Things vs People

If we look back at the people who came before us, there are a few things that have changed, but over all many things have stayed the same. As humans we seem to be very concerned about our property, status and power. In general these are not bad things, but when we exchange our true self, the self that God has created us to be, and we subscribe to what the world says we need to be, we can end up doing some really horrible things to achieve property, status and power.

There are many texts in the bible that remind us to choose reality over what the world is trying to get us to buy into. And one of the most commonly used text when it come to what we as Christian women should be like tackles the subjects or property, status and power in a great way.

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. 
(Proverbs 31:10-31)

There many things that we should be pursuing in our relationships other than focusing on gaining property, status and power. Things like being trustworthy, caring for others, doing what is right, not being idle, being kind. And believe it or not, chasing after these other things will make us free to experience joy, far beyond what this world can offer.

Strange!!!

So it was time for dinner. They brought out a big bowl of salad and some baguettes. We ate, and we ate. Then when I was done, dinner was placed on the table. [I thought the salad and bread was dinner.]

People I just met expected to kiss on the cheek. [And I was inclined to give them 3 kisses like we do in the Netherlands when we kiss, but 3 was 1 too many. I expect to shake hands the first time and maybe hug the next time we meet.]

In the metro, people sit close to each other. [I mean, they actually sit in a chair next to someone when they have the option of sitting in a seat where there is no one else sitting next to them.]

These are only 3 examples of the little things that I noticed that are different from what I'm used to, while I was in Marseille, France. First I was unaware of these "local habits", and once I found out about some of them I though, "Strange!" Though they were small things, they reminded me that I was different. The brothers and sisters in Christ there made me feel very welcomed, and as the days went by I stopped being socked / surprised about many things. 

1 Peter 2: 11-12

Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.

As Christians we know that we are walking with Jesus, and this automatically makes us strange. And just like He was persecuted, we too will be persecuted. 

John 15:20

Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 

I often think of people far away in the Middle East  or Asia when it comes to persecution. But even in the West, it happens more often than you would expect. It just takes a different form. Like a little girl who isn't allowed to go to church because her parents are not believers, like her. Or a young man fired after rumors start going around about him being one of those "ignorant Christians". 

My hope is that we never loose that feeling of being strange when it comes to our relationship with the world. That every day we, who are Christ's body, allow God to renew our minds to never forget this truth; That we are called to be strange.

So when was the last time you looked at the world and felt strange, or the world looked at you, pointed and yelled, "STRANGE!!!"? 

I Am That Woman

Ezekiel 16

Too often today we women walk around forgetting where we used to be and what God has done for us ever since we have entered in a relationship with Him. This chapter speaks very clearly about what God does for those with whom He has a covenant.

8 “Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord God. 9 “Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. 10 I also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk. 11 I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck. 12 I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. 13 Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. 14 Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,” declares the Lord God.

We also forget sometimes that God has been working in our lives way before we ever toke note of His guidance and protection. And that we are all beautiful because of Him.

6 “When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ 7 I made you numerous like plants of the field. Then you grew up, became tall and reached the age for fine ornaments; your breasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare.

Often we wonder off and enter into sin because like "lady Israel" we forget. We forget that God is still here, working on us. We forget that His love is a different kind of love than what we experience from the world around us. We forget that He will not quite on us. We forget that we are not living by our own power. We forget....

15 “But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every passer-by who might be willing.
22 Besides all your abominations and harlotries you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare and squirming in your blood.

Often we just feel like we are not worth it. Why would the God that made it all bother to take care of sinful me, when sin is the one thing He doesn't want around Him? Some things we will never understand. This may be one of them. We know the answer. LOVE. But it doesn't make sense. What's in it for Him?

The truth is that He doesn't have a hidden agenda. And that thought is mind blowing. In a world where everyone is looking out for self, admit it, it's sometimes hard to accept and trust Him. And so we get comfortable forgetting. I get comfortable forgetting. I don't tell others about what He has done, I don't remind myself of what He has done (for me). And before you know it I've forgotten something I should have remembered and it all ends up with me being that woman.