 "Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." ~ Jude 21 Sometimes when I read the early descriptions about God, I find that I become fearful of the Creator at times. I then think about the relationship that I now have with God because of Jesus. I realize that it is because of Jesus that I have overcome that fear, and I am not afraid of being vulnerable to what God wants from me. If it weren't for Jesus, I'm not sure I would have the relationship with God that I now have.
Without Jesus, God lacked the intimacy that I needed in order to be in relationship with God. There is something about being fearful of God that creates a sense of insecurity and distance within me. Jesus reminds us that he did not come into the world to "condemn the world." No, he came to "save the world." (John 3:17) Fear can be among one of the greatest blocks of our spiritual life with God. We cannot spend time in prayer if we are living in fear of the One we are praying to. John writes, "Perfect love drives out fear." (John 4:18) God's love is perfect. The central message that Jesus provides us is that God loves us with an unconditional love that is present, always! It is not given with expectation, or guided by a fear that leaves us wondering what God will want in return. God is love. Jesus is the truest example of that love for us. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me." ~ Psalm 15:5 - 6 I can remember following an illness ten years ago when I found myself unemployed, uninsured, and basically homeless, I walked into a colleague's office sharing, "Who am I now?"
I had placed all my identity on my work, role as a parent, where I lived, and how I lived. Having lost everything that I had worked for left me feeling completely "unattached," from who I was "supposed," to be. As she sat and listened, she held my hand and then reminded me, "You are not what you do. You are not identified by where you live. You are not the successes you have had. You are also not what people have to say about you. I am here to remind you that you are a beloved child of God." I just remember weeping as she hugged me, and then reminded me, "Everything that you know about yourself you have learned throughout all the chapters of your life. We are Ecclesiastical people with many seasons and chapters. Each one is important, and each one has meaning, but no where in all of your successes and failures did you ever lose your place as one of God's children." It's funny how the season of Lent brings me back to that moment when I remember the place where I was in my life at that time, and how her words changed the way that I looked at myself and others. She then pulled out her Bible and wrote down a verse for me that I carried in my wallet for the longest time that reminded me of this day, but also these words from Isaiah, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." (Isaiah 49:16) We are always connected to God. Not only do we carry the breath of God within us, and bear the image of God, but our names are forever written in the palm of God's hands. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  However, as it is written, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9 - 10 Lent is often centered upon solemn moments, of inward focus, repentance, forgiveness and sacrifice. This year I seem to be approaching Lent in a different way. This year I am reminding myself to look for the joy, rediscover hope, but most of all, to remember that we are bearers of the light of Christ to others.
Jesus reminds us to, "Set your hearts on the Kingdom of God first...and all other things will be given to you as well." Remaining focused on the Kingdom of God is also the reminder to seek the goodness that God has provided. As I sit at our dining room table this morning, the light draping the room, surrounding flowers in a small glass vase, reminds me of an important discipline, and that is to seek the things that bring us closer to the Kingdom of God. So often as we reflect inwardly on our Lenten journey, we fail to recognize the light that surrounds our steps. To recognize joy is never something that is wrong, or disruptive. It is imperative that rediscover what God is doing around us each day in order for us to feed our faith, to celebrate the blessings, and to share with others the joy that we are encountering. Yes, I do believe that "Setting our hearts on the Kingdom of God," requires us to look at our lives, and to promote change where change is needed, but if we give something up for Lent and fantasize constantly about returning to it when Lent is over, then it might not be the thing to give up. Instead, what would it be like to give up something in order to become something different than what we currently are? Instead of looking at it as something we are sacrificing, but instead, something that fulfills the need to bring us closer to the the Kingdom of God, then we begin to understand what Jesus is requiring. Set your hearts on the Kingdom of God. Be the light of Christ. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. ~ Psalm 51:10 For many of us, there are things that we do each day that is unique to who we are, and how we live our lives. Today marks the beginning of a time of reflection, where we mark ourselves with ashes, reminding us that we are made from dust, and to dust we shall return.
