Today: quick impressions from America today…

 Why seeking wisdom is practical now, and never a waste of time, even when things are under pressure, and maybe especially then. Today felt led to study Wisdom again. Felt like sitting in that space with The Father of knowing and considering His Ways with Him—just now as our little part of the world is shaking and very tense and hyper, over exposed and confused even in our categories of interpretation. It’s like when your kids are chaotic and the father and mother, stops, steps back, and considers them each, His Love for them, and what they may need today. It’s primarily a Peace-filled space i felt drawn to today, as it is difficult to even talk at my local cafe to many people because of the tense confusions around this election.

 Seems like a good time to study Wisdom—not as a denial, but as an active response! To move in the opposite spirit of these elections is to seek out Wisdom, which it obviously has not been characterized by.

 Looking at all the wisdom literature today, and this NT idea that Christ Himself is “the Wisdom of God”-encapsulating the entire wisdom tradition, all the wise men meet in One. In Proverbs, kings and queens are said to rule by Wisdom. And young people are taught to seek it above all else. Again, i want to say that Wisdom is the application of Godly knowledge applied in love. It is how to apply information into real life situations in His Love. This is why words of wisdom are higher than words of knowledge. For Wisdom applies knowledge, but not vice versa. To interpret the times requires Wisdom. To stay in Peace is Wisdom. To seek Wisdom is wisdom. This is our task now. And the book of Daniel and Jeremiah are the most pertinent literature for our times.

If Jesus Himself is called Wisdom-this would mean wisdom involves incarnating servanthood love, and in this sense is desperately practical. That is like air, Wisdom is something we can’t live without.

When I think about what Wisdom really is in Him, i always think it is most basically, how to apply knowledge or information in the most loving way possible into the situation. It includes accurate interpretation, discernment, but also being willing to sacrifice for one another to get that info into the good soil of one another’s hearts.

Wisdom is always seeming to say…come let us consider together. And until we figure it out, be kind and loving towards one another. Let’s have a loving dialogue in Peace.

 To love one another until we know faces to Face. Praying wisdom and true Peace in Him tonight for this little part of the world. I’m sorry everyone is having to watch her nervous breakdown, but His People are wide awake in America, and we pray they will once again be, as MLK said, the conscience of the nation. Both salt and light—true interpreters in times of tumult, as Jeremiah was.

I started praying for wisdom for this nation after 911. It’s biggest weakness is not just consumerism, materialism or even racism. It is a lack of wisdom. Power without wisdom is deadly. For resources are meant to be allocated in the ways of Wisdom. So we are praying still for wisdom here on this continent. Yes, vision, and recalling your identity, but also wisdom for integration reconciliation, use of resources etc. I had a dream years back that the stripes on her flag turned to blood and frayed—were far too overextended, and that He was pulling down her flag in order to work on her healing. He was lowering her reputation so she could work on her own flag—the stripes of true healing and sacrifice, and the resulting people and people groups being able to shine in their starlike-ness, their true identities.

 To protect people to become who they really are, is a simple version of her mantel. Specifically those who have been oppressed to have enough safety to shine and become! So minorities, immigrants etc—they come here and the covering allows them to re-invent themselves, and make some of the best pizza on earth. Outside of Italy of course. Our whole nation is a story of immigrants finding a promised land to become themselves in.

 This has been going on, and yet…that flag is still frayed overextended and actually fragile right now. Hard to think of such a at time presumptuous leader as being vulnerable or fragile. But she is now. It’s not just about end of empires. It’s about vulnerability after not being wise with leadership. This is easy to discern. Other parts are harder, and require actual love for a nation to see. You cannot prophecy over a nation if you do not love her. And really only to the degree that you do.

But, this little entry is not a prophecy, but rather a prayer for wisdom today. Not just for this nation but for us all.

 I had another dream last week all about the two types of leadership being offered. It’s a complex symbol, but just to say, we are wide awake in America—those in His Spirit aren’t sleeping. And this isn’t pretty. Hard to swallow, how low we went on this one. Still, I have articulate judgements and articulate hopes for America. Her story is not over, but it is being redacted (sternly edited) now. Pray for this land. And forgive her in your hearts. That’s the only place to start. I know it’s hard to like her now, but you can still love her. We need it now.

Materialism, consumerism and racism have to still be the major poisons; yet, on the ground it is still lighter spiritually here than most places on earth. The land eretz (yes, even if you hate america, this land has a blessing on it!) has a blessing on it.

Even as someone from Ireland who was born here, i have a hard time loving her now; yet I do!!!

