a DOOR of opportunity

I wanted to insert a picture of a door opening here, but decided cliches are best served sparingly.

It's getting pretty cold in Hobart now, and I'm counting my blessings (and my socks, thanks Val!) in between submitting abstracts, keeping up with the work rush and making sure I meet deadlines and get the most out of this year away from Melbourne as possible.

I always say I like the cold and that Hobart reminds me of the UK (though not as windy) but honestly, its a bit of a struggle to be my usual productive self when all I want to do is keep my hands and legs as close to my torso as possible and curl up to enjoy a good movie after each day at work.

So this Sunday morning, church was a nice surprise - always to be counted upon for a friendly greeting, catching up with the latest news of the week and worshipping in a corporate setting. A nice surprise today, too, as I came away with the message of this DOOR of opportunity.

You'll have heard of this before, these doors - often a gateway to a hidden promise, a portal to another dimension, and the finding and unlocking of these doors - such an adventure! Nevertheless, it was brought home to me today again, in the context of Ezra (which I'll be reading during the week!)

At the start of the book, King Cyrus of Persia (always thought that was one of the cooler names in the Bible for some reason) gets an epiphany from God. This non-Jewish king, responsible for one of the great empires in the 'olden' days, is moved to action by a foreign god, whom his exiled slaves worship. This move is compelling, so much so that he decides to release his slaves to go back to the land that his predecessors conquered - to allow them to return to their homeland and even to offer them assistance along the way!

Definitely not an everyday occurrence; and the distinctive point also being that not only was the door of opportunity thus presented (in a really odd fashion) to the Israelites, but that the Bible gives us exact numbers of those who did make the return trip. Stuart made the point this morning that the numbers of the returning Israelites, down to the last donkey were recorded, but were only a fraction of the entire Israelite population who were in exile.

He suggests that maybe this is because those that were left behind did so because they were comfortable with their circumstances, that uprooting and travelling to unknown territory (70 years they were in exile - time enough for a new generation who had never known their homeland to arise) presented more uncomfortableness that they could handle. And that only a fraction recognised the door of opportunity and took it.

As for myself, doors of opportunity are being flung wide open, it seems. Opportunities to expand my professional know-how and my future as a nephrologist, opportunities to settle down, to grow in faith with a new group of people in Hobart, to grow closer to Penny and to mature in my walk with God - these are not wanting in numbers.

It is cold and as much as I would like to curl up and be cosy by the electric heater, now is the time for stepping through some doors!

May we never.

Think we are worth only as much as the world's opinion of us

Feel we are not tall, not thin, not shapely enough

Forget that we are made in God's image

Psalm 139:13-15

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³ For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;^[a]
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

http://www.wired.com/2014/03/artist-studio-miniatures/

-you think this is meticulous? now multiply that by infinity!

What not to do.

1 Samuel 30

This tells the story of how David and his men came home from a Philistine campaign, where they were miraculously saved from having to fight against their former countrymen, only to find their women and children and livestock raided and taken by the Amalekites.

What a change of events, from one extreme of relief, jubilation and praising God and His favour, to come to despair, anger and looking for someone to blame.

"So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep." v4

"David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was biter in spirit because of his sons and daughters." v6

There have been many times in my life where I've come into a situation with almost no preface, no foreword or warning, no preamble or introduction; just something so out of context with what has gone before - and I've been pressed for a response.

Sometimes its at work, sometimes its from a relationship, sometimes its just out of the blue; something happens, and the world seems to teeter on the brink just momentarily while I'm searching for an appropriate thing to say or do.

The response says it all. Culture dictates our response, to a certain extent - some being more expressive than others, some showing more restraint. Upbringing and peer effect/pressure does as well; we watch and learn and copy what our elders and friends would do in certain situations. A modicum comes from our previous experiences as well - if we've been in that situation before we might respond in a very different way.

"But David found strength in the Lord his God." v6b

At a time when others might have vigorously defended themselves, when they might have tried to play the blame game, when others might have cursed and lamented their woes, wallowed in self-pity or stormed off to cool down in a haughty manner, David went to God, the one who gave him the strength to fight lions, who gave him the sensitivity to pluck the strings that calmed an angry king, who warned him to flee angry murderers and in whose Name he struck down a giant.

