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I am still reading Henri J.M. Nouwen’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son” and I had share this insight of his as he gazed at Rembrandt’s “Return of the Prodigal Son” painting immediately below.  It’s about the hands of the father.  Please read on for here are Father Nouwen’s words.

The longer I looked at the “the patriarch,” the clearer it became to me that Rembrandt had done something quite different from letting God pose as the wise old head of the family.  It all began with the hands.  The two are quite different. The father’s left hand touching the son’s shoulders is strong and muscular.  The fingers are spread out and cover a large part of the prodigal son’s shoulder and back. I can see a certain pressure, especially in the thumb. That hand seems not only to touch, but, with its strength, also to hold.  Even though there is a gentleness in the way the father’s left hand touches his son, it is not without a firm grip.

How different is the father’s right hand!  This hand does not hold or grasp. It is refined, soft, and very tender.  The fingers are close to each other and they have an elegant quality. It lies gently upon the son’s shoulder. It wants to cares, to stroke, and to offer consolation and comfort. It is a mother’s hand.

Nouwen points out that our Father is there loving us as both a mother and a father. I found this amazing and when I get down and out, I immediately run into my Father’s hands to feel his firm left hand bringing me closer and his right hand rubbing my back and soothing my soul. When I am caught in his embrace…the only way I get out of it is me letting go. God never wants to let go. It’s us who determines the length of time we stay in our Father’s arms.

It absolutely amazing and safe.  I hope you try it. If so, let me know what the experience was like for you.

Run into your Father’s arms.  It’s there you are going to feel that you are home.

I’ve been watching Joyce Meyer: Enjoying Everyday Life weekdays and she has a saying that I love. She describes her gifting as she’s called to ‘clean the fish.” Meaning – after we become Christians, there’s a whole new transformation that has to come for us to grow more like Him everyday.

I understand that cleaning process right now, as like never before. I mean it’s not enough that we’re entering a new technological age, but we are in the midst of digging ourselves out of a meltdown with our business infrastructure. The Internet was one of the best advances ever, however, with it came the problem that it was offered for free. That free part has hurt businesses like none other in the sense of open platforms. Software, resources, applications that we once paid for – now can be found free, etc. etc. etc.

But, needless to say, this did not in anyway affect Toyota’s problems. The Internet did not cause that. Negligence did.

Anyway…what I am meaning to say is that just about everything we were once comfortable with is changing. Change is now the new constant. And with that comes growth. New acceptance. And Trust.

Which leads to me to the title of this post. A common blog function is upgrades. As new bells and whistles are added or as bugs are fixed to your blog templates, a new upgrade notice appears on your control panel.  When a notice notifies the blogger of an upgrade,  they can either choose to hit button that says “Upgrade Automatically” or “Manual.” The Manual operation allows you to control the upgrade…it doesn’t completely override the system in case you had implemented custom codes. But, I like the auto function. And the last time I upgraded I thought wouldn’t that nice  to have an auto upgrade button in our lives that we could hit to grow more like Christ.  If so, then just like that we would have grown without experiencing much pain and it would be fast. We’d be on to the next level, waiting for a new upgrade to get that set of bugs out.

I want an life auto upgrader!

But, maybe it’s God who has the upgrade buttons. He hits them and to Him we changed automatically. Could it be that it’s just that we don’t see this happening in our timing, but God’s. He’s the master auto upgrader or as Joyce says – “Cleaner of fish.”

Growing in Christ,

Cindy

Have you ever seen Rembrandt’s “Return of the Prodigal Son?” God just made me aware of it, thanks to a new bible study we are doing in Sunday School.  It’s absolutely magnificent and speaks to your soul. I have never been moved like this before by observing a painting.  It has so much meaning that I think I will be regularly blogging about it for some time.  But, right now, I just want you to sit still and take it in.  It is based on one of the parables in the Bible.  If you are not aware of this parable, you can read it here in Luke 15: 11-32.

But, here’s the painting. It’s awe inspiring.

This Painting is Mesmerizing

There is so much to say about this painting.  But right now, I want to center on the father.  Do you see how the son feels so safe in his father’s arms.  This image convicted me.  It made me wonder if I would be as loving if someone deeply hurt me.  Sadly, I think my flesh would prevail and I’d turn my back.  But, I yearn to be so loving.

Also, look at the son’s state. Do you see how his shoes are tattered.  How his head is shaved like a slave. How comfortable he feels in his dad’s arms.  Do you realize our Father is there the same way for us. We can feel so emotionally tattered and He’s there with open arms to comfort and love us and not ask any questions.

Isn’t this painting amazing?

God Bless.

