In His Image | Artist to Artist

Jessie Carter June 9, 2023

Do you feel like a creative person? Did you know that everyone is creative? Yes, it’s true! I didn’t used to believe it, but I do now. And it even honors God when we exercise our creativity! Hear me out.

I’ve written about this idea before here in the Salt Blog, but it’s been four years, so I’m excited to revisit it and unpack it some more. In her book The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, Julia Cameron taught me a spiritual principle that changed the way I see the world. It’s not a Christian book per se, but she does quote the Bible in it, and I don’t think she’s wrong in this regard.

Points 4 and 5 of her ten “Basic Principles” sum it up like this:

4. We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.
5. Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.

As I read her book, I realized that if God created us, then He must be creative. Just look at His amazing artistry all around the world! There are thousands of waterfalls in the world, and no two of them look exactly alike. There are billions of people in the world, but all so different and beautiful! Even twins have differences that display His creativity.

And if God created us in His image like the Bible says (see Genesis 1:27), then chances are, He made us creative, too. Sure, He didn’t make us exactly like Him. We are not omnipotent, omniscient, etc. But as I look at the amazing things people do, I think it’s true that He gave us the gift of creativity. There are so many different ways that people are creative! Paintings, sculptures, delicious food, wood crafts, novels, teacher lesson plans, photography, movies, toys, Powerpoint presentations, Lego creations, decorating, scrapbook pages, technological inventions… the list goes on. One time I took my students to a Welding & Fabrication Expo at Lane Community College, and a student there had made the most beautiful guitar out of metal by welding it in fanciful designs. I had no idea that was possible! They let the high school students try their hand at welding, and I had to tear the kids away from it when the bus came to take us back. One of them made a simple jewelry box. It wasn’t fancy, but he was so proud of it, and I believe he could already see the untapped possibilities of his own future art.

Julia Cameron says “Those who speak in spiritual terms routinely refer to God as the creator but seldom see creator as the literal term for artist. I am suggesting you take the term creator quite literally. You are seeking to forge a creative alliance, artist-to-artist with the Great Creator.” Being creative is something we can do with God!

Many of us have creative dreams. Some of them we’ve made public, some we keep secret, and some are so hidden within us that we don’t even admit them to ourselves. Or if we do admit them to ourselves, we don’t give ourselves permission to work on them. We convince ourselves that the mundane work of everyday life is more important. While it is important, and can even help us unlock our creativity (for example, I write more freely when my house is clean because I’m not distracted by the dirt and clutter), practicing our creativity is just as important. And beneficial to our soul. Why? Because when we practice being creative, we can grow closer to our Creator.

Why do we grow closer to God when we practice being creative? Points 3 and 7 of Cameron’s Basic Principles help us understand this:

3. When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator’s creativity within us and our lives.
7. When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God: good orderly direction.

This sounds amazing to me. When we slow down our lives long enough to think about experiencing God more and becoming more like Him, how often do we think of practicing creativity as a way to do that? Of course, if we think the talent is from ourselves because we’re something “special,” we’ll miss the point. Our creativity is a gift from the only all-powerful, most Holy, amazingly creative God. But if we keep this in perspective, we may just experience more of Him when we allow ourselves to explore this gift.

In what ways do you practice creativity? In what ways would you like to practice creativity more? What is your experience of God when you do this?

Genesis 1:27 NIV
So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.

About the Author

Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.

In His Image | Abba Father

Mollie Havens June 2, 2023

Have you ever lost something so important and so valuable and then found an even better replacement? This happened to me when I was eleven. My parents decided to divorce and I moved away from my father and lived with my mom. During this time I felt so alone and broken. But God found me and showed me that He was my Father. I learned to love and respect Him for who He truly is. I found acceptance and adoration from Him. I turned to Him for approval. I spent all the time I could with Him. I went to church every opportunity I had and learned everything I could about Him. He filled this void in my life, this empty hole. He gave me purpose. He was my passion and I was made alive in Him. He replaced my earthly Father and I found all I needed in Him.

As I grew, my love for Him matured. I dedicated my life to Him and everything I did was for Him. I decided to go from a Christian school to a secular school because I wanted to share my love for Him with people that didn’t know Him. I went on mission trips every summer, joined the worship band and served in the youth group.

Our Father deserves our love and devotion. He poured out His life for us, died a gruesome, painful death, all so we could be a part of His family. It says in John 1 that if we believe and accept Him, then He gives us the right to become children of God and we are reborn. In Galatians 4:6 it describes how “God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts prompting us to call out Abba Father.” Abba is an Aramaic intimate term to characterize a personal relationship with God. Abba was a word used by children to call their father daddy or papa. It describes how we are dependent upon Him like little children.

Do you know God as your Father? Are you dependent on Him like a little child? Do you search for ways to serve Him and please Him? Have you grown to love Him and desire to honor Him? God calls us His children. He has adopted us into His family. How can we return the favor?

About the Author

Mollie is recently married to her wonderful husband Dustin. She is a Wound Care RN at McKenzie Willamette Hospital. She enjoys being creative, getting outdoors and spending time with friends and family.

In His Image | Who Do You Say That I Am?

Professor Popinjay/Chris Carter May 26, 2023

If a person in Pittsburg proclaims themself a pirate, it’s generally understood that they are a baseball fan. However, should they announce this association while traveling outside Pennsylvania, there’s bound to be someone in the group who wonders why this person pilfers cruise ships on the weekend.

Normally, labeling can be a very helpful way of keeping things organized. Everything in its place and easy to find. It seems a natural habit to want to put people (ourselves included) into organized, easy to define slots. We adopt labels for ourselves. We apply labels to others. But a person is not so easily defined. And definitions are often multitudinous in their variety.

With two middle schoolers in my house, the subject of self-identification has been prevalent both directly and subconsciously. The matter of who they are is at once consuming and confusing. Throughout my life I’ve witnessed people drastically change their style of dress, their musical tastes, and who they hang out with all in an attempt to mark themselves as unique individuals and at the same time associate themselves with something recognizable. For many businesses, a distinguished and eye-catching brand is important to stay relevant in the consumers’ minds. Just as important is whether or not the company’s standards are congruent with the public’s view of that brand. Who we wish to be and how we are viewed by others can be two very different things.

The title of “Christian” has meant many things to different cultures throughout several generations since its inception. Many have donned the title “Christian” with the belief that with it would come an immediate understanding of who they were, what their beliefs were, or perhaps why they might be abstaining from some kind of indulgence. Instead of understanding, however, confusion often prevails as the term “Christian” is incorrectly interpreted and in some cases even incorrectly applied.

Due to the misconduct of some who have called themselves Christian, or even due to propaganda put forth by organizations wishing to hurt the name of Christ for their own ends, onlookers may have a very negative view of what a Christian is and they may assume a person happily calling themselves Christian may also happily embody those negative aspects.

A missionary I was once listening to explained that influential powers in the country to which he was ministering had manipulated the people to associate the term “Christian” with the most vile and unmentionable acts. The missionary went on to explain they do not call themselves Christians in that country because the people are completely opposed to interacting with them. Knowing this, the missionaries instead refer to themselves as “followers of Christ” and with that small change the people are often open to learning that a Christian is not at all what they've been led to believe.

Our differing definitions of labels can also be a two-edged sword. Even as Christians, we can apply labels that sadly may inspire us to write certain people off as “Unsavable” or “Unloveable.” Assigning people into these “convenient” slots can be very damaging to all parties involved.

In the Bible, Saul might have been considered “Unsavable” or “Unlovable” by the early Christians, as he persecuted them in violent and deadly ways. It’s an understatement to say Saul’s view of Christians in his time did not coincide with how they would’ve liked to be regarded. Miraculously, Saul’s perspective changed through direct divine intervention and with that change in perspective came a completely new identity (even a change in name) that would be undeniably evident to all who had once known him as Saul. Here God's intervention drastically redefined everyone's definition of the labels adopted and applied.

Does God regard our titles we have applied to ourselves or others?

Some people with great titles once brought a woman before Jesus. These people had a very accusatory label for her indeed. We don't know what Jesus began to write in the sand but we know all too well what Jesus said to these greatly titled men.

“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

One by one these “prestigious” men walked away from Jesus.

“Where are your accusers?” Jesus asked the woman. “Does no one condemn you?”

“No, my Lord, they have gone.” The woman replied.

“Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

Ironically the only person there without sin was not there to throw stones. It might be strange to point this out but even though Jesus rebuked these accusers, he didn't throw stones at them either!

