Wondering, Wandering, and Writing

While reading in the book of Mark recently, I came across a verse that seems straight-forward.  “For whoever has, more will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”  (Mark 4:25 CSB) Essentially, if you have stuff, you will get more; if you don’t have stuff, it will be taken away.  In a way, this makes a lot of sense.  We’ve all seen the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. But I’ve long wondered just how it is that you take something away from a person who doesn’t have it in the first place.  This morning more questions started running through my mind.  What is it?  How do you take something that isn’t there?  How does this align with other scripture?  So this is where my mind wondered and some things I found as I read more.

First things first – context.  This verse follows two parables about the kingdom of God. One is a story of a farmer sowing seed. Scripture includes the explanation of this one, so we don’t have to figure it out.  Some people hear the word of God and reject it.  Some hear it and are over-joyed but stick with it a very short time.  Others hear it but get sidetracked with the worries of life and don’t share the gospel.  Others hear it and share it, resulting in many other people deciding to follow Jesus and his teachings. The next parable is about putting a lamp on a stand rather than under the bed.  Again, the message is to live so that other people see the love of God.  And then these two verses about hearing if you have ears and getting more if you already have whatever it is.

What is “it”?  What is this thing that you get more of if you already have it?  Note that you don’t work for more of it, it is given to you.  Since this is after two stories about spiritual growth, I doubt “it” is anything material. Perhaps it is has a spiritual meaning.

A short backstory.  When I was a teenager, Grandpa Bright gave me a copy of The Amplified Bible.  It’s a little different – a little difficult to read because there are words in parentheses and some in brackets and footnotes and oh my word! Why would anyone try to read this???  A little patience and reading the information at the front of the book explained why all the extra words and markings.  I learned to read once skipping over all the extra stuff, and then to go back and use the additional information.  Before study Bibles with lots of commentary on the side of the page and footnotes with alternate interpretations, and decades before the internet with all its study tools, there was The Amplified Bible.  All those extras are like a mentor explaining the scriptures.

Here is Mark 4:24-25 from The Amplified Bible.
Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]—and more will be given to you besides.“For [fn]whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.”

Aha!  An understanding of the verse based on spiritual things not physical stuff!  How many times have we seen a person with a well-worn Bible, and they’re still digging into the Word even while they can tell you many, many things from the Scriptures?  The more we stay in God’s word, the more knowledge of Scripture we gain.  The more we commune with God – both talking to Him and taking time to be quiet and listen for the still, small voice, the more we understand about God, his plan for the world, and our part in that plan.  God gives more and more understanding to those who continue to pursue knowing Him more.

So why is it being taken away if you’re not being given more?  Each of us is born with a longing for something that is bigger than ourselves and full of purpose.  If you ignore that tug to know God long enough, the desire goes away. Scripture is clear that God’s desire is for all to willingly worship him.  Scripture says and life affirms that not all will choose to follow him. If you repeatedly ignore that tug to find the something bigger and more meaningful, even the desire to connect with God will go away.

I pray that you will search for him, so that you are given more – more of his presence, more of his strength, more of his peace.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jerimiah 29:13 NIV 

Come near to God and he will come near to you – James 4:8 NIV

#bgwww26

Daydreams.

Sweet, happy, fleeting thoughts of what might be.

Maybe a connection to reality, maybe not.

A few days ago I daydreamed. I realized with a start that it had been ….. how long?? …. I have no idea …. Since I had daydreamed.

Have I planned? Oh, yes! A lot!

Have I schemed a time or two?  Mmmm…. Yeah, that, too.

But to daydream?  To let my mind wander over possibilities and maybe things that aren’t really possible – that I have not done in years

So, I bought a pack of sticky notes.  I started writing.  Some things are really a to-do list for today and next week and next month.  I had to write those things down to get them out of my head so the fun stuff could surface again.  Most of these are long-term hopes and dreams.  Most of the pages have multiple things on them.  I turned them over to take a picture to share because I just don’t feel like baring my soul to the social media world.

You may be stuck in the muck.  The muck of being overwhelmed. Sadly, I have been there so much it feels like home.  I’m pretty sure I’ll feel it again within a day or two.  Please hear this. There is hope!  Beyond the to-do lists and grief and worries of all kinds, hope springs eternal.

You may glimpse it in a sunrise, a stranger’s smile, a Bible verse shared on social media, a flower breaking through a sidewalk, or any of a thousand little things.