A Prodigal Daughter

This Field is Taking A Rest Before it Produces Again.

God gave me a good word today out of a place I’d never expect it – Leviticus 25. I mean I usually skim through this book because it’s full of procedures for atoning, but He gave me a gem for those of us who are in “transition” – which is the politically correct word nowadays for unemployment.

The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai, ²³ For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. ⁴ But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. ⁵ Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest. ⁶ Whatever the land yields during the sabbath year will be food for you—for yourself, your manservant and maidservant, and the hired worker and temporary resident who live among you, ⁷ as well as for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. Whatever the land produces may be eaten. “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the LORD.

My devotional today asked me this question – Do I have the faith to do what God required of Israel?  In essence, do I have faith to place my source of livelihood completely in God’s hands?

So if God have given me two decades of work – and now – is giving me a year of sabbatical rest – can I trust him in that?  I know it’s God will for me to be without study employment at the moment, but I never saw it as truly a gift from him of rest. For me to get my soil rich again – to give it a breather so it can gain nutrients that have been depleted over the years.  He’s ordained this.  He wants me to rest. Rest in him. Trust him.

So if you are in transition…why not say the correct word – you are on Sabbatical. A God appointed Sabbatical. See it as a gift from God and that He knows exactly what you need to get the proper nourishment.  This was never more clearer to me than last week when my back collapsed on me.  That injury caused me to stop my world for a time and forced me to rest in him.  He keeps saying to me “rest, my child” just rest.  How come that is the hardest thing for me to do?

May you find peace, comfort and rest in whatever year you are in whether on a sabbatical or working during this period.  If working, look ahead – a sabbatical will be coming.

God Bless!

The Israelites Were Seldom Content

In reading through the bible in the year plan that I am on – I got convicted today Big Time.  I’m in Exodus 16 and I’m walking along the Israelites and reading about their problems.  They keep telling their leader, Moses, that they are not happy with his leadership which has been directed by God.  Everywhere they turn they forget about his past huge miracle, the parting of the Red Sea, and all they do is whine about is their lack of food, water and protection. Waaa. Waaa. Waaa.  I’d be complaining too.

But it was this one line that really convicted me – it was Moses’ wise answer to their complaints for meat with their potatoes.

…the Lord has heard all your complaints against him.  What have we done?  Yes, your complaints are against the Lord, not against us.  v 8

So my take away this morning was that all of my complaints really are not against a person, place or thing – they are really against God and my lack of faith that he doesn’t know what is best for me. For example, when I get upset when the lines are too long in the grocery store or when I can’t find a parking spot, my complaint really is against God for not making my life easier.  When in fact, he may want me to wait to minister to someone in the grocery line, or may want me to not to be in harm’s way in the parking lot.  It all is for his good.

The thing I complain about the most is my singleness.  What I am really doing is verbally saying that I am not happy with how God is leading my life.

I need to stop complaining. How about you? In our church service today we recited the Serenity prayer and it was a longer version than I am accustom.  But, it’s right on target and I’m going to leave you with these words.

THE SERENITY PRAYER

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

–Reinhold Niebuhr

What do we really need to complain to God about? His lack of love for us-no He loves unconditionally and most likely more than we love our ourselves?

Do you have any complaints?

God can help us get through any storm.

A friend sent me a timely devotion today about how God constantly comes to our rescue. He’s done it since the creation of Adam and He’s still at it today.  I don’t know about you, but I’m daily finding myself in some sort of situation where I need a helping hand to make it through.

I guess it’s the images I’m seeing coming from Haiti that bring it front and center for me.  I mean, if you think about it, everyone who has survived the earthquake in Port-au-Prince has needed someone to help them. They’ve either had a hand pull them out of the rubble or someone hand them water.  But, it’s not just the Haitians that need rescuing, it is each of us.

God is there to rescue us all. He gives us his full attention and is the first to extend his hand for he knows we need his help before we do.  But, often, he’s not called upon or in my case I doubt that He can do anything.  But every time I call out, He’s right there letting me know that I’m not alone in this world.

Do you need rescuing? I’ve got some good news for you.  There’s help for you right this minute.  There’s peace during this storm.  Cast your cares upon him.  Your burdens are light to Him.

It’s Jesus to the rescue.

Isaiah 46:4 (New International Version)

⁴ Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

God knows exactly how deep to operate

I have been in pain all week. I’m physically fine – this is an emotional pain that I’m writing about tonight. I certainly feel it, but I couldn’t tell you what it was about until now. I am in surgery. The great physician is cutting deep inside me and rooting out core issues that have caused me pain for as long as I can remember. And, this isn’t a simple surgery for He is going deeper and deeper and going after the root. Although, it is the most painful thing I have ever experienced, I know it is necessary. In fact, its the best thing that could ever happen to me.