Acts 10:34-35 says “…God shows no partiality.” In the story we see Jesus unaffected by the pharisees’ prestige. He is unaffected by the label they are applying to the woman. He loves all parties involved in this situation regardless of their earthly labels. Instead Jesus was looking at their hearts as it says in 1Samuel 16:7

“…People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Peter 3:3-4 says “Let [your adornment] be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”

In Matthew 7:16 Jesus warns the disciples about false prophets saying “...So then, you will know them by their fruits.” Obviously not everyone you meet has titled themselves a prophet but I beg the question: What was the fruit these religious leaders were producing in the accusation of the woman they brought before Jesus? It was certainly not a loving fruit. But when the only person there with the right and authority to not only accuse but judge and condemn, does none of these things but instead forgives and wipes the slate clean, that is a most amazing product of love! He didn't regard the woman as a harlot, as she had been labeled. He saw her heart and gave her a label far greater than the one her accusers had applied.

When God looks at our hearts what is He seeing? Matthew 6:21 says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” What is it you treasure? What fruit do you produce that is seen by those around you? Does that fruit concur with or contradict the misconceptions the world may have about the label you’ve adopted? Likewise, do the labels we apply to others help or inhibit the extension of God’s love through us to people He so values?

Perhaps, when it comes to people, the only truly useful label by which we should define ourselves and others is God’s only label for us. It’s the same label for Saul who persecuted Christians. It’s the same label for the woman thrown at Jesus in disgrace. It’s the same label for the Pharisees who brought her there. It’s the same label for you and everyone you meet:

So Loved.

About the Author

Christopher has worked as a children’s pastor and youth leader for several years and has published countless humor articles under the pseudonym Professor Popinjay. He studied biblical history and child psychology through Burean University and various other educational institutions. He enjoys writing, art, and the history of invention. He lives with his amazing wife Jessie and their six bizarre children, one of whom is a cat..

In His Image | Who are We? The Roots of Our Identity

John Rice May 19, 2023

I remember a number of years ago when I left my habitual morning quiet time earlier than usual because I had so much to do that day. I walked up to the tractor port to get on the tractor and start some major mowing I needed to get done. I felt bad, and a little guilty, for ditching God so fast…and for something so mundane as mowing! You see, some years prior to that morning I had learned how important it was to spend time with God first thing in the morning. I felt bad about my priorities and also that, having messed up that morning, I would now have to wait until the next morning to do better.

While mowing I suddenly had a revelation! Just because I left my quiet time didn’t mean I had left God or that He had left me. He was with me every bit as much on the tractor as he was with me in the quiet little office chair. Now I know what you’re thinking: that is the most obvious thing you’ve ever heard. And it seems that way to me nowadays too. But I became aware how compartmentalized I was with my spiritual life. God was only present when I asked Him to be present and when I was doing something “religious,” like sitting in a chair with my Bible open? Whaaat? God is THAT stingy with His presence?

Then the words of Michael W. Smith’s song came to mind, “This is the air I breathe, this is the air I breathe, Your holy presence living in me.” Those thoughts took me to Genesis 2:7, “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” So if God breathed life into all mankind, and, last I checked, I was still breathing, He must be continuously breathing His life into me, and that would mean anywhere and everywhere I found myself, He is with me! This opened up a whole new freedom for me. This helped break down the compartmentalization I had lived with all my Christian life.

We read in Deuteronomy 31:8 that God told Moses, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

And then in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst” – midst meaning in your heart, in your lungs, in your belly, in your gut, in your head, in your feet…in short, all over inside us! We are completely filled with our amazing God.

Doesn’t that make you wonder about us, about our identity? Who are we then? Well, we all know we are not perfect and we are not all-powerful; we didn’t call the Creation into being (If you don’t know this, we might suggest a good psychiatrist for you.) But even in our imperfection and our finite abilities, to know that the Lord God has given us life and breath and lives with us always, must say to us that we are incredibly blessed by the One (who CAN do all things) choosing to live within us, filling us up with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

In Genesis 1:27 and 31, it reads “God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female He created them …God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.”

Certainly we all mess up and sin, and we need to look into submitting our unwise behaviors and thoughts to God so they can be transformed into the good things He intended, but how about starting from the awareness of our deepest self, our roots, which are very good and made in God’s image? With that perspective, sin loses its place as our primary concern. Our primary concerns then can be praising this amazingly gracious God who loves us so much as to fill us up with Him!

About the Author

John lives in Pleasant Hill with his dog, Gunnar, and a multitude of guests who enjoy the peace and beauty of the Cascade foothills. With three children and three grandchildren all living in Oregon, he is continually blessed with their company and the good food that always accompanies their get-togethers!

In His Image | A New Ideal

Kayla Erickson May 12, 2023

Any other idealists out there? It’s at once both an amazing gift of seeing inspiring possibilities and an uncomfortable burden of realizing just how far that image is from reality. My idealism used to express itself in a sort of perfectionism. I recently went back and read a few journal entries from my young 20-something self, and I saw that perfectionistic worldview coming through full force in my past words. Revulsion and compassion together rose up as I read entry after entry of striving and pleading with the Lord to make the world (or make me) just so. Those words I read evoked a painful emotional state of trying to deal with the impossible gap between the brokenness I saw, and the way things “should be.” And at that time, I thought the perceived gap was the actual gap. Experience hadn’t yet taught me just how limited my own perception could be. I thought that everything that looked broken was broken, and that my painful and uncomfortable feelings were evidence that I needed to take action to change it all. I had a knee-jerk reaction to immediately try to “fix” things that looked askew.

All this came rushing to front of mind last week when I read these words: “But the Father will send the Friend in my name to help you. The Friend is the Holy Spirit. He will teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26 NIrV). These are among Jesus’ words to his disciples in the hours before his arrest. I know I’ve read this passage before, and it amazes me every time, but this time I couldn’t get over those words. All things? He will teach us all things? Strangely confusing and reassuring to an idealist.

Later in the same passage, Jesus says more about this: “I will send the Friend to you from the Father. He is the Spirit of truth, who comes out from the Father. When the Friend comes to help you, he will be a witness about me” (John 15:26 NIrV). I wish I could go back and soothe my young self with these words. When I hear them now, I picture a Father who cherishes his beloved children and wants to give them everything they need, up to and including himself, his own Spirit. I picture a tender, honest Spirit who is alive in us, and opens our eyes to the amazing work that God is doing around us which might otherwise be hidden from our understanding. The Friend is not only working in us. The Friend is witnessing, testifying to us, within our very spirit, of the things Christ is doing in the world, and in our brothers and sisters. There’s grace for our imperfections, space to look at ourselves and others honestly in love. The perfectionistic compulsion for me to change things so that they can be acceptable is eased.

Which brings me to something I’ve been learning and relearning (and relearning) since that early time of striving. It’s God’s work, not mine. God will do it. The love we express in our relationships and service can be a powerful testimony of our God, but the redemption is God’s alone. God is at work and holds nothing back; the Father, Son, and Spirit move together in this mysterious dance of redemption and sanctification. The Friend, the Holy Spirit, is real and active, and I can trust the Friend to do sanctifying work in me and in those around me. Sometimes God does things in an order I don’t understand and it can be frustrating or painful. I realize now that I don’t know what the final picture, the “ideal,” really looks like for each person. This is something else that should remain in God’s hands, not mine. So, while I know I will be on this pendulous journey of trying too hard and trying not to try too hard probably until the day I die, I trust the Friend to help me grow. The Friend helps me trust the Father because my spirit glimpses what is hidden from my eyes - blooms of healing and growth and restoration all around me because of the inextinguishable life that God creates and recreates every moment. This promise is not an excuse to stop trying, to step away from the work God is doing through me. Rather it is relief and peace from striving - God takes responsibility for the redemptive work and its outcome. It is a burden too heavy and prideful and spirit-breaking for a human like me.

After Jesus promises the Holy Spirit is coming, he adds these words which seem a fitting conclusion, “I leave my peace with you. I give my peace to you. I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be troubled. And do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIrV).

About the Author

Kayla is is 37. She has been married to her husband, Joel, for 17 years and she homeschools their two energetic boys. She loves stories, being out in nature, meeting interesting people, and seeing others grow in their freedom in Christ.

In His Image | Connecting with God

Terry Sheldon April 28, 2023

Did our multiverse all start with a bang? Genesis 1 didn’t mention a loud noise, but one thing I know for sure - our Creator is my Heavenly Father. And for my Christian faith, that relationality means everything! We were created “in His image” and that produces divine and human connectivity - dynamic relationships with God and those around us.

Belief in general can be a bit flimsy, with so much we just don't yet know. Our conscious mind and earnest heart are constantly decoding our human experience as we attempt to make sense of ourselves and the world. How we do this definitely matters, because emotional bias can creep in and confuse our rational side.

