Fill in the Blank...when the Pastor doesnt give you all the answers

Many church goers are used to having pre-printed outlines for the sermon with blanks to fill in. We put in those spots exactly what the preacher tells us to write. But in sermon at Impact Church titled “The Hunger Games” Justin Hamilton (JH) said, “You fill in the blank, because each of you is different.” Wat! He is supposed to tell us what to write, give us the answer, make it easy. 

Let’s start with my margin notes to get some context JH is him, HJK is my thoughts and revelations.

JH: “It’s easy to find crowds of people who gather in a church. It’s hard to find people who will go to the mountaintop, go anywhere He calls you to go.”  

(HJK) Each believer is called to their ‘mountaintop’ – a unique ‘where, who and how’ to disciple others. it could be the Bible Study I facilitate or my neighbor’s condo. AND that darn book I am supposed to be writing! (HJK)

JH: “Don’t ever talk about Jesus more than you talk to Jesus.” 

JH: “Revelation vs Recollection” (HJK) Show people vs tell people.  We need the accurate foundation, but if the Word does not live in us, walk and talk through us, CHANGE us, it is useless. And we know God’s Word is not useless, it is simply un-used. (HJK)

JH: “Am I polluting the pond that God told me to fish in?”
(HJK) Such a painful question and where I often feel that I fail. I am called to speak into people’s lives – to be an example and a teacher of God for them…and then I let my own feelings get involved. I let it become about ME instead of about God and whoever or whatever God has called me to – and when I get hurt, I lash out. Perhaps it is true, perhaps it is doubt, or perhaps Satan is whispering in my ear, “All that work, and you just destroyed it in an instant.” I am a polluter of the first degree. When will I learn that the Messenger and the recipient are depending on me – AH, THAT”S IT! Not me, but depending on the Holy Spirit working through me! As long as I try to represent God by my own power I WILL fail. (HJK)

How many of you have been irritated by my lack of sharing the original question? Probably not enough of you. Why do I say that? Because we want answers provided for us. Because many of us spend more time reading about others’ pursuits of God than in the Word of God and pursuing Him ourselves. 

So here it is.

JH: “6. I CAN NEVER FULLY LIVE THE LIFE GOD WANTS FOR ME, UNTIL I VALUE HIM MORE THAN _______________________. You fill in the blank. What holds you back? Is it pride, or family, wealth, the image others have of you, what your family said you should be or do? It’s individual for each and every one of you.”

I believe many people walked out of the service with that blank still empty. And you know what, I think they should have. Unless we have already been wrestling with God to discover our calling, longing to get to the mountaintop, and seeking HIM as desperately as we seek things or a relationship or a certain position … then we probably DON’T know yet what is holding us back. We may not even be aware that we value something more than God.

But I have been wrestling. I have been seeking, and to be honest feeling like a huge failure. I let the final worship song wash over me as I too leave the space blank, but place a box around it in expectation of an answer.  Then, ass I get up one word pops into my mind. “EVIDENCE!”

That may not mean a whole lot to you, but it is CLEAR to me. And as I drive and let that answer wash over me, more words and phrases come to mind. Some add further clarification - “FAITH,” “THE NEED TO SEE THE FRUIT.”

Additional obstacles come to mind also, because we are complex human beings and are rarely limited or challenged in a void or by a single issue.  Not only do I stop trying sometimes because of the failure to see the evidence of the fruit of my labor but, I also add, “SURVIVAL. THE INCOME TO LIVE ON WHILE I DO WHAT YOU ARE CALLING ME TO DO,” and  “HOW I HAVE ALREADY FAILED GOD AND THE FEAR I WILL KEEP ON DOING SO,” and “PEOPLE FINDING OUT THAT I AM SO INCREDIBLY IMPERFECT.”

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.” Psalm 24:3-6 (KJV)

This is not easy stuff and can deter many. But perhaps it should not be easy to be called. It makes sense that our leaders and influencers will struggle with the same things we do but still come out on top and with a message to share (eventually, climbing mountains takes time)! And the whole ‘clean hands, pure heart, no vanity, not sworn’ stuff can get scary when we are privy to the inner workings of our own evil hearts – even if we don’t say the stuff out loud. But I suddenly notice and want to point out to you also that the righteousness is from God! The purity comes to the saved – He is the source of that righteousness and the power to overcome. Not me.

What is your word, your obstacle, the ‘god’ in your life that comes before the one and only God who wants to GIVE you life abundantly, not take anything away.

