Learning From the Rabbi, Our Master

 

Following Jesus was never about perfection. It wasn't getting it right that made someone a follower.  It was wanting to learn.

A rabbi's follower was someone who stayed with the person showing up day after day to learn from him. 

The twelve disciples weren't chosen for their perfection, they were simply chosen and given the choice to follow Jesus. 

The invitation given was to follow Him.  The days that followed was the learning to know who Jesus is.

"Did you not know I must be in my Father's house?", were the words Jesus said to His searching parents.

To the disciples  - "Do you know who I am?"

To Mary, when she told Jesus if you had been here my brother would not have died, Jesus said, "I am the Resurrection". 

Jesus again and again, over and over was telling and showing people who He was. He even got frustrated at times with the seemingly just-not-getting it from those who followed Him.  Mark 9:19 tells us Jesus response to the disciples when they could not cast out a demon in a child.  He said, "How long shall I put up with you?"  If it was about getting it right and perfection as a bar that is set, then the disciples missed the mark.

He showed who He was in the multiplying of the loaves and fishes.  He revealed who He was to the disciples in the fourth watch of the night as they battled and struggled in the fierce storm.  When Peter walked on the water, as the many people were healed, Jesus was revealing more of who He was.  As He spoke to the multitudes on the hillsides or to the disciples as they walked, He was telling them ways so opposite to what they understood but they were the ways of who He is.

The Pharisees are the ones who were about perfection, crossing t's and dotting their i's.  In striving to get it right, they missed seeing who Jesus is.

The same is for us today. Jesus wants us to know Him, to learn from Him and of Him. He wants to show us who He is - through His names, His actions, and most of all through our faith.  

In our night watches of wrestling, fears, and tears falling, who is Jesus?  When we get a diagnosis or the pain just doesn't go away, what does Jesus want us to know about Him?  Maybe you were missed by the people who love you, rejection showed up at your door, or words spoken want to define you - what does Jesus say and what truth does He want you and I to know?

Our faith is a believing in Him.  It's staying with Him, showing up again and again especially when He doesn't make sense to our human minds.  Faith is the reaching for Jesus to learn more, to ask the question, "Lord, help me understand and help me to see You when I have fears and questions and when life doesn't make sense."

The challenge for me is to learn to live with an openness.  Open to what could be and to the possibilities that lie within the very thing we would rather not be in. With Jesus nothing is wasted.  With Jesus we find our hearts and minds being realigned, which hurts sometimes.  For in my humanity and human thought-processes, I think this is good or important and valuable.  He in His infinite wisdom and all-knowingness says, "No, this is what is truly good."

Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28-29 to learn of Him.  He is the Rabbi, the Teacher.  Do you want to be His student, His follower?  If you answer yes, stay with Him, sit in His presence and offer your questions, fears, and aches.

He wants to tell you more about who He is.

Showing up again, today, is the space we wait and we find Jesus. 

The prayer of Psalm 25:4-5 -

Make me know Thy ways, O Lord; teach me Thy paths.  

Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou art the God of my salvation; for Thee I wait all the day.

The Sun, The Seed, and Winter

 

As the seed lays within the earth, beneath the surface of the ground, it lays within the darkness.  The sun that shines is blocked from the vision of the seed.  There lay the perennials in the cold and dark earth, life seems to be nowhere.  Cold.  Alone.  

But life is happening as the seed and the perennial flowers lay beneath the surface.  Life is not visible, but is happening within the seed and root systems.

Winter can seem to go on forever.

Winter can seem to be endless.

Pain can be a loud voice.

Love is vulnerable and opens us to pain, but it also opens us to life.

Memories of happenings past can keep us tethered, hindering us from living fully.  Death drowns out the life we once knew, silence and emptiness can now overwhelm us and it seems like there is no where to go.  Rejection keeps us from offering.

As I listened to the age-old song, titled The Rose, I was reminded that in living there is a dying.  That in the dying it gives way to living and the one who is not afraid to take a chance will learn to dance.  

Winter and death eventually and always gives way to spring and new visible life.  Death gives way to the hope and possibilities of the resurrection.  Fear keeps us in the ground of pain and keeps us from life and living.

So today, if you find yourself feeling like you're buried beneath the dark soil of pain, hardship, and trials; remember Jesus.  Reach for Him as He is wanting to birth life within you.  He only works all things together for good and for life.  In the darkness it is so easy to miss or turn away from the love of Jesus, God's Son.  He can seem so hidden, so distant in those moments.

As the seed gives way and surrenders, life bursts forth.  As you and I surrender to Jesus and because of His love, we find life.

So don't turn away from the Giver of Life and stay buried.  Choose to stay with Him and you will find your way to life. 

Faith is the seed we plant in the darkness and it's what pushes us to reach towards the surface, reaching for Jesus. 

Many times when Jesus healed someone and they also believed Him, He would say, "Your faith has made you whole."

Healing is not only physical.  The truest healing happens deep within our hearts, when in the darkness we reach for the truths that Jesus has given us.  When we find Jesus to be with us, His love, truth, and grace makes us whole.

As the seed becomes the life that is visible, that little shoot of green above the earth's surface, it grows and becomes a bud.  That bud then opens into a flower, the rose, a fragrant blossom.