In our constant quest as truth-seekers, I believe our efforts should center on our growing perception and relationship with Abba Father, and not as much on perfect scripture interpretation and liturgy. Jesus died to fulfill the law, and with that, our faith’s focus becomes the key. It’s not just faith, but faith in God.

As my former Faith Center Pastor Roy Hicks Jr. use to say, “It’s not religion, it’s relationship!”

So how can we focus on God the Father? And what about His Son? First let me say that in my opinion, our modern Christian experience tends to focus more on Jesus, and not so much on the Father (that can be ok - but I hope we’re not missing something). God is typically more the authority figure in our imagination, while Jesus is the compassionate friend who died for us. Does that make God seem less approachable?

Does He have a branding problem?

Well, maybe. In all our lives, authorities loom large. They likely have the most impact on us – for good and for bad. No doubt we have already assigned attributes (and made assumptions) about who God the Father is, taken from the sum-total of our experiences with our earthly authorities – again both good and bad.

Besides being created in God’s image, we share His spiritual DNA.

We are not only connected, but we also share some attributes. Yes God is God, but doesn’t He practice the same fruits of the Spirit that we subscribe to? Let’s all imagine a perfect father/mother, with all the best traits. Now let’s rightfully assign those to our Heavenly Father.

And then we stumble.

In the midst of the idealizing in our minds, we remember times when we failed to experience those traits from our earthly authorities (now we’re cynical) or we’ve failed in some parenting attempts (we feel remorse and guilt).

But still we are connected. Like glue.

Those connections can be hard sometimes, but we can learn from them. And the better part is this: Our connections are useful comparisons, and they work in two directions. As we learn from God, we can be a better friend or a more in-tune spouse - and be more compassionate. And as we become better people, we can through each other, understand God more clearly and love Him more completely.

My favorite image of a good father comes from the bible’s prodigal son story. Daddy ran to his son and welcomed him with a kiss and embrace. He didn’t want his money back. He did not punish him. He wouldn’t even let him apologize! He just wanted his son in his life again. Is this our image of our God? It should be, and it certainly can be!

Maybe like the prodigal son, we just need to get past the trauma of running away, and now slow down and enjoy our moments with Him. Remind ourselves that Abba has our best human attributes too and to use what we share as talking points to get to know Him better. Reason with Him, ask questions and listen. And certainly, let Him be a part of our laughing and crying. And our adventuring. Be amazed at His creation and thank Him for it.

Get past fear. Put away shame. And calm our anxiety. Let’s lean into connectivity with Abba Father and be in relationship!

Luke 15:20-24 MSG
“When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’

But the father wasn’t listening. He was calling to the servants, ‘Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a prize-winning heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here - given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time.”

About the Author

Terry is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.

In His Image | Gender and the Image of God

Aaron Friesen April 21, 2023

Our New Blog Series, In His Image

How often do we discover that we've "put God in a box" by how we imagine him to look, act, sound or feel? The CitySalt team will be exploring how we conceptualize and encounter God and what that says about who we are, being made in his image. Join us in envisioning new perspectives of our multifaceted God.

Genesis 1:26-27 (NRSV)
Then God said, ‘Let us make humans in our image, according to our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the cattle and over all the wild animals of the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.’ So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

These words, on the opening pages of our Bibles, make a bold and unqualified statement about how human beings, and humanity as a whole, relates to God: we have been made in God’s own image! Theologians have debated for centuries the precise meaning of these words and how exactly human beings do and do not image God, but one thing is clear: these words confer upon each and every person a designation of elevated status and dignity in God’s creation. As a result, “Each human being must therefore be viewed with reverence and treated with due respect and care.”(1)

The image of God in every person opens up lines of communication and deeper understanding to us concerning the nature of God and humanity. The lines of communication go both ways. We learn about God by understanding one another as we are made in God’s image, and we learn about one another by understanding God in whose image we are made. Every person has a part of God in them for us to acknowledge, appreciate, and honor, and God has something of God’s own self to reveal to us through every unique person.

The Genesis text also makes it clear that females and males equally image God. Not only does that mean that women and men in God’s creation ought to be given equal honor, respect, and dignity, it also means that both sexes equally resemble God - they each reveal important pieces of who God is and what God is like. Although God in essence is beyond any gender, important aspects of God’s being, traits, personality and character are revealed through the being, traits, personality and character of women and men who are created in God’s image.

I have known these things to be true in theory, but for most of my adult life I’m sad (and a little embarrassed) to say that I’ve imagined God almost solely as a male. Even though the Bible and Christian tradition have given us a diversity of feminine terms, images, and metaphors by which to talk and think about God, I haven’t given these much thought. Over the past few years, with help from some amazing female theologians and writers, I’ve learned some of these images and metaphors. As a result, my imagination about and communication with God has grown and expanded in wonderful ways.

Much of the language that Scripture gives us to talk about and understand God is through metaphors. God is a rock (Deut. 32:4). God is a strong tower (Ps. 61:3). God is a sun (Ps. 84:11). God is a lion (Hosea 13:7-8). God is a potter (Is. 64:8). As with any metaphor, there are limits to the truth of metaphors that we use to talk and think about God. There are ways that God is like a rock, and ways that God is not like a rock. There are ways that God is like a lion, and ways that God is not like a lion. The power of these metaphors is not in that they communicate the fullness of who God is, but that they each may help to communicate certain qualities and characteristics of God to us.

What I’ve come to realize is that although I use many metaphors and images to talk and think about God, I’ve never really considered using female images and metaphors until recently. As a result, I think I’ve missed or neglected significant parts of God’s personality, character, and actions. Not only that, but I’ve also missed or minimized the ways in which the women in my life teach me about who God is and what God does.

Here are three feminine images or metaphors for God in the Bible that I have recently found helpful for me to consider and contemplate. When I imagine God in these ways, I also connect with women I know who have been these for me or others, and I can better see and understand God through their lives.

God is a mother. Isaiah 49:15 says, “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” There is something special and wonderful about the way the mothers I know remember and care for their children. It’s a powerful truth for me to contemplate that God remembers me like a mother who remembers her children. I can trust God’s care and compassion just as (or even more than) I can trust the care and compassion of my mom and the way my children trust their mom. Wow!
God is a midwife. Isaiah 66:9-10 says, “‘Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?’ says the Lord. ‘Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?’ says your God.” I have never personally needed a midwife (surprise, surprise! ☺). However, I saw how my wife, Heather, was helped and supported through the birthing process by a midwife, and I find this to be a profound picture of God to meditate on at this point in life. There are new things that Heather and I want to bring into the world – desires that I think God has given us. God as a midwife comes alongside us in the mess and pain of bringing something new into the world, and She brings encouragement, guidance, and support through the whole process.
God is a seamstress. In the Garden, God acts as a seamstress, making clothes for Adam and Eve from fig leaves to help cover their nakedness and shame.(2) In Psalm 139, the psalmist says to God, “You have knit me together in my mother’s womb.” These images of God as one who sews and knits reminds me of women in my life who have been skilled in these ways. Somehow, they have the patience and vision and touch to take threads and cloths and yarn and make something good out of them. They patch holes and make new things out of old pieces of material. These are all skills that I do not have, but I have known women who do. It comforts me to know God is like them. I like to think about how God is knitting the threads of my life together into something good even though I can’t see the full picture. The process is slow, detailed, and painstaking. Sometimes it results in something beautiful, sometimes it is more functional, but I can trust the skill of the Seamstress that it will be good in the end.

David P. Gushee, The Sacredness of Human Life: Why an Ancient Biblical Vision is Key to the World’s Future (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2013), 24.
I first came across this idea in Cole Arthur Riley, This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories That Make Us (New York: Convergent, 2022), 14.

About the Author

Aaron is a passionate seeker of God and truth, and he enjoys encouraging others in their own pursuits of the same. He especially likes to think about how God is at work in the most ordinary and mundane aspects of our existence. He loves going on adventures to new places with his wife, Heather, and four kids and his perfect day would involve an excellent cup of coffee (or two!), a hike to somewhere beautiful and serene, and some good conversation over a pint at a warm pub. He currently serves as an adjunct instructor at Portland Seminary and co-leads the CitySalt Kids’ Ministry along with his wife, Heather.

Trusting Our Mysterious God | The Life-Saving Choice

Sara Gore April 14, 2023

In 1979, I decided to spend my Summer break from college working at a rustic mountain lodge in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. I worked 6 days a week making beds and cleaning bathrooms, but on my one day off I had a short drive to some of the best outdoor activities in the country. The Grand Teton mountain range attracted the world’s elite climbers.

I had already gone white water rafting down the Snake River and survived the notorious Lunch Counter rapids which featured an intimidating 10-foot drop-off. And I convinced a group of fellow female employees to take a Mountain Climbing class with me at the Exum School of Mountaineering, conveniently located at the base of the Teton Range.

