Marketplace Monastics

How amazing, how thank-worthy, how almost odd it is that God has a side, a facet, of Himself that only our sin and desperation can invoke. He was Himself before we needed mercy or compassion or the strength of His deliverance. How was He long-suffering and tender-hearted, before there was anyone toward whom to Be long-suffering or tender-hearted?

The obedient angels do not seem to have needed those qualities, and those that fell did not receive them. It’s a mystery. One for which I am profoundly thankful.

Jesus is, so He was, the Lamb Slain From the Foundation of the World. He was always our atonement. Not only before we sinned, but before Adam and Eve were fashioned and subsequently tempted. How long, how many millennia, was Jesus the Perfect Sacrifice before there was an earth or the population thereof? Untold, unending eternities of time, that’s how long.

Thank You, Father, that You were kind before we needed kindness, and thank You that You were a Mighty Warring Savior, before we needed to be rescued. All that You are, You are with or without us. Like a woman who marries a man who is honest and upright and virtuous and gentlemanly before she sparks the love in his heart, You are and ever have been the Prince of Peace, You are Righteousness, and You are the Almighty God, and You were, before there was any unrighteousness.

That is a good thing, for had God not been Righteous, without unrighteousness in the world, He could not be our Righteousness now that we need it … which is to say, Him. He is the only God who is Who He is without any degree of relativity.

All those stories about women who bring out the best in a man, who save them from themselves … that’s grand, but imagine marrying a man who didn’t need any tweaking! Not that a fellow could not at all improve, but let’s hear it for the men who aren’t waiting for some gal to come along, catch their eye, and inspire their integrity to turn on.

That’s our God.

Oh, let’s give thanks that we were wanted! This One, this God, didn’t need us, He wanted us. He had no King Cophetua complex. He didn’t need someone to rescue to make Him feel manly, and I don’t think He even needed someone to love; it was not good for man to be alone, but He, the Lord, was complete and full without us. Somehow, some way, He has designed that it will be more perfect with us.   We are privileged to love and be loved, and now we share those qualities with God. Because He is love, He was love before we came along. What an amazing thing this is!

How grateful we may be that He did not Be and just continue to Be without us.

Brillanten, ruby, beryl, corundum, amethyst

Mario Santo … Wikipedia, by permission

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Ecclesiastes 7:8

This is a handy Scripture, but we don’t make good use of it. Let’s be thankful for it today.

What if we try looking at it this way: how many Biblical heroes or heroines can you think of who went into trial or difficulty or into battle, and just crashed and burned? Some of them crashed (many of them didn’t, keeping their integrity at all times,) but the flame didn’t kindle on them, just as God promised. They were chastened, they suffered tremendous set-backs, but so long as they stayed with the Lord, crying out to Him, humbling themselves, He stayed with them.

Job, Noah, David, Ruth, Joseph, Sarah, Daniel, Peter … and the prophets who suffered terribly, but walked with God.

By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient … Hebrews 11:31

            Today, we are giving thanks for this, that although we have been through many and sometimes terrible difficulties, and sometimes perpetrated them, we are still here, still rejoicing, certainly wiser and more compassionate than we were, and it is yet to be seen what we will be before the end of the thing!

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers . . .

1 Thessalonians 1:5

Many are they whose testimony indicates that the heat turned up after they first believed, but those who are still here to tell the story are strong and thriving today. No one can take the rejoicing worship from our hearts. No one. As long as we are worshiping (in Spirit and in truth,) we are winning, besides which …

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:7)

Not at the beginning, but at the end, is overcoming. It isn’t over until angels sing in our ears. We are meant to overcome. It would seem that failure to pass through each trial and come out overcoming is frowned upon. It makes sense when we see through these spectacles:

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.

Revelation 12:11

            That is something for which to be thankful. We are called, we are appointed, to overcome. Every tunnel for every one of us has that light at its end, and grace for oxygen. We can ask and imagine great and triumphant resolution in every confrontation, for we know that if we will not turn back, our God will not disappoint.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20,21

The original “Golden Spike” used to connect the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads near Ogden, Utah in 1869

WJenning, by permission,Wikipedia

… thanking God for things we haven’t often thought to be thankful for.

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you . . .

(Galatians 4:19, NIV)

Apart from morning sickness, there is a sweet, a delicious joy in discovering new life developing in the womb … in isolation, in darkness, protected, loved, nourished, wanted, anticipated.

Prayed for. Prayed over.

Then, the travail. The birth. We look so forward to the birth, but the travail is daunting as we undergo it and when we consider it.

Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your God.
Isaiah 66:9

Why do we think so much more intently upon the things that haven’t worked, haven’t come forth, haven’t changed … than we do upon the Lord’s faithfulness? Foolish.

Foolish because there is much yet to come to the birth, and we are the womb by our prayers and intercession. Things that appeared to be failures or loss were episodes of grace or truth, redemptive along the way. Souls are yet meant to be reborn and saints are yet to be conformed to the image of Christ. We don’t need a pregnancy test or special license, not when we love, when we care, when we desire good for the souls of men. Where, oh where, do we think that love and compassion comes from?

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 (ESV)

We lack only fervor, and the righteousness of a holy determination; ours is to bring to the birth in the womb of hope.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

(James 5:16, KJV)

Statue of a Pregnant Macedonian Woman

Dennis Jarvis, by permission, Wikipedia

SaveSave

The Lord gives strength to those who turn the battle at the gate.

