dead... and dying

Colossians 3:3

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:5

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you...

I find the scriptures amazing.

Like its Author, it defies our human boxes and limitations while presenting truth and light for our (very human) path. It figures out ways of saying that things ARE in fact right/wrong while opening doors that help us find freedom, perspective and rescue in an ever changing landscape. It shows us which life is REAL... while at the same time helping us see what real LIFE is.

It is a breathtaking collection of God's words.

As we have progressed through Colossians we have seen many incredible examples of God's powerful Voice... but one in particular struck me this week as we talked. It is found in verses 3 & 5 of chapter 3. Paul tells us that we are dead men/women walking... that we have a new life hidden in Christ. It is connected to the imagery used earlier with baptism - we have died WITH Christ and are now something different... a new creation, a new man, a child of light.

YET

Two verses later Paul tells us that we must put to death that which is earthly... which feels very real to my very human heart.

But wait... which is it Paul. Are we dead and hidden in Christ OR are we wrestling with ourselves and trying to put to death that which is earthly.

The answer of course is, "yes."

But knowing that we need more than to just "know" that we have to fight everyday for this life in Christ... God gives us in His scriptures through His servant Paul the most powerful tool He can - He gives us hope. Hope of who we REALLY are. Hope of who we CAN become. Hope in WHO really holds us in Himself.

And hope does not disappoint... Romans 5:5!

prayer for this day

Lord help me be the me that looks the most like You.
And help my heart to beat the way that it's supposed to.
Guide each look today, each word a precious gift.
Use this simple life to bring joy, hope, faith and lift...
to those who's hearts have faltered, who's lives feel at their end.
Your Spirits touch. Your Fathers heart. A blood bought life. Amen.

feels like worship

Psalm 66:1-4

Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name."
Selah

I am sitting here at my kitchen table this morning listening to the sound of the rain hitting the pavement outside (YES, it does occasionally rain here in So Cal)... I love rain... especially when you haven't had it for 40 days straight. I think it is because (to me) it represents cleansing, freshness... even newness. It reminds me on my childhood.

I remember the storms that used to move across the prairies where I grew up. It would be dry, dusty and lifeless yellow everywhere you'd look. The air (and everything else) seemed thin... without substance.

And then...

in a moment...

you could feel the shift.

The air would become heavier and begin to smell like Spring at the lake. And it would begin to move, like it was alive... you could feel the storm coming. And though the sky would still be light blue from one gigantic end to the other you KNEW the storm was coming. After a while the edge of the giant blue sheet would turn purple... then almost black... and it would move with steady, constant power from one edge to the other. And when the storm hit it was like some sort of misplaced tsunami or tidal wave. The rain wasn't a mist or even drops... it felt like my Labrador's tongue as he licks my hand... womp, womp, womp. In a moment you are soaked. In an instant the dust and dryness was gone. You could cut the air with your hand. And as quick as it arrived, it would vanish... except for the amazing smells and sights of newness and life.

It feels like redemption.

It feels like new life.

It feels like worship.

writing again...

It's interesting how we as people put off things that are good for us... like exercise. Repentance. Eating better. Forgiving one another. Learning something new... or old. Changing our rhythms. Getting better at procrastinating...

Sometimes I think when we put things off long enough we don't just forget that they are good for us... we forget who we are. Yeah, I know, some of the nagging voices just need to be let go. They are voices that are trying to remake us into an image that we were never intended to be. But the other voices (or maybe Voice) represent a type of hope... one that we must learn not to be afraid of... one we must learn to embrace if we are to become who God is calling us to be.

So here is to a new year of hopes yet realized... and verses yet unwritten.

NC Advent

I know I have been less present as of late on this blog (as I mentioned last, there has been more to think about than write as of late) BUT I thought I might point you at our NC Golden Hill blog to see some pictures from an activity that Britany and I led this Sunday. The pictures were taken and posted by Jon Hall... thanks Jon.

The details...
The hand made manger scene was the starting point for a discussion on what the different people/creatures who were a part of the advent experience must have been feeling... Mary, Joesph, Wise men, Shepherds, Angels, star?! and God the Father. It was a cool discussion.

The hand made advent wreath contained many of the symbols of our traditional advent wreaths with the wreath itself built out of post-it-notes. Each note contained a hope for the new year... each star a promise of what God could do...

Blessings in this Christmas season friends!

all things new...

Revelation 21:4-6

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."... And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

So... we have finally landed! After what has been a marathon furlough (almost 10 weeks) we have finally begun the process of settling in. The top pic is of our temporary rental home until we find something more permanent (keep praying for our house search). The second pic is of our street... only a short hop to the center of San Diego! (we've already met most of our next-door-neighbors)

You know those times when you are really in need of some hope... when things feel so far beyond your control... so far out of control... Britany the kids and I are in that place right now. Tired. Overwhelmed by change. Missing our friends in Glasgow like crazy. Missing our church. Missing our neighborhood. Missing "normal". We need some reminding of Who it is that IS in control. It can seem almost cliche in these times to draw on some picture of heaven that feels so far removed and so far beyond where we are...