I CAN NEVER FULLY LIVE THE LIFE GOD WANTS FOR ME, UNTIL I VALUE HIM MORE THAN _______________________.

_____________________________________________

Be blessed My Purposeful People! Heather

Wearable Art - Heather J Kirk's VIDA Collection: http://shopvida.com/collections/heather-j-kirk
and https://artofwhere.com/artists/heatherjkirk
Art by Heather J. Kirk http://heather-kirk.pixels.com  and http://AEC.pixels.com
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#impact #makeanimpact #changemaker #evidence #seethefruitofmylabor #impactchurch #scottsdale #prayerlife #justgivemetheanswer

The Internal Civil War of Extreme Hate with Miraculous Forgiveness

While a young man full of hate beyond measure hoped to incite civil war by killing those in a Bible Study who accepted him without question, forgiveness offered during his bond hearing expressed by family members of those killed demonstrated hearts full of a love beyond measure. Most human beings cannot fathom the existence of either of these extremes – but we all carry both inside of us…the ability to both hate and love…

www.juno-news.com/news/read/category/AP%20Top%20News%20-%20US%20Headlines/article/the_associated_press-church_victims_family_face_alleged_attacker_in_cou-ap

          We convince ourselves we are “good people” because most of us hover near the middle in terms of anger and hatred. But what if we had to compare ourselves daily to the kind of love that forgives such wrongs. Oh, how we fail that test! 

          It is tempting to blame parents, education, culture, drugs or even mental illness, but we all understand at some level such horrific acts demonstrate pure evil on a realm greater than the normal human experience, even a “dysfunctional” one. The true Civil War is one that happens daily inside of our hearts and for each of our souls. The real life scenario playing out in Charleston, SC, only makes sense when we understand that “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness…”

In this realm we must “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

To read about the “Whole Armor of God” in context and what that armor includes, read here. When I see not just pure evil, but pure love in action in response to it, I am reminded I need to put on that armor daily. What about you? Don’t understand but want to? Ask someone in whom you have seen a touch of that impossible kind of love and forgiveness.

Ephesians 6:10-20:   www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A10-20&version=NKJV


Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

#EmanuelAME #charleston #forgive #love #hate #memorial #sc #southcarolina #armorofgod #ephesians6 #hatecrime #racism

Third in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

Third in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

I have always like the music of U2, but never thought I’d post a quote by Bono. But it fits with something I told a friend today regarding my belief that while some say all Gods are the same and all religions lead to the same place is wrong. (Stay with me here – I dare you…) Perhaps they all started out as the same, but somewhere along the way, people couldn’t believe that love, forgiveness , grace and heaven were completely free. All you had to do was admit you couldn’t be perfec t on your own and accept the gift. So various religions were created by man to figure out ways to EARN God’s love, EARN forgiveness and DESERVE Heaven. That’s why I believe Christianity is NOT the same as all the rest. It’s the only one that offers a solution to the truth…because haven’t you all figured out yet that you just can’t do it on your own. The rules are impossible to follow 100% of the time!

Sorry – I promised a Bono quote, so here we go: “You see, at the center of all religions is the idea of Karma. You know, what you put out comes back to you… And yet, along comes this idea called Grace to upend all that… Grace defies reason and logic. Love interrupts, if you like, the consequences of your actions, which in my case is very good news indeed, because I’ve done a lot of stupid stuff. The point of the death of Christ is that Christ took on the sins of the world, so that what we put out did not come back to us, and that our sinful nature does not reap the obvious death. That’s the point. It should keep us humbled. It’s not our own good works that get us through the gates of heaven.” (Michka Assayas, Bono in Conversation)

I found the quote thanks to the December 21 Advent Devotional from Water from Rock
http://www.waterfromrock.org/

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

Second in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

Second in a Series of “The Duh-Huhs of Christmas”

I have heard that the song “Twelve Days of Christmas” (one of the most annoying songs I have ever heard, rivaled only by “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”) is secret code to remember basic tenants of Christianity or Catholicism when the practice was outlawed. But, duh huh, doesn’t using the word “Christmas” itself give it away? I mean anyone who sings Christmas songs or celebrates Christmas MUST be a Christian. OOPS! My bad.