It is a time when we begin to make a sacred journey inward. Observing the things that we do each day, how we respond to different things in the world, and to attempt to bring to light things within ourselves that we either find as a strength or a weakness. The season of Lent is not about "shaming ourselves" into making sweeping changes. It is discovering that there is darkness in our life. The season of Lent invites us to come into the light of God's love, while realizing because of this light, in God's fullness, that we recognize there is a shadow. "Ash Wednesday" serves as a reminder that we are indeed dust, touched by the Divine, and created for a greater purpose. May this season of Lent be a time when we can fully realize our purpose while we grow closer to God. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it..." ~ Psalm 24:1 The older I become, the deeper the meaning becomes that God exists. I wonder constantly if I am allowing for the truths in my life to be determined by my belief that God doesn't just exist, but is fully involved. I guess that I also realize that if I fully give into this truth about God, then I am challenged to give up control. As someone recently shared with me, "Let God be God."
Until I relinquish the need for "me," then I will continue to struggle with allowing God to be God, my God, and the God of all creation. For any of us, the thought of "surrender," can be difficult. I realize that as long as I don't allow God to be God, then my life is an illusion of a life lived out in faith, and most of my energy is then consumed in trying to keep the illusion going. I remember someone asking me, "You know how to make God laugh? Tell God YOUR plans." Surrendering our lives to God doesn't mean that we surrender our thoughts, plans, and ideas. Yes, we are created by God to do God's will, but we are also created in a way to take that will and make it a reality utilizing the gifts that we have been given. Don't allow someone's view of spirituality paralyze your abilities and what God is doing in your life! Being a follower of Jesus Christ is not a declaration that nothing matters any more as some form of self-denial. Instead of saying that "Nothing maters anymore since I know that God exists." As someone who follows Christ, I am reminded that nothing can be unimportant. We are clothed in the light of Christ, and our existence is about sharing that light with others! Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  [The one] who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." ~ Psalm 91:1-2 In a world that is always changing, where is it that we find security?
When we start thinking about that question, we may give many answers: success, money, friends, property, popularity, family, connections, insurance, and so on. We may not always think that any of these forms the basis of our security, but our actions or feelings may tell us otherwise. When we start losing our money, our friends, or our popularity, our anxiety often reveals how deeply our sense of security is rooted in these things. The temporary world is connected to all of these things, but the spiritual life that lends itself to the Kingdom of God is not. It is fulfilled with the love that God has for each of us. Security in God's love is the one thing we can always rely on. "You cannot be the slave both of God and of money" (Luke 16:13) Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ~ Matthew 6:33 This morning as I looked through a news feed, I was reminded that the world is filled with folks expressing their point of view. Often being critical of others. As I read comments made by a friend and colleague of mine, I sent him a note just simply asking that he, "Change his point of grace."
He responded, asking if I had made a typo? "You mean point of view?" No, I was trying to be as clear as possible. We don't always understand what it is that any one person is going through. Lately it seems that we all are expected to have an opinion, and even more, we are to express it. I had a dear friend years ago who was an elder at one of the first churches I served. Often he would attend a meeting, sitting silently, and listened to everything that was said. At first I didn't understand how he could be so patient, and not interject. What I realize now is that he was actually providing an example for all of us. When he did speak, I just remember being drawn in to what he had to say. Often thought out, and filled with wisdom and wholeness, his words would be filled with grace. Over the years I have thought about him, and how he allowed for not a "point of view," rather, he allowed for a "point of grace," to enter into the conversation. A song I love, "Seek ye First," reminds us that we are to seek the Kingdom of God first, and all shall be added unto us. It's not that our opinion is not important, it is how we react and allow for the Kingdom of God to be present. The gospel writer, Matthew, who reminded us to seek the Kingdom of God first, also reminds us, "Judge not, lest you be judged." (Matthew 7:1) Two very good reminders that we should allow for silence before responding, and when we do, to make sure that we are responding from a "point of grace." Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  "Trust in him at all times... pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." ~ Psalm 62:8 In his book, "The Only Necessary Thing: Living a Prayerful Life" Henri Nouwen writes:
