Saturday, May 7, 2011

Are You Perfect?

Many of us grew up with the impossible feeling that we had to be perfect.  Part of this drive comes from a mistaken translation of Matthew 5:48, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." 

The Greek word "teleios" translated as "perfect" is more accurately translated as "complete" or "mature." 

If God is "One," then God is complete.  Jesus is calling us to find our connection with God and to make that enough, to be complete in our oneness with God.  This is the growing up, the maturing that Paul invites us to in Ephesians 4:14-15, "As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all {aspects} into Him who is the head, {even} Christ."

To grow up into our Christ nature is to mature, to be complete.

What does is take to be complete?  Let each breath be a holy breath.  Dedicate each activity of your day, through prayer, to bring forth God's blessings.  Center yourself in God's love and temper every thoughts and action with that love.  Look for God's presence and activity all around you.

My prayer for you is that you rest in and live from your completeness in God.

Joyous in the Spirit,

Blair

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The Bible Revealed

The word "Bible" comes from a Greek word that means "library."

When we think of the Bible as a library it seems more accessable.  We do not need to take on the whole thing at once.  We can "check out" a book at a time.  We can return and re-read our favorites. without thinking we have to read all the volumes together.

When we get to a section of "begats," with names that are unfamiliar, we can skip over them without guilt and go on to the sections that interest and inspire us.

Meditation:
Dear God, teach me with Your Living Word to find meaning, understanding, inspiration and application in the writen word.  I let Your Voice speak to me through the prophets and writers of old that I may be a blessing today.

Application:
If you have a Christian orientation, I invite you to start with the Gospels in the order they were writen, according to scholars: Mark, then Matthew, Luke and John.  Notice what is similar and what is different about how they tell the stories, what they include and what they leave out.  What is the picture of Jesus that you see?  What was His message?  What is your response?

If you come from a different background, read the book of Genesis as a collection of tribal stories from the Hebrew clan.  Read the Pslams as a person trying to figure out and express your relaitonship with God.  Read the Gospels as a record of a holy man.

Do not be afraid of this library.  Check it out!

Blessings as you read and contemplate!

Joyous in the Spirit,

Blair

Monday, January 10, 2011

Abba = God the Beloved

Jesus used a name for God that is an invitation for us to experience God in a deeper way, in a more loving and love-filled way.

Jesus called God, "Abba."

Usually this is translated as "Father."  "Our Father, who are in heaven..."  "It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

The popular language in Israel at the time of Jesus was Aramaic.  Jesus probably spoke Aramaic.  There are a few places where the Bible does not translate Abba, but includes it in the Greek text.  Check out Mark 14:36.

Abba is an Aramaic word that is used as a term of endearment.  Our English word, "beloved" is the closest translation.  Abba can be used to denote the head of a clan, but in everyday usage, it can be used by a mother for her son or a son for his mother, etc.

Think of some of the quotes of Jesus with "Beloved" substituted for Father, as Jesus addresses God.

"The Beloved and I are one." John 10:30

"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Beloved who is in the secret place; and your Beloved who sees in secret will reward you openly.  Matthew 6:6

"For whosoever shall do the will of my Beloved which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother."  Matthew 12:50

"Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Beloved, He who is in heaven."  Matthew 23:9

"Therefore be merciful, just as your Beloved also is merciful."  Luke 6:36 

"And he said unto them, 'When ye pray, say, Our Beloved which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.'" Luke 11:2

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Beloved in spirit and truth; for the Beloved is seeking such to worship Him."  John 4:23

I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Beloved who sent Me."  John 5:30
 
"Do you not believe that I am in the Beloved, and the Beloved in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Beloved who dwells in Me does the works."  John 14:10

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Beloved." John 14:12

"At that day you will know that I am in My Beloved, and you in Me, and I in you."  John 14:20

"As the Beloved loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love."  John 15:9

What impression do you get of Jesus' relationship with God as the Beloved?

Now remember when Jesus was asked which of the commandments was most important, he did not quote the "10 Commandments."  He said, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment."  Mark 12:30

...To love God with all that you are adn all that you have...to love God as the Beloved.

