01/07/11 - MUFHH - John 14:9

I am aware of and long for greater intimacy with Jesus. I know there is more than I already experience, and that it is available to me here in this life. I suspect my fears and prolonged patterns hinder me from reaching deeper. But I long for the transcendent peace which the Spirit produces in someone intimate with Jesus. I also hope. I believe that I can make myself more available to Jesus, and that He wants to draw me deeper into Himself. So I have tottering baby steps to take out of my hindering fears and patterns and toward my Savior.

01/06/11 - MUFHH - Genesis 12:8

Abram pitched his tent between between the "House of God" and "The Ruins". There he built an altar and called upon the Name of Yahweh.

I believe a lot of my life, probably most of it, is spent right there. It's a good lesson to learn that in the 'tweens I can, and should, create fixtures of worship and call out to God; even if I may not be there for long.

01/05/11 - MUFHH - John 13:36

When Jesus points out my weakness, I hope there will be a caveat like Peter receives in John 13:36. "But you will follow afterwards." At least the knowledge that I won't always be making these same silly mistakes would help me through the process where I do.

I know growth happens and even my mistakes God uses to build my character, but I'd much rather save myself the heartache and learn the lesson quickly. It seems I am a slow learner.

01/04/11 - MUFHH - John 13:37

One of my struggles as a believer is perceiving God's will. One of the biggest problems I face in that struggle is distinguishing God's will from my own; God's voice from the voice of my own desires.
In John 13:37, so did Peter. Here though Jesus also wanted Peter to follow, but knew he was not able. Peter's question uses a passive verb as if any inability is not his fault, but someone else hindering him.
Where do I face the same challenge to follow Jesus? Where is my invisible line of ability drawn? And do I, follow anyway, as Peter did only to fail in the midst of my enemies?
Well, I will follow, fail occasionally, but always swim to the beach where Jesus stands, resurrected, ready to receive me back.

01/03/11 - MUFHH - Psalm 97:2

Jesus reigns in glory, but from the vantage point of my place here on earth, He is also shrouded in clouds of deep darkness. It is my limitations in perceiving the Master of this unimaginable universe that makes up the shroud. And I think of it as a Great Nebula in space. These are enormous places of darkness where stars form. As new bright stars emerge, their bright light reflects off the huge hydrogen cloud. That is the only way anyone can see a nebula. Jesus is so holy and enormously divine, He can only be perceived in the reflection of the things He does.

So the love which drove the Master of the Universe to a manger and then a cross, which pulled Him from the grave and back into the heavens shines against the dark cloud about Him. This is the light of my soul.

01/02/11 - MUFHH - Hebrews 11:8

Hebrews 11:8 - Abraham goes forth without knowing the place. He goes with direction, purpose, and end in sight (inheritance). But without knowing anything about his destination. Does he even want to inherit it? Are the people nice? Do they know he's there to "inherit" their land? As it turns out, he doesn't see that day of inheritance. And the only battle he fights is against people of his place of origin (Mesopotamia) and not Canaan. He ends his life owning a burial plot and passing his nomadic life on to his son. So he followed the direction to the unknown place, and never saw the end. Can I go out daily without knowing the details, trusting that Jesus knows them, and let that be enough? It is kinda the story of my married life. This my be another of those years of migration. I will go out without knowledge, again. I hope they build character, because they aren't fun.

01/01/11 - MUFHH - Philippians 1:20

Philippians 1:20 - The letters of Paul written from prison highlight a foundational inconsistency of mine. I read of his drive to glorify Jesus in any circumstance, written from some of the worst. I read from the comfort of safety, without physical persecution. My faith has not been tested in his arena. In fact, my faith has not been challenged much at all. So where does this passage intersect with my life? In two places. My arena is one of arguments. So I must strive to glorify my Savior at whatever personal cost by tearing down philosophical strongholds contrary to Jesus as Lord. Second, like the prayers and petitions of the Philippian believers encouraged Paul, so I must pray for the persecuted fellow believers across the globe. I want to be accepted, and praying for people I don't know does not hold my attention for long. But it is time to stop whining, grab the sword and shield, and take my place in line with the rest.