Repent and Believe the Gospel Again

This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience—it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive: it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance.

(1 Corinthians 13:4 J.B. Phillips)

 

 

 

Shake off your routines like bedcovers

Plant your feet on the ground
for the journey

Clear your eyes of sleep

Take in the sight of a new day
for loving your God

(Rachel G. Hackenberg)

 

I like my routines.  I get up every morning.  I brew a cup of coffee to sip and warm my hands, while I read my devotions. Then I find my pen and write in my journal.

In my journal, I start out with recording the day, the date, the time and the place.  I make some observation about how I feel or record something from the day before that stood out as important.  

And for Lent, I am writing love letters to God, which as I’ve said isn’t as easy as it sounds.

Last week as Lent began I received the ashes on my forehead. The words spoken that day jolted me.

 

And this week, the words, "Repent and believe the gospel," continue to confront me.

 

I was expecting “ashes to ashes, dust to dust” and instead I was startled by the word, “Repent!” 

And the charge to “Believe the gospel,” initiated a spiritual crisis. Do I really believe the gospel? What does it mean to believe the gospel? Or more accurately, what would my life look like if I took God at His word that I am redeemed and forgiven?

Maybe I wouldn’t reach for the TV remote as often. Maybe I wouldn’t doubt God’s love. Maybe I would be more gracious towards those who disappoint me. Maybe I could stop being so angry. (I made the rash decision to give up anger for Lent. It's not going so well. I need to get rid of it, but that's my dilemma, I tend to hoard anger.)

 

Maybe, just, maybe I would get out of bed and greet each new day with joy because Jesus lives and loves!

 

Linking up with:

 

 

 

Follow: To Engage in A Way of Life

 

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him,

“Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”

(Luke 9:57 NKJV)

 

 

 

 

 

One of my Scripture readings for today included Luke 9:57-62. In response, I wrote a paraphrased dialogue that I imagined between Jesus and myself.

 

Me: I will go wherever You go.

 

Jesus: I am going, but I'm not staying. I will always be on the go. I have no roots.

 

Me: I  really want to follow you, but . . .I don't want to miss out on anything this world offers. I'm pretty rooted to this existence. What if someone I love dies and I'm not there to say good-bye or to give them a proper burial. Aren't these rituals important?

 

Jesus: My ways are not like yours. You don't get it. Everyone dies. I'm interested in the living. Life has its roots in eternity. Be concerned with eternal life and living. That's why I say, "Go and proclaim the kingdom of God," my kingdom is about living.

 

Me: Ok, I guess I can let the dead bury the dead, but what about my loved ones. The ones I live with, wouldn't it be nice for me to say farewell, let them know I'll be gone. That I'm picking up my roots and moving on.

 

Jesus: You don't understand. I'm not asking you to plow under your roots. I'm just saying your focus is on temporal things. One who plows looks forward, making sure the rows are straight. Looking back doesn't accomplish my purposes. If you look back, you can't really follow me. I'm moving ahead. I not concerned about establishing roots. I am the Root; everything grows and flourishes because of Me. Attach yourself to Me, and live. Then the kingdom of God will be your way of life.

 

Love Letters

But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the LORD
because he has been so good to me.
(Psalm 13:5-6 NLT)


 

I thought writing love letters to God would be easy. The frustration occurs when I attempt to write lovely letters, rather than true expressions of my heart, like Lynn D. Morrissey encourages in Love Letters to God: Deeper Intimacy Through Written Prayer:

It is the gift of the whole heart that God most desires-a heart without pretense and posturing; a heart in all its honesty, beauty, passion and brokenness; a heart pulsing with love, joy, sadness, delight, doubt, pain, anguish, even anger. True love expresses all emotions, and true love-God's true love for you-accepts them. 

I don't know why, but I feel awkward with God lately.

Am I struggling with accepting His love for me, yet again?  

So, I start thinking about the word, beloved, again. If I break the word apart it says, be loved.

Be. Loved.

The Spirit whispers, "Let Me love you. Don't shrink away. Don't listen to the lies that you're not measuring up." I whisper back, "Okay."