“Dear God, I am so afraid to open my clenched fists! Who will I be when I have nothing left to hold on to? Who will I be when I stand before you with empty hands? Please help me to gradually open my hands and to discover that I am not what I own, but what you want to give me.” Many of us live our entire lives with our fists closed, unwilling to be vulnerable. The line, "Who will I be when I stand before you with empty hands," reminds me that in order to invite others, we must be willing to extend our hands to others. I think of the times that I have heard, and even used the excuse myself, that God must have "someone else," in mind who could do this better. Clenched fists are more than a sign of anger, they are also a sign of unwillingness to learn. Years ago I met a wonderful saint who shared these words, "Offer God your imperfections, and then see what happens." She was right. We all carry in those clenched fists, our vulnerabilities, brokenness and mortal ways. It is through those experiences and our hands that the eternal God of creation becomes visible to us. Each day we are invited to present, not just our open hands, but our whole lives to the Lord! Our joys as well as our sorrows, successes and failures, our fears and our hopes. By keeping our fists closed, we limit our hands, and lives, from being available and able to do what God is requesting from us. We are called to do so with our limited means, our stuttering words and halting expressions. In this way we will come to know in mind and heart the unceasing prayer of God’s Spirit in us. Our many prayers are in fact confessions of the times our hands are clenched, but they are also confessions that enable us to perceive the merciful presence of God. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love ... God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. ~ 1 John 4:8, 16 It's hard to believe our grandson, Jaxton, turned five this week. We celebrated with video calls and watching him blow out the candles on his cake. I was reminded of how much God loves us by untrusting us with these beautiful moments to celebrate life.
As I listened to him share about a trip to the Children's Museum, celebrating the stuffed-snake that he had received at the museum, while imitating the "SSSSSSSSS..." of the snake and the rattle of his tail, I couldn't help but feel his excitement and experience his joy. The first time I saw him, I couldn't help but see a precious gift from God, and wonder about the conversations he had already had with God. On this Valentine's Day, I am reminded of how God has loved us, even before we knew of God. These are the words I wrote on that day five years ago this week: It began with a still small voice who whispered, and through the weaving of love, a spark gave way to light. "Do you know I love you?" the voice then asked. "Let me hold you now..." "Can you hear that sound?" the voice then asked. "It's the sound of your mother's heart. It's the joy she sings to you day and night..." "Can you feel that warmth?" the voice then asked. "It's the face of your father, laying next to you. It's pure joy to him, knowing you are growing." "Do you know I love you?" the voice then asked again. "I have many plans for you, for the world will be great, but even when you enter the world, if you will listen, you will hear Me reminding you that I love you." "Can you hear that sound?" the voice then asked again. "It's the laughter of your mother, feeling you move within, and bringing joy to her." "Can you feel that warmth?" the voice then asked again. "It's the hands of your father, that will always be there, to remind you of Me, and of this time that I held you." "Do you know I love you?" the voice cried out as your light entered into the world. "Always remember my voice, for I have created you, so that the world may know My voice, through the joy that your birth has brought to the world this day." Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows;he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” ~ Mark 4:26 - 29 Occasionally along the Gulf the tide really withdraws and we can see more of the shoreline. So much of the time our water, because it is shallow and can be muddy just offshore, we cannot see the bottom. Over the last year we've had more "blue water days," where the water is clear, and we can walk several feet into the Gulf and still see our feet and everything that is just below the surface.
I love it when more of the beach is exposed. With the water drawn back, we can see what the waves often hide. We are so like this shoreline. We develop layers, like the waves upon the sand, that prevent others from seeing us clearly. Only when we reveal, or become vulnerable, can others truly see what is happening in our life. The ability to become vulnerable can be frightening for some. For others it can be time-consuming finding ways to avoid being transparent to others. While there are those who are comfortable in their own skin, and don't mind sharing openly, for many of us, it can be terrifying. The Gospel writer, Mark, attempts to share that our maturation is a normal process. Like the grass in the field, we grow as blades of grass, maturing, and then at some point we reach full maturity and are harvested. I love to watch a field of wheat in the summer sun as the wind creates waves like that of the Gulf. The current is reflected over the countryside, as golden shafts move in cadence with God as the orchestrator. Then the field is left in stubble once the harvest is complete, exposing what is below. So it is with us. We react and move to God's unceasing call to each of us. Our ability to react often is tempered by our own ability to shift and change. While some have built up thick outer layers, making it difficult to adapt and move, there are those who find comfort in being surrounded by community, so that when the storm comes, all are sustained by holding one another upright. Fields and beaches are funny like that, and so are human beings, but all are God's creation. And for that, I am grateful. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for one another." ~ 1 John 3:16 For six years I worked closely with homeless youth living in the Montrose area of Houston. I soon discovered what it meant to discover your "tribe," among people. Many of the kids created their own family units, often with pseudo-parents and roles that they would all live into. For many of these "tribes," they would create a home, discover ways to support one another, and share, even the smallest of assets. Their ability to be unconditionally available for one another, often made me think that they had created what they failed to gain in their home prior to life on the street.