In one day, we learned crucial safety practices and climbing techniques, and then tested our new skills by climbing up one mountain pitch using the “on belay” technique with ropes. The real test was for each climber to individually execute a free-hanging rappel descent down the same route, suspended by one rope.

I felt prepared when 3 work friends suggested we drive from Wyoming to the other side of the Teton Range in Idaho and make a simple day-hike to Table Mountain. Aptly named, this was a flat-topped mountain with a lower altitude summit, for which climbing ropes were not necessary. I was advised I only needed a broken-in pair of hiking boots, which I had.

We left our Lodge in Wyoming around 7am and reached the trail head in Idaho by mid-morning. Golden sunlight made the surrounding knee-high shrubs glimmer in the melting frost. The long, narrow trail stretched straight ahead and rose steadily to the top of a tall foothill.

It was during this initial, long uphill climb that I discovered I was at a serious disadvantage. My hiking companions were all used to living at high altitudes. But I lived all of my young life in valleys, at or below sea level. I had grossly overestimated my readiness for this hike. I didn’t have the level of stamina I needed, and I couldn’t keep up with my friends.

After climbing a series of increasingly steep hills, we came upon a small grove of pine trees on the highest mountain ridge before the summit. I asked to stop for a short break to catch my breath. The summit of Table Mountain was now in site, and appeared deceptively nearby. I encouraged my friends to continue on to the summit without me, and I would wait for them to return to this same spot. I silently hoped they would return soon.

Past the pine trees, the terrain abruptly transformed into an open expanse of small boulders and scattered shale fragments. The summit was on the other side of this eerily barren boulder field. No plants grew in this grayish-blue, lunar-like landscape.

I watched my friends wobble around as their feet slid in the unstable shale ground cover, and then scramble over the irregular-sized boulders. I resolved to make every effort to keep them in my sight.

It was then I noticed dark clouds on the western horizon, which all too quickly grew darker and closer to my location. I felt raindrops land on my skin through my pine tree sanctuary. The first flashes of lightning caused my chest to tighten with anxiety, resulting in shallower, short breaths.

There I was, part way up a mountain without safe shelter. I did not think to borrow my friend’s car keys, so I could walk back and wait in the car for them. This was many years before cell phones. I was completely cut off from any emergency help if I needed it.

As time passed, the dark clouds and lightning were clearly moving eastward towards me. They seemed to be headed on a direct path to my tree-covered refuge on the hill. Then I remembered health and safety films from high-school teaching us to shelter away from trees or other tall objects during electrical storms.

I started to walk towards the boulders, but then realized my upright body might act as a lightning rod in the now drenched open field of stone. What should I do? I cried out to God, “Jesus help me!”

What began as a fun day-hike suddenly turned into an existential crisis, which I now faced alone. Just past the boulder field, a curtain of rain and mist hung around the base of the final ascent to the Table Mountain summit. I could no longer see my friends. I felt virtually paralyzed by the grave nature of my situation.

I prayed “Jesus, save my life!” I heard a voice within, asking “Will you trust me?” That invitation took my breath away with the weight of the truth I now faced. But I immediately responded and said “Yes, Lord, I choose to trust you!” And I added, “Now please teach me how to do that!”

At twenty years of age, I was still very young in my faith. This was my first experience with putting my life in God’s hands while being in such extreme danger, and letting go of my expectations.

I focused on the times Christ had faithfully protected me and lovingly provided all I needed. I was thankful to keep my mind busy which helped me avoid doing something stupid out of panic. I recited what I could remember of the 23rd Psalm. I stayed near enough to the pine trees to shield me from the steady rain. I took deep slow breaths as I prayed.

Suddenly the lightning storm reached my location. I shouted my prayers against the deafening thunder. It felt like the lightning flashed in the skies directly above my head, but praise God the lightning did not strike near me. I stood my ground against the driving rain and strong wind, and mercifully the storm passed me by, and continued to move eastward.

I took deep cleansing breaths and felt the fear and anxiety start to drain away from my chest. I became aware of sensation in my fingers and toes again which told me how completely gripped by fear I had been during the peak of the storm. Daylight reappeared on the western horizon and the mist receded from Table Mountain. I began to hear normal outdoor sounds again, bird song, and human voices. My friends returned!

God had spared my life, but I knew I was different now. I had a new understanding with Christ and I knew without a doubt, the rest of my life was His gift to me. I had time to consider what I was going to do with this gift, to say thank you to my God who heard my cry and rescued me.

Psalm 107: 23-31 NLT
“Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world.
They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action, His impressive works on the deepest seas.
He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves.
Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths;
the sailors cringed in terror.
They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end.
‘Lord, help!’ they cried in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.
He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.
What a blessing was that stillness as He brought them safely into harbor!
Let them praise the Lord for His great love and for the wonderful things He has done for them.”

About the Author

Sara has attended CitySalt Church since 2004, the year it was founded. She studied Journalism, wrote for her college newspaper, and is a member of Oregon Christian Writers. Sara also enjoys singing hymns with friends: “there is a sermon in every hymn waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.”

Trusting Our Mysterious God | A Walk Through the Valley

Mike Wilday April 7, 2023

Like most people I’ve encountered, I have habits from childhood that served me well as a kid but cause significant challenges for me today as an adult. When I think about what it means to trust in a mysterious God, the first thing that comes to mind is how the Lord has been leading me to change many of those ingrained behaviors preventing me from healthy relationships as an adult.

To survive my family of origin and the chaos that surrounded those family dynamics, I developed a strong independence and unhealthy flight response to conflict and difficult situations. Independence developed into unhealthy narcissism and avoiding conflict transformed into extreme avoidance of situations and circumstances I have no perceived control over. Those behaviors combined to form an unhealthy habit of isolation which doesn’t bode well when I’m operating as a husband, father, or manager at work. This deeply ingrained avoidance is something the Lord has challenged me to change over the past several years.

The imagery for trusting God to lead me in this process is akin to that which David expresses in Psalm 23, a walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Who, in their right mind, would choose to journey into such a place? It's difficult to picture anyone (except maybe Sylvester Stallone) choosing to stroll into what is pictured in my mind as a dark forest resembling Mirkwood (a treacherous forest from J.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, where misstep can lead to a multitude of unfortunate ends). The imagery that David uses evokes a place where the enemy lies in ambush around every bend in the road. One does not casually agree to travel to such a place, but this is exactly where David says the Lord leads his sheep.

I cannot claim to have had great success in my personal journey through behavioral and character-building change. It has been a difficult journey, and I have struggled greatly to let go of my inhibitions and embrace the season I have chosen to let the Lord walk me into. It has often caused me great distress and my tendency has been to do what I always do and run away or avoid embracing change. I’ve recently come to learn about Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy where a person intentionally exposes themselves to situations that cause them distress, and they prevent themselves from leaving until the distressed response diminishes to some degree. The goal is to experience that challenging circumstances aren’t as threatening as our mind makes them feel, which then teaches our brain to respond differently. Now, I’m not participating in ERP sessions, but I relate to what I imagine that experience could feel like, as the Lord continually prompts me to not avoid difficult circumstances.

Sitting in distress is the exact opposite of my developed tendencies and is very uncomfortable, kind of like a cheese grater to the face. But for some strange reason, the Lord and his sovereign leadership takes us through these dark and dangerous valleys, and promises to not only accompany us, but to defend us with his rod and his staff, and bring us out of the valley into a place of joy and abundance. In the meantime, we must journey through the daunting dilemma of trusting this mysterious God to lead us faithfully through dense forests, deep darkness, and disturbing dilemmas.

Obedience in the face of uncertainty isn’t easy, but as we choose to let go of what makes sense to us and embrace the mystery of how God leads us, we find ourselves in the best place to receive all that He has for us. To continue with David’s metaphor, on the other side of the valley of the shadow of death, there is a table prepared for us and the anointing of a head with oil (a symbol of consecration and honor). But the outcome is only obtained as we trust… as we join with our mysterious God while he gently and faithfully leads us on this journey.

Psalm 23 NKJV
The Lord the Shepherd of His People
A Psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

About the Author

Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and four kids. He loves Jesus, art, music, and poetry. He currently works as the Manager of Learning Technology Solutions for Los Angeles Pacific University and is passionate about adventuring outdoors.

Trusting our Mysterious God | Discerning Dreams

Mollie Havens March 31, 2023

Though it was months ago, this dream has stuck with me like it was yesterday. Have you ever had a dream like that? A dream that seems so real and impacts you so deeply that you can’t shake it, can’t let it go?