As we can see in our present culture, that is not true at all. Jesus has been completely usurped by Santa and “Making a List;” giving to people by people until you go into debt and hope other people spend as much as you did on them or you will hold a grudge, overarches any understanding of receiving the gift of a Savior coming to live life as we do, so we can never say to God – “You have no idea how hard this life is!” At least one person I know from every culture and religion celebrates Christmas in some form. I say this merely to point out that celebrating does not mean believing (including those who call themselves Christians), not as criticism. It would be hard to avoid Christmas altogether in a society consumed with consumerism!  Though I would say people of the Jewish faith follow their own faith most closely at this time of year, maintaining their own beliefs as separate – perhaps made easier by a similar time frame for a holiday celebration. Or who knows, maybe that makes it harder…

So if I am not criticizing per se, why the duh huh? Because as a whole, the American culture is very accepting of so many things and people without criticism (which is good), or hate certain groups of people based solely on skin color or religion or place of birth (which is bad), but we tend to do so without knowledge or understanding (which is risky). Why risky? If any time of year is the right time to ponder the gift of eternal life, it is Christmas. And that gift is not in 12 golden rings, or a pretty tree, or shop ‘til you drop. It is in the birth of one very special baby. If you don’t really understand what that first “Christmas” was all about, isn’t it time you asked?

A great place to start is http://www.impactchurch.com/messages2#

Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 1: Three Things Jesus Came to Reveal About God
Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 3:  When God Messes Up Your Plans OR God Made You for a Purpose OR God Has a Bigger Plan for Your Life than You Have for Your Life (A bigger purpose than you can ever imagine!)
Keeping Christ in Christmas – Part 4:  

Heather J. Kirk Art by Heather J. Kirk www.heather-kirk.artistwebsites.com Literature by Heather J. Kirk http://www.photographicartistry.citymax.com/Books.html

If your life didn't change, would that be good news?

Quotable: "If you don't change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever. Is that good news?"

From a book by Pete Wilson titled Plan B: What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought he would?

Last Sunday I attended Impact Church in Scottsdale, and Wednesday night (February 15, 2012) started in their five week Bible Study (The Core)using the above book. I admire both the author and the church for tackling the ubiquitous questions of life: Why? (did 'x' happen) and What? (what is is happening to me, what is my purpose, what I am I supposed to do now?)

It is becoming more common to hear people say they don't believe in God, yet when things go wrong, God is exactly who they blame - even if they supposedly don't believe! The Christian understands, at some level, that we live in a fallen world, but if we remove Christian-speak what does that mean? It means we live in a world full of humans! And humans tend to mess things up - repeatedly. Sometimes out of evil, but more often out of ignorance, selfishness, neglect or plain old exhaustion. instead of blaming God, it would be more honest to blame: myself, others, disease, nature and simple randomness.

Do I have this all figured out? No. And it's because when so many things have and continue to go wrong in my life, I am just as guilty as anyone else to get really angry with God for not doing what I tell Him to do or what I think He should do. (Can anyone else confess to such a self-centered view of God and the world?)

That's why I'll be reading the above book and attending the Bible Study. Because if I don't change my beliefs - which include thinking my plans are better than God's plans - I will keep getting angry, and miss out on some blessings. So regarding the quote and the question: "If you don't change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever. Is that good news?" For me, no, that would not be a good thing.

My prayer for all of us: God open my eyes, ears and heart to see what you are doing in my life - and instead of fighting you, help me to then join you. May I receive all the blessings you have for me, and may there be no Plan B - because it's all your plan. Even when my finite mind thinks things are all messed up, help me to stop doubting and start walking in faith. In Jesus' name, Amen

by Heather J. Kirk

You can also get the audio book at Audible.com to listen instead of read

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Just Enjoy the Show

Sunday October 2nd, 2011 – Tempe and Scottsdale, Arizona

Somewhat paraphrased: Peace is not just the absence or lack of something – no war, no more problems. If peace depends on the absence of trouble, peace is only temporary. We live in a broken world, and new problems will start the very next morning. Instead, peace – Shalom – is both a prayer and the presence of something: freedom and confidence. Freedom from fear and confidence that God is in control. If you choose to believe that everything that happens, every detail of your life, is in God’s plan, has a purpose and can work ultimately for good, then there is peace – in spite of your problems, and even in the midst of war.
- Grace Community Church – Dr. Daryl Delhousaye,
Text: John 14: 25 – 31



It’s not unlike the movie I saw later with friends, Money Ball. We can choose to never be satisfied, never win enough games unless you win the “final game” – the pennant. In that case only one team wins in a single game in an entire season of baseball. Not much fun – we could skip all the hot dogs and apple pie, summer picnics and ice cream after the games. In fact the last inning is all that would be worth watching – worth living. Fast forward through your entire life, dissatisfied every step of the way, and then be “shocked” when you can’t remember how to celebrate; or there is no one around to celebrate with. (It’s a metaphor.)

