this adventure with the Most High: anti-culture

Showing posts with label anti-culture. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

seeing the valley as a gift

The sufferings, the thorn, the excruciating, and the valley can be a gift. Dare we believe Him, that He is cultivating the ground for great faith and great love. And great joy's eruption.

Oh to use caution in our insistence that He take the "gift" away when true life is found in intimacy with the Lover of our souls. He quenches the thirst of the weary. He revives again and again and again.

He proves Himself sufficient.

Take heart. Stand tall. Run into Him. Our refuge. He is worth the deep.

Words of the precious Martha Snell Nicholson. I have posted this poem before but bears repeating. It bears memorizing...

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne
And begged him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.
I took the gift from out his hand, but as I would depart
I cried, "But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.
This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou hast given me."
He said, "My child, I give good gifts and gave my best to thee."
I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,
As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.
I learned he never gives a thorn without the added grace,
He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides his face."

Ms. Nicholson was an invalid.

Bringing it home...
Have you ever thought that even the valley might be a "gift"?
How does that perspective affect our stance?

Thursday, March 31, 2011

standing in front of the near-naked woman

We finished our trip to the grocery store in record time, without any potty breaks. Which, by the way, is a pure miracle. I wrestled the over sized, impossible-to-turn, racecar-cart into the check-out aisle, and there she stood.

Gorgeous. Curvy. Seductive. Near-naked. Air-brushed. Right at eye-level with my two young boys and my one impressionable girl--all three actively working-out "beauty" in their hearts and minds.

photo credit

I had a mental moment imagining myself in slow motion diving over the cart obstrocity into the magazine stand speaking in a deep, slow voice, "nooooooo," in efforts to protect their precious eyes from images too mature.

I quickly snapped back into reality. And I breathed prayer to Him, "Father, guard their hearts. Blind their eyes to unnecessary things." Then I repositioned myself in front of her voluptuousness.

I think that's part of our call as parents. To be a buffer. To stand in the gap. To pray for their protection from falsity.

But then our call is to rest in the love of our great God.

Faith will be our place of victory. Trusting Him to be moving on behalf of His own, forever reigning over the details. Even in the grocery store check-out.

He is greater than any magazine cover. He is greater than any perversion that enters their sweet lives. He is worthy of our trust.

Bringing it home...
How have you seen the battle to keep your children "innocent" play out in your own life?
How goes your trust in your sovereign God?

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

choosing to thank Him in the messy

It feels like my complaints are justified at times. My "rights" are trampled and I want. I need. But Paul says to do all things without complaining. Which I am certain implies that we take all things without complaining. Hmm.

I read chapter seven of Ann's book the other night and she called me out. She set me straight with one heavy word written in such poetic beauty. Blasphemer. Blasphemer? Me?

If God is sovereign, which He is. If He relentlessly loves His own, which He does. If nothing can enter my day apart from His will, which it can't. Then complaining reveals my unbelief. I don't believe that He is giving me good gifts. And I blaspheme His name.

That thought overwhelms me a bit. I need to sit down.

photo credit

Choosing to see His good even in the mess will be the place of victory. Choosing to search out the gift from His hands of love leads to contentment's waters from which joy erupts.

Easier said than done.

We are human. We feel and respond. I feel and respond. I overreact to my kids. I mumble under my breath. I hold the moment in my hands and scrutinize, criticizing Him with my frown. But He gives good gifts.

Oh to see as He sees. To bless Him with thankful lips, even in the hard. Especially in the hard.

Bringing it home...

Does this thought overwhelm you like it did me? What are you thinking?

How do we do this on Monday or Tuesday? How do we choose to thank instead of complain, when the messy is so obvious?

Thursday, February 3, 2011

nearing day 40 of my fast {and chocolate}

I have purposefully avoided blogging too often about my fast these past four weeks, so as not to seem...whatever. But as I enter the final 7 days I wanted to take a moment to share how He has faithfully rained down and what He has taught in the process.

photo credit - HDC Photography

Fasting affects things. Not in the sense that fasting manipulates our God into action. That would be ridiculous. But fasting, combined with the intentional seeking of His will, affects--probably my own wayward heart. When we lay down things of the flesh in pursuit of the ultimate Bread, He fills. He rains.

He has specific plans for His children. He is Father. When He designed you and me, He did so with purpose. And He desires that we know those plans through intimacy with Him. As we His children look up to Him for direction, pressing into Him for wisdom, He bends down and answers.

He makes hearts tender. He has been transforming mine. He has given me clearer vision to see and understand those next to me. He has knit a deeper love for my man and my kids in the quiet places of my own heart. And He has stirred an unexplainable longing for those I do not even personally know, but am blessed to minister to.

He may impress upon you to do something seemingly crazy-radical. My advice? Just do it. Walls may fall down.