 Isaiah 28:6

We are giving thanks to God for things we don’t always remember to appreciate …

Praise the LORD, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. Psalm 144:1

It’s a little bit difficult to find a person who’s crazy about their job. More likely, most of those we know say their jobs make them crazy!

Not so for us.  God has commanded strength and purpose for our lives.  Our jobs and vocations matter, and in particular that we know that we are called to fight a good fight, a fight of faith. So long as there is a battle, shall we not rejoice that we are called to the Lord’s side, and give thanks? Shouldn’t we be thankful rather than tentative?

. . . be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Ephesians 6:10

For me, I realize that I too seldom give thanks to God that I am called to this battle.  I do see the need to fight, and I am glad to be a warrior more than a worrier, but when I consider that the alternative is to sink down into the mire of life under “the rulers of this darkness,” when I remember that that is an unacceptable option, I am filled with thanksgiving.

Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness . . .

Without the obedience of Christ, without the truth of the Word of God, without the ability to see and sense the encroaching oppressions of evil in our time, many of us would turn back and grow faint. Taken in that light, we can share a sense of deepest gratitude that our lethargies and innate cowardice have been confronted and overwhelmed by love and courage and hope.

  . . . and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph. 6:14-17)

Thank You, Father, for calling us to war.

French Marine, Task Force Forrigan, points out a guerrila position  (Large operation conducted to deny the enemy safe haven)

public domain, U. S. government officer or employee as part of official duties, taken by U. S. Army 1st Lt. Lory Stevens, Wikipedia

Can you think of any time or any place in Scripture where the Lord recommends strength? When the Father, when God Almighty, speaks of strength, He commands it.

Your God has commanded your strength;
Show Yourself strong, O God, who have acted on our behalf. (Psalm 68:28)

Thank You, Father, for what You command, we can obey. We can respond in love.

I will love You, O Lord, my Strength. Psalm 18:1

Thank You, Lord God! We know that if we were merely advised to be strong, we would use strength and weakness to our own advantage: “I’m too tired … I’m weary of the daily grind.” O Lord God, we give you our praise, that You have not left us to our own strength or weakness!

God gives power to the weak. And to those who have no might, He increases strength. Isaiah 40:29

At times we say, “I can do this! Yes, my plate is full, and yes, I’m already far over-extended, but I really want to do this thing, and so … I know I can!”

Thank You, Father, for commanding strength, power and might that do not originate with us, that we may do those things that You alone can accomplish, and that we may put aside those endeavors that vaunt only pride and self-reliance.

God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

This season of thanksgiving is meant to be something different. In times past we have been thankful for thanksgiving, and we are to this day. This year, we will be more grateful than ever for the unfailing power of Your might, for the Living Word, Emmanuel, Christ in us, our hope of glory, and for the times of our lives and the purposes of Your heart, O Lord our God.

The Lord gives strength to those who turn the battle at the gate.

 Isaiah 28:6

Thank You, Lord God, heavenly King, for the battle, the hour, for Your Nearness, and for the sweetness of gratitude as it rises within us.

Daniel’s Answer to the King

B. Pratt, public domain, Wikipedia

Trail at Serra dos Orgeos National Park, Brazil

“. . .  giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.
If you keep to my path,
I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

Psalm 50:23 (NLT)

Why do we so often learn to live our lives in Christ with an emphasis on the “don’ts” instead of the “do’s”?  At least in the early days, we might step over half a dozen “do’s” while trying hard not to commit any “don’ts”!  Here in Cor Unum Abbey, we do our best to make sure that the doing of the Gospels tips the scales.  It has been said that if we would concern ourselves with what we know to do, nearly all the “don’ts” would fall away or fall in line.  (After all, “love does no harm to a neighbor” … Romans 13:10.)

This season of Thanksgiving is an ideal example.  When we fill our hearts, fill our minds, fill our mouths – that last is always a good way to fill our hearts and minds – with gratitude, then grumbling and complaining and criticizing and gossiping (and those are big “don’ts”) can scarcely squeeze in.

There are more than one hundred verses that mention, and often command, the giving of thanks to God.  They dot the Scripture from start to finish, not including all the mentions of praise and worship.

We give thanks daily, on purpose, and plentifully within these walls.  It was one of our very first monastic practices.  We never leave thanksgiving to chance, and for good reason.  Thanksgiving had a most powerful effect here a few years ago.  We will tell you about it, but for now, for today … join us in thanksgiving, the sacrifice that truly honors God, and with us, see the salvation of the Lord.

And … Thank You, Father, that we may!

Trail at Serra dos Orgeos National Park, Brazil

Ferreiraandreza, by permission, Wikipedia

As we’ve said before, we aren’t all Catholic, but we’re all nuns.  Some of us are married and mindful to keep that union as our first calling, altogether holy and vital, but we know that beyond and in and through earthly and even sacramental vocations is … life in Christ.

Some of us are alone, living in solitude, quite nun-like in the practices of worship and prayer, able to seek you in stillness, having no other calling and, with joy, no other desire, but for the glory of God and the mercies and truth of Jesus Christ in this world.

Some of us have to seize minutes and moments as they fly past, but toward the same end.

We are the nuns of Cor Unum Abbey.  We are here in a cyber monastery which is merely an expression of our dwelling place in the Lord our Savior … merely a picture and illustration, but as He is our Place to Be, we enter and abide together with great joy.

Chinese Nun, courtesy of Wikipedia