My dream consisted of the LORD revealing to me something mysterious that made me ask questions and try to discern the meaning of the dream. It started off with me shutting my eyes and instead of utter darkness, I saw kaleidoscopes of color and pictures. I envisioned shifting symbols and stars and galaxies. The Lord reminded me of Abraham who was promised blessings beyond stars in the sky. Then, it seemed my mind awoke, but my body was still asleep. I was rising above my perilous circumstances, and the Lord was directing me and speaking purpose into my ear. He uttered to me words of courage that gave me strength and everlasting boldness. I listened to His design for His future glory and Christ’s return to Earth.

It is still largely a mystery to me and I occasionally doubt my revelation, but I have faith the LORD appeared to me for a reason. In my dream, I felt the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon me and that the LORD bestowed favor on me. He wanted to empower me to help bring heaven to Earth. I know that Christ is waiting for the perfect, merciful, miraculous moment to return in glory and power; but in the meantime, He grants me wisdom and courage to fulfill his divine purposes in my everyday life. He guides my thoughts, words, and actions as I submit to him in obedience and humility.

God desires to speak to us and empower us. All we need to do is make room in our lives to listen and believe. He is always moving, always working. He opens doors and shuts windows. He gives powerful yeses and resounding nos. He desires to direct us and guide us down the road He has designed for us. Oftentimes, when I am at a loss of what to do or what decision to make, I clear out time in my life to sit with Him in silence, journal and reflect, discuss ideas with other godly individuals, and speak with the LORD in prayer. I find the LORD works in times of rest. He is the Prince of Peace. He rested on the seventh day, created the Sabbath and made it holy. It is in the calm quiet spaces that He speaks. In 1 Kings 19:12, the LORD spoke to Elijah in the still small voice instead of the earthquaking fire. If we are able to drown out the noises around us and within our minds and tune into his voice that rests in our souls, we can hear His echoes of encouragement, direction, trust, and design.

Do you sometimes question whether it was really God speaking to you? The LORD wants to assist you in interpreting the dreams he gives you and how to apply them to your life. Scripture is here to guide us with our inquiries and clarify answers. If our dreams come from the LORD they will never contradict scripture, but be enhanced by it. Job 33:14 states, “For God speaks once, and even twice, yet no one notices it. In a dream, a vision of the night [one may hear God’s voice], when deep sleep falls on men while slumbering upon the bed, then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction.”

God may give us dreams to instill in us divine purpose and direction. Trials and hardships may come our way and try to dissuade us from following His path for our lives. It is in those times that we require supernatural courage and encouragement to take even just small steps towards Him. I pray that if you are experiencing doubt, that the Lord reveals himself to you soon in a very real way. I hope you carve out time to intentionally seek Him out and listen to how the Holy Spirit is moving in the depths of your soul. May He speak to you in ways that move your body, mind and spirit. May He speak to you like he spoke to the Israelites like it describes in Joel 2:28 “It shall come about after this that I shall pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”

About the Author

Trusting Our Mysterious God | The Wonder of It All

Jessie Carter March 24, 2023

Isaiah 55:6-9 (NIV)
Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign that will endure forever.”

In the chaos of the world we live in, it is difficult for me to trust God’s sovereignty. Global and local news breaks my heart. How could God let these devastating things happen? It’s even more confusing to me when He answers my little prayers for personal needs, so unimportant compared to what I read in the news. Why is He so good to me sometimes when A) I don’t deserve it, and B) the world seems to be falling apart?

I don’t know. I know what I’ve been taught: that the world is broken because of sin. God gives us free will instead of making us all robots (and we’re human and make mistakes), so bad things happen ranging from malicious actions to lazy neglect and even miscommunication with good intentions. I’ve experienced or been guilty of many of them. But He has mercy on us, thanks to His love and the sacrifice of His Son. Why did He do that? It makes me think of an old praise chorus that I learned in my youth:

Oh, the wonder of it all
That Love should die for me
Oh, the wonder of it all
That He gave His life for me

Into the darkness precious life has come
Into a broken and weary world
God gave His only Son

Oh, the wonder of it all
Amazing love
(repeat a few times)

To me, this Good News is a mystery. I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand how or why He loves us so much to sacrifice this way, or why He lets events in the world unfold the way they do. His thoughts and ways are beyond me. But I’m grateful for that because of what it means for us when we turn to Him. He gives us hope and a future, pictured poetically in the Isaiah passage with joyful mountains and junipers in place of thorn bushes.

My job is not to understand the whole mystery of God. It is to seek Him and call on Him, turn away from my unrighteous thoughts and toward Him. And to thank Him when He does answer my little prayers, because they are signs to me to help me trust Him. Best of all, they help me know His amazing love.

About the Author

Trusting Our Mysterious God | Bible Project: Who is the God of the Bible?

Darla Beardsley March 17, 2023

This week as we continue our conversation about trusting our mysterious God, we are taking a little detour from the contributions of our usual blog writers to share a video from the BibleProject. This short 8 minute animated video simply titled: God, touches on how biblical writers attempt to describe our mysterious God, who, by nature is not fully describable. We hope you enjoy it!

BibleProject is a nonprofit animation studio that produces short-form, fully animated videos to make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere.

We create videos, podcasts, and study guides that explore the Bible’s unified story by focusing on its overarching themes and each book’s literary design. We are committed to understanding the Bible in its historical context and communicating its wisdom for the modern world. Ultimately, we want to change how people read and use the Bible.

bibleproject.com • https://www.youtube.com/@bibleproject •. facebook.com/jointhebibleproject • Instagram: @thebibleproject • Twitter: @thebibleproject • Support@bibleproject.com

Trusting Our Mysterious God | Mysterious God, Mysterious Bible

John Rice March 10, 2023

I’m guessing it doesn’t come as much of a surprise to you when I say that there is a lot of mystery surrounding God. If God is truly God, the one who created the entire universe, then He is hugely bigger, wiser, stronger, more creative and more capable than we are or could ever be. Am I right about that? How could we possibly understand everything about Him: how He thinks, how He creates, what He plans, why He does what He does, how He breathes life into His creation? There are so many mysteries… and yet, in an amazing act of love toward us, He has given us at least SOME idea of who He is. He does this in three ways: the Bible, our experience of Him and what other believers throughout the ages share about their experiences with Him. With these three things, some common themes come to the surface and give us a bit of clarity about this great God of ours.

The question is often asked: if the Bible is the inspired word of God, why is the Old Testament so different from the New Testament? In some ways they seem to present a different God altogether. In the Old Testament books like Joshua and Judges, God can be seen as a punishing, vindictive, even blood-thirsty warrior and judge intent on wiping out pagan unbelievers. Sometimes not just the warriors of those nations, but even the women, children and animals. How could this be the same God that Jesus presents in the New Testament as the God of love who would ask us to even love our enemies? To turn and give the other cheek to one who slaps us? To be a peacemaker who will inherit the kingdom of God?

How about this possible explanation of why the two written Testaments of the Bible seem to present such different descriptions of God: Could it be that we have an over-zealous understanding of what it means that the Bible is “inspired by God?” What is inspiration and what does it mean when applied to the writing of the Bible? It is clearly stated in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Since the New Testament hadn’t even been written at the time Paul is writing this letter to Timothy, he must be referring to the Old Testament. Aiyaiyai! Does this mean God really is the punishing, killing Warrior God?

But wait. Jesus spent much of his teaching time in correcting, or reinterpreting what was said in the Old Testament. Remember in Matthew 5 when he says multiple times “You have heard it said, but I say…” It’s not just “do not murder,” it’s “do not even be angry with a brother or sister.” It’s not just “do not commit adultery,” it’s “do not even look with lust on a woman.” It’s not “an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth,” it’s “do not resist an evil person. Turn to him the other cheek.” And it’s not just “love your neighbor and hate your enemy,” it’s “Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.”

Is Jesus saying that the Old Testament was not inspired? Or might he have been saying to read the inspired Old Testament like stories with a deeper, symbolic meaning, not necessarily a literal one. Maybe he was saying not to take all Scripture at face value, but rather as parables like he used a lot in his teaching. Remember how his disciples would get confused because Jesus taught in parables so often? Did he like to use parables because God truly IS so mysterious, and literal words don’t help us understand Him as much as pictures in our souls do and/or the inner witness of the Holy Spirit’s presence?

We humans are interpreting all the time. We can’t help it. It’s how we make sense of what we’re seeing, hearing, and experiencing. It’s not surprising that the writers of the Old Testament were writing what they understood. They were experiencing God in the middle of a culture of warfare, a time of kill or be killed. They were living in a time when child sacrifice was rampant in their part of the world. They knew they were set apart by a different kind of God, a good God, a powerful God. They knew they were special. They told their stories about God around their campfires as they moved around the deserts, mountains and valleys of the Middle East. They interpreted what happened to them as best they knew how from their worldview. And then eventually these stories were written down for us to read… thousands of years later in a very different culture!

