Friday, March 5th, 2021
~ Matthew 21:43 ~
“I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.”
💭💬🗯💭💬🗯💭💬🗯💭💬🗯💭💬🗯
Speaking Truth – Hearing Truth
As I read the devotional for today I felt overwhelmed. Nouwen has a gift of helping his readers fully grasp the message of Jesus. Truth is something most of us hold in high esteem. It is the cornerstone of all things, neither good or bad. We have heard and read, “The truth will set you free.” Now that word “free” has its own set of rules; free from guilt, free from penalty, free from…the list is very long depending upon the situation.
“And real listening means nothing less than the constant willingness to confess that you have not yet realized what you profess to believe” (1)
Some truth examples that Nouwen shares:
• Who wants to hear, for example, that the last will be first, if he happens to be first?
• Who wants to hear that those who are poor, who mourn, who hungry, thirsty, and persecuted are called happy, when he is wealthy, self-content, well-fed, praised for his good wines, and admired by all his friends?
• Who wants to hear that he has to love his enemies and pray for those who persecute him when he calls his boss an S.O.B., his own son a good-for-nothing tramp…(2)
Truth is RADICAL! It goes to the root of our humanity; few want it and the freedom that comes with it.
As I continued reading my devotional today, I read the following things Nouwen included (I will be paraphrasing):
For a Christian is only a Christian when…
▶️ He/She unceasingly asks critical questions of the society in which they live and continuously stresses the necessity of conversation, not only of the individual but also of the world.
▶️ He/She refuses to allow themselves or anyone else to settle in a comfortable rest and dissatisfied with the status quo.
▶️ He/She keeps saying to everyone he meets that the good news of the Kingdom has to be proclaimed to the whole world and witnessed to all nations. (3)
Friends…this is the point in which I become very overwhelmed. My truth is I believe in all these things. My truth is also, I allow the human nature in me to rise at times to a “me” level. Meaning, I giving into the comforts of life and at times indulge in many things to include quietness, solitude and sleep, lots of sleep! I am NOT saying these things are bad or make me less of a Christian, we all have to answer life’s questions for ourselves and our call to the Christian life we live. As for me and my wish for everyone is that our conversion and commitment to living a Christian life is between the individual and God, alone.
Our actions often speak louder than our words, for example how I treat others may speaks volumes to someone verses getting them into church to hear a sermon. The same could be said of sharing the good news of the Kingdom of God and witnessing, some are called to be missionaries traveling abroad, others can do as much by wearing a shirt that reads, “Got Jesus?” or uses a pen with a logo, “Jesus Loves You!” We all have a mission and they all have the same goal, the only differences are the methods in which we use to accomplish them. God created me and you, same but different. He loves me and you the same but different.
Thank you for stopping by my blog space today, may you feel the presence of God today and always. ~Peace to you my friends~ 🙏🏻🤍
🔹 Ephesians 4:4-7 (NJB) 🔹
4:4 There is one Body, one Spirit, just as one hope is the goal of your calling by God.
4:5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
4:6 and one God and Father of all, over all, through all and within all.
4:7 On each one of us God’s favour has been bestowed in whatever way Christ allotted it.
Lenten M•I•C•R•O Practice for today:
~Learn A Song – Day 15
Find a psalm or a hymn text that is meaningful to you. Write out the words, learn more about the song, and read/sing it throughout the day.
My Favorite Song – In The Garden
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am his own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am his own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known
— Gospel composer C. Austin Miles (1868–1946)
— Written March 1912
https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/in-the-garden
– Prayer –
God, you wish to reveal to us
how rich is the glory of your mystery
among the gentiles;
it is Christ among us, our hope of glory!
This is the Christ
we are proclaiming, admonishing, and instructing
everyone in all wisdom,
to make everyone perfect in Christ.
— After Colossians 1:7-28
~Charlotte, the Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
References:
Show Me The Way — Henri J.M.Nouwen • 1992 The Crossroad Publishing
(1) Show Me The Way — Henri J.M.Nouwen • 1992 The Crossroad Publishing • Page 55, paragraph 1.
(2) Show Me The Way — Henri J.M.Nouwen • 1992 The Crossroad Publishing • Page 55, paragraph 1.
(3) Show Me The Way — Henri J.M.Nouwen • 1992 The Crossroad Publishing • Page 56, paragraph 2.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truth
https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/in-the-garden
(NIV) New International Version Bible/Translation
(NRSVA) New Revised Standard Version Apocrypha
(NJBV) New Jerusalem Bible Version/Translation
HOPE SEEKER 
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