Summary Notes for 10/14 Session Walking Our Faith: RECOGNITION

First off--as promised--on why the Psalms are numbered differently in different versions:

The Hebrew Bible counted the psalms one way. The Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek counted many psalms slightly differently. The early Christians used the Septuagint, and then went on to translate into Latin (the Vulgate) following the Septuagint numbering. Protestants and Anglicans (Episcopalians) tend to use the Hebrew numbering. Catholics and Orthodox tend to use the Septuagint numbering.

Psalms 1-8 are the same in Hebrew and the Septuagint.

Psalms 9 and 10 in Hebrew are combined as Psalm 9 in the Septuagint.

Psalms 11-113 in Hebrew are Psalms 10-112 in the Septuagint (Hebrew-1 = Greek).

Psalms 114 and 115 in Hebrew are combined as Psalm 113 in the Septuagint.

Psalm 116 in Hebrew is divided into Psalms 114 and 115 in the Septuagint.

Psalms 117-146 in Hebrew are Psalms 116-145 in the Septuagint (Hebrew-1 = Greek).

Psalm 147 in Hebrew is divided into Psalms 146 and 147 in the Septuagint.

Psalms 148-150 are the same in Hebrew and the Septuagint.

We started off the sharing with a discussion on remembering to remember: when I feel limited by something--especially physically--I must remember that God is STILL able, still has a good plan for me. So...don’t stress! He ALWAYS HAS THE ANSWERS. Rely upon Him. Focus upon His power, and not on my powerlessness.

“The God that parted the Red Sea, is the SAME GOD that lives in me. What He did for the Israelites, He is doing for me too...even now.”

Psalm 103:4-5

who redeems your life from the pit

    and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

(or in The Message):

He redeems you from hell - saves your life! He crowns you with love and mercy - a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness - beauty eternal. He renews your youth-- you’re always young in His presence.

HE is able, even if I am not. Finding the little miracles in my everyday--and seeing that HE IS THERE. Finding COMFORT in His Presence...no matter what. How can I remind myself of that?

The Devotional Method helps us to focus upon the deeper messages that the HolySpirit gives to us through Scripture--allowing God to speak His rhema into us as we take pause and contemplate HIS every word, reminding us of, pulling together for us, those pearls He has spoken into us in the past:

...ALWAYS young in His presence (in every moment, with every breath, with every thought)

...always YOUNG in His presence (energized, uplifted, restored, filled with strength/vigor, renewed)

...always young IN His presence (IN Him/with Him/through Him...partnered, entwined, inseparable….IN)

...always young in HIS presence (His...God, Christ, the all-that-I-am ONE...HIM)

...always young in His PRESENCE (deep in the protection of His shadow, at His feet, enveloped in HIS embrace, His sovereignty, His all-abiding love and reality)

When I contemplate His words and really focus them upon with my full attention, it is inevitable that He will speak His comfort and Truths into my heart and my circumstances--and give me hope, solace, restoration and peace.

James 1:2-4

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

This made us think about what JOY really means…to even consider a different kind of joy. We pondered how the trials the Lord has allowed us to walk through have given us the “inner joy” that empowers us to endure, to remain steadfast, to remain faith-filled. No matter how low things get, we can try to reclaim that “inner feeling” of...joy? peace? calm? Even though we may not be sure “how to do it”...we know it is something that happens “inside”. A transformation that allows even trials to be considered “nothing but joy”.

Transformation of the heart is what allows me to move from a head knowledge into the heart knowing. So, how does transformation of the heart occur? Does ‘fake it til you make it’ work? Perhaps we aren’t supposed to be “faking it” as much as we are to be repeating, focusing, truly leaning into and upon, the living Word of God--hearing Him, keeping Him close, contemplating and gleaning the lessons of HIS words, experiencing His voice, His hand, His person...and then embracing and, more importantly, remembering and incorporating HIM into our thoughts, our decisions, our moods, our actions. And then--and only then?--we can effectively impact, effectively flow into, the lives of others around us. That’s not faking it...that’s learning to live it.

Gal 5:22-26

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

What word is God bringing out to me from these verses? What word (and the rhema held within) does HE desire me to focus upon? Even in the midst of uncertainty, of the state of our nation, the state of our finances, the state of our health, our elderly, our sick, our communities, our future...even then, He asks us to “live by the HolySpirit” and reclaim our joy, our peace, our self-control. 

