Telling Him to Leave

I’m always struck by the number of instances in scripture when the people around Jesus want nothing to do with him. To be face to face with the Son of God, witness his power…and then begging him to leave.

Mark chapter 8:28-34 recounts one of these instances:

When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so violent that no one could go through that area. They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?” There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.” “All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water. The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone. (NLT, italics mine)

Without pretending to understand the entirety of the background story going on..the region, the significance of the pigs…what does stand out to me is this: after the people hear of the power of Jesus, they beg him to leave. Jesus delivers men who had been dangerous and confined to the outskirts of the city – now they are healed and whole…yet the people of the town are upset. So I began to ask, “Why?”

Yet I can look at times in my own life where I am guilty of the same thing. I’ve seen God change circumstances, heal people, fill them with his power…then be afraid of the changes he wants to enact in my life. It’s easier to remain the same. We become comfortable in our mud-puddle making mud-pies, and the cleaning off process doesn’t sound inviting. It’s difficult, and we are a comfort minded people. I know I am.

Now the people of this village had to rethink these men who were demon possessed. They had to forgive many wrongs they had probably committted. Now these herdsmen had no more pigs…that could be upsetting! Jesus shows up, and things begin to change. It’s no wonder to me that the people of the city would beg Jesus to leave them alone. Nobody wants him to come in and shake things up….they’re happier, or so they think, with the junk they’re familiar with.

So today I’m asking myself what areas I’m asking Him to leave alone, and then asking for forgiveness for my ignorance and laziness. I know that God’s plans are greater than mine, and that I am the only one who can prevent him from making me into the kind of person/wife/mother/servant he wants me to be.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Phillipians 1:6, NLT)

Time to invite him back.

New Year..New Testament

To begin 2010, my church is beginning to read the New Testament together. We’re moving through it chronologically, and plan to be done by the end of May…so over the past few days I’ve read the beginning of each of the four Gospels.  So meander with me, if you will, as I share a few thoughts.

* I wonder what Zebedee was thinking as his two sons left him. Was he sad?..confused? Did he feel betrayed? Who did he think Jesus was? Was he proud of his sons for following God’s call? I am especially intrigued by Biblical parents lately… (Mark 1:20)

* Did John the Baptist know who Jesus was before he came to be baptized? They must have known one another, since they were cousins. Their parents knew that God was directly behind both of their births, and must have shared that with their children. When John said “There is standing among you one that you do not know…” did he see Jesus in the crowd? (Matthew 3:13-15; John 1:26-27)

* Ancestry was so important to the people of that time…why isn’t it as important to us now?

* New Testament…a new covenant, new commitment. Beginning the new year with the New Testament has challenged me to consider my commitment once again. As my life changes and evolves, I must continue to evaluate my priorities, and prayerfully consider changes that may need to be made in my various roles and ministry.

* I now know how intimidating and challenging being the parent of an infant can be. I wonder how Mary and Joseph handled parenting the Son of God. Whoa…no pressure!

There’s so much more to dissect in these passages…I’m excited to take a slower pace in my reading to really dig in. What’re you reading lately?

Conversations in the car

Is honesty a hard character trait to come by? It has become clear to me through prayer and real self searching that I am not always the most honest person.

Shocked? I was.

No, I don’t have a problem with lying. And, no, I probably haven’t been deceiving you or leading you on. Yes, I really am your friend, and things I share with you are most likely true. Where’s the dishonesty, then?

Really, it’s been with myself. And with God. In an effort to better our relationship I’ve been thinking a lot about how to be more honest with God about what is going on – how I’m really feeling or what I’m really thinking. And that forces me to be honest with myself.

And it’s not always pretty. Or easy. Or nice. And I’m uncomfortable with that.

So in an effort to practice “honesty,” that’s what I told God in the car today. And it wasn’t so bad. It was real, and that felt good.

Is there something you’ve been putting off telling Him, because you hate to admit it to yourself?

Enough is enough…

When I took a break from this blog several months ago, there were a lot of changes happening in my heart all to prepare me for the changes that I did not know were around the corner in my life.  There are several, in fact.  But I only have time to share one with you right now.  Take a close look:

Yes…in June 2009 there will be another member of the Gancer family. (Lord, help me.)

I’ll give you a moment to get over the shock.

Just to tease you a bit…

and in keeping with the theme of my last post, stay tuned for an update on all the “changes” going on in my life. 

I know, it’s been a while.

: )

Changes.

Change.  Autumn typically brings change in my life.  (I think God knows that I appreciate the symbolism of the changing seasons…) Over the past few days there have been many changes..tho they’re not specifically what I want to talk about.

I used to be a big proponent of change.  I liked things spiced up all the time.  I loved learning on the fly and rolling with however the world turned.  I needed stimuli, and change was stimulating.  If things stayed the same, everything would be boring, and I’d have to move on to something else.  I loved change.

Then, change became hard.  I got used to doing things a certain way.  It became easy to live “easy.”  Routine made life smooth and predictable.  Random was even in measured portions, and sprinkled just so over the top of everything else familiar.  It’s comfortable.  I would run from change.

And now…I’m not sure.  I am not either of those things, entirely.  I like predictablity, and routine, though things can become old.  And religious.  And boring. A healthy mix perhaps?

So, the moral of the story is, God is changing a lot in me.  And I like it. (most of the time.)

Is He changing something in you?