Gen. 2.15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend [cultivate] and keep it.
This is what happens to your radishes when you leave them for 4 or 5 days too long during an unusually weird rainy spell. It is the size of a large plum or a beet. Unattended, they try to overthrow the garden. I must tend.
What is it?
With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation.
The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn’t deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.
Romans 8 The Message
When did You start to love me, Father? When I made my first confession of faith? Or the thirty-second one? Was it when I got seriously committed to my Bible-reading plan or more regular in my times of extended prayer?
Because it seems earlier. I have known Your love as I have received each grandchild into my arms for the first time. I have understood Your devotion in raising my children from the first to the last, all the way until it was finished. When they were birthed from my body into the world, I grasped the glorious moment of man’s creation as “heaven and earth” passed through me. At the altar of marriage I sensed the abiding gift of Your love over my life – mine to receive.
So when did You begin to love me?
Zechariah 12.1 Was it when You stretched out the heavens and laid the foundation of the earth, could You already comprehend the spirit You would form in me?
Ecclesiastes 11.5 Was it when you were forming my body in my mother’s womb – just as surely as You created the paths for the winds?
Psalm 139.13-16 Or was it when You created my inmost being, as You were knitting me together in my mother’s womb?
Could it have been before that, even? Did You already “get” me, decide to love me when I was being made in the ‘secret place,’ woven together in the depths of the earth, where already, You understood the look, the frame of me?
Before even one of my days had come to be, You had already written the book, told the story of my life – every single day of it. Did You like what You had written? Could You see me as a character You loved and wanted to follow? You are my Author. Are You finishing my story in a way that brings You joy?
Job 10.8-12 You gave me life and watched over my spirit, the soul of me, even as Your hands touched me, shaped me like clay and molded and made me. When You were knitting me together and clothing me with skin and flesh – is that when You began to love me?
Isaiah 49.1-2 Before I was even born You called me and at my birth You named me. You gave me unmistakeable characteristics. Why?
Jeremiah 1.4-5 Before I was even born, You set me apart and made an appointment for my life. Before I was born You knew me. You knew me. How? How did You know?
When did You start to love me?
Galatians 1.15-16 Was it when you set me apart from birth, calling me by Your grace? Is this when You started loving me?
I don’t know when. I cannot comprehend how. But I am so thankful for Your love. That You – so loved – even me.
“How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered. I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, You are still with me.” Psalm 139. 17-18 NLT
This is my 500th blog post! Very cautiously and nervously entering the blog world in November of 2006, I find I can now blather endlessly about the minutia of my life, even sharing my most embarrassing moments in the mix.
But still, I write it for my children and family. That has always been the point. And because my mom likes it. But mostly for my children.
Because between the silly and the mundane, I have also exposed and cast down sin as it has been revealed to me. I have spoken truths almost too unbearable to reveal in the light of day and I have written the things that someday they will look back on and read and see as an altar, a guidepost and landmark – the place where the truth of heaven was spoken and remembered in my life. And it will become for them, eventually, if not now, the wisdom that will keep them on the right path.
“Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set.” Proverbs 22.28 NKJV
The coolest thing now, though, is realizing a promise of God to me in my lowest hour – that there would also be spiritual children, that I would be increased and multiplied, that I will continue to be vigorous and bear fruit in old age. And true to His promise, my family enlarges (it has even happened through this blog!). My capacity to love is increased.
So, for the children I know and the ones I have yet to meet, I write. And I write.
And I write what I have heard, what I have seen with my own eyes, what I have observed, and what I have touched with my own hands in the hopes that these things will be received in the spirit with which they are given and that they will, in some measure increase your joy (1 John 1.1-4). May your joy be ever full!
Graphomaniacally yours…Jeanie/mom
NOTE TO SELF: “It is written…” was even for Jesus, a touchstone of proof, a declaration of the “fixedness of the divine record” to the faithfulness of God. Make my written words nothing less, Lord…
1 John 1:1-4 (Amplified Bible) 1[WE ARE writing] about the Word of Life [in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands.
2And the Life [an aspect of His being] was revealed (made manifest, demonstrated), and we saw [as eyewitnesses] and are testifying to and declare to you the Life, the eternal Life [ in Him] Who already existed with the Father and Who [actually] was made visible (was revealed) to us [His followers].
3What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may [realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
4And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be full [and your joy may be complete].
God, deliver me from the temptation to say too much, to make the story sound better than it is, but also from leaving out the parts that are hard to say – from making it seem easier than it has all been. Let what I write when I write and what I say when I speak be truly the things I have heard and seen with my own eyes, the things I have observed for myself and touched with my own hands. And may theses things reveal and declare the parts of You which You have made visible to me. And may the things I have seen and the things I have heard bring joy: full joy, complete joy, double joy, to those with whom I share.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.” Ps 19.7
“He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul…” Ps 23.2-3a
“I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.” Ps 31.7
“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ Your love, O LORD, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Ps 94.18, 19
“Be at rest once more, o my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. For You, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.” Ps 116.7-8
Charles Wesley’s famous hymn called Jesus the “Lover of my soul,” and painting a picture of raging waters and a “storm of life” asks, even pleads with Jesus to be his refuge, his hiding place.
But this morning I am singing an older hymn – my current favorite “oldie” written sometime in the 1700’s: Be Still, My Soul. Amy Grant has an a m a z i n g rendition of it!