 And so, we seek His words, infuse them into ourselves, because His HolySpirit-given rhema will always bring “joy-language” into our walk. His HolySpirit allows us to remember everything that the Lord has been FOR us through our trials, through the ‘stretching’ of our faith, of our boundaries, of our limitations, reminding us of the abundance of His realm and sovereignty, promise and provision with each new circumstance…and expanding our experience of Him if only we agree to trust Him and partner with and in Him--no matter what. 

 And then, upon HIS solid foundation of rest and trust, we can turn for those that we worry about, for those whose lives are filled with anxiety and confusion and trial, and stand for/with them in intercession. We talked about how true intercession is moving from merely praying for someone to praying powerfully, in their stead...as them. It is the staking/binding/intertwining our hearts (and our faith/knowledge/trust in God) to their hearts, speaking the words of prayer that, in their pain and struggle, they are unable or unwilling to speak on their own. It is standing in their stead as bound to us, rather than as distanced or “othered” from us. We talked about how true intercession is really very difficult on our own, by own strength, in our own minds. It is impossible without the restorative “heart-knowing” of the deep healing all-embracing love of God that is Christ with and in and through us. It is essentially what Christ did for us...on the cross. For us...as us.

HE is the one that loves us through and who loves through us.

When we don’t understand something in our secular world, something that causes our heart to “cringe” or “recoil”, we tend to fall back onto “reaction” rather than “acting” in fully aware action. Emotions overflow, confusion causes our brains to swirl in the disconnect between rational thought of the mind (“I don’t get this ridiculous perspective. It’s insane! Therefore I need to speak the obvious truth and set them straight!”) and the sentiment of the heart (“but I love her and don’t want to hurt her--or our relationship?--by telling her off!”)

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

(or, in The Message Bible):

No, the LORD has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God. 

We talked about how important it is to understand how often God is stretching us, asking us to acknowledge the situation, the circumstance, and most importantly, the heart of the person before us...and then love them through it anyway. Hard to do. It’s SO not what our rational minds--that which demands “due justice and retribution”--want to hear.

Love. Just loving us through. No judgement, no condemnation. 

But also, living and loving within Christ’s Spirit is what allows me to discern timing and state of heart--both of mine and of the ones who have given their trust over to mine. It is what empowers me to always use God’s Word and God’s words with confidence: to Edify...Exhort...Console. And to not become side-tracked by the distractions the world throws at me that causes me to be derailed by my emotions, my reactions, disabling me from acting in HolySpirit-directed, Christ-taught, God-created love.

How do we stop “othering” people? How do we begin to see and act and walk in the reality that we are ALL part of the body of Christ? 

How do we overcome the desire for control that causes us to “judge” and react to people as “others”?

How do we change our societal perspectives of “them” vs “us” that proclaims someone more--or less!--worthy of love or care or provision than another?

Love...given truly and deeply and unconditionally and without fear. Hard lessons to hear. Harder lessons to live.

But what a great testing of our faith, yes? and of the maturation of our faith walk. Each circumstance that makes us more aware of where we actually stand, when we make a proclamation of judgment or caste-ing or condemnation, allows us to choose to endure in Truth...or not. To be stretched and molded and strengthened into maturity and the fullness of the Body of Christ...or not.

Every circumstance that God allows us to be placed in, every encounter God allows us to have with another person, is an opportunity to place seeds of God’s love, of God’s presence, of God’s power to heal and redeem and restore and recall...what was lost of someone’s soul! 

How do we walk confidently in that privilege? How do we choose to see and to sow (or not!) these seeds of God’s good news?

Matt 17:19-21

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

What seeds are we placing into each situation we journey through? How do we allow the HolySpirit to speak through our thoughts, through our actions, through our words? Does our attitude, our mindset reflect HIS mind and HIS heart? Can we learn to SEE His presence in every moment? every road sign? every heart? or how about in every question posed? in every doubt voiced? How do we learn to keep Christ fully entrenched upon the throne in the throne room of our heart no matter what pathway we are asked to walk, what person we are given to walk with?

Relationships are transformative--but it goes both ways. Good and bad, you to me, me to you, us into each other, each other into us.