Meditation:
Dear God, my Beloved,  I am ready to let Your embrace of grace enfold and envelope me.  I love You.  I am in Your love.  I am Your love.  I love You with all that I am.

Application:
How do you feel about yourself, if you are God's beloved?
How do you treat others if they are God's beloved?
How do you treat your body if it is the temple of the Beloved?
How do you choose to bring God's love to your life?  Your work?

Blessings!

Joyous in the Spirit,

Blair

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Amen

One of the young boys in our church asked me about "Amen."  I sensed he knew there was more to it than just being a punctuation at the end of a prayer.

The Hebrew word "Amen," sometimes spelled "aameen," comes from a word that means "truth" or faithful.  It is an exclamation that declares, "This is my truth." "So be it."

Some scholars says that in the first creation story, the phrase, "And it is so" is derived from the "Amen."

What are you saying "Yes" to in your life?  What are you affirming as your truth?  Are you talking about what is wrong with your life, your circumstances?  Are you complaining about others?  Then you are giving your "Amen" to negative, limiting circumstances.

God says, "Yes" to what we put our attention on. 

Let's keep our attention on God's healing power, "Amen!"

Let's focus on being God's joy in action, "Amen!"

Let affirm that we are God's love, always blessing others, "Amen!"

Let's listen to God's guidance and follow through, "Amen!"

Let's live from our oneness with God, "Amen!"

Friday, October 1, 2010

Breath of Spirit - Genesis 2

One can argue about whether or not  scripture is accurate or helpful or the literal word of God and miss the opportunity to let the scripture speak for itself.

In the second creation story [if you want to discover something, compare Genesis 1:24-26 and 2:18-19.  In what order were the animals and man made?] there is a verse that always inspires me and always calls me to a deeper connection with God.

Genesis 2:7 KJV "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

The story carries an important code that is found in the Hebrew words.  

"The LORD" is the "I AM" name of God.  It indicated the being-ness of Being wanting to express Itself through creative activity.  The coming into form is a pressing into shape.  The word here, "formed," would be used to describe what a potter does to clay.  God presses out of divine substance [dust] a form that becomes animated.  The form of itself is not alive.  It is the "breath of God," which could also be translated "spirit of God," that give live, animation, energy to the form.  The Spirit-breath is what gives us life.

Here are some questions for you to ask:

What has God shaped me to be?  Am I letting the Spirit-breath of God fill me and animate me?  Am I trusting that what God breathes life into has all that it needs?

MEDITATION:
I take this moment to breath the Spirit of God.  I let Spirit breathe me.  As I breathe in, I imagine God is breathing out.  As I breathe out, God is breathing in.  I am filled with the Spirit of God.  I breath out and release all that is not of the Spirit.  I let each breath be the activity of the Divine.

APPLICATION:
When we want to create something, this divine pattern is ours to use.  What is the form you want?  Do you let God inspire your vision, your desires, your plans?  Are you ready to breathe life into it? Are you going to fill it with your spirit?  Can you see the Spirit-breath of God filling it?  Animating it?  Giving it life?  If not, it will not have life.  

What is God calling you to give life to?
How is Spirit calling me to shape my life?
Can I breathe life, love and joy into it?

My prayer is that this blog will inspire you to expereince the activity of God in your life in a greater way.

Joyous in the Spirit,
Blair

Monday, August 30, 2010

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me!

This bold claim was made by many prophets, "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me."

When Jesus went to his hometown, he was not well received, but while in the synagogue reading from the scroll of Isaiah, he, in turn, made the claim that God was with him and working through him.

I invite you to make that claim for yourself.  AND then act as if God's Spirit is with you, guiding you and working through you.  Whatever you are facing today, God is more than enough to see you through.  Call on the Holy Spirit for wisdom, guidance, strength, energy, creativity and peace.

My prayer for you is, "You are energized and blessed by the Holy Spirit now!"





Isaiah 61:1-2 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; he has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn,  (NKJ)