affirming the appropriateness of these essential oils from which His body could well benefit during His ordeal – before, during, and after the cross—as well as in the tomb, during His burial, when His healing took place.

The oils and plants mentioned in Scripture were commonly known in that era along with their benefits for health & wellness. It is always amazing to me how much more significant their mention becomes when we have insight into information that was such common knowledge to them, but has become so foreign especially to our Western way of thinkng.

You will find the accounts of Jesus' anointings in Matthew 26:6-7, Mark 14:3, Luke 7:36-38, John 12:1-3.



CREDITS
Stewart, David, Ph.D., HEALING OILS OF THE BIBLE, copyright 2003, CARE Publications, Marble Hill, MO

Higley, Connie and Alan, REFERENCE GUIDE FOR ESSENTIAL OILS, copyright 1998-2004, Abundant Health, Spanish Fork, UT

Photo Charles Webber © California Academy of Sciences

How Will You Celebrate the Green Today?

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Celebrate the kind of St. Patrick's Day that would please the saint himself, and bring glory to the God he served. Some of our traditions associated with this holiday are simply fun and even a bit silly, and I believe that is OK! Others that are not so uplifting and certainly not of a nature that honor Jesus Christ and His Gospel -- the Gospel shared freely by St. Patrick don't get such a big thumbs up here. He shared it not only with those closest to him, but also with the very people that imprisoned and mistreated him for many years.

Green means growth: perhaps celebrate by growing in your own relationship with Jesus Christ today, by helping someone else grow in theirs. Better yet share the Gospel with someone who doesn't yet know . . . they will be on a brand new green sprout in the Kingdom of God. St. Patrick would be honored for the glory you bring to the Living God.

For insight into St. Patrick's life and his ministry visit Proverbs 31 Ministries Devotions. It is the devotion for the day today, March 17, 2008. If you come up on this after the date, their materials are archived on the site.

See How THE King Comes!!!

"The next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem. They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered:

Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God's name!

Yes! The King of Israel!
Jesus got a young donkey and rode it, just as the Scripture has it:

No fear, Daughter Zion:
See how your king comes, riding a donkey's colt.

The disciples didn't notice the fulfillment of many Scriptures at the time, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered that what was written about him matched what was done to him.

The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, was there giving eyewitness accounts. It was because they had spread the word of this latest God-sign that the crowd swelled to a welcoming parade. The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: "It's out of control. The world's in a stampede after him." John 12:12-19 THE MESSAGE

Watch for insights into this most Holy Week in the life of the Believer -- The week of special remembrance of Jesus death and subsequent resurrection -- His suffering and His Glory -- All for each of us -- freely given that we may be ALIVE! eternally with Him. We'll be traveling from Hosanna to Hallelujah!!!

Sweet Honey in My Mouth

Others often see us in a much different light then we see ourselves. My usual thoughts when someone compliments me as an encourager is to think that while I give it my best, I feel very inadequate to make any difference. That's certainly not truth, and not very impressive "self talk" either. (You may look for more on that topic in an earlier post.) The TRUTH is without Jesus that is exactly what our lives are: INADEQUATE!!! That was pointedly addressed in my quiet time this morning. Another TRUTH is because of JESUS, when our trust is in Him, WE ARE ADEQUATE -- PERFECTLY ADEQUATE. No accident I'm certain, that this quote appeared on my computer screen via email just minutes later. Let its message bring sweet words of encouragement for you today.

The name of Jesus is in my mind as a joyful song, in my ear a
heavenly music, and in my mouth a sweet honey.

-- Richard Rolle

Words You Say to Yourself

Our women's Sunday School class has recently begun studying the book, SELF TALK, SOUL TALK, by Jennifer Rothschild. A very key scripture of this study is the verse:

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14.

As you have considered this familiar verse have you ever thought about it including the words you say to yourself? What a total slap in the face of the God who created us when we call ourselves names like "Idiot," "Stupid," "Dumb," "Not Good Enough," etc. Anything less than speaking the truth of who we are in Him is language enough to bring us to our knees, breaking our hearts as we consider the wounds we have inflicted upon His.

It is amazing to me how often I awake with the voices from the past who have called me some of those names, speaking over and over again. The voices become my voice. I find myself crying out to God for forgiveness, and courage to seek and know and most of all believe THE TRUTH.

The verse above along with another treasured scripture have been my focus. Ephesians 2:10 tells us,

"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

He created us and he has work for us. We have a purpose, and we are not dumb, stupid, or not good enough. He's expecting big things. Will we speak these words of truth to our spirits, and believe that He is sufficient in us to bring life through us?!

You might find some wonderful food for thought on the subject of the words we speak to ourselves at Jennifer's Self Talk, Soul Talk blog.

Savor the Moments

It's Friday afternoon just a few days before Christmas. My shopping is complete, the gifts wrapped, and the house is almost ready for our family's Christmas festivities. To have today and tomorrow to relax a little has been wonderful. My thoughts (as they have so often the last few weeks) continue to turn to exactly how it is we should be celebrating this season. JESUS IS THE VERY BEST GIFT EVER. My gifts can in no way compare -- and they aren't even handmade this year as they have been so often in the past. The momentary pleasures and joys -- they're memories worth keeping. Like the one yesterday when my 2 year old granddaughter and I visited the Enchanted Forest.

This exhibit of elves and forest creatures having fun in the snow while busy preparing all the toys and fun Santa will soon deliver, features old, old motorized animals and elfs. The animals were all waving to the children as we wandered our way through the exhibit which now finds its home at The Pink Palace Museum in Memphis. It's had a few homes over the years, and has thrilled children for decades. Mikah was no exception. What a delight it was to watch her move from one scene to the next waving and shouting, "hello" to each character that was waving to her. The surprise that she registered that these characters were not talking back was such a treat.

I believe that the celebration of Jesus birth through worship and praise and sharing His love is the obvious first consideration in this season, which holds so much promise of JOY unending! Spending time with Mikah yesterday -- that was a gift from her to me -- and a gift of time and love shared. I was so thankful that my life was not so rushed, I was able to take the time to make a memory, and I believe Jesus smiled on us and our adventure.

The Finest of Healthy Relationships

Relationships -- the last couple of entries mention these a few times. Please allow me to share a brief devotion I read recently about the most important relationship of all. Whatever gifts you give and in whatever way you celebrate the season, please know and remember

The relationship for which we were made, the relationship our heart never ceases to crave, is very specific. We are barely into the first chapter of the story when we encounter a significant fact: "Let Us make man in Our image." Making man was a relational affair from the very beginning. We were born in the womb of the greatest relationship the galaxies have ever known. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit . . . God made us for Himself.

Fawn Parish
It's All About You, Jesus

He who loves Me will be loved by My Father. John 14:21