 

And what about that mustard seed? The Good News of Christ? “You are worthy of God’s love because HE made you so. Now go out and show everyone that God made them worthy of it too.”

(wow, ladies. Now that I have written these out for myself, such powerful thoughts/questions to mull over in self-reflection! For me, I will think hard upon God’s call to love unconditionally and without fear, just as He loves us!)

ok, next stop: Surrender!

Add your thoughts to these, sweet sisters!

love

maggie

 Thoughts on Session One: Walking Our Faith

Welcome back, Red Tent Sisters!! 

Wow...how wonderful it was to be back with all of you who could make it this week. As usual, both Lorraine and I were SO grateful for the openness and sincerity with which everyone shared your hearts, your minds and your thoughts. THANK YOU, ladies! We thank God for each and every one of you.

Also, for those of you who are only able to join us over cyberspace, know that we pray for you at the beginning of each session...asking the HolySpirit to bless you wherever you are, with some little manifestation of our love during the 90minutes we are gathered around you in spirit. We love you and miss you!

So, for this class, we had asked everyone to choose a verse or two that would speak life and light (and hope!) into whatever might be weighing upon or casting about in our hearts and on our minds. The thoughts that flowed forth were as diverse as the individuals within our little group--and spoke powerfully of the multiplicity of facets and deep levels of everything we are experiencing as we all journey through the unprecedented nature of the state of our nation and our world health.

Our discussions started with the serious contemplation of the heavy responsibility (and the lingering consequences/tolls) of taking on leadership roles without right judgment and counsel of God. (Is 51:17-18) And then, we quickly morphed into the poignant warning about judging another when we, too, have yet to judge ourselves. (Matt 7:1-3) We spoke about the power we have been given by God, through our actions, our reactions, our words, our thoughts and our deeds, to create...and to destroy. 

How well do we understand that powerful connection we all have to each other? Do we use it FOR one another? or AGAINST each other...?

We discussed the stressors of young families struggling with these unfamiliar times, juggling jobs, households, shaky finances, remote learning for young children, all while trying to protect our loved ones and communities through social distancing and self-isolation. We were reminded how there is no time like now to lean upon God to restore ourselves with and in His HolySpirit gifts of calm, lovingkindness, and soundness of mind. (Gal 5:22-26; Ps 91)

How much do we lean upon God instead of our own (poor and limited) understanding? Whom have we placed upon the throne in the Throne Room of our heart? To what have we given permission to reign over our lives?

We talked about how gaining/maintaining life and actually living it(i.e. not merely surviving it!) depended upon "living in Christ", "having Christ", "seeing/being/hearing/acting in...Christ"...and how that is actually, well, quite difficult! (2 John 1:6, 1 John 5:11-12) I LOVED when someone shared the gentle words of Fr Jayke's counsel given to her when she asked how to deal with a persistently fractious family member.  

"LOOK her in the face," he said, "and SEE the face of Christ..."

 Whoa...! 

Who do I see when I look into the angry, cantankerous face of my neighbor? Can I find God buried deep within that soul...and respond to Him? Or will I react only to the vestiges of fear and loss of control that manifest in the words spewed forth from a heart so filled with confusion that it has forgotten the love of the Creator within...? Will I, too, "forget"?

From there, we moved into a discussion about how important it is to look INWARD (both in ourselves and in others), in order to discover the God that resides within. (Eph 3:16-17; Eph 1:18). Self-reflection, true humility, and surrender allows us to seek--and find--the powerful divinity that lives, restores and transforms us from within. The HolySpirit calls to us from within, urging us to encounter the God that has proclaimed that He will never abandon us, who has promised that upon seeking Him, we WILL find Him, that when we search for Him, He IS there. We talked about how prayers to our God are always meant to be more than lip service, more than "words spoken mindlessly as if thrown at a wall". Conversations...with a living, loving, active God who lives, loves and acts with, in and through EACH one of us.

Am I actually living a resurrected life? Do I truly believe and walk in the promises of the divinity that resides SO powerfully within me? Can I see HIM within every one...even in the crotchety family member whose prickles we would do anything to avoid...? Am I the one that God has asked to bring life and light into that person's world...and, will I run away from His call? or can I answer with everything HE has given to me, shown to me, been for me for just such a moment as this?