A Prayer of Response:

Beloved-
Here we are! Another day! Me curled up in my chair, with the cat next to me, pen in hand, ink on paper . . .I am listening. I am seeking. I pore over words looking for a phrase to move me toward and forward to Your heart, Your will, Your way . . . my heart is clogged with worldly angst. Desire for relief, comfort, even nothingness.

Yet You have all this existence surrounding me, begging me to exist, breathe, live and move within it. Sometimes I feel so alive, I could burst. Other times everything falls flat.

Help me to put aside my agenda for today. I just want to rest in Your presence. Imagine what it was like for you to become "word made flesh." You understand my fears and insecurities. Grant peace. Immerse me in your love. Let me be soaked with your love, joy, hope, peace, purpose and grace upon grace.

Your beloved- Kel





Beloved: Dearly Loved; Dear to the Heart

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

This is love: not that we loved God,

but that he loved us and sent his Son

as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

(1 John 4:9,10 NIV)

 

 

I started writing love letters again. I have been writing at God for quite a few years now in my journal, but for the next forty days, I sensed my Beloved invite me to write him letters.

A dear friend, Lynn D. Morrissey, wrote a book about this idea: Love Letters to God: Deeper Intimacy through Written Prayer.  I picked up the book to read in sips, a few pages a day as I journey toward the most heart wrenching love story ever.

 

 

The story of a man, who used to live in heaven, and then took on flesh to live among us. A divine man loved by the Father.  The same Father who loved you and me so much, who gave his one and only to become sin for us. And Jesus not only took on our sin, but also suffered the penalty of sin: death.

A death that demonstrates the best love ever offered. To be called His beloved is to be treasured beyond compare. So I am attempting these days to write daily love notes to this God-Man-Spirit. The funny thing is I’m not sure how to address Him. And I’ve told him so. I’ve tried “Dear Jesus” and “Father God” and “Dear Friend” or “Lord Jesus” and they all are familiar, but not quite clear enough, when speaking to a Triune God.

Then today, this word “beloved”, was offered. And it seems to encompass the Father-Son-Spirit love that I long to express to HIm.

Beloved- I have been thinking of you today and how much you love me. I am yours and amazingly, you call me your own. Intimacy is frightening, yet to be close to you is really my heart’s deepest desire. I love you. I look forward to rekindling our love through letters. Love you-Kel

 

 

Linking up with:

 

Love: Warm Attachment

 

 

Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.

(Zechariah 1:3 NIV)

 

Does anyone really fall in love in the winter? Spring with its bursting song and backdrop of flowers and budding trees seems like a more likely season to fall in love. Summer with its long, warm days beckons us to stay in love, enjoying the pleasures of each others’ company. Autumn grants us moments to linger on walks through the fallen leaves holding onto those we love and have loved. Winter drives us indoors, sometimes to the warmth of the hearth and the comfort of snuggling up in our beds, but the cold creeps in and our passions wane. We begin to feel lonely, and to wonder if there will ever again be anything to look forward to besides cold floors, and bleak landscapes.

It is easy to feel stuck in the winter. I don’t really want to get up to face another day. I make little routines to propel me forward, but I lack the motivation that I have during the other seasons of the year. Yet love is love the whole year through. The unfailing love of God never changes. His love is constant. He doesn’t need a special holiday like Valentine’s to demonstrate His love. He has already sent His love. (Romans 5:8) And if God did send us a Valentine’s card or those little candy hearts with messages on them I think they would say something like “Return to Me.”

(Excerpt from  Defining Moments: Overflowing with Living Words)

 

Defining Moments: Overflowing with Living Words is my debut devotional, which my husband lovingly afforded me to self-publish the winter of 2011.

Repent and Believe the Gospel

Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend 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 he relents over disaster.

(Joel 2:12-13 ESV)

 

We offer You our failures,
we offer You attempts;
The gifts not fully given,

The dreams not fully dreamt.

Give our stumblings direction,
give our visions wider view,
An offering of ashes,
An offering to You.

(Ashes, verse 2, Tom Conry)

 

 

 

As  the ashes were applied to my forehead, these words were declared over me:

 

"Repent and believe the gospel."

