The Tablet: Writing For the Heart

Nov

being made ready

By couch 1 Comment

Categories: Uncategorized

Yes, it hurts. No, its’ not always pretty. This being made ready.

Yes, it burns. No, its’ definitely accomplishing something good. Being made ready.

Yes, there’s more. No, we’re not nearly done yet. Still being made ready.

Yes, brokenness runs deep. No, His love must run deeper. In order to be made ready.

Yes, its’ time for judgment to begin in the house of God. No, not yet the world. We’re not ready.

Yes, the veil has been torn. No, not only that veil - the one over the darkness in our hearts. Ready?

Yes, it is wisdom to fall on the Rock. No, don’t think you don’t have to go there. All must be ready.

Yes, its’ easier not to get our hands dirty. No, we can’t avoid it forever. We must make ourselves ready.

Yes, the stumbling blocks are being removed. No, we don’t know all the details. But He’s quite ready.

Yes, gather to stand and hear the voice of the Bridegroom. No, not just them. Altogether already.

Yes, He is returning soon. No, much sooner than that. And His prayer is that He’d find us ready.

Yes, ready or not, here He comes. No, not halfway - all the way down. And so must we - to be ready.

(Rev. 19:7 - “Let us be glad and rejoice…for the Bride has made herself ready.”)

Nov

let us never forget

By couch 1 Comment

Categories: Poetry

We are the church of light.

We are the church of the firstborn from the dead.

We are the church of the resurrection unto eternal life.

We are the church of Jesus Christ.

We are the nation born from above.

We are the nation of priests who minister life.

We are the nation that will transcend to another age.

We are the nation of Jesus Christ.

We are the people born of undying love.

We are the people deeply connected to love Incarnate.

We are the people connected by communion.

We are the people of Jesus Christ.

We are the body that is whole yet broken for love.

We are the body who walks not by the Spirit of this age.

We are the body that stands firm amidst the onslaught.

We are the body of Jesus Christ.

Nov

right now is the right time

By couch 1 Comment

Categories: Poetry and revelation

Right now is the right time. Do you want to see?

Right now is the right time. Do you want to hear?

It’s for you. It’s for me. The door is opening, and the light is shining through.

It’s the entrance of light. It’s the entrance of His Word.

It’s the entrance of His Word that brings light.

The light that brings understanding. The light that brings insight. It’s for you. It’s for me.

Right now is the right time. Woe - for many are turned aside.

Right now is the right time. Whoa - turn aside! Behold a bush, aflame of fire but not consumed.

I want to get down low, crawl close to the cracked door that is opening.

I want to get down low, cover my ears to what others are turned aside to and listen to the Word.

Tenderly calling. A voice - I can hear through the opening door. Who will come? Who will listen?

Gently whispering. A voice - I can hear through the light and flame. Who will understand the strategy?

Come up here, come up now, my beloved, and I will show you what must take place after this.

For now is the right time. Am I listening?

For now is the right time. To whom or what am I turned aside?

Blessed is the man who meditates on this Word, this light, in the day, and in the night.

(Psalm 119:130; Revelation 4:1; Psalm 1:1; Daniel 2:21)

Oct

the dignity of free choice - part 1

By couch 4 Comments

Categories: Articles and revelation

We’ve all heard it before - if God is all-loving, why does he allow suffering? I’m not tired of this question, it’s valid. What I’m tired of is the answer that is often given, one that I’ve given at times myself. The typical answer includes lots of disclaimers such as “God’s ways are higher than ours” and “I’m not completely sure”, answers that leave the hearer/asker with much to be desired. Not that these answers aren’t true in some sense, but there is a richness in the Word of God (the person and the text) that needs to be searched out, and our lack of depth here not only robs us of key understanding, but others of “an answer for the hope we profess”. In other words, we are missing a key opportunity to share the Word of Life when we give a shallow answer.

For sure, there is no reason to be fake, or to be dishonest about your own struggles in understanding the great mystery of God. But I know for a fact that even in those times the Holy Spirit within us is yearning to speak to us and through us. I by no means have massive revelation on this question, but I do think I’m getting somewhere as I learn God. Often, insight into the journey is more important, and often gives a greater answer than the destination itself.

I’m considering this after listening to Matt Candler talk about the privilege we humans have in prayer. He was sharing that in his study of the Word, he has not found one place where Angels ask God for anything. Not once in all recorded scripture do angels intercede for anything before the great majesty, before the Holiest of All, before the All-Consuming Fire of God. As the old hymn declares, we have access where “angels fear to tread”, the place of standing before the One who fills all in all to ask Him for anything. Anything! Imagine! And why us?

