It would seem that I'm an unforgivable inconsistent blogger. It's simply because I forget. And to be honest, there are many activities vying for my time. I guess blogging isn't at the top of my list. It's helped that I have no audience, so no pressure from people begging to read my admittedly dull ramblings.
Today I've been thinking about just how much has changed for us since we moved to Chester. For me personally, I certainly feel I'm a better housewife than I knew I could be. Keeping the house clean and the fridge stocked is harder work than I thought it could be, especially with a wee man snapping at my heels. But being in Chetser, we seem to have gotten into more of a rhythm than we ever have before. Having dinner ready in time for Rob getting back from work means it's early enough for Barney to eat with us. I take pleasure in cooking food that's hearty and wholesome and nutritious and the ingredients of which don't read like a science experiment. Always having baked goods on hand is nice too, helps me have a rhythm about my week and provides Barney with healthy snacks. Not to mention it saves money! I think I've been inspired by people like Jamie Oliver, who are so passionate about good food. He's quite convicting. Big love.
I have space and room to think here too. Where we used to live, I felt like my brain was furry. I couldn't think, meditate, perculate ideas. Maybe that's a spiritual thing. I certainly have a freedom spiritually here to minister effectively and use my gifts in an increasing amount. Maybe that's spilled over into my ability to think and consider.
One thing I love about my husband is how we chew stuff over together, really grapple with a concept. We usually arrive at the same conclusion, which rarely is actually a conclusion. More a state of what feels "right" but with the knowledge that the Holy Spirit might show us more at any given time. I think we're in trouble as soon as we think we understand or fully know something. We must remain teachable. We can never, ever fully know the distant reaches of our huge, huge God. We could explore His ways forever and still have more to learn.
Lately I've been dwelling on a few particular issues.. they're kinda ideas that need germinating and saturating with Word and Spirit in order to grow and bear fruit. Things I might speak on in the future..
Jesus is our perfect theology.. too often people preach the gospel based on their experience rather than based on the gospels. Ha ha. How many times have you heard it said, "God sometimes heals. Sometimes He doesn't". I understand why people say this. Because it's their experience. But their experience cannot form their theology or worse yet, the theology of those they are teaching. Actually, Jesus healed... everyone. Jesus heals. He is our perfect theology. Instead of lining up our theology with our theology, we need to start lining up our experiences with our theology.. and our theology? Jesus is our perfect theology.
Also I've been thinking about how we can so unthinkingly consume what we're fed, even if it's actually scripturally unsubstanciated. Worse yet, not only do we absorb this tripe, but we propound it, preach it and hang on to it for dear life. We tell people earnestly these things that are "true" but have no truth. We need to start looking at scriptures honestly. Actually read what is there instead what we've been told is there. Read the words, not the religious subtext we've absorbed and have started to view the scriptures though. I've a bunch of examples. Jesus' home, the husband being the head (of what?), tithing (ooh er! controversy!). It's scary how little we think. How readily we eat junk. And then try and pass it off as our own. Time to wake up.
Something else I've been pondering is about hurts and experiences in our lives. I feel like an acid test of whether you've walked out Roman 8v28 is how you talk about a situation, person, or time in your life. If you having nothing good to say about the person or situation who hurt you, if you still speak about it with bitterness, it seems that you've not yet overcome, had the victory and been healed in that area. You've also not yet enjoyed the truth of Romans 8v28. You see, Jesus on the cross suffered, was in pain, was at the lowest, most betrayed point of His life. He saw that situation through. He dies to it. And Hallelujah, He rose again. And with His resurrection He took authority over death! We need to stay on that cross, die to that situation, go through that pain and allow the resurrection to happen, emotionally speaking.
Hmm.. these are all vague notions of some many hours of thinking.. But here's as good a place as any to note them.. I'll carry on brewing and maybe make something of them some time.
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