The soul, they say say, is the mind, the will and the emotions part of us. It is the center of the human personality and at times we think if we could just get past that part of ourselves, we could really serve God, be faithful, be holy. But I really think Jesus is the Lover of our souls. I think that is the part of us He created that brings Him a lot of joy. For even though that is where the anguish and battle of self-rule try to rage, the soul is also the part of us that makes the decision to repent.
Does He love me? All of me? Does He love the mind He created in me? Does He love my emotions? Does He love my very personality? Does some of it need a workover? Oh, yes, at times. But we are spirit, soul and body – and He made all of that – on purpose. He is the lover of my soul.
Be still my soul, the Lord is on thy side Bear patienty the cross of grief or pain Leave to thy God to order and provide In every change He faithful will remain Be still, my soul, thy best, thy heavenly friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. Be still my soul the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt here below…1 Peter 5.5-7
NOTE TO SELF: Sometimes the resistance is not the enemy. Sometimes the enemy is my own pride.
Robin, my brother Joe’s wife, is one of my closest friends. I wish I could explain why, in a way that would validate it and at least bring it some redemption, we weren’t close friends for about 23 or 24 years. Not even friends, really. Just sister-in-laws with the emphasis on the in-law part. Intimidated by her smarts, her insights and my own stupidity, I held her at arm’s length. Other than knowing the enemy didn’t ever want to see us in agreement, hearts filled with love in God-pleasing unity – there isn’t a good reason. It was a waste of time. I tell her now, “I am so sorry for the years we missed. Please forgive me.” Now she is a treasured friend, confidante and truly a sister of my heart (not to mentioned a really anointed and insightful Bible teacher).
She emailed me this encouragement yesterday (with just the tiniest bit of editing to protect the innocent):
I think you need to press on. That is my word to your from my own experience. I have allowed despair to thwart forward motion…despair paralyzes [people who] then tuck all hopes and dreams in a little pocket for the good times. It never happens. [The question is] how to rise above and do what we are called to do in the midst of hurt, hopelessness and despair, but I know we are to do it. I am not sure why this Scripture stood out to me this morning but I am thinking it may help both of us.
Mt. 11:19 – “But wisdom is shown to be right by what results from it.” NLT
Contextually, John the Baptist, in prison, sends his disciples out to find out if Christ is really the Messiah. Remember, he saw the dove. Why would he wonder now? I think John the Baptist is completely confused by the fact that he is in prison. Why me and why this.
A little further on Jesus says, “For John the Baptist didn’t drink wine and he fasted and you say, he’s demon possessed. I, the Son of Man, feast and drink and you say, He’s a glutton and a drunkard and a friend of the worst sinners.” Then he says “But wisdom is shown to be right by what results from it.”
Sometimes in life, nothing makes sense. Decisions we make to do something for God seem completely out of the norm and make no sense to the others…Just like Jesus said, they are going to say whatever, but in the end, the wisdom will prove itself by the results. I realize it is so hard to trust what you believe God is saying and just do it, but I say, do it. The results will prove the wisdom in it.
Anyway, just a thought or so….love you.. Robin
I am so blessed, Robin. Thanks for hanging in there with me…Jeanie
NOTE TO SELF: Beg God to restore the years the locust has eaten. It is ridiculous to live without the beauty of the relationships we could be having…
pictured: some business cards Stormie was helping Robin put together. Not sure which one she finally chose (or if i was a combination of a couple), but I obviously love the red one on the bottom and that charcoal gray and red one on the top right!
You children of the 70s will recognize the title of this blog referencing the song, “Easy” by the Commodores. Frankly, church girl that I was, I couldn’t relate to the metaphor of Sunday being easy back then because Sundays were the hardest day of the week (Sunday morning church, people for Sunday dinner, choir practice at 4, Sunday night church, etc), but it was intriguing.
Sometimes I still cannot grasp the truth of what Jesus said about life following Him – that to follow Him would be to find rest for our souls (our minds, our wills, our emotions – our very personalities!) He even said that His yoke (which was a wooden beam used to tie two oxen together as they trudged forward in their very hard labor) would be easy. Easy. Seriously? When? Where?
What is the essence of what Jesus really said? Well, here it is 3 ways (Mt. 11.28-30):
“Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” NIV
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” THE MESSAGE
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-ladened and are overburdened, and I will cause you to rest [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls]. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. THE AMPLIFIED
Following Jesus is following REST!
Following Jesus and His plan for my days is NOT: ill-fitting (having a job to do but being stripped of the resources or authority to do it), heavy, harsh, hard, sharp (pain-causing), or pressing (can’t seem to stay ahead – losing your breath, feeling pushed), wearisome, burdensome, hard work (work is good, a blessing, but there is a work that is just nothing but hard and life-sapping), loud and abrasive.
Following Jesus and His plan for my days IS: go to Him, run, maybe. Because He is gentle and I will find rest for my whole being because He is going to give me rest! In Him? Real rest, recovery, living the abundant life freely, lightly. Ease. Relief. Refreshment. He’ll re-create me. And blessed quiet for my mind, my will, my emotions. Quiet for my emotions! I am sensing/feeling freer and lighter already!
And His call on my life? The work (good works) He prepared for me before time began (Eph. 2.10)? Easy. Light. Comfortable, gracious, and pleasant. Not to mention wholesome (whole, not fragmented, and holy).
I’ll trade this for all the churchy titles and religious service I have done all my life any day. Where do I sign up?…Jeanie
NOTE TO SELF: I am going to Him. I am going to follow Him and watch how He does this thing. I want to do life the way Jesus did…this is vital to life…”Why in the world would anybody put chains on me…”