Many of the youth I worked with were gay, having been kicked out of their homes. Some were mentally ill. Many of them self-medicated with drugs and compromised themselves to in order to survive. Sunday morning I would always arrive early to the church I was pastoring in that neighborhood with my family to get the doors open, start coffee, set out donuts and toiletries so that those coming in from the street could clean up and try to "regroup," after a long night, often filled with things that none of us could imagine. Many times I would find myself sitting, listening to what had happened to one of the youth, and begin to realize that, "this is the reason that God sent Jesus into the world." So often I would hear of the their fears, and experiences, and attempt to find a way to for them to see that there was another way of living. So much of what I tried to point to is that fear is driven out by love that each is deserving of. It is the love that comes from God. So much of the time what I struggled with was for them to realize that there is more than human affection. Human affection has its value and beauty, but the love that I so desperately wanted them to realize had more to do with the love that God extends to us that transcends all feelings, emotions and passions. The perfect love that drives out all fear in the divine love in which we are invited to participate. The home that they needed, the intimate place, the place of true belonging, is not created by any of us. It is created for us by God, who came to live among us, inviting us and preparing a place for us. For someone living on the street, who often had been betrayed by those who should have provided these things, trying to understand that God has a greater purpose for them, was often the greatest struggle that I experienced. It's funny how those years seem like such a blur at times. I still keep in touch with several of these kids who are now adults, many raising their own families. Some, unfortunately, have become part of the great cloud of witnesses, and I struggle to ask if there was "something more," I could have done to help them. It's then that I feel the comforting arms of Christ, who came and dwelt among us, and I am reminded of the peace that surpasses all understanding. Give to me Your ear, oh Lord, and listen for a while; For I am tired and in need. Restore my soul, because You are within, I am holy. You are my Lord, and I belong to You. Be gentle, Lord, for my cries go out to You. Delight in the soul of Your servant, to You, Lord, I give my soul. Lord, You are good, always ready to forgive and forget. To all who call, You are present, with compassion to forgive. Hear me, Lord, and listen to the plea in my voice. When I am troubled, I will lift up my prayer, for You will answer me. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  "Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again." ~ Ecclesiastes 11: 1 When does one finally succumb to the challenges and give up?
Even the home team of the football game begins to acknowledge loss when three touchdowns behind. The thought turns from, "We still have a chance," to, "If I leave now we will beat the traffic." In today's society the idea of loss or failure, can have a lasting impact on a person's well-being and can ultimately paralyze the ability to succeed. It's not something that is planned for. No one sets out to fail, but failure is a part of life. One of the most difficult things to deal with is when there is deliberate acts by others who ultimately want to see you fail. Unfortunately that can and does happen. Even while serving congregations, I have witnessed what I call, "parking lot conversations" that have brought harm to not only the church, but others. While Christ struggled to help usher in the Kingdom of God, one of his own disciples sold him out, and yet, he looked into the man's eyes and said, "Go and do what you must." Ultimately the death of Christ made it possible for the empty tomb, but for many, the thought of death was seen as the end. The good news is that there is always eternity. The Kingdom of God doesn't spend eternity concerned with our failures, whether self-created, or due to the choices of others. We were created by God to do God's will. Even when the words, "It is finished" filled the air above the crowd, God still had a plan. God of My Wandering... God of discovery and re-creation, help me to know that there will indeed be times of wandering, but in my wandering lead me to green meadows; I understand that there are times of darkness but while in that darkness, I know that there will also be the dawn; that in my heart which seeks You through my whole being will begin to flow a river washing over the valleys of my soul; and that I will journey wet from the experience when again I find that I am wandering. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  The road leading back to the "Holler" where I spent several years of my childhood in Southern Indiana. "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an [adult], I put childish ways behind me." ~ I Corinthians 13:11 Just the other day someone was sharing a memory with me, and for the life of me, I could not remember the event. "Are you sure you don't remember this?" the person asked.
