Archive for November, 2006

Dag Hammarskjold and an Army Chaplain

5 years ago

by Lundie in Reflection

Since I put a stats counter on my site just for fun, I have been led a little more obscurely through blogland. Today I found the blog of an Army Chaplain who is currently stationed in Iraq. I haven’t read a whole lot of it so far, but he shared a quote from Dag Hammarskjold, who I’ve heard of but have not read.

In light of my recent TLT studies, I am amazed (though shouldn’t be anymore) how much God speaks to me through any area I am open to. This afternoon it was this quote:

Seek-? Seek by daring to take the leap into unconditional obedience. Dare this when you are challenged, for only by the light of the challenge will you be able to see the crossroads and, in full awareness of your choice, turn your back upon your personal life- with no right ever to look back….

You will find that the freedom of the continual farewell, the hourly self-surrender, gives your experience of reality the purity and clarity which signify- self realization.

You must find that obedience requires an act of will which must be continually reiterated, and that you will fall, if anything in your personal life is allowed to slip back into the center.

This is some pretty powerful stuff. I’ve added his book to my wish list, and may well be adding it to my 2007 Book list. It’s probably too late in the year to add it to the 2006 List.

Happy Sabbath everyone!

Inspiration TLT Reflections

My Celebrity Collage – Part 2

5 years ago

by Lundie in Reflection

Want one too?

My Celebrity Collage – Part 1

5 years ago

by Lundie in Reflection

Want one too?

Tender Hearts and Laws & Regulations

5 years ago

by Lundie in Reflection

Ezekiel 11:19-20 – And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.

Singleness of heart – I really want this. Feeling torn about my priorities, intentions, goals, plans, shoulds, shouldn’ts. A promise of being given singleness of heart. I want to claim this.

A tender heart = willingness to obey God. I’ve always associated laws and regulations with hearts of stone. How did we get this so messed up?

This passage is filled with the yearning of God to be connected with us. Will we listen and let him fill his promises?

Inspiration Scripture

Eat at home

5 years ago

by Lundie in Reflection

My verse of learning today:

1 Corinthians 11:20-22 – 20 When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. 21 For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. 22 What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!

My new revelation today was in this verse I studied in my TLT lesson this morning. I have been searching for a church to make my home in, so I’m interested in all verses about meeting together.

The first a-ha moment here was that the Lord’s Supper is Jesus trying to tell us that we have to digest him (the Word) on a regular basis. Because I forget on practically a daily basis the things I have learned before, I need to continue to go to him (daily and more even!) for a refill.

The second wasn’t really an a-ha as much as a “wow.” Since I don’t think this was entirely about bread and meat and cheese, I will venture a guess that Paul was telling people that church is supposed to serve a purpose other than being spiritually fed. We are supposed to be responsible for getting our own spiritual food and drink during the week, and church is where you care for those who do not have food of their own. It’s to be a time to share what food you’ve been given.

I think too much demand is being put on the church (as an organization) today to be the source of spiritual feeding. Yes, the church body will very often (and rightly so) be fed while meeting as a congregation on the Sabbath (or Sunday), but it should never be the sole source of nourishment, and should not be expected to feed you so much that you don’t get hungry again until the following weekend.
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