Scattered Thoughts

Wow, I haven’t written since Monday. This week flew by, even though it wasn’t the best week. Every time I thought about writing, I couldn’t form an idea into a cohesive, neat little entry packaged with a catchy title and a pretty picture. I still can’t. So that’s why you’re left with these fragments this afternoon.

Yesterday I went to a women’s luncheon at my church and our missionary from Peru spoke (in place of his wife, who had been sick). He spent some time describing the circumstances that many Peruvian women find themselves in - abandonment, loneliness, discouragement, and utter poverty. Then he talked about how realistically, these circumstances are probably not going to change. The only hope these women will find is in God. And then, even for us American women, who have different circumstances, we can find hope nowhere else. He referenced Psalm 42-43, one of my all-time favorites, and said hope was different in biblical language – a constant expectation, not just a doubtful chance. Hope in God is a constant expectation that He is enough, that He will fulfill His promises. This reminded me of another favorite passage of mine – “For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening” (1 Peter 3:5-6). A very convicting passage for me.

It’s all related to something else God has been making even more clear in my heart lately – how important it is that I seek everything in Him. Idolatry is so evil (I just finished reading the book of Hosea) because we are seeking ultimate joy, satisfaction, and pleasure in something other than God. And we are supposed to seek every joy, satisfaction, and pleasure in God. Every reason not to put our trust in man, is a reason to put our trust in God. It is right to flee to Him as a refuge, to long to be close to Him, to pour our hearts out to Him, to be emotionally dependent on Him, to sacrifice everything possible for Him, to long for Him above all else – to come with high expectations! Let’s not be too easily pleased.

This morning in church we sang “Fly Away.” I love the verses of that song. Especially When the shadows of this life have gone, I’ll fly away / Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I’ll fly away and Oh how glad and happy when we meet, I’ll fly away / No more cold iron shackles on my feet, I’ll fly away. I looked around and saw people in my own congregation who will probably be “flying away” soon (although only God knows, of course). And I was thinking about the release from the prison bars and iron shackles of this earth… every impediment between Christ and me… one day all of that will be gone. Hallelujah!

Last! Writing in this journaling, stream-of-consciousness style that I don’t do very often made me think of something I wanted to say about blogging. I think there is a healthy boundary between what you share on your blog and what you keep in a journal or in conversation with people you know, etc. I’m not only talking about sharing very personal thoughts, but in general about how much of your writing and reflection is invested online, where anyone can read it. It’s harder to be completely honest with God and yourself when you know that potentially dozens of people (or more) could read what you post. I would just encourage you bloggers to make sure that you are also processing your thoughts and prayers and meditations in another venue. If you are a blogger, I’d love to hear what you think about this and how you keep a balance, or if you have thought about it.

Well, I’m off to enjoy Sunday afternoon…

“O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like an evergreen cypress;
from Me comes your fruit.
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
whoever is discerning, let him know them;
for the ways of the Lord are right,
and the upright walk in them,
but transgressors stumble in them.”
(Hosea 14:8-9)

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