The first surgery happened on Monday and after one day of recuperating, I was back on the table. I guess X-rays (my behavior) must have showed that they didn’t get it all. So on Wednesday, I was back under the knife.

As with any surgery, it takes time to heal. There’s re-hab. There’s medicine to take and you have to slow down your life. You almost never feel the full effects until well after the surgeries have been performed. I tell ya this was no minor surgery. This was definitely open heart surgery and it’s leaving some scars.

Right now I still feel I’m on the table and my guts are spilling out all over. I’m feeling vulnerable. Scared and unsure of my healing. I’m also hoping that he gets it all this time.

But I know in order for anything new to be in my life, I have to get rid of the old. He’s going after hurtful thought patterns I’ve believed that were never from Him. He wants me to see my life as he does – full of hope, fruit and goodness. But, he has to remove all the bad – so I’m going with it.

I’m not left without any morphine. I have the best medicine around for healing for every time I ask him to help me through the pain…he’s right there and takes it away. It only comes back when I forget about him and his promises.

I’ll keep you posted as to my re-hab. I’m letting my body heal at the moment and trying to take better care of myself and letting God fill up that empty hole in my heart. I’m already feeling better, but, boy did it hurt. I’ll let you know when the pain finally lifts.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (New International Version)

¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

I started a new bible study today and our Pastor asked for us to find illustrations of God in our life. So I had one and fired up my new camera.  Had a bit of fun with this. Enjoy.

It is written in Stone.

I was in one of those spots when I felt God was holding a deaf ear to me.  He’s been very active in my life and well, this week, he just disappeared – or at least so I thought.  I saw everyone around me getting blessed and being heard and well, I got into one of those pity parties I am so good at throwing.  But, that all changed last night.

For it was last night around the 3:50 a.m. hour that he woke me up to hear the following words – TRUST ME! And I heard it loud and clear.  I guess he had enough of my unbelief even in my REM sleep.  He wanted to silence whatever thoughts I was having and give my burdens over to him.

I wrote about blueprints in my last post and I guess this was his way of confirming he has my life under control. And if you think I was imagining hearing that word for God – well, wait to you hear this. I told a friend that God spoke to me last night and he asked me a strange question. He wanted to know what time God woke me up.  I told him and he said God woke him up at the same time and told him to pray for me.

So do I think God knows what’s going on in my life even though I don’t have a clue? Heck ya.  Do I think I’m called to trust him. Yes.  Is it hard – yes!  But, I heard it loud and clear.  He’s there for me, directing my path and providing relief.

Amen.

O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.  2 Sam 7:28

Right now I am having to trust God like never before.  As my coach, God has been conditioning me to trust him and work the fundamentals.  He has me reading his promises and believing them.  I’m been reciting and meditating on them over and over.  Such things like He will never leave nor forsake me. He will provide a path.  He chose me.  He forgives me.  He wants me to have peace in him. He loves me as his child.

I know the drill.  He’s there. So then why am I so fearful that this one time he won’t come through?  Oh me of little faith!

Talk about crazy. John Hulber of the Netherlands actually built a replica.

I am reading through the bible again this year and as such, I’m now in Genesis and so I am reading about the ark.  Man, God laid everything out for Noah from size, weight, materials and content.  He gave him the exact blueprints on how to build it.  He even gave him the vision for it. All Noah had to do was believe it and follow it.  Trust him. Be obedient.  And I know that’s what God want each of us to do too.  Trust his blueprints in our life.

Take Noah for example, he had no idea, if the world would think he was a crazy, but he didn’t care about the outcome. He did not doubt – but he followed God’s word.

¹² God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. ¹³ So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. ¹⁴ So make yourself an ark of cypress  wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. ¹⁵ This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.  ¹⁶ Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches  of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. ¹⁷ I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. ¹⁸ But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. ¹⁹ You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. ²⁰ Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. ²¹ You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”

²² Noah did everything just as God commanded him. Gen. 6:12-22

I’m in the same exact position right now. God is laying out for me a path for my life which is contrary to the world’s.  It’s unconventional and so that makes it a bit scary for me at the moment. But, he knows what my blueprint is and to him it’s not scary…it’s beautiful.  It’s what I was made for.  I just need to build his vision and believe.  If I follow his way, even when the floods come, I’ll be sailing above the water not under it.  And there’s no place else I’d rather be.

If this is your prayer too, I will stand with you.  Let’s follow God’s path and share in this adventure that He has created for each one of us.

Is there any barrier we can’t overcome?