Angels are so mighty that they often come in great power and glory, heralding great messages, bringing great visions, destroying entire cities, so much so that many eat the dust at the mere site of them! And yet, they look at us, “weak” us, and they “long to look into such things”. (1 Peter 1:12) Why? Because they learn about the nature of God from watching how He honors us to participate in the outworking of His image.

Because we, unlike them nor anything else in the created order, were created in God’s image. Without unpacking that entirely, think about this. God is God, and He made us to reflect Him, just as my image in the mirror reflects me. We are meant to reflect what God is like, how He feels, and how He acts - the ultimate example and perfect representation being Jesus Christ, the God-man, God incarnate in the flesh from the inside out. And the uniqueness we share with God is that we are given the dignity of free choice. God the Father doesn’t make Himself love His Son, but He voluntarily loves Him out of His own free will. If anyone has free-will, it’s God! And He chooses to love Himself, and He chooses to love us, demonstrated most spectacularly through His voluntary death on the cross. We are created in God’s image, and as He absolutely honors and appreciates his own ability to choose to love us (in order to reveal His nature) He honors the created man with the same dignity.

This is one of the reasons I think Calvinism is so dangerous, as it can truly and seriously do damage to understanding the very character of God, which will lead to a false understanding of who we are and our own destinies in Him. I have more to say about that, but for now let me focus back on free-choice.

Much has been said about God giving us the privilege to choose Him, and to voluntarily love Jesus because He first loved us. That’s amazing in of itself, but the flip side of that is that He has even honored the human race enough to allow unspeakable atrocity to occur in order to maintain His intended promise, the dignity of choice, to us. We are still allowed to choose, even if we choose evil and pollute the world with sin so that it “staggers and reels like a drunkard.” (Isaiah 24:20)

Why is suffering allowed by a God of love? Because a God of love demonstrates what true love is by giving those He loves the dignity to choose Him, or the alternative, themselves. God never meant us for suffering, but the devil has. And the amazing thing is - God will ultimately give us ALL what we ask for. Is this truly love, giving us the ability to choose what could ultimately destroy us? Yes, because where there is no freedom of choice, there is no freedom to love. And where there is no freedom of love, there is no freedom of God, because God is love. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

His freedom shows us the Truth, which woos our heart to understand the wisdom and glory of choosing Him. And when we choose Truth, we know the Truth, and He sets us even more free! (John 8:32)

And why, does the scripture say we were set free?

“For it is for freedom’s sake Christ set us free.” (Gal. 5:1) Hallelujah!

Oct

conceiving and building

By couch 1 Comment

Categories: Heart

“What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life.” - Psalm 51:6 (MSG)

We all love it when our life in God is effortless, and we feel alive in His presence. Circumstances intertwine with new-found joy and peace and outflows communion with God. We are experiencing God and our partnership with Him feels tangible.

Then there is the opposite. Where did He go? Did I do something wrong? Even the most basic things in our life in Him seem arduous and devoid of His presence. We are restless, truth isn’t sitting well in us, and nothing comes as easy as in the previous days. The faucet is still turned on, but there’s nothing coming out anymore!

In seeking to know God, we often focus on His characteristics (His omniscience, meekness, power, etc), which is a very powerful and necessary activity. But just as important is how those characteristics cause Him to act towards us, and work inside of us. We need to not only know God’s character, but become familiar with how He works in our lives, that we may not be so “caught off guard” at His dealings with us. This is called knowing His ways, which flow out of who He is.

In my experience, these “opposite” times when God doesn’t seem near are critical moments when we can really dive deep into the “hidden wisdom” (1Cor. 2:6-7) of God and come out with some real understanding. If we can just get past the initial offense of “what’s wrong” we can begin to settle in and search God out. First, we recognize what He is doing in our lives. We realize we are in a season where He is calling us beyond our practical experience and into a deeper realm of faith. It doesn’t mean He isn’t there or that there won’t be times where we do feel Him again, but we recognize that He is building truth in us by faith. When we recognize how He is working in us, we can then follow that trail back to who God is, seeing His goodness and delight in working in us.

To put it a different way, God’s desire is for us to know Him by faith, so that we don’t ultimately trust in feelings or our own understanding as our barometer of His active involvement and heart towards us. When we can’t feel Him, we can either be offended and slip away from Him, or take the invitation to dive deep into His Word and search Him out by faith. Whether we feel it or not, the Holy Spirit is filling us with the true, new life of Christ!

When we feel Him, we are actively experiencing Him, and that points to His goodness. When we don’t, He is actively conceiving truth and building us through our faith-choice, and that points to His goodness. Be encouraged, for God’s goodness is His glory! (Ex. 33:19)

Sep

sick of saying it

By couch 1 Comment

Categories: revelation

Over and over again my heart cries - “Lord, I’m not worthy!” “Lord, who am I?”

