Space Outdoors

Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with His disciples. – (John 6:3, NIV)

Jesus went up on the side of the hill and sat there with His followers. – (John 6:3, ERV)

Jesus went up a mountain and found a place to sit down and teach. His disciples gathered around. – (John 6:3, VOICE)

I know this is a rather odd verse to highlight, but it speaks volumes to me. This instance of Jesus finding a space outdoors to gather and teach His disciples was just prior to Him feeding the five thousand and walking on water. First, He found a place outdoors with a view. Not only could they see people coming and going, but I imagine there was quite a view of the water as well. Next, it was a place where they could all sit down together and talk. When Jesus taught, He used parables and questions. His questions challenged their understanding of the way the world works and was followed by Jesus showing them the power of God in action. Part of what Jesus asked the disciples was how they would feed the crowd that had followed them to where they were, that was far from any sort of market or town where they could buy bread. Additionally, the size of the coming crowd was far greater than their meager wages could afford to feed. Later, when the disciples brought Jesus what they had, it was miraculously multiplied to provide more than enough for all. Incredibly, Jesus still does the same for us. As we seek Him, spend time with Him, learn from His word and Spirit, He takes what we bring Him and multiplies it to bring far greater good than we could ever accomplish on our own. His economy is not our economy. May we ever find spaces to seek and commune with the Lord and offer Him what we have to use for the greater good. He is faithful and does far more than we could hope or imagine when we trust in Him.

Perhaps this is why,

When I am outside;

I feel connected,

Nearness realized.

All that He has made,

The work of His hands;

Show love and power,

We can’t understand.

His grace and goodness,

Out and on display;

Tangible presence,

We take in each day.

Lord, help us listen,

And choose look around;

Seek You to show us,

How Your love abounds.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing outdoor spaces to show us Your power, love and care. Everywhere we look, there is evidence of You. Forgive us for not being intentional to take in all that Your hands have made with awe and wonder. Show us the goodness and grace that You have placed all around us. Lead us in Your overwhelming and powerful love as we interact with others. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we spend time before You to listen to Your leading and take in the wonder of all that You are and all that You do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

Clean the Inside of the Cup

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean.” – (Matthew 23:25-26, NIV)

“It will be bad for you teachers of the law and you Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You wash clean the outside of your cups and dishes. But inside they are full of what you got by cheating others and pleasing yourselves. Pharisees, you are blind! First make the inside of the cup clean and good. Then the outside of the cup will also be clean.” – (Matthew 23:25-26, ERV)

“You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surface of your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides are maggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, and then the gleaming surface will mean something.” – (Matthew 23:25-26, MSG)

 

On the Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus began His day, departing Bethany with the disciples. As they were leaving, they passed by the fig tree He had cursed, only to discover it had completely withered. That point of passage began a day filled with teaching, as Jesus started with a lesson on faith. He further taught several parables and answered important questions as people gathered in the temple to hear. The Pharisees, up to their usual attempt at trapping Jesus in some sort of misstep for which they could arrest Him, began a barrage of questions as well. After Jesus brilliantly answered, and completely silenced the scholars with His wisdom, He began a list of woes to them for the practices that they were participating in. One that stood out to me as particularly poignant, and one to ponder personally, is that which is found in the above listed verses from Matthew 23. What does it mean to clean the outside of the cup, but neglect cleaning the inside? To me, it seems He was using the image as an illustration of the heart versus how things appear. We must attend to the motives, desires and purposes within us to be considered clean. For if we seek the Lord and allow Him room to purify our hearts and cleanse us from within, the outside reflects the beauty on the inside. It does not work in reverse. I imagine we have all met or known someone who at first, appeared quite appealing. However, once the heart was made known, the ugly insides tainted the perspective on the outside. Jesus cares about the condition of our heart. Yes, wash your hands, for at least twenty seconds please, but really, it is what flows out of us that impacts those around us, not the package that holds our hearts. My take away today is to seek the Lord and ask Him to show me what filth within me still needs cleansing. We all have spots that get missed, or manage to lie hidden out of plain sight. Jesus is gentle and kind when we choose to seek Him with the hope of being cleansed to more clearly reflect His heart to the world. Lord, cleanse us from the inside out, so that Your love may be made abundantly clear, and no good thing withheld from those in need.

 

Lord, come and show us,

Where we need be cleansed;

Point out the places,

Help us make amends.

Places we’re selfish,

Greedy or unkind;

Over-indulgent,

Show us what You find.

