Refreshed!
Elizabeth's personal reflections
on living and growing with Jesus

Current month's Refreshed!

March 2010

Wondrous Agony

We're well on our way through Holy Week, and I don't think I've ever before felt so in touch with the events we are commemorating.

I began the week looking at Abraham's unthinkable assignment to sacrifice his son (Genesis 22). I tried, as best I could, to enter into the scene: to feel Abraham's confusion while he walked out his obedience; his heaviness of heart as he made the journey to the designated mountain; the steps he took to build the altar and assemble the wood upon it, slowly, methodically, waiting, resisting, watching alertly for something-for anything-which might interrupt him following through with the task, hoping beyond hope that the LORD would provide. At last God spoke and pointed out the ram caught in the thicket. Did Abraham collapse in relief? Or in confusion? Or perhaps in anger? Abraham was richly rewarded for his willingness to carry out the assignment, becoming the greatest hero of faith in history and a father to all who would eventually believe. The symbolism of his single act of obedience is incredibly rich.

The next day I moved on to Psalm 22 which speaks of the sacrifice of the Son who wasn't spared. I'm confident this Psalm provided content for Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane. The agony of being forsaken, of being the victim of hate, scorn and mockery, of the excruciating pain of the crucifixion on top of the lashings and the beatings. They are all described in detail in the psalm. What must it have been like to know it all in advance, and still to make the choice to go through it. Jesus endured the pain, making himself powerless for a few hours. His Father also suffered as he chose to stand by and allow the greatest mystery of history to unfold, uninterrupted.

Amidst the pain, Psalm 22 still expresses hope and praise and joy. "The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who seek the LORD will praise him. Their heart will rejoice with everlasting joy." (v.26)

This unthinkable plan made sense after all. Wondrous love, amazing love, how can it be that you, my God, would die for me? Work the mystery deep into my soul, Lord.

31/03/10

Official bloghood

As you can see, I've figured out how to integrate a comment column onto this page. If you'd like to comment on a blog post or on anything on the site, this is the place to do that. Your thoughts and feedback are welcome!

26/03/10

It's a red letter day

It's been a high-focus week as I've prepared for today to arrive.

The spring edition of Alpha Nieuws is being delivered to 10,000 readers today. It contains a fullpage interview with yours truly about Faith Foundations, the discipleship material I've developed this past year. It's pretty exciting to get so many potential readers pointed to my site, especially since it's still so new I haven't officially announced it yet.

After a bit more high level focus this week, that announcement will be out. But meanwhile you are welcome to join me in praying that God will use this publicity to prosper the work of my hands.

My team has fully embraced the idea of training other churches to use the Foundations material, and we are excited to see what will unfold from this initiative. I'm also keenly aware that the majority of Christian leaders in Holland have little idea about Christian spiritual direction and its value to their lives as they seek to serve Christ effectively. God knows what he desires to do, and I continue entrust my life and my efforts to him. 'Entrusted action' is a new term I've adopted for myself over these long months of developing this site. That's a good term for a red letter day.

Here's the link to the article; it's on page 6.

22/03/10

It doesn't get much better than this!

Over the past 15 months I've had the privilege to pioneer a new discipleship ministry in my church, and now the joy is mine to pass the baton of leadership to team members Jakar and Martine van Blaaderen.

The Foundations Group began with the vision to lay a solid foundation for faith in the lives of new Christians in our community, especially as a follow-up to our thriving Alpha Course. We've just finished with our second group and the third will begin next month.

From our very first meeting, Jakar and Martine enthusiastically embraced the vision to disciple new believers. They've been fabulous team members, fun, positive and always ready to invest their gifts. They've grown by leaps and bounds in their confidence and skill, and now it's beautiful to see them step into leadership with even greater enthusiasm.

My role now shifts to that of coach and my main task, to help them to flourish. Cheering on young leaders has always been one of my favourite things to do, but Jakar and Martine add a special dynamic to the mix. This going to be fun!

20/03/10

Jesus loved him

Today we're three weeks into Lent but in my personal devotions I've arrived already at Holy Week. This year I am making a rich and insightful journey through the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises where Holy Week reflections last for five weeks.

Today one thought won't let go of me. I'm captured by the extent of the love Jesus showed to Judas, his betrayer. Matthew tells us that, while Jesus made his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem on the Sunday before his death, the religious leaders' strategy was in place and Judas had determined to play into their hand (Mt 26: 1-16). I wonder if Jesus had always known it was Judas who would betray him. If not since the beginning when he chose Judas to be a part of the Twelve, then for how long had he known?

It's not so important, though, how long he had known. More important is how Jesus loved him. Jesus had included Judas in his inner circle. He had entrusted him with the finances. He treated him like all the rest of his friends, with never even a hint of partiality. And then, on the night he would betray him, Jesus washed Judas' feet.

Being secure in who he was, Jesus began the darkest night of his life by demonstrating his love to those nearest to him (John 13).

Jesus took up the role of a servant. Humble. Gentle. With nothing to prove. Peter objected, Judas didn't. Yet Jesus washed Judas' feet anyway.

As I consider this, a thought settles into my soul. I have a long way to go in learning to love.

10/03/10

Speechless

Gérard and I had prayed often for Crossroads' Alpha group as they were off on their retreat this weekend, living alongside of them as best we could without being present. Yesterday late in the afternoon an SMS arrived, and we knew without looking that it was from our good friend Anouk who leads Alpha.

She was speechless over what God had done.

A little later, over a glass of wine, Anouk found her words while we became speechless. She shared story after beautiful story of hearts opening up and finding solace in Jesus. Each life unique, each story a wonder shaped by God.

Our speechlessness turned to praise which, at its purest, is declaring to one another what God has done. Our spirits needed lifting yesterday, and there was no better remedy.

Give thanks to the LORD for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
(Psalm 118:29, NLT)

8/03/10

Refreshed! Archives

Current month's Refreshed!

February 2010