Put That On My Account

Philemon 1:18 – “But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.”

Onesimus was a runaway slave.  While in his state of being a runaway, the Holy Spirit converted him through Paul’s effort.  This is an amazing visual aid of our story.  The enemy  entered into our territory and took us captive.  We ran away.  Jesus stepped in and said, “Put that on My account.”

Are there those that have wronged you?  Does someone owe you something?  Are you willing to assume this role of intercession by saying “put this on my account?”  Another way of saying this is, “Father, forgive them.  They do not know what they are doing.”  Recognize that when you have done it unto the least of them, you have done it unto Him. 

This goes for what we deem as good or as bad.  Often what we feel is bad is an invitation to see things with different eyes, hear things with different ears, feel things with a new heart.  It takes a change in all three…eyes, ears, heart…to say, “Put that on my account.” Our places of challenge are really opportunities for transition. 

Often we do not recognize that “in as much of you have done it unto them, you have done it for Me” includes relationship issues…not just giving physical assistance of some sort.  No greater love has any man than he lay down his life for another.  Dying daily to what we perceive as our own rights and what is fair, is one way of laying down our life for the other.  As I write this, I hear all sorts of objections in the name of proper boundaries. 

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”  His boundaries are the commandments (love to God and to man) and they are based in love.  Boundaries, in the form of self-protection, are not Love based.  They are self-love based.  I am not saying that our needs, wants, and preferences are not valid.  Most of all, we need to see what is behind those needs, wants, and preferences.  Have you been so violated that the victim is in danger of becoming the perpetrator?  This can easily happen.  Rather than being healed of the wounding of the violation, we start setting boundaries to protect self/heart.  This is just a different type of violence that constantly reminds us of the need to be vigilant about protecting ourselves. 

The more clear we get on “Put that on My account,” the more clear we become in our understanding of these concepts.  With understanding, forgiveness becomes a non-issue.  Jesus said, “Father, forgive them.  They do not know what they are doing.”  It is amazing that our forgiveness is based on our ignorance.  Can we extend this kind of grace to others realizing that their behavior is based in not knowing what they are doing. 

The flip side of this is that we do not know what we are doing either.  Often our expectations of others are based in selfishness.  We have all sorts of ways of dressing this up.  We are demanding that others “take care of us” in some way.  Father, forgive us for we do not know what we are doing.  We are making others our God, our safety, our security, our significance, our support.  This is idolatry.  How much better if we just get the principle of “Put that on My account.”   

The Conversion of the Rational to the Spiritual

God's beautiful love overwhelms me.  John 3:2-3: This man (Nicodemus) came to Jesus by night and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.  Jesus answered and said to him, most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 

We come at the stories of the Bible with the rational mind.  Nicodemus comes at Jesus with the rational mind.  Jesus, to him, is a teacher come from God because no one can "do" the signs unless God is with them.  The rational mind needs a conversion to the spiritual mind that allows you to see, feel, and hear the Savior.

The rational mind measures the external evidence...what has been done that can be seen by a man.  Jesus says that unless a  man is born again, he cannot "see" the Kingdom of God.  He is saying that the Kingdom of God is standing in front of you, Nicodemus, and you cannot see Him because the conversion to the spiritual mind has not yet happened.  The veil had not yet been taken off the eyes of Nicodemus.  Without the spiritual mind, the only approach we have is what Nicodemus had--the rational, the study of theology, the evidence of things done. 

John 3:5: "...unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot 'enter' the Kingdom of God."  Verse 3: Jesus said he cannot "see" the Kingdom of God.  Verse 5: Jesus said that without water and spirit, he cannot "enter" the Kingdom of God. We come by way of the water (the washing of water by the word. Ephesians 5:26). The model for this is the baptism of Jesus and the resulting blessing of Spirit in the descent of the dove. 

The word (Christ come down in the flesh and the words He spoke and still speaks to us) cleanses us -- brings us to conviction and repentance.  We have to have eyes that see our Savior as well as eyes that see/recognize our need of this Savior.   Our need will overwhelm us.  Then the rational mind has a conversion to the spiritual mind.

