A Pastor in The Northwest

I was reading in Exodus 3 today where God is working with Moses to rescue the Hebrew people from Egyptian slavery. This is the first time God describes Himself as "I AM" and "I AM WHO I AM." Not, "I was" or "I will be" but, simply, "I AM!" Later, Jesus will use words like this to describe Himself so that the Judean people in the first century would recognize that it is truly Yahweh God in flesh. Now, I can't fathom how God just was, is, and is to come, and how He stands over and outside of time. I can't get my brain around the fact that He has always existed. What I can do is lean into how He describes Himself with those "I AM" statements in John's gospel account: "I am the bread of life" (John 6) "I am the light of the world" (John 8) "I am the door of the sheep" (John 10) "I am the good shepherd" (again in John 10) "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11) ...

I read this quote the other day, and it has stuck with me: St. John Cassian recalls a striking illustration that a wise old abbot named Moses taught him. "Your mind is like a flour mill; it keeps grinding all the time, but you are responsible for deciding what it grinds." Hmmm. My wife Jackie often says I'm guilty of overthinking things. She's right, as usual. What occupies our minds? I'm pretty sure what consumes our thoughts bleeds out into our actions, which should make us all be more on guard, right? Maybe Paul's words in Philippians can help us: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true...

I read that statement recently, and I've been thinking about how to do this better.  I often want to fix stuff and move on instead of being in the moment and feeling.  Maybe it is a male thing, but I want to grow in this and mature in really being honest with how I'm doing in the moments that I find myself in. This past week, my father-in-law passed away too soon, and I find myself in a state of shock and sadness.  I really didn't know him that well until the last few years, when we've had lots of meals and conversations and shared interests.  Sometimes, just like that, people are gone.  Today, I recognize that, and well, I'm sad.  That's enough. Photo by Mulyadi on Unsplash

Thinking of this powerful song of praise today from the late great Rich Mullins.  He may have passed from this world in 1997, but his melodies and lyrics still somehow challenge and inspire me! Rich was a true artist. In his memory, here's the link to the official video of 'The Color Green' CHORUS Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made Blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise   (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhGOosxTLrY) Photo by Andrew Coelho on Unsplash