Paula Wiseman » trust

When It Doesn’t Fit

Paula — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:10:11 +0000

As Jesus worked His way toward Jerusalem for the last time, He concentrated on preparing the disciples for what was ahead.

Knowing what we do now, it's hard to grasp how utterly beyond their imagination His death and resurrection were. Experience, culture and presuppositions gave them an unshakeable picture of how the kingdom of God would happen. Their picture was vastly different from His. They had faith in Him. They believed His words, but they just couldn't fathom what He was about to do. It didn't fit.

I've been there. I have faith in Jesus. I believe His words. I know Scripture is telling me the truth, but I just can't… make it fit.

Here's how the disciples worked through that.

1. They stayed close to Jesus. Unlike the crowds who walked away, they knew He was their hope, even if they weren't sure how.

2. They kept listening. Jesus kept teaching. They didn't understand it, but they listened. Later, all those things made sense.

3. They got even more confused before it was over. The Last Supper. The Garden. The silent Saturday spent in hiding. During those dark, anxious times, the disciples were sure they had everything wrong.

4. The quest gave way to worship. Face to face with the risen Redeemer, the questions and the need for explanations faded away.

How do you work through faith struggles?

Psalm 9:9-10

Paula — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:03:01 +0000

The Lord also (in addition to all the other things He does)

Will be a refuge (a shelter, a safehouse, a stronghold)

For the oppressed, (the burdened, the crushed, the discouraged, the depressed)

A refuge in times of trouble. (heartache, frustration, uncertainty)

And those who know Your name (Your character, Your promises)

Will put their trust (their confidence, their hope)

In You; (The God Who Sees)

For You, Lord, (The Sovereign Master)

Have not forsaken (abandoned, turned away, disowned, ignored)

Those who seek (hunt, reach for, hunger for)

You. (Your heart, Your healing, Your touch, Your presence)

Psalm 9:9-10

Baggage

Paula — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:22:41 +0000

A suitcase only has one handle.

All my baggage. Emotional. Spiritual. Whatever.

One handle.

Either I carry it-

Or Jesus does.

Q: What Does It Have to Do with Me?

Paula — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:32:49 +0000

What does your concern have to do with Me? John 2:4

Jesus asked His mother this question during the wedding at Cana when she told Him they had run out of wine.

At first glance, it’s no wonder Jesus seems to deflect Mary’s concern. The situation is not life-threatening. In the big picture, it’s not that big of a deal. I have some speculation about this story – total speculation, mind you – but I think this wedding was for one of Jesus’ sisters. I think she was marrying a boy in Cana and so Jesus, as the oldest son, was acting as the father of the bride. It was the bride’s family’s responsibility to provide the wine for the wedding feast. I believe, Mary, after spending her life enduring whispers and shame over the birth of her firstborn, is terribly afraid of another public humiliation and her statement, ‘they have no wine’ is actually asking Jesus not to put her through that. (Speculation)

So the question, ‘what does your concern have to do with Me?’ Shows several things about Mary:

1. She trusted that Jesus WAS concerned about small details

2. She trusted that He COULD do something about it

3. She trusted that He WOULD do something about it.

When we bring a list of concerns to Jesus, do we have the same trust? I know for myself, I often get hung up between #2 and #3. Lately God has been proving His willingness to act as He has stepped in and worked out several little things for us (like our tax refund getting deposited at just the right time).

A sure sign of not trusting Jesus in a situation is a failure to even bring it to Him. That’s a sure sign that we’ve determined He doesn’t care, He can’t help or He won’t. I think the answer to the question ‘what does your concern have to do with Me?’ is – ‘As much as we will allow it to concern Him.’

What does your concern have to do with Me? John 2:4

Jesus asked His mother this question during the wedding at Cana when she told Him they had run out of wine.

So the question, ‘what does your concern have to do with Me?’ Shows several things about Mary:

1. She trusted that Jesus WAS concerned about small details

2. She trusted that He COULD do something about it

3. She trusted that He WOULD do something about it.

Following the Routine or Following Christ

Paula — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:02:32 +0000

: Image by bemky via Flickr

(Thanks for being patient while the posts are a little less frequent. I’m getting caught up on all our school stuff, so I hope to be back on schedule in the next week or two.)

Yesterday morning, our church had the privilege of baptizing four young men and women. Our church is kind of small-ish so any baptism is a big deal, but this one was extra special. One of the young men, Revel, was in a wheelchair. Our church baptizes by immersion, so Revel put himself in the hands of the pastor and two other men to get him down in the water, baptize him, and get him back out. It was a beautiful picture of the desire to follow Christ’s example no matter what. Then the other men stood in for the rest of us in the body of Christ, coming alongside Revel to help him accomplish what he believed Christ was calling him to. He said that he felt comfortable, felt welcome at our church. His new wife was baptized yesterday, too. It truly was a joy to watch.

I wish that was the end of the story. Because of the special activities, the order of service in morning worship was a little out of sync. We had to move pulpit out of the way. The screen had to be raised and lowered a couple of times. The little kids weren’t dismissed for children’s church. And the stand-in worship leader didn’t ask for prayer requests. Some folks were a little distressed by that. It seems some folks didn’t come to the worship service, they came to worship the service. See the difference?

So many times in the Old Testament, God said to Israel through His prophets that their empty, ritualistic worship made Him sick. (I’m paraphrasing.) Maybe that’s our problem- we prefer form over function. We like predictability over faith. We like safe, and ordinary. Maybe we need more of that desire to obey that Revel has, even if it means going someplace we can’t go on our own.

Jesus was never predictable, or ritualistic, or formal. He was accessible, He was passionate and He was intense.

God on Alert

Paula — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:18:27 +0000

Can I take just a minute and be a mommy? Thanks. Alan had his last baseball game last night, and it was a good one! He just about put one over the fence, definitely the longest hit of the year for him AND he caught a fly ball playing defense at the pitcher’s mound. (Not just any fly ball, but a fly hit by the best player on the other team- we know, he was on Alan’s team last year.) So woo hoo! Did I mention football camp is next week?

As God brings me along, driving the reality of His love and care for me deep into my heart, He highlighted a verse while I read Tuesday morning. 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” God is on the alert, looking for ways, for opportunities to intervene on behalf of those who trust Him. Now I have to remember that MY definition of showing Himself strong and God’s definition may not always line up. That’s why it appears- to me- He’s abandoned me at times. I’m looking for Him in the wrong places.

I also have to be careful not to fall into the trap of believing I wasn’t loyal ‘enough’, and that’s why God didn’t intervene. God doesn’t operate that way. All the faith we have is a gift from Him who gives us ‘every spiritual blessing’ (Eph 1:3) God is not going to hold out on me. Faith is faith. I know Jesus talked about having faith like a mustard seed and so forth, but the point of that comparison is the God who moves mountains, not the measure of my faith. Focusing on the ‘size’ of my faith can lead to an unresolvable mess- can I get two mountains moved for grape-sized faith?

This verse in 2 Chronicles is not about my loyal heart, but about the God who seeks to show Himself strong, to glorify Himself by doing something only He can do. When that happens, the situations in my life become an avenue of worship, a chance for God to be seen for who He is, in His glory and power. Really, that’s the whole point.