Bonnie J Martin

peace

Humility vs Arrogance

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I make mistakes. Who wants to admit to that? It seems I make many. Not always intentional. Some from lack of self-control or disobedience. Some from ignorance. Some just blatantly ridiculous, I am left wondering how that just happened.

I discovered one this week that had been hidden in plain sight. My mind immediately wanted to blame someone else. I even searched through to find where someone else may have made the error. Surely it wasn’t me. And even if it wasn’t me, how would I let others that needed the correct version of the work know about the mistake. 

First things first, the error had to be corrected. That in itself was a chore! It took time to go back and research some events from years ago. Once done, it made a significant change. The inner wrestle of when and how to share the correction.

I felt nauseous. My head hurt. I wanted so badly to run and hide. I didn’t want to admit this mistake. I felt stupid. Embarrassed. Unworthy of having a position of trust.

Then an oversight is brought to my attention. Just kick me when I am low. The work had been done but the follow-up fell short. Again, the wrestle with how to address. 

Shaking my hurting head at this point.

Just do it.

Just right the wrong and move on.

My wrongs accumulate in my mind, even when corrected, and become reminders of my imperfection. I wear them as badges of defeat, not honor. I hold on to them tightly. They are mounded high and wide around me. Me in the center, desperately trying to tunnel my way out.

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. 1 Peter 5:5 NASB

Proud me didn’t want to admit anything wrong. But holding on to the wrong hurt more that admitting the mistake. Will others forgive it and move on or hold on to it and let it influence the perception of me? Not mine to decide if I have righted the wrong.

Thankful that some mistakes can be corrected. Thankful that even if other people won’t forgive, God will. Thankful for the grace He gives to me. Thankful He allows me to find that tunnel out from under all my wrongs and brings me to the foot of the cross. Thankful for the relief from the burden of mistakes through confession and correction and placing my feet on the rock.

Prince of Peace

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For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (NASB)

The news blared loud from the screen hanging on the wall. It was too much to take. Robbery. Murder. Scandal. War. Terrorism. Disease. Political nightmares. Financial distress. Suicide. Natural disasters.

Its all there and more. Sometimes I think the media alone could cause the ruin of a country and even the world. Choices made to broadcast far and wide the worst of the worst. It sells. It is sensational to watch the images run across screens. Supposedly far removed from the confines of my living room. But are they?

When I can’t take it anymore, it gets turned off. The ones living it can’t turn it off. Despite the media placing spins on situations, there is destruction and desperation. There are lives in peril. And there have been since the beginning of time. There will continue to be.

But there is hope. Wrapped up in layers of cloth, He was placed in an animal feeding trough, sitting in a dark, cold barn with animals and their mess. He was placed in the midst of us. He left the comfort of His home to join us in ours. In all our mess, He shows up. 

He doesn’t mind the floor in need of sweeping.

He doesn’t mind the laundry piled high.

He doesn’t mind the scum in the shower.

He doesn’t mind the dust on the lamp.

He doesn’t mind the stain on the front of your shirt.

He doesn’t mind that thing you did five minutes ago that you regret.

He doesn’t mind that thought you let go too far.

He came. As Wonderful Counselor. Seek His counsel. He wants you to. Just call on Him.

He came. As Mighty God. Fear Him. A reverential fear knowing His power. Just look around at His creation.

He came. As Eternal Father. Rest in Him. Perfect protection. Everlasting provision. Rely on Him.

He came. As Prince of Peace. When you know Him, you know peace. If you don’t know Him, allow me to introduce you to the Savior of my soul.

He came as a baby. To create a path for us to follow. It is a path of love that is incomprehensible. In the middle of all the nasty, rotten junk that I think and do, He reached down and said I am forgiven after I reached the end of me. I had to look to Him. I had to recognize Who He is. And I had to ask for forgiveness. But He forgave. He replaced my hurt and regret with peace and love. He gave me mercy. He gave me grace.

He will do the same for you.

Leap for Joy

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I have carried three babies. I remember over 30 years ago the first flutter of movement with my very first child. It was like a paint brush stroking the inside of my abdomen. A light swoosh of movement, that until you feel it, you don’t know it. Until you experience it, you can’t explain it. It grabs your attention.

As she grew inside me, I could begin to detect her head and her knees and her feet. Small knots protruding under my skin. She could kick. Her brothers could too. I loved to lay on my back or sit real still. My movement kept them rocked comfortably. But let me be still and they wiggled. Feet would always stretch to push against my taut skin.

I am thankful for those memories. I am thankful to have known their presence before I could see their faces. I knew them. They were part of me. They were attached to me. 

Elizabeth was a little older than I was during pregnancy. Well, she was probably much older. Blessed with one that had been promised. Blessed with one that would be a leader. Blessed with one that would be radical in his day. Blessed with one that was already aware of the presence of his Savior while in the womb.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! “And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? “For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.” Luke 1:41-45 (NASB)

I can get so wrapped up in the two mothers here. Maybe because I am a mother. Maybe because here, two women, very different ages, very different life circumstances, both very pregnant, both carrying a man-child that would proclaim good news. One a forerunner to lead the way and prepare the fertile ground for planting seeds and sowing them ahead of the One that would come to finish the work.

I think John was getting ready in the womb. He was already doing push-ups and squats. And apparently, from what Elizabeth said, he was jumping. If you have ever been pregnant, you know what she means! But I have to think that was a little more significant than seeing baby feet imprints on a swollen belly. 

This boy leaped for joy. It was a holy moment. It filled his mother with the Holy Spirit. It caused her to cry out loudly. She had no way of knowing about Mary’s condition. Mary’s mom didn’t have a cell phone. And neither did Elizabeth. But Mary showed up unannounced. And when she did John went wild.

Joy. He was excited. He wanted to reach out and touch Jesus. Imagine a little tiny hand desperately wanting to reach his Savior through his mother’s skin. Jumping, leaping, hands raised high, praising the Messiah. A baby in the womb.

Does your joy look different than John’s? Maybe your joy is an inner peace that exudes throughout your chest and fills your senses with silent anticipation of all is well. Or maybe your joy is a smile across your face even when times are tough. Is it raising your hands in worship, no matter where you are or who you are with? 

Where are you recognizing your joy? Do you recognize it?

Are you so wrapped up in the wrapping paper and countless events of the season that you miss the joy of it? The season of expectation. The season of hope. The season of joy.

Take time to be aware. Recognize the presence of joy. Realize the source of joy. Worship the Messiah this season.

Practice

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Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9

What do you practice? Music? Art? Sports? Profession? Shopping? Cooking Eating? Scouring Social Media? Precepts of God?

Evidence of practices consume us daily. Always running to the next practice, whatever that practice looks like. Do we all have some inner voice that pushes us to find our best selves in something? Is your practice bringing you peace?

Paul reminded the Philippians to practice those things they had ‘learned or received or heard from’ him. Do you know those things? I shared them yesterday. Go ahead and look.

To practice anything is to intentionally set your mind and body and heart to focus on that specific something you want. Do you want peace?

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5

This practice can be done in the middle of all other practices. It just might make those other practices a little more pleasant. Let me know how it goes.