My heart aches deeply today over so many things – a few made the news; most didn’t.

But there is hope – a deep conviction that God is good and will take care of his children, and he calls each of us.  Will we answer him with a yes?  Will we accept his gift?  Will we live in the hope of a better future, while walking daily with the Spirit he has sent to guide us? #bgwww25

Good morning!
Hello, sunrise 😊
Yes, I am *that* morning person who loves to be up shortly before sunrise (okay … not always in June and July when the days are SO long).  I enjoy watching the darkness slowly lighten through that soft glow of daybreak. I enjoy the gradual warming of the air as the first rays of sunlight pierce the atmosphere.  Sometimes a colorful burst of God’s artwork in the scattered clouds to adds to the beauty of the morning.  I enjoy the quiet, and the chatter of birds greeting the new day.

This morning as I read in Psalm 5, I was reminded that multiple times the scriptures call us to meet God in the morning.  In the quiet solitude, to be still physically and mentally (that’s the harder of the two) and to listen.  He reassures me of his presence and availability throughout the day.  He reminds me of his goodness and his provision.  He points out an attitude I need to adjust.  He brings to mind people and community needs to lift in prayer. Oh yes, I enjoy quite mornings.

However, I am well aware that not all mornings are quiet.  It is not always easy, and sometimes it is impossible to spend a quiet, still half hour or so to prepare for the day.

Perhaps a crying child awoke you at 4am.  Perhaps at 3am you had not yet been to sleep because of insomnia or too much study and work to do or … well, that list of reasons can be long.  Worries for your family and friends may invade your thoughts before you even stretch to get out of bed.  The alarm may jolt your body and senses, urging you on to work to provide for yourself and your family. A child or a pet may pounce on you, alerting you to urgent needs that you must meet.  Perhaps your body is screaming in pain from an accident or surgery or chronic illness.  The beep of an IV controller may have been your companion all night, and you’re not even sure when yesterday ended and today began.

Even on those hectic mornings, God is available.  We can cry out to him as we let out the dog or prepare breakfast for the toddler or mumble a greeting to the nurse on duty. Storing his promises in our hearts and minds is critical, so that on those mornings when life takes off like a dragster, we can recall his promise to walk with us, lighting our paths.  And hopefully, at some point, you can take a few moments to breathe slowly and deeply and let his words refresh your soul “I am with you always.  I will give you strength.  The comforter will guide you.”

#bgwww25

     We decided before our little vacation that we would take NO schoolwork with us – no worksheets, no books.  We would not even have Damain practice right and left.

     But today we headed home and it’s back to schoolwork.  On the way home, Chuck decided to get in a little right/left practice with Damain.  The conversations went something like this.

Chuck: Damain, which side of the truck is Mama sitting on?
Damain: The passenger side.
Laughter all around.

Chuck:  But is she to your right or left?
Damain: Neither really.  She’s in front of me and on the passenger side.  (Damain was sitting on the driver’s side behind Chuck.)

Chuck: Okay, which hand do you hold your fork in?
Damain: Either one.  I use my spoon in my right and my left.  I pick up a knife with my left and my right.  I pick up my fork in either hand, whichever I feel like.
Me:  But you tend to use one hand more than the other.  Which one?]
Damain:  Whichever I feel like.

Chuck: Okay, which hand do you write with?
Damain:  My dominant one.

We gave up.  Right/left practice: 0.  Vocabulary:  Not bad.

#bgwww25

Wash the clothes.
Clean the shoes.
Uh oh, first find the shoes.
Matching hair bows for the girls, ties for the boys.
Prepare the gifts.
Dye the eggs (maybe not at $4.50 a dozen).
Fill the plastic eggs.
Read THIS devotional every day.
No, LISTEN to this one every day.
Devil the eggs.
Bake the cookies.
Prepare the message.
Mow the grass (or not because there’s an egg hunt).
Rehearse the music.
Get to bed early because sunrise service is early. (Are you kidding?!)

Meals?!  What? I gotta feed the kids, too?!

And clean the spills on the floor?

Holidays are fun and crazy and stressful.

It is OKAY if some things don’t get done.

Breathe.
Hug some kids (yours or someone else’s).
Breathe.
Feel the grass beneath your bare feet.
Breathe.
Check in with a friend.
Breathe.

In the midst of the chaotic activity, remember to connect with the Creator.

“[God] breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” 
    – Genesis 2:7 KJV

#bgwww25