Nicodemus came to Jesus at night.  He was a ruler of the Jews.  His investment in who he was blurred his vision of who Jesus was.  He only gave Him credit for being a teacher who could do mighty signs.  We must see the Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ.  Then we will be able to enter the Kingdom of God -- the living out "on earth as it is in heaven."  If we can see Jesus modeling the Kingdom of heaven in all that He does and says, we can enter Kingdom living today.  We have Kingdom fullness in Christ.  We have the mind and heart of Christ.  We are complete in Him.

If we are living to escape the world for another place, we have missed the point.  The Kingdom is Jesus Christ.  The escape we need is from the rational mind to the spiritual mind so we can see, hear, feel, and love as God loves.  Exchange the self (rational) for the oneness/fullness in and of God.  He that worships must worship in Spirit and truth.  

Possessed by Feelings

"Unless we learn to let go of our feelings, we don’t have our feelings, our feelings have us. (Is that the deepest meaning of “being possessed”?)" 
-- Richard Rohr

This quote is great counsel for the art of dying daily...the process of sanctification--being filled with the fruit of the Spirit--recognizing and accepting the gift of God to us.  We do all sorts of things to dress up our feelings to justify our position on things.  People may use ideas that sound good and even Scripture to pamper feelings.  Any time we are catering to feelings, we are invested in outcome.

Often when our feelings surface, we move into the realm of "our rights."  We want to justify our position and how wrong it is that we are not be treated fairly or the way we think we deserve to be treated.  This is so human, and even taught and promoted in the world.  Jesus never talked about "rights" or "fairness."  He actually said that in this world we would have trouble, be persecuted and misunderstood.   

I had an experience that taught me a great deal about this dynamic.  Someone jumped all over me attacking me for things that had nothing to do with me.  When it was all over, I asked the Lord about it.  I have always looked for a "knight in shining armor" to rescue me.  This being attacked had become a repeating pattern in my life.  I wanted a defender.  He acknowledged that I was waiting for human intervention.  He said that in order that I be defended, the person who wounded me would have to have someone judging them as wrong.  He asked me if I wanted to take part in judging this person.  Quickly, I said that I did not want that on me or anyone else.  

He said that I needed to turn it over to Him and let Him heal the abused, wounded child that had always waited for someone to defend and rescue me.  In prayer, the Lord healed that wounded child.  It felt wonderful.  I no longer needed any defender except the Lord.  The interesting thing about this was that when I no longer was working from the place of "feeling" abused and accused, those situations no longer were a part of my experience.  Job says: that which you fear comes upon you.  I saw this work out in my life.  And I saw it stop in my life.
  

The entire experience left me with a different understanding about rights and fairness.  I do not want to be a part of anyone's judgment.  That is not my place.  When I start to feel in some way that my rights have been violated, I look at the Savior in the Garden.  He said, "Thy will be done, not mine."  It looked like it was the end of everything at the cross.  He said: It is finished.  Life, as we knew it, was finished.  From then on, we could walk from the perspective of redemption.  The Accuser (all of them) is defeated.  If you are experiencing the Accuser in human form, remember that we wrestle not against flesh and blood.  Even the Lord Jesus said: The Lord rebuke you Satan.  And He said to a woman who was bound: Woman thou art loosed.  Praise God, these words are our words.  This victory is ours.

Divine Appointments

Sometimes...a lot lately...I find myself standing amazed at God's love.  From my little chapel where I am quiet and still, I ask for eyes to see Him and ears to hear Him and a heart to know Him.  You see, I am fully persuaded that we do not know the truth about God. 

Do you know that God loves you?  Do you know that you can add nothing to the cross of Christ?  Do you know that all our doing is futile?  We cannot buy what He is trying to freely give us.  When we really believe all the good news about Christ, we cannot help but tell others and that is the work (by our love) that shows we are Christians.