I’m sick of saying it, sick of saying it over and over again.

I want my cry to be - “Lord, you are worthy!” “Lord, who are you that you would love me?”

“For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you.”
(Isaiah 64:4)

The world has seen many who are not worthy, that is no spectacular revelation.

The world has tried many and proved them wanting; there is nothing new under the sun about man.

“‘Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy….” (Revelation 5:4)

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory. For there are none that are worthy and then…

The Word comes to all those who are in that painful place, all of those who are overwhelmed with the revelation of their own weakness, their own barrenness, their own unworthiness.

The Word comes as the blessing to all those who are mourning. (Luke 8:44)

The Word comes as the answer to all those who are hungering. (John 6:32)

The Word comes as the quenching to all those who thirst. (John 4:14)

The Word comes as the treasure to all those who are searching. (Matt. 13:46)

The Word comes to those who are sick of saying ‘unworthy’, and are lifting their eyes again. (Matt. 8:8)

And the word is —> “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne. He has won the victory! He is worthy to open the scroll and the seven seals!” (Rev. 5:5)

Sep

winning gold over the constant hurdle

By couch 1 Comment

Categories: revelation

I’m finding that one of the most difficult things to overcome in attempting to live a life of prayer is focusing on your own weakness. Truly, the number one thing that hinders me while I’m trying to spend time with the Lord worshipping, praying, even reading is trying not to focus on myself, what I’m not feeling, and what I’m not doing right. Its like the bug you keep wanting to swat, but it keeps buzzing around your head. You think that its’ dead after you lash out at it a few times, but again and again it comes.

So, how to overcome this seemingly constant hurdle? Well, we tell ourselves, we have to focus on the Lord. And when it gets off, keep focusing back on Him. Back and back we will turn our minds, lifting them from the pit of self-analyzing and the desert of self-trying to set them on things above where Christ is seated in restful righteousness, our heavenly advocate and true righteousness. This is all very good and necessary, but I’m coming to realize something even more helpful.

Jesus said in Matthew 5, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” I think this may be the key to getting back that heavenly mindset and keeping it there. Jesus is actually telling us we are blessed when we realize our own spiritual poverty, our own lack, our own need! When we recognize our weakness and complete dependence on Him always, that is more than half the battle already won. Let me explain.

In my case, and you can tell me yours, I begin to focus on myself when I’m expecting myself to say the right prayers and feel the right emotions in response to what I’m reading or thinking about in God. When I don’t feel the way I expected, or can’t predict what will happen in my heart, I get upset and begin to analyze why and what issues I have and basically try to “minister to myself” - completely putting my focus on myself, no longer abiding in the vine. I’m not saying all personal examination is bad, but most of us don’t have the problem of examining ourselves too little, we don’t examine His true greatness enough!

Instead of that, Jesus says in essence - Blessed are those who recognize they are in of themselves weak and completely dependent on God, because when they do that, then all of heaven is open to them! Why? Because they have ceased striving to “attain”, ceased trying to “formula-rize” everything, and began to tap into the true strength of Jesus. Instead of trying to figure out how to kill that annoying fly or jump that hurdle correctly, I see their very presence as a launching pad into access to the kingdom within me! As God said to Paul, “My power is made perfect in your weakness.”

I want to search this out more and encourage you to do the same. Now, when I go to pray and encounter a colder heart than I expected or the revelation of my need to new depths, I’m going to rejoice! I’m going to say to that buzzing fly, to that constant hurdle - I rejoice in you, because He didn’t come for people to have it all together, but to bring the kingdom of heaven to those who truly need it!

Aug

the serious implications

By couch 1 Comment

Categories: Uncategorized

Can you consider for a moment, yea for longer than a moment, the serious implications of the following statement –> God is love. God, whose omnipotence can not be measured, God, whose omniscience eternity can not contain. God, the one and only - Holy God, He is love.

Can you consider for a moment, yea for longer than a moment, the serious implications of the following statement –> His Name is Jealous. God, who is higher than the heavens, God, who cannot be escaped nor denied. God, the one who feels deeply and acts with radical passion, He is jealous.

Not mere devotional fodder, these realities have extremely radical implications for everyone living on the earth. Every eye shall behold Him, shall behold Love, shall behold Jealous.

Not mere theological currency, these realities bring entire ages of human history to bear and to close. No man, no angel, no created being can even begin to stop the ultimate, the transcendent One.

Jealous is His Name, an All-Consuming fire. All. Consuming. Fire.

Jealous is His Name, more fierce in passion that the grave. Fiercer. Than. Death.

He is after the hearts of men more than anyone has ever been after anything. Ever.