What this shows us is that the people in Jesus’ time and before him had the propensity for misinterpreting the Scripture, just as all of us do. They were often missing the point. Sometimes we miss the point. So what is the point?

I believe it is summed up beautifully and succinctly in 1 John 4:16 “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” And in John 15:12 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” And in John 15:14 “You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. I’d put all my money on following HIS interpretation of Scripture and of the corresponding witness of the Holy Spirit that promises to lead us into all Truth. May my interpretation of Scripture, Old and New, always be submitted before these deep truths: God is Love! God loves me! God loves you! And God loves all that He has created!

About the Author

Trusting Our Mysterious God | Lord, It’s Complicated

Kayla Erickson February 24, 2023

It’s said that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. The problem is, we must start with a little before we get to a lot. And as limited humans, how do we really know when we’ve reached a lot? We can see where we’ve been, and see how we’ve grown, but the entirety of knowable information is… unknowable. What a scary thing. We not only don’t know how much we know of what can be known, we don’t even know if what we do know is enough to avoid making huge mistakes.

*Drumroll please* I give you, black and white thinking! To avoid the discomfort of admitting how little we know, and how uncertain we are even of that, many humans resort to making absolute statements about things and critiquing everything that disagrees with their current worldview, even where our knowledge and experience are limited. To avoid additional discomfort, we stop short of critiquing our own thinking, limiting our criticisms to others’ thoughts and behaviors. Being wrong, bad, being right, good. Simple. Then we share the gift of our rightness with others by letting them know where they can stop being wrong, and start being right, like us. So nice. If we’re very lucky, somewhere along the line, either experience or a person eventually disillusions us of enough of our own wrong ideas that we start to see the uncomfortable truth that we don’t know very much. If only it were a one and done kind of thing. We seem doomed to repeat this cycle in all kinds of learning. And the real rough part is that people still have to live with us while we go through the process over and over.

Jesus is pretty patient with us, thankfully. He knows our limitations. But when you’re a human, it can be hard to perfectly know when to call someone out on something (“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault just between the two of you.” Matthew 18:15), and when God might not be ready to deal with that particular issue in that person’s life yet (“love covers a multitude of sins” 1 Pet. 4:8, and “first take the plank out of your own eye” Matt. 7:5). God has a plan, based on perfectly knowing us inside and out, for our sanctification in love. So how do we get onboard with something that takes perfect omniscient knowledge and understanding mixed with unlimited love?

There’s no black and white answers, just the source. We can’t know the right path ahead of time for every situation. We can only know the One who does. We can ask God for help, and trust him to speak in our lives and the lives of the ones we care about. It’s complicated. Sometimes the answers aren’t going to be the ones we want to hear. And sometimes the answers are for someone else’s ears and heart, and we get the chance to trust that He’s working even when we’re not part of the equation. It’s hard, the “not knowing”. But one thing we can trust is that even though we aren’t capable of understanding everything right now, “He who did not spare his own Son, but graciously gave him up for us all- how will he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). He is giving us himself; he won’t leave us alone in all this.

Being uncertain of our own knowledge is a little less scary if we have Someone who we can be certain of. As we see and hear him answer again and again, our faith will grow. And if our faith fails us in the dark moments, we can lean on the faith of our brothers and sisters in the meantime. The living God is our firm foundation, and God is speaking directly to us.

Matthew 7:24-29
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

About the Author

Trusting Our Mysterious God | God’s “Endless Knowability”

Aaron Friesen February 17, 2023

I love reading mystery novels. I have since I was a kid. I enjoy the puzzle of trying to figure out who did it. In a typical mystery novel, the reader gets little pieces and glimpses of the truth along the way, and then in the last chapter the detective puts it all together and tells the illusive story of what really happened.

If following Jesus is like a mystery novel, we haven’t gotten to the last chapter.

I recently heard a pastor say, “Because Jesus came, we don’t have to wonder what God is like anymore.” I’m not so sure about this. As a Christian, I believe that God coming to earth as a baby helps to clarify many things about God. But does the incarnation of Christ remove our need to wonder about God? It seems to me that it places a great mystery (God in human flesh) at the very heart of humanity’s relationship with God. In that sense, Jesus’ coming may raise many questions about what God is like even as it answers others.

In his letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul said, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12).”

Throughout his lifetime, Paul had come to know many new things about God. Ways he used to think about God were completely changed. Great mysteries were revealed to him (see Romans 16:25; 1 Corinthians 2:7; Ephesians 3:3; 1 Timothy 3:16). Yet, Paul was also convinced that the best we can ever do in this life is to see through a mirror, dimly. Paul retained a place for mystery while also believing that he could trust God and grow in his knowledge of God. How is this possible?

Mystery recognizes there is a difference between knowing something fully and not knowing it at all. Mystery is a name that we give to things or experiences that we don’t understand very well or have difficulty explaining. It occupies that in-between space where there is some degree of knowing, but it is partial and incomplete. If we don’t have any knowledge of something then it is not mysterious to us, it is completely unknown to us.

Thus, mystery has to do with the relationship between our experience and the way we make sense of or process that experience. If what we experience does not fit within our existing framework of reality, then it will be difficult for us to understand and maybe even difficult for us to describe. It is a mystery to us. But that doesn’t mean it is not true or real. It just means the logical faculties of our brain are having trouble processing it. Often, deep truths first come to our consciousness in the form of a mystery. And many things retain a quality of mystery in the face of our best efforts to understand them.

I think this is true of God. There are things we can come to know about God and God’s ways, but there will always be things about God that we don’t know, and experiences of God that we will have trouble understanding or explaining. Why? Because we are not God. Although Western culture has often been preoccupied with knowing things and trying to eliminate mystery as much as possible, those who seek to know the God who created the entire universe must become comfortable with mystery. As indigenous theologian Randy Woodley puts it, “Part of human spirituality is to be content to leave mystery as mystery.” (1)

So instead of seeing mystery as a negative, I think we can learn to see mystery as a positive in our lives. Richard Rohr has a helpful way of explaining the positive side of mystery in relation to our faith:

“Mystery is not something you can’t know. Mystery is endless knowability. Living inside such endless knowability is finally a comfort, a foundation of ultimate support, security, unrestricted love, and eternal care. For all of us, it takes much of our life to get there; it is what we surely mean by ‘growing’ in faith. I can’t prove this to you. Each soul must learn on its own, hopefully aided by observing other faith-filled people.”(2)

Whether we are sipping a cup of coffee, watching a storm out the window, or talking to a friend who is going through a difficult circumstance, there is always some mystery involved – there are always more ways, different ways and deeper ways to “know” those experiences. How much more is this true of God? If spiritual growth is about connecting with God and learning more about God and God’s ways, then mystery will always be a part of it. Because, thankfully, God is very big, and God’s ways and thoughts are much higher than mine.

As a human being, my responsibility in creation is not to figure it all out or make sense of all the mysteries of the universe (or even my life)! My responsibility is to lean fully into the things I do know about God while being honest about all the other things that I don’t know. Embracing God’s mystery does not mean being content with all my questions about God going unanswered or settling for an idea of God that is vague, undefined, uncertain, or distant. It means always holding space in my heart and mind for a God who is so vast, deep, complex, and beautiful that there will always be new things about God for me to discover and be surprised by.

After twenty-three years of marriage to my wife, Heather, I’m still learning new things about her, and I love that… at least most of the time.☺ My relationship with Heather is ongoing and dynamic. It is never finished. I don’t love some abstract idea of Heather in the past or the future. I love Heather, a living person in the present who always holds within herself the possibility of surprises and new discoveries for me. I can trust this process because it is in the context of loving relationship. In this way, I think the mysteries of God can deepen our love for God. There is always more of God to know and experience and share than what we have previously known. This journey of discovery is good not because we know perfectly, but because whatever knowing (or unknowing) that happens is in the context of God’s “love that surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:18-19).”

Randy S. Woodley, Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2012), 100.
Richard Rohr, Holding the Tension: The Power of Paradox (CAC: 2007), disc 3.

About the Author

Trusting Our Mysterious God | The Whys, the Whats and Who

Terry Sheldon February 10, 2023

Is there a God? That ultimate existential question is so integral to our human experience. Its importance looms large, yet remains deeply shrouded behind a veil of mystery, quietly humming away in our collective subconscious as our lives march on. It's without a doubt the one thing we humans truly have in common. Down throughout history and all across religious and social systems - this deep yearning remains, to move past the unknown and into the knowing.