He worshipped. "Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, 'Bring me the ephod.'" v7

And because of that, David's men pursued, overtook and recovered all and more.


May I stop to listen to God instead of reacting to the world around me.
May I worship when the world begs for my attention.

Hello Ethiopia!

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.
Heb 11:1

I often employ faith unknowingly in life - whether it is believing a patient will get better with augmentin duo forte when in fact I have no more detailed understanding of the underlying mechanisms than the knowledge that it is an antibiotic that can get into the cell wall of bacteria and inactivate its' functions (by some in-itself-near-mythical unknowable biochemical process).

However I often have no idea if the patient is indeed, harbouring that particular bacteria, or if he is, whether the bacteria is in fact, the cause of the patient's chest infection. And even if the bacteria is present, whether it is harbouring resistance to that particular medication.

Why is it, then, that a stepdown to augmentin is often taken after a few days' worth of intravenous antibiotics in hospital?

I believe it is because:
- we've seen it work before in other patients.
- we believe the doctors who taught us to do it in medical school/ward rounds know what they are doing.
- we are so used to prescribing it that we feel we know what we're doing (the common side effects ie liver function derangement, interstitial nephritis, clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea, resistance etc)


Isn't faith in God much the same?

We believe in God and His Son's resurrection work and the Holy Spirit in us because:
- we've seen Him work before in other people, and in ourselves.
- we believe the Bible and its' authority as the Word of God (2 Tim)

And the more we trust God, the more it feels almost natural to run to him - more natural to praise Him for the good, and rely in His guidance during the trials.


And no, I didn't prescribe augmentin to anyone today! But I'm trusting in God and His provision and guidance for Ethiopia Part 2!

Tools in a workshop

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:10

To be a tool that has been made with a purpose , a specific purpose in mind

To allow that tool to then have a mind of its' own

To allow that tool to go off and do it's own thing - and to inevitably see it wear itself down working on unintended means

And to welcome the tool back into the workshop, its' purpose unchanged and its' functions upgraded despite years of rust/blunting/broken parts

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast." v8-9

Reading: Psalm 116

Setting:

Verses:

"Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live." v2

"What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?" v12

"Oh Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord."v16-17

The natural response to God for hearing us is to offer of ourselves to Him, and to call on Him more!

But the end of all things is at hand

Reading: 1 Peter 4

Setting: The beginning of a relationship, one that I have been almost too scared to admit may never have happened.

Verses that stood out (probably through my biased setting):

"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins'.
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." v7-10

I guess in the big picture this WAS written to the church and not intended to be applied in a relationship setting, but I'm thinking - there could be worse things a relationship could be modeled on, and I'm all for more advice:-)

Prayer for each other has and will be on my list of priorities as a couple wanting to stay in tune with God while growing close to one another.
Fervent love - that stays after the initial starburst of the 'honeymoon period' has died down is both something I'm praying for and something I'm sure will be present.
Accomodating and making each other feel welcome, both physically and into each other's lives may not be the easiest of processes - especially how both of us (or myself particularly) have becomed accustomed to living as an individual and how my life is structured in a not particularly sharing kind of way (not just with food!) but also to NOT GRUMBLE about it? Going to have to remember that one in the days ahead:-)
And this area, which is a new concept to me - using our gifts to edify each other within the relationship setting - going to have to bring this one up with Penny - this could be exciting!

Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5

Setting:

Verses that stood out:

"See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 
Rejoice always, 
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit" v15-19

Was impressed by how each of these verses seemed to flow - the overspill of each action causing the next.
In pursuing good and not repaying the bad, rejoicing always is useful - it's a lot harder to not see the good in people when we have an attitude of rejoicing!
Rejoicing leads to prayer, in which an attitude of thankfulness then comes naturally.
And the Holy Spirit, being both the instigator and the embodiment of God in us, fuels the process and is strengthened by it simultaneously.

Cool, right?

Pre-interview reading

The reading: Ecclesiastes 5

The setting: pre-nephrology multi-speciality interviews, knowing there's 20 applicants shortlisted for this and only 10 jobs for 1st year Advanced Trainees.