Or you can, as the final song the main character's daughter sings suggests, “I’ve got to let it go and just enjoy the show. You’re such a loser dad. You’re such a loser dad. Just enjoy the show.*” Yes, yes, another metaphor. Another way to say the more common metaphor, “It’s not whether you win or lose – it’s how you play the game.

Personally, I’d like to both win AND play well along the way, maybe we all would. And we’ve got to admit, playing well increases the likelihood of that happening – though of course it’s not a guarantee. Still, there are principals in sports that apply to life, like “Practice makes perfect.” So why do so many of us try to get by on sloppy or lazy work and act surprised when things turn out poorly?

The main character played by Brad Pitt was often stressed out , angry or frustrated. Yet only once did he drink alcohol as a coping mechanism. I liked that. (Eating though – well, that’s another story.)

I’m not a Brad Pitt fan. (I’m maybe one of five women in the world who don’t find him attractive.) Nor do I feel he is a particularly good actor. I like baseball even less. Still, once the story started to make sense, I really liked the movie and felt Pitt portrayed the wide emotional range of the character quite well. Women who aren’t sports fans – don’t worry that it’s about baseball. All viewers – don’t stress over or even try to make sense of the beginning. It will all come together soon enough.

There are two fantastic, high energy scenes that make the whole movie worthwhile. Both include interplay between the characters Billy Beane (General Manager / GM) and Peter Brand (economics intern and assistant to GM). First entails a long group, (non)discussion in which Billy comes in to the recruiters table and announces who they will pick for the team. It’s long, hilarious and the interplay is perfectly timed. Same goes for the second, in which they do some wheeling and dealing over on the phone with other teams. It seems to all come together, until they realize their one mistake. The resulting scene also is well done, yet melancholic.

Now let me skip back to before the show. While buying tickets, a man purchasing tickets next to me asked if Money Ball was full. When he was told no, I told him I was still going to race him for the best seats. I guess he knew I wasn’t quite as quick as he when he told me, “When you get in there after us, just don’t sit behind us."

At the candy counter, another man excitedly asked me, “Do you know who you were talking to?” (Of course the answer is no – I just talk to whoever, sticking my nose in other people’s business when I feel like it.) He told me ended up being the 1976’s basketball Rookie of the Year. (Sorry, still don’t know who he is…) But because he was "too short” (6’ 9”) for the center position he was not expected to go early in the draft. His college coach, who had recently become a Phoenix Suns coach, decided differently. “Too short” for the position, he did so well because of skill and speed.

This story fits the theme of Money Ball as well – drafting on talent (or statistics) and not 100 other superficial or emotional reasons that we base our decisions on every day, in real life. The funniest example in the movie was not wanting to draft someone because his girlfriend was ugly (with some interesting logic behind this). But when we are done laughing, think about how you have judged someone today – and repent! Then just sit back and enjoy the show.

Later in the evening…
I got a shocker when a friend I’ve known for more than 15 years unwittingly gave a one sentence evaluation of what she believes my persona to be. I had told her three of the women where I live regularly gossip about a new male neighbor. She said, “I didn’t know you had friends there. I just imagined you going from your condo to your car, not talking to anyone, and being your usual introverted self.” I didn’t argue, just said that even in a place where most people go from their condo to their cars without talking, in ten years I have talked to a few people.

I chose not to get hurt or offended . But I was shocked that someone I’d considered a best friend for many, many years didn’t even know me. It can be helpful to know when others see us differently than we see ourselves. Yet, the same person told her husband that I am the person she has the most fun with. Before that, he trusted me to keep an eye on her when we travelled – to keep her out of trouble. Now, he’s not so sure he can trust me! (I assured him he can.) It did give me some context to think it all through, instead of losing my peace about it. (I also checked with another friend who said, “You? You’ll speak to homeless men in the park. I wouldn’t worry about it!” ,

John 14: 27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” NIV Version.

*Song by Lenka titled The Show, with the last lines changed. Buy Lenka.

Heather J. Kirk, Photographer, Author, Graphic Designer."We..." an e-book at: photographicartistry.citymax.com/BooksFind her art at: Artist Websitesand HeatherJKirk.com