As expected, our discussion never wavered far from the fear-fueled anxiety and uncertainty of survival in the midst of a pandemic. We were so wonderfully reminded about how to occupy our minds, taking our thoughts captive onto Christ, and "remembering to remember" (Phil 4:4-7; 2Cor 5:7; Mark 9:23-24; Ps 46:10). 

What words do I repeat to myself when life seems to be spinning out of my control? With whose thoughts do I align my own? Is it with the words of the God that call me into life and hope no matter what? or is it with the words of the world that constantly pressure me to buckle, give up, spit out curses, and...die?

We also talked about how discerning GOD's voice over all others IS the key to being able to walk steadfastly through the chaos of the world around us, to walk justly through the dark actions of the ones who are so confused that they no longer care about anything but self-survival in a world that seems only to speak hate and division and hurt. To not lose our integrity even in the face of the ones who were meant to lead us but who instead stand in the doorways to freedom, not allowing anyone past. To walk in Truth, consistently, with intent, unwaveringly, with purpose and thoughtful reflection, resolvedly, with quiet determination, humbly, with full knowledge of God's hand and heart. (Micah 6:8)

Oh, how hard it is to walk justly with God's intent and God's heart, and God' mind. But...with HIS strength, and with HIS mercy, and with HIS love growing within me...is there anything that is impossible? Whom do I stand for? For whom do I walk as ambassador--with my thoughts, in my actions, through my words?

And finally, we ended our discussion with the power of our words--both spoken and unspoken, but especially when spoken in alignment with the truth in our hearts. (Acts 11:14; Prov 18:21; Prov 12:18; Matt 12:34; Mark 11:23-24) We talked about how the sincerity of our hearts will come forth through our words. When our words are aligned with whatever we hold truly in our hearts (both negative AND positive!), then the power we have will unleash itself into our connections with ourselves and others in the physical realm, and more importantly, into our connections with each other in the spiritual realm. This creative power can create life...or invite death on so many levels beyond our physical imagination. We talked about how engaging in true conversation (while growing in active relationship) with God allows us to discern what is the true state of our heart? He teaches us discernment of His voice and of His counsel as we walk with Him, helping us to peer into what "truths" we have buried within our souls, in the deepest corners of our hearts and minds. It's much like what happens whenever we grow in active relationship with anyone who calls us Beloved and who desires only the best for us. We are divinely transformed into the BEST version of ourselves!

We talked about how that which we desire--both spoken and unspoken--will drive us, compel us, cause us to act in ways we might not realize. We talked about how important, therefore, it is to KNOW what drives us, what compels us to ask for what we are asking, what is the true intent of our desires...and how to make sure that our desires align with God's. (Ps 37:4)

Do I "delight myself" in the Lord? Do I enter His gates with Thanksgiving? Do I enter His courts with Praise? or do I storm heaven with MY desires, leading the march with ME, MYSELF and I and whatever MY will wants to so proudly, so loudly demand? How do I surrender my full self into His arms for His healing, so that I can delight myself with the desires HE places into my heart?

The thread that coursed through our discussions, throughout every verse became clear to me as Lorraine and I came together to review our first session together: in order to Walk Our Faith, we need to Lean Upon God with EVERY STEP...and then place ourselves squarely into the confidence of God's will, God's plan, and God's kairos time.

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble. (Ps 46:1, NIV)

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7, NRSVC)

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4, NRSVC)

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7 NKJV)

“Look at the nations and watch—
    and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
    that you would not believe,
    even if you were told. (Hab 1:5, NIV)

Ok, I think that's pretty much it for our summary from this week's gathering. Feel free to add a comment, write a new post, put in your thoughts, more verses, rhema...etc! Let's keep the discussion going, ladies :)

Love

Maggie

Facing our Giants - Week One and Two

Wednesday after our zoom meeting I was looking through the bible for more stories to write down to reflect on when "Facing my Giants". 

I was re-reading one verse we were talking about - “God is merciful, slow to anger”. 

Joel 2:12-13    -

 “Yet even now,” says the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
¹³  and tear your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord, your God,
    for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
    and repents of evil.