I read something recently that made me happy and reminded me of God's great provision for us.  Basically, it said that all our encounters/appointments are divine arrangements.  I really believe that, and each time someone comes into our sphere of influence we wonder what God has in mind.  It adds something special to the day to realize that "before we call, He has answered."

I was sitting on the couch one morning talking to the Lord.  I had already had a little yogurt for a light breakfast.  God said, "Go to First Watch and have breakfast." I looked around.  I had never been invited to breakfast by God before.  What do you say?  I have eaten already.  No, I don't think so.  I went to First Watch. 

After I was seated, someone I knew came up and said hello.  I asked her to join me.  We had a wonderful time of talking.  The more she talked, the more I realized that she was an answer to one of my prayers for a couple of people, and it was a way that she could also meet a need of her own.  So much good has come from the divinely planned breakfast.  It was the first time she had eaten at First Watch.  The help, healing, and happiness that has come from our effort for all has been wonderful.

It amazes me how much of what we can see was set in motion by that which we cannot see...that which God ordained.  When we get up in the morning, we can know that He has already planned the day.  We do not need to be concerned about it.  Trust Him with everything.  Trust that He will be there giving instructions as needed.  The beautiful thing is that in the planning to meet the needs of others, He can meet my needs, too.  Because He set it in motion, you can continue watching the ripple effect of His plans. 

Praise God!  It adds a whole different dimension to a day when you know that the responsibility for that day is His.  He is God and we are not.  We just need to show up and be present for His grand work. 

In This Sacred Hour

Sitting in His presence, I feel such peace.  I realize that the struggle has not been with Him but with me—so broken and distorted—so wounded and wanting.  My vision of me.  My spirit cries out for a Redeemer from self.  The Garden’s self-hate has too long been my fate.  He stands in the Garden, His eyes full of tears.  His father’s heart cries, “Where are you…where are you?” 

In another Garden, at another time, my Redeemer kneels.  His heart is still looking for me…longing for me.  Could you not tarry with me just an hour…be with me as I take back your dominion and make right your loss…could you not tarry with me in this sacred hour?  At that place of prayer, He knelt, anointing it with His righteous blood and tears, teaching “Not My will, but Thine be done.  Could you not tarry with me this sacred hour?

The longing of the Savior’s heart is still the same today.  Will you not tarry…will you not tarry with Me in this sacred hour of love.  Linger here in the place of peace.  I have redeemed.  I have you covered.  Rest in the “It is finished” of My love.

God grant me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to know You.  In the Garden’s sacred hour help me rightly discern the body and blood of Jesus.  He is for me, not against me.  He redeems me, no condemnation.  In this sacred hour, redemption realized, let me see, hear, and know His love for me.  In the perfect peace and pleasure of His presence let me willingly tarry with Him.

Grace Land

Webster's defines indifference as: The state or quality of being indifferent; lack of concern; apathy.  Unimportance; insignificance. 

It is when we are invested in outcome that we do not see the beauty and freedom in indifference.  When we read the definition above, we often see it as something negative rather than the potential for all sorts of freedom, emotional and spiritual maturity.  Even someone's apathy may force our hand to either be reactive or grow in spiritual maturity.  It isn't comfortable.  Lack of concern may be negligence or it my be faith!  Unimportance  and insignificant may mean that "it" not longer has power over  you. 

 

When we are struggling with these issues, it is usually "the other" that has triggered the struggle.  This pushes us to either discern our place of investment (what is really going on) or fall again into the struggle with flesh and blood.  Rejecting the lessons that we need to instruct us in these struggles leaves us uneducated and practicing investment in outcome...always demanding to have our way.  

Peter said that he would die for the Lord.  In reality, he denied the Lord three times.  Then the cock crowd.   He was face to face with the truth about himself.  Any of our struggles have the potential of being the cock crowing the third time.  Peter's investment in outcome meant that he valued his own life above the Lord's experience.  This valuing of self is the opposite of "to live you must die."  

