Friday, September 9, 2011
Flexed Muscles
Someone else flexes their muscles and builds a new building.
Flexed muscles make a speech on how to fix the nation and others flex their muscles in disagreement.
Nations flex. Unions flex. Bosses flex. Athletes flex. Spouses flex. I flex.
Everyone attempts to show how much power they have. Then a river rises and reveals how little we all really have. A virus shows up and exposes hidden weakness. A limitation is found and strength can’t be seen anymore.
I’m struck this morning with the arrogance of humanity and the frailty of humanity. It’s all over the news. “Terrorists will not defeat us!” “Fire displaces 100,000 people.”
In 30 second soundbites we proclaim how powerful and resilient we are, and how limited and helpless.
The Psalmist knew about flexing. He watched it. He was in awe.
Psalm 29
1 Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert; the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
Believers, let’s let God do the flexing.
In awe,
Pastor Dave Tweet
Friday, September 2, 2011
Supernatural
I'm reading a book by G. Campbell Morgan that was written in the early 1900's. This morning I found myself camping on these words, "Supernatural is an awkward word; it will become obsolete when we have more light. If we could climb to the height where God dwells, things we call supernatural would be perfectly natural…."
That made me think about the moment when I will step from this side of eternity to the other. It made me think about God. I made me think of how little we know in the midst of our "understanding."
I've known peace during moments of turmoil. If the elements of my situation were to have been put in a life blender and mixed together the flavor, texture, and taste would not have been peace. But… I had it. It was somehow supernatural.
I've known strength during times of weakness. There have been times my physical, spiritual, emotional tank was like three day old leftover Thanksgiving turkey - dry. I had nothing to give. And yet, at just the right time something (Someone) filled the reserves of my soul and the miracle of perseverance happened. It was somehow supernatural.
I've known confidence during seasons of brokenness. When my spirit was fractured by outside sources and I questioned everything about me. When I searched for value in me and what I've done and came up empty. When I didn't find hope. Somehow I was reminded Whose child I am. When I remembered God's love for me brokenness was revealed as temporary, and a deep, foundational, mountain-like confidence erupted and grew. It was somehow supernatural.
Peace. Strength. Confidence. When I taste them here it's supernatural. It's an interruption of the normal. That taste is a finger of an eternal God leaving a print inside a limited universe. But….
There will be a day when I will swim in what I now know as a drop. There will a day when what is a miracle will be life. Not a humdrum "normal" that is bored with abundance, but an awe filled celebration of the Father's full provision of what I long for now. When I walk into a land whose calendar has one page on it labeled "forever" what is supernatural now will become natural.
Until then - I'm am His.
In faith,
Pastor Dave