 

I was jarred. I reeled with tears stinging my eyes. I followed the procession back to the pews, smarting from this direct address. Jesus spoke with piercing authority to my exposed heart.

 

"Do you believe the gospel?"

 

That was the question caught in my throat. Of course, I believe the gospel. But today, I wondered to what extent do I believe the gospel? Hard questions. Questions that will deliver me into the season of Lent.

 

Lent, like Advent, is a season of fasting punctuated by a feast. Lent culminates in the Paschal mystery, the resurrection of the Lamb. Advent gestates and leads us to the birth of Emmanuel: Jesus, the Lamb who came to take away the sin of the world. A scapegoat who will die outside the city, in order to reunite us with our Father.

 

When I returned home, the beginning of answer greets me in this quote, 

 

"Looking at myself in the mirror I see the ashes not as death,

but transformation in the fire of love."

(Patricia Livingston, Turning Our Hearts to God)

 

The gospel is fiery, transforming love.

 

Will I open myself to the love that pours from His Word today?

 

 

Linking up with:

 

 

 

 

 

Ennui: A Feeling of Weariness

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.

(Matthew 11:28-30 The Message)

Acedia: Apathy or Boredom

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him

For the help of His countenance. 

(Psalm 42:5 NKJV)

I woke up in a funk. I didn’t want to read or pray. I didn’t want to bundle up and go out for a walk. I didn’t want to do anything. So, I just sat on the couch.

I can’t quite remember how I got up off the couch and over to my blue thinking chair. I think it was God reminding me to take care of myself. I did a mini collage, looked at my previous collages, and scribbled a poem using words found within the collage.

false

           facades

                         collapsing,

creating
unassuming
decisions
(or quince frescoes).
 

This made me smile. And it made me think. What false facades do I need to let collapse? When I do, what will this create? Unassuming decisions? What does that mean? Or would I prefer to create “quince frescoes”? Sometimes just being silly and creative can get me out of a funk.

This little exercise rejuvenated my desire to sit and listen. I listen by reading and journaling.

I browsed one devotion and then another, then responded in my journal, where I confessed to God that this time of year just does not motivate me.

I like to talk and rant and complain. God invites me to listen. In my listening time, as I often do, I picked up the dictionary. I wanted to know what it meant to listen. The three entries in my pocket dictionary outlined a handy action plan for listening.

1. Make an effort to hear.

A simple first step, if I am going to listen, I have to make an effort. I have to open my ears. Place myself in the presence of the One I desire to hear. Open the Bible, uncap the pen, listen as one being taught and given words for the weary. (Isaiah 50:4)

2. Pay attention.

Once my listening ears are tuned in, I have to pay attention. Record what I think I’m hearing, ask God questions, and clarify with the Holy Spirit as to where He is leading for the day. (Isaiah 28:23)

3. Take notice of and act on what is said.

And finally, once I’ve noted what has been said; act on it.  Of course, this is a lot easier said than done. As I listened to God invite me to take care of myself, this prompted me to get out of the blue chair, bundle up in some warm clothes and take a walk on this sunshine laden day. When I returned, my funk was gone. I was ready for some more listening. (James 1:25)

Bare: Open to View; Exposed

I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things.

(Isaiah 45:7 NKJV)

 

Bare canvas, what will you reveal? Our potential placed upon the easels.

She asks, are you nervous?

I was nervous. How did she know? She's my sister.

At the art supply store, her canvas was grabbed up and in her hand.

Aren’t you going to look around?

Nope, let’s go. I want to paint.

I tag behind her to the checkout counter. We head home.

Barely in the door, I grab the easels, paints and brushes.

The bare canvas asks for paint, for brush strokes. We feel exposed. What color should we use? We close our eyes and then pick. She mixes gray. I decisively choose black. We try different techniques. The broad side of the brush, then the narrow, and then swish and skip the brush.

I pause to photograph our beginnings.

 

 

 

 

Little by little we unfold. Immersed in the process, we pause occasionally to peek at each other’s progress. We applaud; we interpret, adding meaning to each other’s work. I am glad she wanted to paint today.

How do we know when it’s finished, she inquires.

I don’t know. Just keep painting.