 Wisdom knows how to contextualize things (even historical crisis) in God’s Love and the patterns of His Own Being or Ways. And applies true knowledge in practical love and vision both backwards and forwards. That’s what needed when the present is tumultuous.

Wisdom, among other things, is the application of true knowledge in love. To the degree we have revealed knowledge, we apply it in love. So you see that Jesus is the ultimate application of Wisdom into the universe. It is practical. It breeds itself. This is why it dwells on heights, crossroads and the gates and marketplaces of cities in scripture (Proverbs 8). It has a larger context to place things in, a broad scoped hermeneutic, a grand interpretation, which is characterized by the tone of Love.

 Let us be wise with how we treat one another in times of trauma and compression. A tree will be known by its fruit. And each of us is tested by fire. Let us bear the fruits of His Spirit in Peace in the midst of shakings.

 It’s a great time to dwell in Real Peace and offer folks all those fruits listed in Galatians—gentleness, kindness, patience etc… Let us especially do this now, so that the world can see the contrast, and have a clear choice between ways. God is always concerned but never worried.

 Perhaps one of the points of global crisis is to put things in clear contrast—those old ways of death, ways of life mentioned throughout the book. To contrast true spiritual crisis, with our soul crisis is sometimes necessary. God is not in crisis.

As my mentor said, “Father is always concerned, but never stressed! He stays in His Own Peace—He stays in I Am; never divides himself under pressure. His Love doesn’t suddenly break off from Himself! Nor does His Wisdom about the nations and everything else under the Son.

To show us what we are really grounded in. These two ways constantly stream beneath and around us—the ways of death, the ways of life. The ways of both are bigger than the moment, and really what we base our daily choices on—whether to love our neighbor or hate them. If they get blurred, sometimes it takes extremes to make the choices clear again.

It also looks at God’s patterns in the past to predict and have hope for the future.

We are praying for wisdom for our whole human family today. We need it, in order to love one another, which at the end of the day, is our most meaningful task in life.

Let us be wise in contextualizing this passing moment within the grand narrative we’ve been given. This too will pass, but The Word, The Truth, The Life will not.

Just felt like a good day to sit with Wisdom, in the shade of The Tree of Life. Sometimes, that’s a practice.

Of course, politics pass, but His government will never end. The Word and truth will last forever. And His Kingdom will never end, and all the nations will come under it. Until That day, let’s pray for a willing yielding to His Kingship and authority in ourselves and our nations, so that the land will be truly blessed, and the poor fed, the oppressed housed, and the orphans protected. This nation has a specific calling to the oppressed, so let’s pray that this mantel be dusted off, in this time of so much need to haven those who are displaced and in need. All her resources were meant for this job. We see the shadows now, but what would it look like redeemed. Let’s pray towards that.

 So praying wisdom, and tangible Peace today for all, as we consider and act wisely in Love towards one another until the end. Here and everywhere else. Know father Peace today friends, and seek out Wisdom. Turns out she is always hollering in Silence.

I”ve had several other dreams about where America is at, though my spiritual attention has been on Europe and Africa. I will share those elsewhere. But in the meantime, pray for wisdom and that her priest would arise. That unlike after 911, her true church would speak, and be shaken awake into unity and consciousness or conscience-ness—if the church as MLK said, is meant to be the conscience of a nation. That her moral consience would stay awake and not go numb in this hour. Thanks. And sorry everyone had to watch this sad and yet potentially spiritually potent moment in US history. God is not done with all of us, and is still in charge of the nations and their narratives.

His church has a great role to play now, if she will stand, dust off her complacency and publicly lament, humble itself and pray. Be both salt (preservers, flavorers) and light (interpreters or bringers of understanding-ie prophet priest)). Then perhaps the rains will return. The church has a unique role when her nation is in crisis. And the state of her heart is made clear or visible in crisis. The Cedar is laid bare!

 Let’s pray she is up to it, or can be caused to stand. The one who called you, is also ready and able to cause you to stand. (Romans). Some are, many are not. It is less about the election, and more about the state of the heart of the church and of this nation. This is heart test. May she pass it into wisdom and humility so she can serve the human family again.

If you are an american, i challenge you to get His love for her again, or if you’ve never felt His heart for this region, then for the first time. It will change the authority of your prayers. If from other nations, to be kind and forgiving, and yes, to pray for the heart of america to be touched and revived. And for wisdom to come from above.

 When a house is shaking, what do you do. I lived through some earthquakes in California. When a house is shaking you already need to have knowledge of what to do, but more importantly you need Wisdom of how to apply it. For as the good book says, “A house is built by Wisdom”. I pray that we gain Wisdom in our days, even through tumult. Pray for wisdom for us. Wisdom is the application of true knowledge in Love.