So too, you and I, as we give way to Jesus our Father, His love warms the ground of our hearts and our faith becomes a bud that opens into a fragrant flower.  The Son's love grows us in good and wholesome ways as we choose Him in each and every situation we find ourselves in.

Winter is not forever.  Spring comes with the warmth of the sun.

Perfect Love's Power and Strength

 

There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out fear.  1 John 4:18

I took in a meal for an elderly man who just lost his wife of 62 years.  I decided to make chili soup.  As I was telling a group of ladies what I was taking, one informed me that is something he really enjoys along with potato salad.  I responded with, "Oh, I could make that, too."

The conversation continued with another lady telling me that he is kinda the guru of potato salad and that he really enjoys making it.  For a moment I paused, wondering if I should attempt to make it and grace his meal with that item.

I decided on the menu - chili soup and yes, potato salad.

Several days later my husband was told by a family member that I was brave to take him potato salad since he is picky and the king of potato salad with his opinions and enjoyment of making it.  By the way he said I passed the test. (Whew!)

The test.  I didn't know what I was up against.  I didn't know I would be 'scored'.  I didn't know about any expectations to that extent.  Therefore I knew not fear of disappointing.  I didn't realize there was such a high expectation or standard.

And because I did not fear, I gave.  I took the time to make potato salad and offer it to him to enjoy.

The thought became loud and clear - what we can do when we don't fear.

I've been pondering this quite heavily and realizing that when fear is not present we give and offer in ways that are alive.  When fear doesn't chain us to the ground we fly with the freedom of offering what we have to someone.

I realized that to put forth effort to not fear was not going to work in any way or accomplish this freedom in giving.  When some expectation is set before me, trepidation fills my heart.  When I realize that I could let someone down, I want to shrink back from giving.  When a bar is set, I want to soar over it - but - what if I don't?

I realized anew how much people's thoughts and opinions were holding me back.  Holding me back from offering, from engaging with people, and giving because of standards spoken or unspoken.  Standards placed upon me by others and even myself would send me running or paralyzing me with its demand.

The way is through, not around or avoiding.  

What lies beneath fear?  Fear is the tip of the iceberg that we see.  Underneath the face of fear lies a conundrum of many things - fear of missing out, fear of rejection, fear of disappointing those around me, fear of being alone.  You fill in the blank.  When I pay attention to what lies beneath fear and match it with God's words and what He says is truth, fear loses its grip.  In the presence of God and his truth, fear fades away.  Just as the dawn causes the darkness to recede and fade into glorious light, so is God's love as it penetrates our hearts and the lies that we believe, causing the darkness of fear to fade into a glorious light within our hearts.

I realized again that it is only in knowing Love that fear loses its power.  I realized that to combat fear I must know perfect love.  Perfect love is only found in Jesus.  It is who He is.

So.  Sitting at the feet of Jesus is a place I must go.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28 to come to Him and learn of Him and He will give us rest in our souls.  Peace. Settled.  Strength. Confidence.

So I sat with Jesus.  I confessed the idolatry of valuing people's opinions so highly that it keeps me from truly living.  A friend spoke words of turning to Jesus and allowing His face to shine over me.  I must turn away from the thing that causes my heart to quiver and shake in fear, to look at the One whose gaze shines over me.  So, I asked Jesus to tell me what He thinks and the value He places on me.

In turning towards God, we experience God's mysterious way and in ways that only He can do, fear begins to fade away.  In its place a confidence builds.  Confidence to face fear and put it in perspective and in its proper place.  Trading fear for "Be strong, take courage."  Fear of failure finds confidence of the redemption of Jesus.  Worth and validation knows a security that God sees, we are inscribed in the palm of His hand. Isaiah 49:16.  

You see, when you and I know Whose we are, the circumstances and people around us no longer define us.  When God's love grips our hearts, fear loses.  Fear loses its grip in the presence of Perfect Love.

It is a mystery.  Perfect love truly does cast out fear.  

Now, my friend, it just may be your turn to sit with Jesus and gaze in His face.  You may need to learn more of God's love and joyfully and with awe discover that fear has no place in that presence.  In God's miraculous way the very thing that grips your heart in the bondage of fear can lose its grip as you learn more of God's truth.

When we don't fear, we give of ourselves freely and wholly. 

Oh Jesus, 

May we know Your love in deeper ways.  May we sit with You to know the joy of Your shining face on us.  There are so many expectations that can cause us to fear missing the mark and disappointing people.  As we know Your love may we realize the idolatry of putting other's opinions as our gauge of value.  Oh, Lord Jesus, You have loved us before we ever loved You.  

Fill me with Your love, deep in my broken crevices, in the places where I ache, I desire to know You.  For I realize that when I know who I am in You that's all that truly matters.  You define my worth and value.

Thank You, 

Your daughter

Fly my friend. Allow God's love to be the current of wind that allows you to soar to new heights on eagle's wings.  Let God's love be the current in your heartbeat that keeps you living.   Allow yourself to be held in the embrace of God's everlasting arms. 

Because of His love we can live in the abundance of living.

Because of His love fear slips away and in its wake we discover the awe of the freedom of living.

Because of His love we can know our truest worth and value.