He is bound to His promises. If He said it, then it will come to pass. By His very nature He is bound by His words. When He speaks a promise, our victory in the waiting comes in believing with fervency that one day that thing will happen.

(Most of all) HE IS GRACE. He is grace. There have been days that I have not been as purposeful, where I did not set aside that specific time to pray in the afternoon. (GASP!) But our God remembers we are dust. He sees us perfectly and responds to the ultimate desire of our heart to honor Him.

Lastly, chocolate must be a gift from Him. Yes, it's true. I am looking forward to that handful of M&M's. I may even put them on top of a huge, cheesy slice of pizza.

If He leads you to do something that seems odd or insane in the eyes of the world, run fast after Him. He is always working, friend. Always. Faith leads to great reward in Him.

Bringing it home...

Has He ever led you to do something that may have sounded crazy in human terms? If you followed through, what was the result?

Thursday, January 13, 2011

ponder with me the topic of food

Food. It's absolutely everywhere. Bodies are fueled by it. Celebrations revolve around it. Hurts find comfort in it. Mouths drool for it.

This Daniel Fast has me thinking a lot about what I usually put into my body. Wait wait wait. I'm not going to get all legalistic on you, nor am I going to march with picket signs banning sugar in schools. I'm just pondering. So bear with me.

He gave us each one body. Just one. And once sealed with His Spirit, He declares it to be His temple. So I'm thinking the best thing is to take care of it. Right? Feed it mostly healthy God-foods and strengthen it a bit. Not rocket science.

photo credit - flickr by cayusa

"But chocolate makes my mouth water and rich cheesy sauces taste so good on pasta." All true and all mulled over in my own thought life at some point in the last 12 days.

Hmm. But what if there really is good, better, and best--with the choices we make having effects on the body and mind. See. We're just thinking. So thankful for His amazing grace! And for the word "moderation."

On the food-note, this was last night's dinner. Very tasty, with a kick!

Moroccan Couscous

1 box quick cooking whole wheat couscous
1 lb. peeled and cubed acorn (or butternut) squash
1/2 c. diced onion
2 cloves minced garlic
Olive oil
1 tsp. ground ginger
3 tsp. curry powder
1-15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1-15 oz. can garbanzo beans, drained
1/3 c. golden raisins
1/4 t. ground cinnamon
Vegetable stock or water
Salt to taste

In large stock pot, saute the onion and garlic over MH heat in 1-2 T olive oil until softening. Add squash, ginger, and curry (and more olive oil if needed). Saute for approximately 5 more minutes. Add tomatoes, beans, raisins, and cinnamon. Add enough veg. stock or water to make a thick stew. Cook until squash softens, approximately 10-12 minutes. Serve over the cooked couscous.

Bringing it home...

Ponder this with me. What are your thoughts when it comes to food choices? Do they matter?

How do you think the American church, as a whole, sees food? {just to stereotype for a moment}

Thursday, December 30, 2010

actually believing

It does not matter what it is, if He calls us to something--anything--then we can believe Him to both equip us and bless us as we take those faith-steps towards obedience.

Friends, we have an active, moving, powerful, unique, mighty, unwavering God. He filled His Word with accounts of how He works in the lives of those who believe Him.

I don't know what He is calling you towards in this coming year, but He thinks good thoughts towards you--thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Let's get into His Word allowing it to simmer in our hearts. Then, let's be radical followers who actually believe what He says. Who run the race of faith with endurance. No other life of victory exists on this planet.

I honestly love and pray for you, friend. Thanks for doing this life-thing beside me.

Bringing it home...

To what is He calling you in this coming year? Are you standing on the sidelines, walking, or running towards His call?

And if (only if) He is leading you towards beginning 2011 with the Daniel fast, then I would love to hear from you personally.

Please email me at Lara@LaraWilliams.org so we can encourage one another on the journey. Faith begets faith.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

the "why" from the Word

I like to be liked. I do. So posts like yesterday's post make me a little uncomfortable as I enter into the realm of "odd." In fact I ended my evening last night by asking my man if he thought I was odd. He lovingly said "yes."

So here I am. The odd girl who is about to partake of a 40-day Daniel fast. Trying to lay down the world's approval and settle back in to that audience of One.

Today I want to tell you more about what He showed me from the book of Daniel as I sought him about this crazy fasting thing. Quite a bit fell from the pages, so I am going to bullet-list it for simplicity sake.

Daniel 1:8-9, Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies. And God brought him into the favor of those ruling over him.

Granted, we do not serve a king in this country, but Daniel's heart goal is what draws me--not to be defiled, stained, or polluted by the world. God then blessed him and brought him into the favor of those over him.

On this side of Christ, we are under grace. Food itself does not defile. But our world is defiled. And one way to set ourselves apart from this world is to abstain from some of its delicacies. In this case, for me, I'm following Daniel's lead and setting aside certain food and drink.