He is after the voluntary affection of that which is the inheritance of His beloved Son. Jesus.

Whole-hearted, hot pursuit by the God whose name is Jealous.

Whole-hearted, hot pursuit by the God who is a living flame of Love.

Woe to anything that hinders love.

Woe to the enemy of the King on His wedding Day.

(1 John 4:8, Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24, 9:3, Hebrews 12:29, Songs 8:6-7, Revelation 19:7-9)

Jun

as a tiger thinks in his heart

By couch 2 Comments

Categories: Simplicity and revelation

The Bible has something very interesting to say in Proverbs 23:7 - "For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." (NKJV)

Monday afternoon I was with my other parents (Jenny’s) in San Marcos taking a small respite after a long morning to watch the US Open Golf Tournament reach its dramatic conclusion. If your not familiar with it, Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate tied for the first four rounds and needed a fifth on Monday to crown this year’s champion. I don’t often watch sports, but I would have to say that the 30 minutes I watched was probably some of the best sports I have ever seen. Back and forth the two players went, with amazing shots under huge pressure. 24,000 came out to watch those two lone players battle it out, and with great grace they did, Tiger Woods finally emerging victorious.

As I sat there with Jen and her parents, a commercial came on from Nike. First let me say that I am a huge fan of Nike commercials, I think they are (for what I’ve seen) very well done. This one featured old video clips of Tiger Woods and his father Earl Woods. In the voice-over, Earl Woods, who has since passed from this life, talked about how he would coach his son in his youth. He talked about various techniques he would use to keep Tiger focused, and how he would constantly challenge him to be better. There was one statement, however, that really hit me - at first it struck me as ridiculous.

Earl said, "I would tell Tiger - ‘Tiger, I promise you you’ll never meet another person that is as mentally tough as you the rest of your life’." What? Can you imagine making that statement to anyone, much less your own son? How can anybody know that? The statement seems ludicrous.

But to this day - the legitimacy of that statement has rung true. Time after time, the man Tiger Woods has overcome in countless pressure situations to become arguably one of the greatest golfers, if not one of the greatest athletes, of all time. And how does he have it in him?

Simple - he has always believed what his father told him. And so he has thought in his heart, so he is.

How did Earl Woods know what to say over his son? He most likely didn’t. He just believed in him and developed what was in him with words of affirmation and life. The power of life and death are in the tongue, and Tiger’s father spoke into him identity, encouragement, and strength - and his success today is due to the simple fact that he has believed it. Of course, there are long hours of practice and performance, but none of those would even be possible nor worthwhile if it weren’t for his Father’s words to spur him on in good times and bad.

Oh that we as the church would believe what our Father says about us. Its’ the only way for us to be what He’s purposed us to be. Simple? Not really. Powerful? We had better believe it.

Jun

simple, yet profoundly glorious

By couch 1 Comment

Categories: Dilemmas

The other week I heard a local (B/CS) pastor say the following: "I am getting sick of this ‘new theology’ that proclaims that God sent Jesus to die on the cross only to fulfill ‘His glory’. I’m telling you today they are missing it! Jesus didn’t die on the cross to make God look bigger, He died on the cross because HE LOVED US." As you can imagine, I reached back for an extra something on my amen for that!

Curious that the pastor used the term ‘new theology’ when describing this. After pondering it through, and searching the scriptures, I’ve concluded that he is absolutely right - it is a new theology. The old theology, that of the apostles and Christ Himself, was that Jesus died on the cross because "God so loved the world" (John 3:16). And as the people of God rightly cry out in Psalm 79:9 "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your Name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!", we arrive at the crucial question - does God ‘use’ love to arrive at His glory or is His glory His love itself?

This may sound like splitting theological hairs, but the logical conclusions of each leave us in profoundly different places with the very character of God. In the first, love is merely the card God plays to checkmate His opponent, sin and death, that he may arrive at his final and most basic motive, His own glory. I would suggest this completely misreads the heart of God, and in fact, the very definition of what ‘Glory’ means. The second conclusion, that God’s glory is His great love and that His love is His glory, gives us the understanding that God does not have love as a tool to use for His glory sake - but that He, in of Himself, is LOVE! (1 John 4:8) Therefore, any revealing of His glory is the revelation of who He in of Himself is, that is - Love. If the ultimate manifestation of God Almighty is at the cross, then the simple, yet profoundly glorious revelation is that God is love.

"And this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

"In this case the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Cor. 4:4)

Jesus is the image of God, revealing the gospel of God, which is the gospel of glory. Jesus, being the fullness of the God-head bodily (Col. 2:9) is the revelation of the character of God. His sacrificial life and death reveal the most glorious but simple truth, that God is love!

Even a babe in Christ understands this, so why don’t some of our theologians?

Search