Imagine life without covetousness. No desire for that which belongs to others would create a very different world than the one we live in. Especially for the economy, advertising & social media! But also for personal development. Besides being one of the 10 commandments, many Bible verses confirm the law: "covet-not". The Bible encourages us to be content with what God provides rather than worried or constantly per-occupied with gaining more. God wants the majority of our focus to be on Him; worshiping, sharing the gospel, praying etc... rather than on accumulating more money, things, skills & experiences.

Two examples from scripture:
The well known Psalm 23 says: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." or in other words "...I lack nothing" (Psalm 23:1 ESV / NIV).

Another well known passage of the Bible, from 1 Corinthians, describes many qualities of love, which according to Jesus, summarizes the most important of the commandments - to love God & love our neighbor. Here are 3 versions of 1 Corinthians 13:4, interestingly pointing out that....

"Love doesn't want what it doesn't have." (The Message)
"It does not envy..." (NIV)
"It is not jealous..." (NASB)

Understanding that, as a Christian, I belong to the Lord, I see now that my past, self-focus on my own desires was a form of covetousness. I spent many years trying to stretch my capacity to achieve what I wanted. It certainly is not for lack of trying that I became unable to continue on as I was. As well as a career in a helping profession, I've wanted my own family, a husband & kids, as surely as I've wanted air to breathe. However, the way I went about this, in combination with God's will, has me living now in quite different arrangements! LOL, thanks be to God for leaving the ninety-nine to come get me! I don't know the future but I do know to continue seeking after & trusting what the Lord provides.

When I was around 17, my friend Crystal gave me a 'Love Letter From God' (by Arielle Ford). Back then, I thought that I was abiding by its message, but it turns out that 'belonging to the Lord' is a life-long, ever deepening commitment & most certainly is not for the faint of heart!

As a side note, in case you are wondering as I did, why is it that we are not to covet or be envious but God, who is love (1 John 4:8), is a 'jealous God' (Exodus 20:5)? It is explained well here on this post that when we belong to God & yet stray from Him, He has rightful, Godly jealousy.

This photo of me is from the spring of 2006, taken on the Isle of Rum at a Scottish music festival. I never dreamed that nineteen years later, it would be used to share the gospel! It is a perfect image though, for this verse. Straight to the point of what matters most while having fun with it. Making 'light' of serious topics is Jesus' jam.

I can be quite a 'laser arrow' for God. Not meant for killing of course, but an intense light for sharing life abundantly (John 10:10). Arrows like me, need breaks or at least missions that are less intensely 'lasery'. I have no doubt I will be back to it in His perfect timing. Rest in God is necessary to produce good works just as seeds need time in soil to germinate, sprout, grow & produce.

My friend, Suzanne, colored this feather image as a gift for me. I chose this graphic out of a hundred or so options because it confirms my experience. I am being protected under God's wings as I rest. It is such a blessing to receive the softness of God's feathers as I am being restored in His quiver. Indeed, instead of being a 'laser arrow', lately I am more inclined to give of myself as a soft feather!

On Discovering the Jewish Jesus YouTube channel, Cynthia Schneider shares a word about God & the bow & arrow:

I have a feeling, that many Christians, if they were really to take time & space to 'lean back into God Almighty', they would actually fall asleep! Given my daily experience, I suspect that it is not just me, but the whole body of Christ that is tired! We must keep on giving our burdens up to the Lord & realize that God's bow for each individual member is not always drawn. As His disciples or 'arrows', we are safe to rest in His quiver. Trusting that: "We will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us." (Acts 1:8).

One aspect of Holy Spirit power is recognizing that it is quite different than the power that the world values. It may not be productive in a monetary or material sense. Holy Spirit power works in ways that we are not to know about. Like this blog; other than for myself, I don't know what or who else it is for. Regardless, I appreciate receiving power to write & publish.

I'd like to change gears now & touch upon the 'mind-body syndrome' of chronic pain. It is by no means a new idea that suppressed emotion such as anger or fear causes physical symptoms. While I am not one to deny the bio-psychological factors of pain, I want to emphasize the major reality I experience with ME/CFS (which involves chronic pain), is the enormous strength required to complete basic activities of daily living in spite of fear. Fear seems like an annoying mosquito, in comparison to my on-going trek through "Mount Symptoms".

The concept of 'mind-body syndrome' is that physical symptoms replace painful emotions such as anger or fear because symptoms are considered to be more safe to the primitive part of the brain than certain emotions & their consequences. While I agree that for many people, physical pain tends to be more acceptable (& therefore more safe) than being a tyrant or in mental & emotional anguish; however, being painfully exhausted is not the same. As an adult, energy depletion is more unsafe than feeling & expressing emotions. To live well, we need to allow space for our own & others' emotions. 

