Midday Blog: His Sovereignty in the Unknown

Don’t God’s responses to your questions usually surprise you? Don’t they seem to make no sense at times?  We ask questions because we obviously need some answers, answers that contain information our hearts are longing for.  We feel pressure, nervousness, fear, and so on.

We’ve all encountered situations when we don’t seem to be fit at all for the task assigned.  A speech in front of a multitude? A new position at work or in your church? A friend asking you for advice or people seeking your help?

Some of us, though, face tougher situations. Maybe you didn’t know how you were going to provide for your family the very next day. Maybe you had to make a decision such as ending a relationship or stepping down from a position at work.

The unknown is all around us, yet the good news are that we belong to an all-knowing God, the One who has total knowledge, awareness, and understanding. Nothing escapes His mind and nothing takes Him by surprise. His answers to our questions are the most suitable ones. They might not make sense when given to us and they might not fulfill our longing, but they are what we need to hear.

In Exodus 3 we see God revealing to Moses through the burning bush. In this particular theophany, He calls Moses to rescue His chosen people from under the Egyptian bondage (talk about the unknown!). Moses’ immediate question is: “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” (verse 11)  Naturally we would expect God to start pointing to Moses’ strengths and explain to him why is he the chosen one for this task.  But, God gives the unexpected answer: “Certainly I will be with you…” (verse 12).

Moses asks who is he to take on such a responsibility and God answers by telling Moses that He will be with Him.  Doesn’t that seem the answer to a different question? You are asking God one thing, and He tells you another. He tells you He will undoubtedly be there with you. When He gives you the unexpected answers, know that those are the best. And in the darkest unknown, be sure that He is there with you.

Adelina Ghilea comes from the city of Arad, Romania. Her previous experience as a volunteer radio show host and producer not only deeply shaped her vocation and calling, but also brought her to Moody Bible Institute. She is currently a senior in the communications department and is serving as station manager for the campus station. Adelina is also serving with JoyFm, a new Reach Beyond (HCJB Global) radio plant in her hometown. After graduation, she is planning to return home and invest in the ministry there. Twitter: @AdeGhilea

Midday blog: Poem reflection

As we reflect on this holiday season, read this poem by Nicola Slee called “Fiat”. This poem is in the voice of Mary, mother of Jesus:

Fiat

I uttered myself
I claimed my voice
I was not afraid to question
I held my ground
I made my yes
looking straight into the angel’s eyes
(any slave girl could have been beaten or raped for less)
There was no mastery here
Nothing was taken from me
Everything was given
Here I am:
See me
Listen
As you read this poem, reflect:
How do you feel as you read this poem?
What most stood out in the poem?
Why do you suppose this poem is called “Fiat”?
Are you being shown a different perspective? If so, how do you respond to it?
Can you relate to this poem, personally?

Guest blog: It’s Still in There!

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” Genesis 19:1-2

If Lot were your nephew, or son, or husband, would you have long given up on him? He had made a series of foolish decisions while in relationship with you. The last one took him to Sodom to flirt with a culture that was hostile to your God. As a family member, wouldn’t you be grieving for his spiritual condition? Yet, two men arrive, danger is imminent, and Lot’s courage and faith spring into action.

He is not dead to faith. His sojourn into spiritually dangerous territory has not killed every righteous seed God had planted in his heart.

The calendar months move slowly when I’m waiting for the spiritual return of one I love. I envision the bleeding effects of their environment on their love for Christ. How could fidelity not waste away by the day? How will any vestige of faith be preserved for the day God comes calling?

Seeds of faith are preserved when loved ones pray for the one who strays. All is not dead in his heart. Though the culture of lawlessness has surely influenced him and, by all appearances, he seems to have completely caved to its pressures, we underestimate the strength of a God who stirs the embers of faith in places no one sees. He even does spiritual surgery in the subconscious while someone sleeps to keep words and memories alive.

Over whom are you crying today? Over whom are you tempted to stop praying? Don’t do it! Weep, certainly, but not without hope. If any of us sow our prayers in heartfelt tears, we will reap a harvest with joy. God would tell many, and perhaps you are one of the many, that the faith you long to see evidence of ~ is still in there.

Even in Sodom, you can keep the embers of faith alive. I remember that and fight on my knees for their return. Amen

Christine Wyrtzen is a recording artist; author, speaker, and host of the nationally syndicated radio program Daughters of Promise, heard daily on many stations. She is also co-host, along with her daughter Jaime, of Daughters of Promise Nighttime.

She has been known for 37 years as a musician and writer with 15 albums and 4 books to her credit. She has been nominated for a Dove Award and long admired for her ability to communicate to an audience. An artist with words, her poetic bent is evident in whatever she creates.

She has been married for 40 years to Ron Wyrtzen. They have two adult children, Jaime – married to Todd, and Ryan. Jaime and Todd gave them two beautiful grandsons, Gabriel and Andrew.

To learn more, please visit her website. 

Midday blog: Am I Willing to Be Disturbed?