Daniel 1:11-16, Daniel and his three friends asked the steward over them if they could simply eat vegetables and drink water rather than partake of the king's rich foods and drink. The steward agreed to a 10-day trial. After 10 days they appeared better than all the other men who had eaten of the king's foods. So he took away their king's portions and gave them only vegetables. It appears they did this for at least the three years of king's training that they were under (see 1:5).

The word translated "vegetables" actually means "something sown." This is what I call "God-foods." Foods grown from the ground, free of manipulation. In my personal fast I will limit myself to eating those things that grow from the ground--fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts. God-foods.

Daniel 1:17-21, God blessed their setting apart. He gave them knowledge and skill and understanding so that they were 10 times "better" than all who served before the king.

I'm not trying to be some wise-guru of sorts, but wow. I want my King to find me worthy of His best. Worthy of a taste of His knowledge and understanding. It appears that setting ourselves apart from the world at large sets us up for His pouring out, both for our good and for the glory due His name.

Daniel 10, just read the entire chapter. It is now approximately 60 years later. 60 years! Daniel sets out again, humbling himself before the Lord and seeking understanding. For three full weeks he eats the same way that he ate in chapter one while communing with God in prayer. And he was visited by an angelic being with a heavenly message.

OK, so I am not expecting to be visited by an angel. I am certain I would completely freak out. But the thing that hit me here is that God moved towards Daniel as he set himself towards prayer. He communed with the God of the universe, humbling himself and seeking understanding, and the Most High responded. That. is. amazing.

Daniel 10:12-14, This is where it gets crazy. The "angel" explains that on the first day that Daniel began praying during his fast, this angel was sent. But that the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood him for 21 days. So Michael, one of God's chief princes, came to help him get past.

Did you catch that?! Daniel set himself apart to humble himself and pray for understanding and an angel was sent to him. BUT, the angel had to war in the heavenly realm against evil forces of darkness. Take a breath.

Is this not crazy?! Paul tells us of these principalities of darkness in Ephesians 6 but to think that our prayers can call down heavenly beings to war against those strongholds kinda blows me away.

So those are some things that He showed me from His word. A time of humbling, a time of setting apart from the world at large, a time of seeking His face and His understanding, a time of warring against strongholds. All for His ultimate glory and, graciously, for our good.

Bringing it home...

What thoughts does this text stir up for you personally?

Friday, December 3, 2010

keeping the sacred in the season

photo by pixiechin

Do you feel the pull?

The pressure to mingle the holiness of the Advent season with all the trends of our world lingers in the pine air. It starts knocking loud at my door as Christmas draws near. But ever-so-slowly, I am starting to ignore its beckoning.

I just get tired. The insistence of lists and lines and more stuff to clutter our closets. Something deep inside desires to lay down the madness and simply breathe in the stillness of that quiet morn when the Light entered into the darkness...and set things aflame.

Take two minutes and 39 seconds to watch this video about the

Advent Conspiracy.

No more of my words are needed.

Click here for a direct link if you have trouble viewing the video.

Bringing it home...

How about you? What do you do to keep this season sacred?

Sunday, May 16, 2010

from me, to you?

From: me--a girl passionate for the Body of Christ to rightly handle God's Word and reflect His power
To: you--my dear, fellow brother or sister in Christ struggling with homosexuality

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Disclaimer: This post is based upon the tenet that God has spoken through His Word; and His Word is both reliable and authoritative.
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I'm a little scared of this one. Mainly because I have never written on such a controversial topic.

I just read an article published in the NY Times on Friday regarding the big revealed "secret" of Ray Boltz. To give you a brief synopsis, he was a Christian singer/songwriter who publicly came out in 2008. He has now resumed his career with a new album called "True." His lover serves as his agent. And his producer and opening act are both Christians who have also come out. These are simply the facts as presented in the article. Just the facts.

So why did I want to respond? Hmmm, maybe I am a glutton for punishment. Or maybe I just burn for God's word to be rightly represented.

Here's my thing. If you are a fellow brother or sister, and you are struggling with homosexuality, then I challenge you to take God at His Word. He guides us "sheep" for our own good and His ultimate glory, out of His immense love for His creation. And from the springboard of this uncontainable love, He desires His own to walk their days in abundance.

As we step outside of the boundaries He graciously set--whether physically or just mentally--we enter into unprotected territory. A realm where our feet tread upon hazardous ground.

Please hear my heart. I have not personally waged the internal battle with homosexuality. However, I have wrestled with this flesh and its contrary desires. Desires that if fulfilled would lead down paths of heartache and destruction. And I have experienced God's ability to break the chains that entangle. He has proven Himself faithful to redeem.

If I am speaking to you, then press deep into the Lord and hear His heart of love for you--His heart of blessing. He has joy unspeakable planned for those who set their face fully upon Him. Seek biblical counsel. There is a road to freedom through Christ. That's why He died.