In Proverbs 8, she is seen at times and places of great change! We are in one. So, she is available now. She is here, waiting to be listened to. In silence she hollers for us to sit beneath her Tree of Life.

Wisdom hangs out with good counsel. And we need that now. So let’s find Wisdom and sit there, so we can be helpful to our times.

Remember Wisdom is not a retreat, it is an active response! It is the place to go to decide from. It is a harbor in times of distress. And Christ is Wisdom!

The actual artist way…how to be a “fine” artist! How to contextualize your creativity in something larger than yourself.

 I often look for a bigger context for artist to create within, which will contextualize their gifts, but offer a purpose other than market or fame-the two big “success markers” in art school or the world. The best example from scriptures has to be Bezalel. (King David would be a close second-for he was able to balance art and ruling well; how creativity connects with leadership or kingship). Artist are often looking for models of how they fit into things or society. They usually pick a few from art history. I would suggest going back further!

(In Exodus 31:1-6 and chapters 36 to 39, Bezalel (Hebrew: בְּצַלְאֵל, also transcribed as Betzalel and most accurately as Bəṣalʼēl), was the chief artisan of the Tabernacle and was in charge of building the Ark of the Covenant, assisted by Aholiab.)

  From scriptures, the true artist way…is Bezalel’s. The priestly role of artist is to actually build the temple of His Presence. To do so, you need certain gifts. In his case, a ridiculous amount of gifts! This guys had a serious gift set!

If you want to be a fine artist with a high calling look at this character from the Torah!

(Exodus 31, he was the chief of all artist!). This guy in order to build and be the master architect of the temple, was given: wisdom, knowledge, design (both two and three dimensional), skills in all the mediums, and in addition, the ability to teach or mentor, to impart excellence in artistry to others! That’s the gift set I’m talking about!

 He could cover lots-impart and implant the vision, and teach the practical skills necessary to incarnate it!

 Great artist, great designer, could work in any medium—metal, wood, cloth etc. And he could teach or reproduce his own gift. That’s useful! in this world!

 He started by being filled with wisdom and knowledge. That’s a good foundation! How I wish we were this well rounded, especially as artist and leaders in whatever field!

One of my favorite definitions of teaching is being humble enough to simplify what you are saying so that it can reproduce past yourself. This guy had that gift. As well as just being a great artist! Good to consider not just the role of the artist, but what types of gifts they need to really fulfill their callings.

  I’m nowhere close to that level of giftings. Good challenge!

“This is the Lord’s Day-the Day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.” This verse, has always haunted me, in the best of ways! What Day is it that we find ourselves rejoicing in, especially on hard days? Where is that Day within our days, in which we find ourselves rejoicing? And how do we enter into it daily?

 Daniel’s prayer also teaches us to confess into thanks into praise every day. That’s clearly one way into The Day! Start with confession, then enter into thanks, and perforce into praise.

And, St John reminds us, if we think we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar. For all have sinned and fallen short, daily. So what is this practice of finding the Day of the Lord, daily?

I’m working on the practice of finding the Day within my days. “In the architecture of time, it’s easy to lose sight of the temple.” as one Rabbi put it. We lose sight of where His Presence is, and start floundering around in mere circumstance. St Paul teaches us that the key to spiritual contentment is to meet God through whatever circumstance you find yourself in. Then all experiences become potentially meaningful and transformational–whether in prison or a palace. Or as Augustine said: “Love God and do what you will.”

I think often of the discipline of finding “The Lord’s Day” within my own. That space where we are meant to meet Him and therefore rejoice. Making all our passing circumstances become tents of meaning and transformation. I try to pray my way into That Day, daily, so that my activities and circumstances become tabernacles of meeting God. That seems like one of the keys to living meaningfully, and allowing all our cirumstances to be potential places or spaces of being transformed or growing—whether our jobs, cooking, walking dogs, picking up kids from school, reading, conversation—everything is a medium through which to meet God, to find The Day of the Lord.

It is somehow our daily practice to find That Day! Let’s interpret our days through that place called His Day! And do so daily. Thinking about this today! How to live today in The Day!

What parts are ours to do in our spiritual growth!

Been thinking about how St Paul in mentoring his disciple Timothy tells him to stay very active in his spirituality. To do certain things, and not others. In the letters to Timothy we are overhearing someone mentoring and training a younger elder. So Paul is passing on and imparting some of what he himself had learned, that would be needed in Timothy’s leadership. He tells him to remember the prophetic words spoken over him, and goes on to tell him to be active in many other areas of his own spirituality and leadership. Good meditation. We have to resist certain urges, rule over ourselves, be little internal governors over our soul and bodies.

