In a Box

It does not really matter how big the box is.

Keeping a box to hide in is the thing.

Describe the box to explain it away, to rational-lies the holding of it. "Well, it is only a ________ box, so it is not the kind you mean."

If the box separates the joints of the church, then God is opposed to it. Not me, just my box.

My box is made of pride. Other things to make it look different, "customized." But pride that says that I can construct a hiding place for my self that will be sufficient.

Then how come, pride, I feel, know, that my box is inadequate?

Because that is the work of the Spirit. Sure, I feel fear, but more, I feel naked.

This is primal stuff. I am not alone. Sure, this is my personal walk. It is just that everyone has one, too.

I guess everyone does not choose a box. What do they choose...when not choosing to trust Dad? As someone with a box habit, I will bet the alternatives look foolish to me.

Father, forgive my pride and habit of pride. I am not able to protect myself, and as long as I try, I can not give love. I want help getting out of the box. I want help abandoning the box and the box habit. I want to walk away from pride and the sin of self sufficiency. Most, I want not to go away from sin, but to walk habitually toward you and with you, leaning on you.

Please restore my fascination with you and my revulsion with pride.

Father, be glorified in your church.

Schweppes

This should be interesting. "What should I write about, Lord?" "Schweppes. Schweppervesence."

Okay. I'll bite.

Look at the sealed bottle of soda pop. Calm. No bubbles. Do something with it. Bubbles. Where do the bubbles come from? The Carbon Dioxide is dissolved in the liquid. It is dispersed. Change the conditions, and the dissolved CO2 comes out of solution and the molecules congregate into bubbles. When I can see the rising bubbles, I am aware of the presence of CO2 in the mix. Prior to the bubbles, the CO2 is integrated into the liquid and I have no manifestation of CO2. Sure, the label says that it is a carbonated, but I can not see any carbonation.

So my label says Christian. I know that Christ is so in me that I am saturated. But nobody can see the bubbles. Unless I live a life that manifests Christ. Unless I live a life that is stirred up. Father, Help me release your Spirit. Stirred. Never Shaken

My Friend

Jesus said that we are His friends.

I wonder if there is any connection between an earthly fathers relationship with his growing son, and how we Growing Sons relate to Our Heavenly Father?

I think I have it. Jesus is our brother friend because Dad, no matter how intimate and affectionate, still has to be Dad. I need a God who is my friend, but I also need a God who is my Father. I need a father who will correct me, who will teach me painful lessons even though, and because He loves me so much. A father who indulges my foolishness does not love his child. So my Father, Who is Love, is incapable of indulging my foolishness. This is not a friend.

My boy and I have talked about this some, but I guess we will be talking about it more. When I am not indulging his foolishness, his conversations are shorter, and sometimes end abruptly.

Father, thank you for putting the vision in my heart of the day when my son will have passed out of my tutelage, and will be able to be my friend. Help him to find the friendship that he needs now, to go along with the fathering I am giving, and the Fathering he is seeking from You.

Teachable is Important

Every misstep comes down to pride. At least for me. Like how it is easy to be teachable toward some, but not all people. I got humble enough yesterday to learn a lesson from someone I struggle with. Today the fruit of that learning was really sweet.

Pride is not only unacceptable, but it also does not work. At least for me. Humility, and its offspring teachable work much better. Now I can thank God for the lesson, and the humility...and I might even thank the teacher. That will be harder. And it also will likely bear more fruit.

One thing is very clear. When I am cuddling with pride, I find it hard to approach my Father. All of this stuff about good outcomes has to be secondary to adoration. Nothing wrong with good outcomes, but good is the enemy of perfect.

Father, I desire perfect intimacy with You. Forgive me for all of the times today that my eyes have turned to idols, that my heart has turned to idols.