In our land, the rule is more, bigger, better.  We function from win/lose rather than win/win.  We are very much about competing instead of cooperating.  In listening to some children lately, I noticed that their conversation was all about having the last word even if that last word was hateful and hurtful.  They were taught this behavior by adults who are too invested in outcome.

There is a place for us to speak our preferences, wants, or needs.  That is in the spirit of win/win or cooperation.  Valuing each other's needs is a beautiful thing.  Seeing each other as a wounded child in need of healing changes the struggle with "flesh and blood" to a more elevating, and, hopefully, redemptive work.  That which you struggle against you empower.  Criticism is a counterfeit for intercession.  We must die to self/selfishness/neediness/woundedness if we are to live in a place of resurrection power.  That does not mean that we do not count.  It does mean that we have decided to make our life count for something higher.  We will not be building a kingdom on earth for self.  We will be embracing the potential of the spiritual kingdom within.  Praise God!

Solving or Outgrowing

"The greatest and most important problems of life are fundamentally unsolvable.  They can never be solved, but only outgrown." Carl Jung

The above quote has something important to say to us, and I have had to hear this message more than once.  Like most people, I want to solve the problems.  Let's pull out our magic wand and make this problem go away!  That is the place of non-disturbance being challenged.  There are no solutions available at the same place that created the problems.  The problem becomes a Divine encounter to unlearning and undoing.  This process is the "outgrowing" spoken of in our quote.

Because most things we perceive as problems usually involve "the other" as the problem, we are entering into a struggle with flesh and blood.  The struggle is much deeper than that.  Many problems only exist because our beliefs make them a problem.  I am uncomfortable, therefore, there is a problem.  Actually, it is a Divine truth encounter--like Peter's cock crowing the third time.  It is actually good news to us who are struggling with a problem and good news to anyone who is trying to help someone struggling with a problem.

I remember telling someone who came to me for help with a relationship issue that there was not an answer.  Some things you just have to get through.  In time, the issues become less significant to our personal identity (ego).  When we stop struggling, something wonderful happens.  The problem dissipates.  That which you struggle against you empower.  Life on this planet proves that.

Lack of vindication and validation--our neediness/wounds in regards to these things creates the struggle.  Prompt resolution is what we want.  And often, we hear that if we do not find it there is something wrong with us.  Even in our relationship with ourselves, the "other" exists in the form of "this is not fair" or "I do not deserve this."  The scriptures give us the truth: The rain falls on the just and the unjust.

It is a journey to outgrow a problem.  In that journey, we will be well served if we endeavor to become an observer always seeing what is not on the surface.  I think this takes Heaven's anointing to our eyes.  We have to give up our rights to ourself.  These "rights" push us into reactive living and bondage to our problems.

I wish someone had given me this lesson when I was twenty or thirty!  We think because there is a problem that there is something wrong with us.  Some people spend a lot of their day speaking words of warfare over physical symptoms and situations.  They are fighting against flesh and blood.  That is not the problem.  Because we have given it so much attention, it grows and gets worse.  The words we need to speak over these things are those precious promises that are given for our overcoming. "It is finished" is the truth of what Christ has done for us.  The problem, that external thing, is not what needs solving...we are in need of healing wounds and dysfunction.

Like the woman with an issue of blood (and many other stories), there is something for us to do.  Her "outgrowing" journey included things like getting over misplaced expectations, investing money in things that did not help, and being cast out of the spiritual camp as unclean.  She got a glimpse of Jesus and reached for the hem of His garment.  This may mean different things to different people.  We see the end of the story and not her journey.  She outgrew all the things that did not work. We want the end of story without the journey of unlearning.  There are no failures.  It is just that we learn one more way that does not work.  Often in this unlearning journey we see that what/who we thought was the "problem" on the front end is really not.  The problem is all inside us.  We can know that we are making progress with the journey of unlearning if we can start seeing those "problems" through eyes of compassion.  Somehow, it helps us to be compassionate towards ourselves, too.  In our Earth School adventure, we have much time in the University of Unlearning.  Embrace the journey!