And then slowly, we come to completion. She adds a little more detail. We marvel at what we’ve done. We encourage each other to sign our work. We each add two little initials, claiming and saying yes to ourselves.

 

"Untitled" by Juniper Gillian

 

 

"Many Suns Rising" by Kel Rohlf

 
 

 Linking up with:

Thrilling Thursday: Journaling

Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

(Proverbs 3:3)

 

 

 

On Monday, I mentioned that I see my journal as a sacred place to process my days and to notice patterns in my life. In my journal, I often experience the mercies of God, as He reveals fresh insights into areas of my heart that need correction or healing or both.

 

Lynn D. Morrissey, a dear friend and mentor in the art of journaling wrote a book chronicling her experience with journaling as a way to write love letters to God.

 

As we come to this time of year when the world is decorated with paper hearts, I wanted to give a heart felt recommendation of her book, Love Letters to God: Deeper Intimacy through Written Prayer.

 

In her book, she gives a glimpse into her heart as she pours it out to God in prayer. Writing our prayers can lead to discovery and healing.

 

For a sweet review of her book check out Finding Floyd's blog post titled: A Box of Chocolates.

 

For some more inspiration on the art and practice of journaling check out these links:

 

The 7 Benefits of Keeping a Journal [Podcast] by Michael Hyatt

 

Creative Writing: Reflective Journaling by Melissa Donovan

 

At Writing Forward, Melissa's website, you can explore more posts about journal writing  in her archives. Click here to check them out.

  

 

I hope you journal like

no one is reading over your shoulder!

Write God's love on the tablet of your heart.

His mercies never fail.

His truth always prevails.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creation: An Original Work of Art

 

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

(Psalm 51:10 NIV)

Digging into the archives today . . . I wrote this post last winter.

As I was mulling over why I desire  the act of making, inventing or producing something, this post came to mind. 

So I offer this post as an offering of praise to our Creator:



 As you survey all the materials within your reach, your artist's eye alights upon dirt—the very medium for growth.

And then you exclaim, “This will do. Yes, indeed. I see it. I will form man out of nothing, yet something.”

In your mercy you choose dust-soil-earth to become the seedbed of humanity. You gather up handfuls mixing it with water—maybe even your own sweat and blood. Wiping sweat from your brow you form the man you imagined. In your work did you pick up a stick to sculpt the features of his face? No, I see you taking this lump of clay into your hands deliberately shaping a body, a forehead, an ear, eyes and a nose.

You are plying your finishing touches, when you take a moment to step back to observe your progress on his face—and a smile breaks across your own. You add a mouth with two lips desiring that he be able to form words just like you. You bend over his form kissing his lips with the breath of life.

Did Adam cough and shudder awake? Did his eyes flutter open, seeing for the first time, the One who sees him—and did he smile back? You reach out your hand lifting him from the ground, the very soil that became his essence—mixed with water and imbued with life giving oxygen. You introduce him to your world.

Later you would see that he needed companionship. You would invite him to recline on that same ground, to reach into his side to create a suitable companion—to eat bread with, to amble and admire the garden together and to commune with their Maker.

Did you add the same mixture of soil and water to that rib? Was the rib a structure to build, to sculpt and to shape this next being around—a female image bearer? I imagine that your desire to make another human hinges on the joy and satisfaction you experienced in making the first. Similar, but different.

This comes with a womb. Did you knit together her inner person before forming the body around this cradle of civilization? A being that would be able to produce fruit—not like a tree, but in a mysterious, soul-drenched way. In her womb would combine blood, water and soil cells.

Another soul born out of two. A new way of conceiving life. Their bodies designed to become one in the most intimate, delicate and creative act.

An act of love.



One Little Word

May your unfailing love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise;
then I will answer the one who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.

(Psalm 119:41-42 NIV)

 

What if one word could change the direction of your life? Or at least give you a more positive outlook on your current situation?

Laurie Beth Jones in her book, The Path, shares this insight from author, Robert Fritz:

“. . .the very moment you realize you are unhappy or frustrated with a situation is your “point of power,” for now you have a clear picture of how you don’t want things to be. Imagine the exact opposite of the frustrating situation, and there you have the makings of your vision.”