Yesterday, while researching a topic for Midday Connection on Youtube, I watched a ten minute piece of a longer National Geographic documentary on child brides. On the right hand side of the page was a multitude of other pieces on the topic. “Wow, there’s tons of stuff on Youtube alone about the needs of the world!” There’s plenty of current bad news available through daily news outlets, but how many times do I watch it or read it with a reason to do it? Learning about the chilling practice of child marriages was viewing with a reason.

Developing our minds includes becoming aware of what’s going on around us, open hearted in our observations and conclusions. This is in complete contrast to – well, I will speak for myself here – a tendency toward judgmentalism. Having an open heart toward documentaries about the plight of child brides, or Op/Ed pieces on food deserts in our cities or ongoing racial/class tensions means we move from, “They need to get over it,” to “I wonder, what is their story?”

I’m not a fan of blood and violence, but years ago I made it through most of District 9 (Alert: blood and violence!). Disturbing as this movie was to watch I realized God’s Spirit opened my eyes to the crushing emotion and experience of segregation and racism. We may feel as though we just want to insulate ourselves from the “blood and violence” of life, but sometimes, God may have a reason for us watching, reading, thinking about our weighted world. Am I willing to take ten minutes a week to let God speak to me about the needs of the world through His eyes – in a newspaper, Youtube, documentary, movie or novel, and do it with an open heart?

Melinda Schmidt is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and holds a Broadcasting/Bible degree from Calvary Bible College. She has served with Moody Radio since 1980 in various hosting capacities. Married with two young adult children, Melinda lives outside Chicago, loves reading, developing her creative interests and hopes to be a life-long learner. Twitter: @melindaschmidt

Midday blog: Poem reflection

On September 23, 2013, Janet Davis read a poem by Nicola Slee called “Fiat”. This poem is in the voice of Mary, mother of Jesus:
Fiat

I uttered myself
I claimed my voice
I was not afraid to question
I held my ground
I made my yes
looking straight into the angel’s eyes
(any slave girl could have been beaten or raped for less)
There was no mastery here
Nothing was taken from me
Everything was given
Here I am:
See me
Listen
As you read this poem, reflect:
How do you feel as you read this poem?
What most stood out in the poem?
Why do you suppose this poem is called “Fiat”?
Are you being shown a different perspective? If so, how do you respond to it?
Can you relate to this poem, personally?

Midday blog: So, I was noticing some things…

This week I mixed together some things I have read or come across. Random stuff.

~

Place: Huntington Beach, CA

Event: Breakfast

 

Young male waiter: Coffee?

Me: Decaf please.

Waiter: Oh, I drink decaf too.

Me: Yeah – those of us who drink decaf have a story to tell!

Waiter: I just had too much caffeine in life.

Me: (thinking to myself) Now, there’s a story in there!

~

“In South Africa, deeply rooted injustices keep millions in life-denying captivity.” Trevor Hudson in Discovering Our Spiritual Identity: Practices for God’s Beloved

(I’m thinking: God, how can Christians bestow Luke 4:16-21 on America?)

~

“The manure of our lives should not be hidden from God; it should be dug into our souls so that its nutrients can help produce needed growth. While we may think of these things as ‘negative,’ ‘ungodly,’ or ‘shameful,’ they are the very things that provide spiritual nutrients for growth. Why? Because they make us humble, human, humus, of the earth; they teach us to be dependent upon God, to know that we are always beginners… if we dig things into our spiritual life, the soil will be much richer and earthier than if it is nourished only with sweet piety and affected goodness.”  from Becoming Human – Core Teachings of Jesus, by Brian C. Taylor.

(I’m thinking: God, help me to open my arms to what life brings – even the stuff I want to turn away – and surrender to You in deepening trust.)

~

on Twitter @Harry_Styles: “Get in the shower if it all goes wrong.”

(I’m thinking: Amen. Wash it all away. Dry off. Start over. Yes, to fresh starts.)

~

How about you – what have you noticed lately? What about it made you stop and think?

 

Melinda Schmidt is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and holds a Broadcasting/Bible degree from Calvary Bible College. She has served with Moody Radio since 1980 in various hosting capacities. Married with two young adult children, Melinda lives outside Chicago, loves reading, developing her creative interests and hopes to be a life-long learner. Twitter: @melindaschmidt

Guest blog: Finding Her Here

As you read this poem, what comes to mind? What parts do you relate to?

Finding Her Here
by Jayne Relaford Brown

I am becoming the woman I’ve wanted,
grey at the temples,
soft body, delighted,
cracked up by life
with a laugh that’s known bitter
but, past it, got better,
knows she’s a survivor –
that whatever comes,
she can outlast it.
I am becoming a deep
weathered basket.

I am becoming the woman I’ve longed for,
the motherly lover
with arms strong and tender,
the growing up daughter
who blushes surprises.
I am becoming full moons
and sunrises.
I find her becoming,
this woman I’ve wanted,
who knows she’ll encompass,
who knows she’s sufficient,
who knows where she’s going
and travels with passion.
Who remembers she’s precious,
but knows she’s not scarce –
who knows she is plenty,
plenty to share.