Us believers say we know, but how much do we really? The Apostle Paul noted it perfectly: "We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist." To me that sounds like, maybe 35% vision at best? I find it a fascinating and honest observation from Christianity's first and most influential writer and leader. His authentic words seem to reveal the human side of the saint (and I love that).

As for me, I'm not writing as a skeptic or worse, a cynic, but just one who always seems to walk a path of belief - but with so many questions.

I want to know the whys.

Why is there so much suffering and evil in the world? Why does God seem so distant (and quiet)? How does our own free will come into play? Is it nurture or nature? How do our beliefs interact with science? What does God really expect from us? How do we get closer to Him and fully realize His presence?

Faith is the starting point, but then what?

In our early Christian zeal, we devour scriptures and we worship fervently. We engage in community by doing church. And in this early rebirth, the whats really do seem to matter. We feel the need to validate our new experience for nearby skeptics, by looking for more evidence to back up our belief system. Is there a God is the faith part, accompanied by a certain tension. But let's set that aside for now. For me, the next question is more essential:

What is God like?

Not so much the whys or the whats, but - the Who. I think it's always helpful to remember we are relational beings seeking an equally relational God (because He is our Father)! And just as we devote our life to getting to know a best friend, an important family member, or a spouse - in this same way it's crucial that we get to know our God.

So back to the 35%. The fog is a real obstacle for us to “see things clearly,” but a much better goal is to KNOW Him clearly! What's He like? What are His goals with us? What are His methods for reaching out to you and me, and for training us, as a good Father would?

This goes well beyond seeking (and sometimes arguing about) head knowledge and ideas from Christian influencers, to pressing into God's relational heart. From slicing, dicing and mincing historical words on paper to personally developing a connection with Abba. Is there a God, seems frankly, a moot point when we are living in His presence and learning from Him.

But serious roadblocks are in the way - guilt, fear and shame!

Let's toss them aside (continually) and expand our thinking about the relational similarities we share with our Father and Creator - remember “in His image?” We are his offspring and we are always connected. He gives us access to all the fruits of His Spirit, even though we may not yet have mastered them. And we share so many other traits - like creativity and humor.

A few months ago I was in a funk and feeling like the Lord was distant. I started a mini-rant at Him with “Where are you?” and “Why don't you ever talk to me?” (Thank God) he has a sense of humor as he reminded me of a classic Seinfeld scene where George Constanza's girlfriend was trying to break up with him in a nice way. She offered the classic “It's not you, it's me,” line.

And The Lord humbly sayeth to me: “It's not me, it's you.” And then, in a classic Jewish mother voice: “How come you never call?” Who knew God does stand-up? And by the way, most of the time it IS us!

He doesn't want a long-distance relationship.

One final idea about God's mystery: Honestly, we humans abhor boredom and I'm guessing it's good that we still have so much to discover about our God, with His ideas and strategies for coaxing us closer. And maybe like a good Father and Friend, He sometimes keeps His distance for a bit so we can, in the vacuum, finally figure something out and really own it.

Let's continue to seek, to knock and new doors will open. But let's stay personal. Sit with Him, walk with Him. Cry and laugh with Him.

And little by little as we know Him better, the Whys and the Whats will come into sharp focus. Because the Who has always been there, by our side, and every step of the way.

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 The Message
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

About the Author

He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.

Fruits of the Spirit | Faithful Through It All

Mollie Havens February 3, 2023

Like a tender Bridegroom He longs for us,
His church,
To beckon his call.
He desires to caress us with his love,
And envelope us with His warm embrace.
He is true to His promises,
He fulfills them all.
When we make our case,
He lends a loving ear.
He leans in to hear our cry.
He is faithful through it all.
Like a beloved Father He cares for us.
He desires to fulfill our every need.
He wipes away every tear that falls.
He plants and sows the seed.
Deep down in our hearts,
We heed the call.
His beautiful Bride
Will never again fall.
As He redeems his blessed Body.
We abide in his faithful love.

I wrote this psalm while pondering the promise and symbol of the rainbow. This picture expresses my trust and hope in The LORD, my Rock and firm foundation. In The Message Bible, by Eugene Perterson, he expounds in Hebrews 11:1-2 that “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, it set them above the crowd. By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.”

He will remove every man-made obstacle and help us overcome every hurdle. He has placed His faith in those that trust in Him, in those that are called according to his purposes. We can have confidence in the LORD. In turn, He enables us to dwell in this land and securely rest in His faithfulness no matter what trials or tribulations come our way. Like Job, when we delight ourselves in the Lord, He will grant us the desires of our heart as we commit our ways to Him and patiently wait and lean on His fatherly goodness (Psalm 37).

He is the Loyal Gardener and the hearty vine. As we are pruned and sanctified to mirror His likeness and characteristics, He delights to remain in us. We are able to bear the spiritual fruit of faithfulness because of His character and truth. As his disciples we are his branches. Apart from Him we can do nothing. If we abide in Him, and He in us, then whatever we (and the Holy Spirit) desire, will be done for us, and the Father will be glorified through His good gifts, that He bestows on His children. We complete His joy when we are faithful and keep our promises, His commandments, and teachings. He delights in us as His good children. We are called to unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as He does for His Body. He calls us His friends and reveals to us His great mysteries. He has chosen us, appointed us, and purposely planted us to go and bear good fruit; and keep on bearing it daily, in the small and mundane and grand ways. We are His bond servants as we choose to remain in his service. As his beloved bride, we are to do all that He has commanded us in His word and prompted us to do through his Spirit (John 15:1-17).

Proverbs 3:3-6 explains how you should bind His loyalty around your neck. Let his mercy, kindness, truth and love define you. Write His promises on the tablet of your heart. Rely confidently on the Lord and do not lean on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge Him. Grow to recognize His promptings, and He will make your paths straight and smooth.

The LORD, the Great I am, My Great Physician, and Good Counselor abounds in constant fatherly dedication, and lavishes on me His agape love. The Holy Spirit, almighty, omnipotent, and omnipresent creator, has fashioned me in the depths of my soul. He daily sustains me with every inhalation, exhalation, and guides my thoughts and feelings. He protects my heart and satisfies my desires, grumbling hunger pains, and quenches my parched mouth. In my dry deserts and low valleys He is my compass, protector, and guide. Because of His sustaining presence in my life and His spirit dwelling inside me, my soul can stir up strong and empowering qualities that enable me to overflow with faithful goodness, peace, patience, joy, gentleness, meekness, love, mercy, grace, generosity, and self-control. As a Registered Nurse, my job requires me to draw from this well of attributes daily. Each morning I try to resonate my soul with The Spirit, so that I might be able to show; compassion, sympathy, empathy, and lend a healing hand, and or a listening ear. Throughout the day I can sense His power and He grants me the wise words and enables me to counsel the ill and hurting individual or families at any given moment. I am in constant conversation through prayer with God throughout the day and the Holy Spirit groans on my behalf.

We were fashioned in His handiwork and made alive in His Spirit. We all fail at times and live in our passions of the flesh, and are governed by our own selfish desires: But, He has made us new. Because of Christ's fulfillment of the prophecies, and new covenant; We are made alive, through His grace, undeserved favor, and mercy. He raises us up and seats His disciples/followers in the heavenly places; So that, in the ages to come, He might clearly show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches and redeeming kindness towards His creation through Christ Jesus’s triumph over death, return and restoration of the New Earth, and eternal reign to come. For it is through His remarkable compassion and favor that He has drawn us to himself and bestowed on us the gracious gift of salvation, because of Christ’s great sacrifice. Our inheritance cannot be earned by our good works or keeping all the rules. Instead He has fashioned us, as his workmanship and created us in Christ Jesus, birthing us from above and spiritually transforming and renewing our minds, hearts and will, which He has prepared in advance for us to walk in and empowers us to chose moment by moment (Ephesians 2:1-10)

We can have ultimate confidence, steadfast reliance and absolute trust in His Son. We are sufficiently qualified to fulfill His plan. We are His witnesses and He has bestowed on us His glory, and splendor to proclaim His very good news. We are able to act and speak in courage, boldly unveiling His tender heart and redeeming story and plan for mankind. He is faithful through EVERY circumstance and miniscule detail. He delights to hear our every request and loves to give good gifts to His children. We are able to keep our word, and let our yes be yes and our no be no. When we are true to our word, He calls us blessed, spiritually mature, morally courageous, and makers of peace. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We cannot remain hidden. He has designed us to glorify His faithful Father and let our light shine before men in a way that they may see our good deeds and moral excellence, and recognize, glorify, magnify, worship, and honor our Father. Through him, we are able to fulfill our vows to His people and to the LORD, not making meaningless oaths (Matthew 5). I urge you to be brave and courageous and lean fully on the Spirit in you, trusting him to hide you in the shadow of His wings, let you soar like an eagle and run this race with endurance.