Verses that stood out (actually the whole passage did):

"Do not be rash with your mouth, and let your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, and a fools voice is known by his many words." v2-3

"When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed-" v4

"Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error.." v6a

"For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God." v7

"As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand" v15

"Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God.
For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart." v 18-20

A superficial reading through this brought home the following to me:
1. To be transparent in my words and honest and forthright, not just in the interviews but also when I start work - wherever that may be.
2. To always DO more than I SAY
3. To not make excuses, especially after over-promising something
4. To keep the fear of the Lord in my life
5. To strive for works that are everlasting, and not those that are mortal
6. To be content with my lot, whether rich or poor or in between, being the gift of God (the gift not being the situation of being poor or rich etc, but the part about keeping myself busy with the joy of His heart)

And again

FORGET the former things;

Do not DWELL on the PAST.

See, I am DOING A NEW THING!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a WAY in THE DESERT

and STREAMS in THE WASTELAND.

Isa 43:18-19

A belated happy Christmas!

In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. job 12:10

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. matt 16:25

Obsession with slf in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Rom 8:6

It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone. Eph 1:11

Nineveh

From the Encyclopaedia Britannica
'Nineveh, the oldest and most populous city of the ancient Assyrian Empire...'

First mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 10:11, where a chap called Cush 'built' it.

Not seen until Jonah, where the focus was on Jonah running away from a summons to preach against it.


'That man deserves to die for what he did.'
'Why do I do stuff like this to myself?'

Like Jonah, it's easy to pass judgement on everything, even on ourselves (probably why anyone could judge X-Factor!).

'But the Lord replied, "Have you any right to be angry?"

The right to be angry is a given, what isn't is how we proclaim judgement and refuse to take God's considerations into account. Self-pity, jealousy, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness; all are part of the emotional spectrum implanted into us but if I let these take over my actions without allowing God any say, its not going to produce the best results.

But what stood out for me in this reading of Jonah 3 was how the king of Nineveh responded to Jonah's message.

The king of the city 'rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.'

No one responds to a wayward prophet like that, certainly not the king of an important city unless he recognises the God behind the man.

What am I doing?

Sleepy.

'I will meditate on the glorious splendour of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works."

What I've come to realise

"It always protects, 

always trusts, 

always hopes, 

always perseveres."

Often quoted 1

And we know that in all things
God works
for the good
of those who love him,
who have been
called according to his purpose.

God works - not by accident or left to the vagaries of fate nor left to chance

but

a force with purpose and a will stronger than steel behind it, directing and guiding every movement, each action carefully gauged and measured to have maximum impact in every life involved.

For every time I've taken this verse to mean God blessing my efforts/attempts at various projects, I've failed to realise that it's God who's been working and using me

Hence when things don't go how I expected them to, its less of God not coming through, but more of God changing my poor and often wayward efforts into something worthwhile in the end.

Well that was worth waiting up for:-)

"I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills his purpose for me." Ps 57:2

Time to get crying, then.

Part 4

Three weeks after the wind ceased to blow, the sea lion had a dream.

Now, as I told you before, there were other nights in which he had dreamed of the sea. But those were long ago and nearly forgotten. Even still, the ocean that filled his dreams this night was so beautiful and clear, so vast and deep, it was as if he were seeing it for the very first time.

The sunlight glittered on its surface, and as he dived, the waters all around him shone like an emerald. If he swam quite deep, it turned to jade, cool and dark and mysterious. But he was never frightened, not at all. For I must tell you that in all his dreams of the sea, he had never before found himself in the company of other sea lions. This night there were many, round about him, diving and turning, spinning and twirling. They were playing.

Oh, how he hated to wake from that wonderful dream. The tears running down his face were the first wet thing he had felt in three weeks. But he did not pause even to wipe them away, he did not pause, in fact, for anything at all. He set his face to the east, and he began to walk as best a sea lion can.

"Where are you going?" asked the tortoise.

"I am going to find the sea."

Sound familiar..Part 2

The sea lion was not entirely alone in those parts. For it was there he met the tortoise.

Now this tortoise was an ancient creature, so weathered by his life in the barren lands that at first, the sea lion mistook him for a rock. He told the tortoise of his plight, hoping that this wise one might be able to help him.

"Perhaps," the tortoise mused, " this is the sea."

His eyes appeared to be shut against the bright sun, but he was watching the sea lion very closely.