YET

Right now we are mourning. Right now we are crying. Right now we are feeling pain. And the best way I can describe my heart is as thirsty... I need living water that doesn't cost anything (California is VERY expensive). It's ironic because right now everything IS new and all we can think about is what was... we need to be made new on the inside... re"new"ed I guess.

SO

For any of you who have kept up with us this summer and are still reading this BLOG we could sure use your prayers.

Lord, move in my heart (move in our hearts) make us new inside so that we can be the lights you have called us to. Quench our thirst Lord with Your living water. Revive our focus and our purpose... help us to fix our eyes on You in the midst of our circumstances.

Amen.

stuff

We have been pretty busy as of late what with Britany's medical tests, moving AND doing a little demolition at RE:hope... here is Brit's latest update!

Hey friends,

What an amazing God we serve! This day was a God given day from the moment we woke up to the Dr "unofficially" closed my case... to the peace Tim and I are feeling - It has been a God given day.

Do we understand any more about the journey God has had us on (from spots on the brain to holes in my heart)?

No, but we are filled with a renewed hope and trust in our Savior.

What now for the McDonald clan? We move forward with the saying of goodbyes and the moving of our belongings... June 4th is the day we will officially leave Glasgow! We will do our furlough (and fundraising) in Canada and Portland and then we will (God willing) settle our clan in San Diego and stop... and see how I feel after that. We have learned so much it is hard to even express it all. Though I still have the symptoms, it feels like we at least have a little closure.

We are so thankful for all your prayers... please keep praying! We still need to raise a lot of funds AND get this little herd into a new life in one peace. New position. New country. New home. New culture... so much will be new! Thank you again.

blessings on you all,
Britany and the clan

India takeaways sitting in Café Nero LHR… 3

Hebrews 10:22-25

...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Third, I feel the challenge in my spirit (from THE Spirit) to not hold my tongue so much in my world. As it does with these faith filled followers in India, my love for Christ must compel me to speak more about Him and bear an increasing testimony of His greatness… His power to heal… His saving name… in faith… to all those I meet. This is especially true with the message of hope that is in my heart. I must live a life of hope (as my friends here in India do) and I must carry a message of hope with in my heart and on my tongue… for the sake of this world and His kingdom come. I have been convicted by my own message.

Lord, let me draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with my heart sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and my body washed with pure water. Let me hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for I know that YOU who promised is faithful. And fill my mind with fresh ways to stir up those around me to love and good works... Lord, make me more like this I pray.

friends, hope and forgiveness

Psalm 71:14

But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

Yesterday Pastor Brian preached a great message on hope from the life of David - you can listen to the message at RE:hope's website (it's the most recent one). I love the community I worship with... my church. I love it because of the many friends that I have there. I love it because of the great times of musical worship. I love it for how it is always asking how it can love people better. I love it for its passion for God's Word. I love it for being a real community (imperfect and being perfected) amidst the many facades. I love it for what it stands for... and what it stands against.

What does it stand for and against you ask?

For HOPE and against Hopelessness... it is, after all, regarding Hope!

But, one of the things I love the most about my church is that it challenges me. This week I found a place inside my soul that I needed to "do business" with. Not just in a quiet "make-it-disappear" way but in a public "right-it-in-a-blog" way. With out going into too many details of the sermon, at one point our Pastor was talking about the opposition David faced from the many people in his community... friends, family and authorities. He talked about how they were hope "suckers" in David's life - standing against his life, heart and belief's about who he was and who he believed God was. As I sat and listened I found myself saddened by what I was hearing.

I have in my life gone through seasons where I was the voice of hope in a dark place... and in fact I believe that God has placed a call in my life in that area. I believe in the power of hope. I believe in its power to change people in the present with a picture of what will be... a powerful belief (and especially appropriate on Martin Luther King Day). But I have also gone through seasons where I have lost that voice... lost that picture... lost my hope. I became one of David's hope "suckers" and unfortunately, in the midst of these tough last few years, those seasons have been more prevalent... and I believe my community has suffered for it.

And so, for those whom I may have affected in these past seasons... I ask for your forgiveness. I am so sorry that I did not represent Jesus or my calling well. I confess that I lost my way in alleyways of discouragement and confusion... and that I became preoccupied by own issues, entanglements and anxieties. But I also confess to you that Jesus makes all things new and that though I know I am prone to fall my confidence is not in my "self" but it is in the power of God to change a heart of stone into a heart of flesh. I believe in the power of hope and I want to say with David, "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."

Do Your work Lord in me. Amen.