We are encouraged many times throughout the Bible to not be afraid. Does this mean that we should ignore or 'stuff' fear instead of feeling it? No, I think, like David in the Psalms, God wants us to acknowledge our grievances & then turn from them to Him. This is repentance.

The highlighted Bible verse, Acts 2:38 commands us to repent & receive the Holy Spirit. Likewise, in this YouTube video, Jamie Winship says: "The Spirit critiques & energizes within you all the time. ... The formula of prophetic is critique & energize. ... It's God's kindness energy that leads us to repentance." Jamie shares a powerful story of a prisoner expressing fear in this sermon. Resting in Christ upon this topic the past few days, I felt as I wrote this simple poem about fear:

And now, going back to that little, annoying 'mosquito'. Sometimes it's the straw that breaks me! Already I'm so taxed navigating physical challenges & then its hum pierces my eardrum, it stabs me, steals my blood & leaves me with itchy bumps. Grrrr!

But now, I see this mosquito is just a hurting exiled part of myself, loaded down with fear. I understand, something that is not survival-oriented has to be hard to ignore to get my attention. That said, mosquitos are one creature I don't feel badly killing if they are hunting me! Smack. So beware, little mosquito, you've been warned. I'll do my best to help you unburden on a regular basis & please do not pursue me with painful emotions too intensely; no swarms!

How grateful & blessed I am to be confident in the love of my Father. I bring all these fears to Him, one by one. They rise up & off as vapor (my favorite image) & trickle away, released as tears, in God's presence. If they come back, I will go to Him with them again. His love never ends; it never runs out & it never gives up on me, amen!

In the beginning, God laid the foundation of the earth (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 102:25). The old testament details God's creation of the natural world, human life & morality. While Jesus, the Word, comes in the flesh (John 1:14) long after creation began, He has always been (John 1:1-3; John 8:58; Hebrews 13:8). He is described as the 'chief cornerstone' in Isaiah (28:16) & Proverbs (18:10) tells us that the NAME of the LORD is 'a strong tower'.

There are so many connections & passages in the Bible about God's foundation (Ezra 3:11; Zechariah 8:9; Luke 6:47-49; 2 Timothy 2:19). The verses: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 cautions us to take much care when 'building upon' it, in other words, sharing it with others, through scripture & in actions, for example. It's an enormous responsibility that God tests by fire for all the world to see. 

Jesus tells us, in no easy words, in the second half of Luke 14, what is needed to follow Him in this fallen world. These 'terms of peace' were established through His crucifixion & resurrection. The battle against sin & death could not have been won without Him. While on earth, Christians must still resist 'the evil one' & we do so by following Jesus' commands from within His robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10), peace (John 14:27) & armor of God (Eph. 6:11-18).

Chapter 14 of Luke, has me questioning, are even the majority of Christians actually following the commands from Jesus in Luke 14? How often do we invite the poor & those with disabilities to banquets in our home or at church & "compel them to come in" (Luke 14:13 & 23)?

Furthermore, how do we show God that we 'miseó' (hate, as in prefer less) our families compared to Him (Luke 14:26)? Numerous people in other parts of the world are ostracized by their family for loving Christ & many have been & are being killed, for believing in Him. This is what: 'carry your cross' means. Jesus makes it clear what is expected, not for salvation but for discipleship & yes, it's a lot. Can we do it? Only by His power & not perfectly, of course! Oh Lord, please help all Christians who struggle to do your will, to do your will, in Jesus name, amen.

Can you imagine how life on earth will be when all Christians take Jesus seriously? And when 'every knee will bow...' (Php. 2:10 NASB), the last will be first & the first, last (Matt. 19:30 & 20:16; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30). People who are used to being poor can become immensely empowered with even a little bit more than they are used to. Whereas, it will be hard-going for those who are used to living in excess. Most importantly though, as described in the time of Acts, people were of 'one heart & soul' without any person in need! These are the 'terms of peace' Christ died for: His kingdom come, His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, amen!

This wild tree next door makes me think of how I was. Surely producing fruit, so much so that the quality wasn't right, mostly inedible actually. Suitable only to the birds during winter months. Thus, my work did not pass God's test of flames. I've suffered much loss, yet thankfully, I have been spared. This tree that is me has been undergoing the Lord's hefty pruning & this has not been a comfortable process for me, to say the least. Even still, I am more than pleased to remain in Him (John 15:5), as His disciple, so that I can bear much healthier fruit.

1 John 4:8 says that God is love. From reading Scripture, I understand that while God's love is unconditional, it certainly doesn't always feel good! He gives us the choice of salvation & the many expectations of discipleship. These are the 'keys of the kingdom' (Matthew 16:19), I think. What of the church needs to be pruned & what of Jesus' expectations needs to be better fulfilled by us, the body of Christ?