By Your loving grace,

Show us how to change;

Be cleansed from within,

So Your love may reign.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You sent Your Son to show us the way to be cleansed from the inside out. Thank You that not only did You clean the temple, but You are willing to clean the hollows of our heart. Forgive us for the times that we have worried more about “appearances” than being cleansed on the inside. Teach us to fix our eyes and heart on You and what You ask of us. Show us how to love selflessly, without greed, gluttony or reservation. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to show us the ways to wash ourselves within, so that we may shine bright, reflecting Your love to all whom we encounter. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. – Psalm 51:1-2

 

 

As Seed Are Sown

Then He told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” – (Matthew 13:3-8, NIV)

 

Last Sunday, our pastor spoke on this particular parable. As he unpacked the meaning, he suggested the notion that perhaps it was not illustrating four different types of hearers of the word, but instead, it represents each of us at different stages of our relationship with God, or in different areas of our lives. There are indeed times when we are so closed off that words spoken, simply fall to the ground as if they had never been said. The second sort of soil, that which was shallow and rocky, mirrors our hearts when we hear the words, want to do well, but do nothing to invest to allow what we hear to take root. It is our desire for gratification without dedication, and it does not bring growth to fruition. When we are not rooted, the storms that come can destroy us. Seed among thorns is when the word of God is competing with the weight of the world that we attempt to bear. Worries will choke out all that is good if we do not allow God to be the gardener who prunes and pulls out that which does not belong in our lives. Finally, the seed that is sown on good soil is the word of God that we allow to enter our heart and act upon it. It is an ongoing investment in relationship with God and a choice to be intentional to spend time in His word, in worship and in prayer. As we know Him more, we more clearly reflect His heart to those around us. When others see His heart through us, that is when they too, desire to know the One who loves us so. May we ever seek the Lord to soften the soil of our heart and keep the rocks and worries that become barriers far from us, so that we may learn and grow and love others as we are loved by Him.

 

Let seed that are sown, 

Land on fertile soil;

Soften my heart, Lord,

Let not Your seed spoil.

For Your words are life,

Your love shows the way;

As we seek You more,

We trust and obey.

All time spent with You,

Helps us better know;

The gift of Your grace,

You grant us to grow.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You tend to our heart as we seek You and spend time with You. Forgive us for the times that we have been hard-hearted, shallow, or allowed the worries of the world to reign rather than You. Teach us to trust You more, as You are greater than anything that we face. Help us to prioritize our time to invest in knowing You more and loving those around us well. Show us how to love all whom we encounter in a way that ultimately points their hearts to You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as You tend to the soil of our hearts, and nurture growth as we allow You to water and care for the things that You so intentionally plant within us to nourish those around us. Amen.

 

 

© Shannon Elizabeth (Moreno) Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

You pour rain on the plowed fields; You soak the fields with water. You make the ground soft with rain, and You make the young plants grow. – Psalm 65:10

Wondrous Worth

Worth is a weird and wondrous thing. Though we perhaps perceive our own worth based on our packaging or productivity, God holds us in highest esteem, simply because we are His created. Each of us are fearfully and wonderfully made; planned, and created with purpose. Each part of who we are is intentional, and has value in the kingdom of God. Luke 15 unpacks three different parables about just how passionately Christ pursues us, and how all of heaven rejoices when even one, chooses to follow Him. “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” – (Luke 15:10) He takes us as we are, regardless of our wrapping, and brings out the beauty that He intended all along. His light, life and love that shine through us, are the things that matter most, and those which can be passed on through our hands and heart to the world. May we go forth today, embracing our worth in the wonderful way He created us to be, so that we may let His light shine.

 

You are more precious,

than silver or gold;

your infinite worth,

can hardly be told.

You were intended,

for far greater things;

to rise up in strength,

share what His grace brings.

You were created,

as perfectly you;

with gifts and talents,

things you’re meant to do.

Allow your heart hear,

all Christ has to say;

receive His great love,

then give it away.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You have created each of us with a plan and a purpose. Thank You that You value each of us far more than we can comprehend. Thank You that our worth is not determined by our perception of our productivity or our packaging, but rather because we are Yours – created by You with a plan and a purpose. Forgive us for comparing ourselves to one another, and help us to embrace the gifts and callings that You have placed in our own lives. Teach us to fix our eyes securely on You so that we may go forth, looking at others through Your lens. Help us to see needs and respond in love. May many come to know You as their Savior and King, as we go forth in obedient offering. Be glorified Lord God, as we go. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. – James 5:11