Guest blog: Worry

It’s amazing the way that God is so completely in control of all things. I’ve spent so much time in my life functioning like I have a say, like I get to choose what happens to me. But really, I’m so…

Small.

Who am I to look to the God who created all things, Universe and imaginary numbers included, and say “I know better than You”? Doesn’t it just make sense that He would know what He’s doing? I mean, He created time, He exists outside of time. He created. He thought of, designed, built time, life, death, chess, jazz, cheese, water, hamsters, salted-carmel… Pick something. Anything. God is in complete and utter control of it.

So why – why would He not know entirely what is to become of me, a created, who interacts with a His other created things that He knows perfectly?  He created all things, He controls all things, He knows what He’s doing. He’s got me. I’m going to be ok. No matter what happens, no matter how good or bad it is, I’m covered.

Life is out of my control. But it’s in His hands.

That is terrifying. But absolutely wonderful.

Matthew 6:25-34

 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?  And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!  Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Elizabeth (Liz) is a Senior at Moody Bible Institute, majoring in Communications. After working with Midday Connection as their Office Assistant for a year and a half, she began interning at Moody Radio Chicago. Elizabeth hopes to pursue a career in radio, and works with Moody Campus Radio as its Senior Program Director. In her free time she spends time with friends, tweets, and explores Chicago.

Listener blog: Prayerful

Earlier this week we asked Midday Connection listeners to write short prayers for the concerns of the world.  Would you pray with us?

Our world, our country, and our leaders need You more now than ever Lord. I pray that ears will be opened to hear Your word, and hearts will be softened to receive it. (Whitney)

Please, Lord, be with all persecuted Christians around the world. (Vicki)

Lord I ask you to give all your loved children that are fighting drug and alcohol abuse the wisdom and knowledge to know they can over come this with your strength. Amen (Barbara)

Father I pray for every young girl in the world who is suffering alone and isolated because she’s been given in marriage as a child, too malnourished to bear a healthy baby, and now her body has been broken by obstetric fistula. Comfort her, provide healing for her, and save her soul, be her Heavenly Father. (Lori)

Father God, may the inhabitants of the world come to know the Truth and may the Truth set them free. (Sharon)

Help us to see YOU in everything, Lord, and to be grateful and faithful.  Amen. (Jen)

Dear Lord, please be with all those living in Syria, especially the children and those who are trying to flee the chaos. We ask for safety for those who bravely try to get supplies and help to them. (Florence)

Thank you, Father, that you determine the course of world events and direct the hearts of earthly rulers as you please. I pray that you will intervene where bad decisions have been made and disrupt evil plans so that the gospel can go forth and heal broken lives. (Donna)

I pray that we create communities that rise up around those who need it most to allow God’s love to been seen in actions not just in words. Let your light shine through us, even in our darkest times. (Tamara)

God, you put our country’s leaders in power for a reason. Help us to remember You are in control, no matter how crazy it gets. (Leila)

I pray that the blinders will come off of all those who do not know You, Lord, as Savior and King. (Cynthia)

Father, please give strength and courage to your children who are persecuted so severely! May their suffering and stand for you bring honor and glory to you and shame upon those who persecute them. (Jane)

I pray that we would start to value human life – from unborn babies to the elderly and infirm. We are Your creations and deserve to be treated with dignity and love. (Tonja)

What are you praying for today?

Midday blog: Planted

Recently, I was able to tell some of my story on Midday Connection. I talked about how I’d spent a bunch of my life feeling invisible – unimportant – unworthy of taking up space.

As God began working in this area of my life, I heard a Tom Petty on the radio and, while I’m not a big fan of his, one line of the song would literally bring me to tears: “Think of me what you will, I’ve got a little space to fill.”  I cried because I didn’t believe that… and I wanted to!  I wanted to feel worthy of the physical space I took up.

It’s been a long road for me as I combat the lies I’ve believed for so many years – and those old voices still like to pester me from time to time.  I’ve tried to incorporate reminders in my life to help me along the way.  I created a simple piece of art that I keep in my bathroom.  The background is full of lively, messy, bright colors and splashed across the front are the words: “You are definitely NOT invisible!  Did you act like you were today?”  Each day I have the opportunity to answer that question as I reflect on my day while brushing my teeth before heading to bed.

I also do yoga occasionally and I love the Mountain Pose.  It’s simple – just standing, really – but, a key to the pose is to fully feel your feet grounded on the floor, feel your legs solidly underneath you. I often imagine that pose when I feel shaky inside. I imagine myself internally doing the Mountain Pose as I breathe a prayer for courage and truth, reminding myself that I belong here – I am “allowed” to take up space and feel my feet planted on the floor.

What reminders do you have in your life of the work God in doing in you?

Lori Neff is the senior producer of Midday Connection and editor/contributor for Daily Seeds: From Women Who Walk in Faith and Tending the Soul (Moody Publishers). She grew up in a small town in Ohio, spending more time outside in nature than inside. Lori is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute. Her interests include art, humanitarian aid efforts, cooking, gardening, coffee, thinking, learning and spending time with her husband, John (and their three fiesty cats). For more information and her blog please visit Lori’s website.