Two parts really jumped out to me - 1- tear your hearts and not your garments.  It reminded me to focus on truly changing my heart.  And 2 -Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  It convicted me to remember how incredibly wonderful God is to me.

I then started flipping around my bible - again trying to find some more stories …….

I happened upon the next couple of verses (they were already underlined) and then I knew I just needed to take these verses in….

Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.  (another verse we talked about)

Isaiah 50:23 …Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.

Here is where the action comes in with the last verse:

Luke 8:16

“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light.”

Just thought I would share – they all seemed to go along with our conversations about remembering and prioritizing God.

Have a wonderful day!
Lorraine

“What is our (my) takeaway from this study?...

“What is your take away from the study?

What have we learned this time…?”

Impossible questions.

I’ve never had the luxury of studying through the entire Bible thematically – salvation history – without the pressure of lectures, classes, papers and tests. All studies lasted 14 weeks September to December or January to May or an intensive few summer weeks.

Or I’ve been on the teaching side; framing/presenting/testing/entertaining/trying to learn more all the time/trying to captivate. Never till Red Tent did I have the luxury to scurry off with my book, notebook, Bible and catechism, and do the weeks assignment with the only pressure to get it done.

Unheard of learning.

And the learnings? There were so many each week. Oh, those impossibly repetitive Hebrew Scriptures stories! Our ancestors lived their cyclical patterns: prosperity, too much comfort, eyes off the Maker, the fall, the rising up, the falling down, finding out where “they“ went wrong.

At some point early on, it stopped being about our ancestors. In my morning prayer the Lord pointed out that I was behaving like my ancient siblings. Ouch! The us/them, me/them binaries had to give way.

Week after tedious week, my Wednesday mornings were my Bible oasis. 

There was the time in winter when the daily mass readings were paralleling our weekly sessions. Maria and I watched the drama unfold from the lectionary.

My brother raised sheep, and now spends months of several seasons with his Colorado girlfriend, whose ranch hands shepherd thousands of sheep and thousands of steer. She manages the entire operation. My brother gets the job (usually turning me green with envy)  of riding the range or alongside Julie when they’re helping the shepherds in bringing the animals in. Then there’s Lorraine and Maggie and all their work behind the scenes! They do it for love. Oh the headaches, worries! They don’t have to gather us in for the unpleasant, but they do ride the range, right from their studies or kitchens or living room. They watch the 20 something of us – as we as we tend our families, our students in our every day pastures, and sometimes deal with our own lost sheep. They pray for us. 

So my friends, the morning fog is burned off now, and the Holy Spirit within is as excited as the birds who have delighted me as they sang up yet another sun. Thank you Red Tent sisters, my point and counterpoints, thank you for your patience, and thank you Lorraine and Maggie for setting the academic free for a year!

“Rejoice and be glad.” Each day we have been given life anew.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

Lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will direct thy paths.”

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Mph 

26 May 2020

Reflecting on Session 22 on 5/13 - Sauls Trip to Damascus

I thought more about the question , "how does Saul's experience give you hope ?". 
I have been praying for a surrendering for one of my son's, for him to submit to God, ask for forgiveness of his sins and repent.  To give up the old man and put on the new man.  I've been praying for 3 years now, through some really tough situations with him. And I always get back to , it has to be God's timing, and not my own, and not to get ahead of God by trying to make it happen my way. And I know God will do this at the time when He knows the result will be His best.  I always wonder, well how will it happen, when will it happen, what will be the thing God uses to cause my son to surrender to Him. And God showed me as a result of our session, that just like He did with Saul, He can cause a 180 degree conversion immediately if He wants to.  So, I am not to worry, I am to trust that God will do this, and I'm not to worry about the timing. What seems like a delay or a period of long suffering is all part of His plan, and he wants me to TRUST. He reminds me that I've seen too much in my life to know that God is real, and I've seen Him do miraculous things.  So, yes this story about Saul has shown me the goodness of Hope in my life. 

The 2nd thing I stumbled on today when studying Ephesians, was Ephesians 18:18-19, in Paul's letter to the church of Ephesis, he is in effect telling them what happened to him on the road to Damascus,  18 "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe".   1- eyes being enlightened : Saul's "spiritual eyes (eyes of your heart) were opened  2- He surrendered to God and has experienced God's fullness of His glory. 

🙏