July 2008 – Windmills in Moonlight

Meekness

Post author:Susan
Post category:Simplicity
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Meekness is a temperance of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down because it’s not occupied with itself in any way. It neither grumbles nor complains because it’s satisfied in any circumstance. I relate meekness to moderation and link it to Paul’s contentment whether abased or abounding.

Ask me, and I’d say I live moderately. My house is small, my possessions few. But the reason people live moderately determines meekness. Many who live moderately do so out of necessity or to protect against scarcity. People tend to create a controlled environment to safeguard against future lack. Fear is often impelling us to manage our affairs moderately. If we had more, we’d spend more, merely increasing the size of our controlled environment. Hence, we may look moderate but not possess a true spirit of meekness.

True moderation is born of the spirit with unselfish motives. It spends freely but without compulsion, gives generously but without coercion. Meekness sees abundance and humbly receives. To prosper is to graciously partake of the generous nature of God without the fear of greed. I once read a motto to counter balance greed which said: Do not take more than you can truly love.

We have possessions we don’t have time to truly love or even the heart to truly love it with. What might we give away if we lived by that motto? What might we live without? I’m convinced that in the absence of excess we will experience the joy of simplicity. As our hearts expand our lives will be filled with people, not things.

When I feel overwhelmed or discontent I clean a closet and give away what I don’t need. There’s a connection. The desire to downsize possessions is linked to the ache for freedom. The sale of the house represents freedom for me. I want to be debt-free; I want to pursue a dream of simple living, doing what I love, and living from faith-filled moments of trusting God.

More Glory

Post author:Susan
Post category:Simplicity
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“Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly; to venture on wider seas, where storms will show your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.” Author Unknown

I feel His disturbance, and trust His mastery. In losing sight of land, I shall find the moon and the stars!

The nation labels it an economic crisis. Many call it a recession, some say we’re on the edge of another depression. I say, God is good. The house is still on the market…the price has been lowered multiple times…and still no nibbles. It feels like it can’t go any lower…

Imagine a glass of water three quarters full with only one quarter of the glass left empty. Now picture the levels reversed…the glass is only a quarter full and is three quarters empty. The Lord is saying, “You want three quarter’s worth of security, and one quarter’s worth of my glory but I want to show you more of my glory than that!”

I’ve depended on the sale of the house to finance the future. I’d like a nice cushion, if you know what I mean!

Lowering the price again, this time more substantially, leaves plenty of room for God to reveal more of His glory through the absence of ‘security.’ The sale of the house alone would be miraculous at this point…foreclosures abound.

All I know is this…everything wants to feel scary and voices suggest that something has been missed (as though God’s not capable of making Himself heard, loud and clear). I will trust God at all costs and receive the good that He provides. I will know what I need to know when I need to know it. In the meantime, the flesh trembles…

The “Do-er” Within

Post author:Susan
Post category:Trust
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“There are two classes of Christians; the proud who imagine they are humble and the humble who are afraid they are proud. There should be another class; the self-forgetful who leave the whole thing in the hands of Christ and refuse to waste any time trying to make themselves good. They will reach the goal far ahead of the rest.” A.W. Tozer

A good quote to remind me that He who began a good work in me is faithful to complete it. It is God who is all the while at work within me causing me to both will (choose) and to work (take action) for His good pleasure. I am letting go of the thought, time, and energy I waste trying to untangle myself. I’d rather forget it and leave the whole thing to Christ. He is the great and mighty “Do-er” within.

Contrast is a Teacher

Post author:Susan
Post category:Letting Go Paradox
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I’ve questioned the wisdom of allowing tares to grow along side of the wheat. What good is it to live with such internal conflict? I’m beginning to see…the mind of the flesh remains because contrast is a great teacher. The flesh depicts a graphic image of impotence. The contrast between flesh and spirit creates the tension necessary for renewing the mind. The mind is being convinced that she is a servant, not a master. The soul wants what the new heart holds and still argues an ability to produce it independently.

Flesh is the instrument used to reprove her fallacy time and again. Retracing old memory patterns is a part of the process too; it’s a convenient agent of salvation. The mind retraces, but the spirit renews. The difference in function reinforces the soul’s need. In essence, flesh and spirit co-exist to save the soul. The flesh serves God by presenting opposition and resistance for the soul. He uses it to illustrate her inability to produce insight (or anything else) apart from Christ. Deception is lifted and union life becomes the liberating truth.

The cycle of failure is the renewing of the mind. It convinces the soul that she expresses thought, but does not originate it. Fear has always suggested that the flesh is our enemy, and so we resist it. In the end, truth prevails; what Satan means for evil God intends for good. The weakness of the flesh dispels a lie by shattering the soul’s illusion of independence. “Good” is the true view.