Last week, my friend and life coach, Tracy Flori was having a conversation with her husband. He told her that he felt “stuck” at work. She asked him, if he could replace “stuck” with a different word, a word that would give him a more positive perspective, what would he choose? In seconds, he told her, “between.” She asked him to tell her what it was about that word that would help him. He answered, “If I’m between, then it’s not my fault. And if I’m between then, there is something to look forward to, right?”

When she shared the results of their conversation, I was motivated myself. This time of year brings weariness like no other season. Instead of thinking myself stuck in winter, I can remind myself that I am between seasons. I have spring and summer ahead.

Between has a hopeful ring to it. As I kept mulling over this one little word, the hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God, filled my heart. And the phrase “one little word shall fell him,” took on new meaning. I have often wondered what that word could be. The obvious answer is the name of Jesus, which is the most powerful conclusion. However, I have found the word replacement exercise a practical way to apply the power of God’s hope in my life.

What situation is getting you down? What word do you think God wants you to replace it with to move forward into hope today?

Embryo: Something in an Early Stage of Development

 

I think a journal is like an embryo. It is the incubator for my writing life. The ideal place for thoughts and ideas to gestate, in their early stage of development.

 

Today I am linking up with Random Journal Day with Dawn and Susie over at Beneath the Surface: Breath of Faith.
 
Here's the entry I randomly chose in a journal from 2010:

 

  
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 Morning. Rainy Day. Cold & Damp.

I woke up around 6am and decided to rouse myself from bed and begin the day. Right now the house is cluttered and dust laden. Barely enough time to make sure we have clean underwear. Final days of the semester mean I must make the most of every moment. Also preparing for trip . . . and keeping up with family and friends.

(That’s all I wrote in my journal that day.)

It’s strange when you go back to a journal entry looking for some seed of thought that might inspire greater things. In this entry, I notice that my life was very full. During that semester of life, I learned to accept that I had the normal amount of time, but it was divided amongst several different interests and pursuits.

Time to rest and reflect, even for a few lines in my journal. Barely time to do laundry. Never enough time or motivation to dust.

One key phrase in the paragraph, “making the most of every moment” gives a glimpse into my heart. Time and people are important to me. Cultivating relationships and nurturing the embryonic ideas that often generate from my ever active mind are seeds of who I am. See how a journal can reveal or affirm something about yourself!

I love keeping a journal. My journals are treasured, sacred places to process my days, to notice patterns and to discover truths about life. A journal can be a place of healing or a place to discover your purpose. Or even a springboard for blogging or other writing projects.
 

If you have a journal, and want to link up with Random Journal Day, the link is open all month.



Go now, write it on a tablet for them,
inscribe it on a scroll,
that for the days to come
it may be an everlasting witness.
(Isaiah 30:8 NIV)



Afraid: Filled With Fear, Concern or Regret

Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you

with My righteous right hand.

(Isaiah 41:10 NKJV)

 

Linking up with Five Minute Fridays, a place where we are given a word and a challenge to write for five minutes.

 

"Unscripted. Unedited. Real."

 

GO.

Afraid not! This time I will not be taken in by your lies, your false promises, your glittery temptations and your morose bodings. You are a liar! A murderer from the beginning! You birthed fear. You took away the fear of God and introduced the fear of what ifs.

What if? What if, I don’t listen to you? What if, I stop my ears up with truth, sound proof my heart with the Word of God? What if, I choose to walk by faith and not by sight? Will fear still prowl alongside me, sneering at my resolve?

Of course! Of course, fear will be trailing me, hounding me, breathing down my neck the rest of my life.

However, God is. God of Awe and Wonder. My Shield. My Strength. Even though fear is hot on my heels, My Protector is before, behind, around, and inside me. I will not be afraid.

And by the way, I’m not even talking to you anymore. I’m running to the Savior. He is the True and Living One. He renews my mind, refreshes His mercies daily and keeps me in Perfect Peace.

And even if, one little worm of fear wriggles into my mind, I will praise the LORD, maker of all things. Restorer of Hope and Love that Never Grows Old. Love casts out fear!

STOP.