Paul tells Timothy to be active in his spirituality—to flee and to pursue certain things. Grace is needed (yet as Dallas Willard said, it is also easy to be paralyzed by Grace in terms of spiritual growth; spiritual growth does not just happen to us, we are partners in becoming! We have to actively do things daily), but there is also an active pursuit or intentionally laying hold of—putting to death, calling to life in our daily spiritual practice. To put certain things on and take certain others off. The scripture do not teach us a passive spirituality. It is very intentional and active all the way through. We are responsible for part of our formation and to position ourselves for transformation. Pursue the ways of righteousness, flee away from (quickly run from) the ways of death. We are collaborators in becoming more whole.

Studying Jeremiah’s times as much like like ours, and a good interpretive lens for now, and came across this passage from Abraham Heschel’s “The Prophets” again…great book on the prophets i’m re-reading for interpretive maps. So well written and clear.  Plus, Jeremiah was asked to dramatize and do public performance art often to symbolize God’s messages. To go bury his underwear, as one of my favorite episodes goes…(God has often asked me to bury my underwear). About his times, Heschel writes:

 “His contemporaries had no understanding of the portent of their times, of the way in which God was present at that time. They did not care for time. But a prophet has a responsibility for the moment, an openness to what the moment reveals. He (or she) is a person who knows what time it is.” Nice definition about how the Kingdom interfaces with time and space. So the kings asked the prophets often, Ok, what time is it? They were to be like spiritual watches, and watchers!

Kindness is a practice. You have to really choose it every second. It’s one of His Ways. It’s not easy for us, because we are very selfish by nature. But we choose kindness. We choose to be generous to others, and we have to actively choose it. Because we don’t have the wisdom to know what is just or fair entirely in the moment. We do not fully know justice, so our option is to be kind to others regardless of their behavior or our way too quick judgements of them. We don’t know where they are coming from when they arrive on our doorstep. So be kind. Then you can consider and interpret things (come let us reason together!—that place of peach where you can start to understand a situation; go there firstly!) That’s your work. We are not in a position to judge another person’s day. We are in a position, constantly and sentiently, to extend Grace and be kind to them. We really have to choose to live out the fruits of the Spirit hourly—that’s the daily work of sanctification). In traffic, when a delivery person shows up late, when we are frustrated about this or that. Thats’s our sanctification process—choose kindness to one another. Enter Peace and then start to interpret things. That’s His Way.

How true healing works:

How to begin healing: true healing begins with forgiveness. We have to visit the Cross often for our own sins and the others who have sinned against us. We have to be little mini-priest, even within ourselves in order to move forward in life.

 That’s the basic practice: confession, into forgiveness, into thanks and perforce into praise. That is the pattern of healing and reconciliation. I’ve studied the healing process for years in therapy and counseling, it always starts with realizing your weak and wrong, and in need of a Higher help, and then forgiving others for their poor actions against you. We really can’t even grieve until we confess and forgive others. It’s a basic way towards wholeness.

 Reading an article today, again about the healing process…

One way to start healing is to start forgiving! This is true between family members and nations. Reading this today, made me think again today about the practicals of healing-forgiveness begins the process, for it makes room in us, for God to come in and dwell.

It’s a spiritual law about being human-if we want to heal, we have to forgive.

 Anyway, here’s the quote i liked from Leanne Payne again in a section of her book. “Restoring the Soul; completion in Christ through healing” (great book, insightful about what it means to be a human). This section was entitled, Failure to forgive Due to Being Out of Touch with One’s Heart.

“ In the day when people’s heads are so out of touch with their hearts. many have unforgiveness and do not realize it until, in prayer for healing the Holy Spirit reveals it.

 Often when praying with such persons, I find that a memory of abusive or abnormal behavior by another will come up. The person will not know he needs to forgive the offender. I will have to say, “You must confess this as a sin against you, and you must name it specifically for the sin that it is, and then, before God, extend forgiveness to the offender. The specific naming of the sin and of the offender is important. This is no abstract transaction, but a very real dealing before and with our God.” (Restoration of the Christian Soul, pg. 83) Good to recall the power of forgiveness in healing! It’s the starting point really.

 This is true between genders, generations, races, and nations! The basic principles of the Cross haven’t changed. Nice to be reminded today in study! We can’t avoid forgiveness in the healing journey.

We know that hourly confession of our own sins is a basic practice, as St John taught us. We start and end the day with confession, assuming we have sinned; then we move on in the way of His Cross to forgiving others. That’s the trajectory of our healing journey! For forgiveness is one of His Ways!