The sea lion swept his flippers once against his side, gliding to the end of the water hole and back. "I don't know," he said. "It isn't very deep."

"Isn't it?"

"Somehow, I thought the sea would be broader, deeper. At least, I hoped so."

"You must learn to be happy here," the tortoise told him one day. "For it is unlikely you shall ever find this sea of yours." Deep in his old and shriveled heart, the tortoise envied the sea lion and his sea.

"But I belong to the sea. We are made for each other."

"Perhaps. But you have been gone so long now, the sea has probably forgotten you."

This tought had never occurred to the sea lion. But it was true, he had been gone for a long, long time. "If this is not my home, how can I ever feel at home here?" the sea lion asked.

"You will, in time." The tortoise appeared to be squinting, his eyes a thin slit. "I have seen the sea, and it is no better than what you have found here."

"You have seen the sea!"

"Yes. Come closer," whispered the tortoise, "and I will tell you a secret. I am not a tortoise. I am a sea turtle. But I left the sea of my own accord, many years ago, in search of better things. If you stay with me, I will tell you stories of my adventures."

The stories of the ancient tortoise were enchanting and soon cast their spell upon the sea lion. As weeks passed into months, his memory of the sea faded. "The desert," whispered the tortoise, "is all that is, or was, or ever will be."

When the sun grew firece and burned his skin, the sea lion would hide in the shade of the tree, listening to the tales woven by the tortoise. When the dry winds cracked his flippers and filled his eyes with dust, the sea lion would retreat to the water hole. And so the sea lion remained, living his days between the water hole and tree.

The sea no longer filled his dreams.

Like This

Credits go to...erm...John Eldredge, I think, as I first read this in a book he wrote.

Once upon a time there lived a sea lion who had lost the sea.

He lived in a country known as the barren lands. High on a plateau far from any coast, it was a place so dry and dusty that it could only be called a desert. A king od coarse grass grew in patches here and there, and a few trees were scaterred across the horizon. But mostly, it was dust. And sometimes wind, which together make one very thirsty.

Of course, it must seem strange to you that such a beautiful creature should wind up in a desert at all. He was, mind you, a sea lion. But things like this do happen.

How the sea lion came to the barren lands, no one could remember. It all seemed very long ago. So long, in fact, it appeared as though he had always been there. Not that he belonged in such an arid place. How could that be? He was, after all, a sea lion. But as you know, once you have lived so long in a certain spot, no matter how odd, you come to think of it as home.

** **

There was a time, many years back, when the sea lion knew he was lost.

In those days, he would stop every traveler he met to see if he might help him find his way back to the sea. But no one seemed to know the way.

On he searched, but never finding.

After years without success, the sea lion took refuge beneath a solitary tree beside a very small water hole. The tree provided refuge from the burning rays of the sun, which was very fierce in that place. And the water hole, though small and muddy, was wet, in its own way. Here he settled down and got on as best he could.

** **

Had you journeyed in those days through the barren lands, you might have seen the sea lion for yourself. Quite often in the evening, he would go and sit upon his favourite rock, a very large boulder, which lifted him off the burning sand and allowed him a view of the entire country.

There he would remain for hours into the night, silhouetted against the sky. And on the best nights, when the wind shifted to the east, a faint smell of salt air would come to him on the breeze. Then he would close his eyes and imagine himself once more at the sea. When he lay himself down to sleep, he would dream of a vast, deep ocean. Twisting and turning, diving and twirling, he would swim and swim and swim. When he woke, he thought he heard the sound of breakers.

The sea was calling to him.

** **

The sea lion loved his rock, and he even loved waiting night after night for the sea breezes that might come. Especially he loved the dreams those memories would stir. But as you well know, even the best of dreams cannot go on, and in the morning when the sea lion woke, he was still in the barren lands. Sometimes he would close his eyes and try to fall back asleep. It never seemed to work, for the sun was always very bright.

Eventually it became too much for him to bear. He began to visit his rock only on occasion.

"I have too much to do," he told himself. "I cannot waste my time just idling about." He really did not have so much to do. The truth of it was, waking so far from home was such a disappointment, he did not want to have those wonderful dreams anymore.

The day finally came when he stopped going to his rock altogether, and he no longer lifted his nose to the wind when the sea breezes blew.

** **