About the Author

Fruits of the Spirit | Patience at the Feet of Jesus

Mike Wilday January 27, 2023

There are two primary words for patience in the Bible, which are frequently used together: Makrothume and Hupomone. Makro means long, and Thume means temper and is frequently defined as long-suffering. It is the ability to endure and sustain a lengthened period of difficulty or challenges. Biblical realization of this word includes suffering at the hands of others and suffering under the weight of circumstances. The second word for patience, Hupomone, also comes from two words. Hupo means under, and Mone means to abide. It bears the idea of abiding under challenges.

When I consider my life, there are many areas where I need patience, but the area I believe I need the most patient endurance is during seasons of waiting on and trusting in Jesus. I find it extremely difficult to endure waiting on the Lord to move, fulfill his promises, or to act in accordance with the leadership I felt he had given me as I had sought him for guidance.

The story of Anna, the prophetess in Luke 2:36-38, always astounds me. Luke writes that Anna’s husband died after seven years of marriage. Hebrew girls would often marry at about 12 to 13 years of age. She devoted herself to fasting and prayer in the temple from that time forth. At the time of Jesus's birth, Anna was about eighty-four. That means she spent about 64 years in prayer, fasting, and unwavering dedication to the Lord. Luke writes that when she heard about Jesus, she talked about Jesus to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem. Anna waited faithfully for over 60 years for God to fulfill his word to send the Messiah, and suddenly, after waiting on the Lord for so long, he fulfilled his word. I want that kind of patient endurance.

As an extrovert, I tend to like to be busy. I tend to plan out too much and then fail to get it all done. Tasks tend to rule my heart each day. More often than not. I tend to join the spirit of Martha as she hurried around her home, preparing a meal for Jesus in Luke 10:38-42. I don't see anything inherently wrong with being task-oriented, but more than getting my list done, I want to be a person like Mary, who knows how to sit and listen at the feet of Jesus. I want to fulfill the first commandment: "love the Lord, my God, with all my heart, mind, and soul" (Matthew 22:37, NLT). And allow the second commandment: "love my neighbor as myself," (Matthew 22:39, NLT), to flow out of my encounter with Jesus in the first command. I think that Mary of Bethany, Martha's sister, patiently endured all that needed to be accomplished by slowing down and making space to listen to all that Jesus had to say. The pressures and platitudes of the day were not Mary's concern. She found solace patiently waiting at Jesus' feet.

I desire to have the patient persistence of Anna the prophetess and Mary of Bethany. I want to make the concerns of Jesus my own. I want to wait patiently for his thoughts, heart, and purpose to be expressed to my heart so that I can purposefully express it in my home, neighborhood, and county. Sitting and waiting can be an act of long-suffering, but the Word promises that he will faithfully lead us by his Spirit. It promises that the secrets of his heart have been and will be revealed to us by his Spirit. The fruit of patience, of long-suffering, at Jesus' feet is answered prayer, peace of mind, and life everlasting.

"Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary" (Isaiah 40:31, NASB). "I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:1, NLT). "I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope" (Psalm 130:5, NIV).

About the Author

Fruits of the Spirit | Kindness

Jessie Carter January 20, 2023

Kindness has become a trendy buzzword lately. Kids see it in school rules: “Be kind, Be safe, Be responsible…” We see it on signs in people’s lawns. I recently discovered that there are even “kindness” clubs and committees in our communities, when a kindness club marched by in the Springfield Christmas parade. I think most people would agree that “kindness” is something to aspire to, something that helps our world in general, from the local to global levels.

So why is it so hard to do? Why does our world still not get along? Why are there so many teen suicides because of bullying and other unkind acts?

The answer is complex. Obviously, acts of aggression are a different ballgame than unkind words due to immature communication. But watching my new children interact, I think one likely cause is not knowing how to deal with anger. We get a hint of how anger and kindness are connected in the book of Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:25-27, 29 - 5:2 (NIV)
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin” [quoting Psalm 4:4]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

To me, this passage speaks of a combination of healthy boundaries and love. Because God loves us and creates in us love for others, we are motivated to be kind. But we also need to have boundaries. Boundaries to protect us so we can speak truthfully to others about what we need and let them know when they’ve hurt us. We can use this skill when we’re angry and hurt to make the situation better instead of lashing out to cause more hurt.

We can see this easily in children because they’re less subtle about it. They get hurt by their sibling/peer/etc. and retaliate instantly, causing escalation. Or if they don’t, they hold onto the anger, which gives “the devil a foothold” by allowing the anger to become bitterness and resentment or even eventually malice. We all do this sometimes but may not even realize it.

But God provides a different way. He doesn’t say “Don’t be angry.” Instead He says “In your anger do not sin.” We can be honest with each other about our boundaries or what they’ve done to hurt us, but we can do so respectfully and kindly, out of love and compassion for that person. Not only with the intent to not hurt them, and not only to help them learn and grow, but also to maintain the relationship between us. We can help the other person see that we’re communicating our needs/hurts because we value their relationship. We can walk in the way of love, as Christ does for us.

Today, after writing this post, one of our kids did a great job of demonstrating this principle. She’d misheard something I’d said and her feelings were understandably hurt. It took her a few minutes to tell her dad and I why she was upset, but she articulated it well. I was able to assure her of what I’d really meant, and she forgave me. Later I affirmed her great job of communicating. I’m so grateful that she didn’t lash out or hold on to the hurt, because I love her.

Kindness. It’s not just a buzzword, but a way to heal our relationships and our world.

About the Author

Fruits of the Spirit | Joy

John Rice January 13, 2023

One of the most wonderfully surprising scriptures I’ve come across is this one in the book of Nehemiah:

Nehemiah 8:9-12
Nehemiah, the governor, and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.”

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

Were you a little surprised by something too? For a little context, many of the Israelites, especially the wealthy, the educated and those skilled in the trades, were taken as slaves to Babylon in 586 BCE. The “less useful” people were left in Judea where Jerusalem lay. Life was extremely harsh for the Judeans under the Babylonians (You might remember the story of Daniel and the lion’s den and fiery furnace).

Over time, Babylonia was conquered by the Persians, who treated the Israelite captives much better than the Babylonians had. The king of the Persians, Artaxerxes, even allowed the Jews who wanted to return to the the land of their ancestors, to do so. The governor of the region of Judea was Nehemiah. The priest during this time was Ezra. Nehemiah learns that the walls of Jerusalem were crumbling and, after much prayer, asked King Artaxerxes if he could go back and rebuild the walls. Amazingly, Artaxerxes agreed! The walls were rebuilt with a lot of resistance from the neighboring Samaritans who hated and feared the Jews. But the Jews succeeded and the city was safe to live in again, or at least safer. To celebrate this great moment, all the Jews gathered in one place and the priest Ezra read from the Bible in the presence of all the people. They began crying with tears of sorrow and shame, understanding that they had been taken away captive as a consequence of their ignoring and disobeying their God.

Wallowing in this sense of remorse and guilt, you might have expected the priest and the governor to have exacted some punishments or acts of contrition from the people: possibly fasting from food, wearing burlap and/or pouring ashes over their heads, as was the custom. But what did the leaders instruct the people to do? Go eat, go drink, be joyful…and be sure to share with those who don’t have anything! And to top it off, they taught the people that the joy of the Lord is their strength!

It seems to me we can learn so much about our God from this story. How often do we sink into guilt and shame because of our wrongdoing? We might even feel it is the right thing to do, if we are to be humble people. But the wisdom from this story reminds us that sinking into an introspective funk is not helpful to us or to those around us. Instead, this wisdom seems to say, “Yes, you’ve done wrong. Yes, you need to change your ways. But turn to the Lord who is ever-forgiving and ever-loving and demonstrate your love back to him by rejoicing in his goodness and looking how to serve other people who don’t have as much as you do.” Wow! How awesome that is, and “just like God” to focus on the good and to see how we might help others. God seems truly committed to getting us out of our heads and egos, and into the goodness of the universe around us.

Have you ever experienced that when you’re suffering from shame, you feel weakened? Conflicted? Self-conscious? Lacking in clarity and confidence? I sure have. So I’m thankful to be reminded that it’s the JOY of the Lord that gives us strength. I’m thankful for the advice to confess my sin honestly, but then to get up, stand up, celebrate God’s goodness and live life alongside other folks whom he loves so much. Not to mention…..eat some good food and drink some good drinks! Thank you, Lord!

About the Author

Our New Blog Series, In His Image

CitySalt Church

Celebrate Goodness