"Honestly," I responded, "I can't remember this." Our memories are something that hold many things. Meals around the table at Christmas or Thanksgiving often hold a special place. Special events, children being born, and moments where your heart skips a beat, are memories that we seem to treasure, and like a treasure, we tuck them away in a special place. We remember moments that fill us with joy and gratitude or with sadness and anger. Some memories remind us of the peace that existed in our homes or the conflicts that never seemed to get resolved. These moments stand out as vivid reminders of the quality of our lives together. I remember my first trip back to Indiana after having suffered a life-changing illness. I told folks that I had hoped to journey back and rediscover the inner child that walked the hills and hollers of my childhood. I was hoping that in rediscovering my inner child that I would once again know how to dream and not be so imprisoned by my health journey I had just lived through. When I returned back after my trip, friends asked if I had found that child? My response, "No, I didn't. Instead I found an aging man who struggled to climb those hills and hollers, and when I got back into the car, I saw a middle-aged, greying man who needed to figure out what to do with the life I now had before me." The perspective had changed. The child had grown up, but there were still memories that would remain. Growing older, and keeping our memories alive, is something that we all experience. While we are reminded that God remains the same, we on the other hand, do not. As we continue our own life journey, our turning inward and reflections take on a deeper meaning, filled with maturation and memories. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." ~ Galatians 6:2 Years ago a family from our community was involved in a serious automobile accident. Through a series of events, the car they were riding in crossed the center line and hit a coal truck head on. It was devastating. To make matters worse, one of the passengers was the family babysitter. A popular girl, who was a cheerleader, honor student, and absolutely beautiful in every way. Her family learned of her death through a news report on the radio.
It was a shock. There were no words to express what everyone was going through. I was like most of us and learned of the accident and deaths on the radio as well. There was just something about the monotone of the news caster, "An Owen County family and their babysitter were...." I don't know if you have ever encountered such news or a loss like this before? Throughout our lives there are simply moments when consoling one another is simply impossible. I have witnessed the responses to both good and bad news over the years. Good news is always easy. It's when we must find the words to try to explain why something happened, or to express our grief, that sometimes silence is the only response. Scripture does exactly this on more than one occasion. We are left with our own conclusions. When the Disciples finally regroup after witnessing Christ's death, there is silence. While on the cross, Christ relinquishes his mother to another, and shares, "This is your son. This is your mother." And then silence. The woman at the well is told to "go and sin no more." And silence. Adam and Eve eat of the forbidden fruit and are cast from the perfect garden. And then there is silence. Time tells the response. However, in that moment when there is overwhelming grief or circumstances, the silence that we embrace involves the overwhelming embrace by God. I wish I could say that I knew the appropriate response or words to the times when words are stolen by the circumstance. But I don't. What I can hope is that in these moments, you find that the embrace of Christ is felt. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020  "He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him." ~ Luke 10: 34 The story of the "Good Samaritan" reminds us that caring for one another has many different descriptions.
Within this story, the one person who is thought to be the less-likely to extend hospitality is the only person to stop and administer help. Working with hospice patients I have discovered there is a difference between curing a patient and caring for a patient. Care is something other than cure. Care is being with, crying out with, suffering with, feeling with. Care is compassion. It is claiming the truth that the other person is my brother or sister, human, mortal, vulnerable, like I am. When care is our first concern, cure can be received as a gift. Often we are not able to cure, but we are always able to care. To care is to be human. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2020 |
AuthorRev. G. Todd Williams is the author of the book, "Remember Me When..." and is a former hospice chaplain and pastor. Archives
February 2024
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