Chiseled Character

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Martha
Inside the Pantheon at the tomb of the famours artist Raphael is The Madonna del Sasso, by Lorenzetto, a student of Raphael. Photo taken in 2011 by Martha Wiggins.

Inside the Pantheon at the tomb of the famours artist Raphael is The Madonna del Sasso, by Lorenzetto, a student of Raphael. Photo taken in 2011 by Martha Wiggins.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”  Matthew 5:4-6

“Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.”  I often pray this as part of my prayer routine and as an affirmation throughout the day.  It sounds really sweet and simple, but is it really?

When we ask Jesus to help us, to guide us, to teach us, to make us like Him, do we really understand all that it entails?  It isn’t easy to become meek and humble.  We innately know this or we wouldn’t be seeking His help.  The rub is in ‘how’ He will make us meek and humble, or ‘how’ He will help us to be like Him in any character trait we might long for.

When we seek His help, we acknowledge that the work is not only ours, but also His to complete in us.  It will be a cooperative effort.  We must be willing to be chiseled by the Master Potter.  He will chip away all that is unnecessary through trial and error, mistakes, and eventually successes on our part.

As we go through His sculpting of our character, we will become more and more aware of our faults.  The closer we get to the goal the more glaring the remaining faults to be chiseled away become.  The closer we get to the goal the more delicate, yet painful, the chiseling becomes.  Failures in our character, which we might not have even noticed or felt remorse for prior to chiseling, become as a heavy weight on our soul.  Rather than how far we have come, we only see how much is still to be accomplished in us.  This means the process is working.  The fine detail work has begun, and the polished completion is at hand.

The struggle to remove those unwanted character flaws is a bumpy ride, to say the least.  However, with Jesus in the seat beside us, we can call upon His strength, His courage, His patience and perseverance.  It is well worth the bumpy ride.

So, as we begin this new year, let us pray, “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine.”  Just let us also be prepared to hold on tight to all that is Him.

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The Shepherd Seeks…

Posted on January 7, 2014 by Martha

409px-Jesus_Rescuing_a_Lamb_Caught_in_Thorns“For thus says the Lord God: I myself will look after and tend my sheep.  As a shepherd tends he flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep.  I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark…the lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal…”  Ezekiel 34:11-12,16

Lost, strayed, injured, sick…The Lord your God will handle it all, for you are His sheep.  I shared this beautiful verse from Ezekiel today because so many are suffering and need to know they will be rescued.  No matter where you are, no matter what you have done, no matter how many times you have already been rescued, the Lord is your Shepherd and He will seek you out, forgive you again, and make you whole to begin anew.

Are you willing to be found?  Pray:  Find me, Lord, for I am lost.

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Brokenness To Sacredness

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Martha

442px-Crucifixion_026 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”  Psalm 34:18

Today I am sharing an entry from my personal spiritual journal.

July 22, 2010 – Crucified Jesus stands before me.  His head is lowered. His body is ravished with the marks of torture, His head bloodied with the Crown of Thorns.  He raises His head and looks into my eyes.  He says, “See Me, Martha.  See Me first as the world sees Me, BROKEN.  Then see Me as Our Father in Heaven sees Me, SACRED.  Do you understand?  What the world sees, and what is true, are two different things.  Human eyes see my tormented, broken body.  Heavenly eyes see my luminous, sacred body.  Human eyes must be made to see beyond the brokenness to the sacredness.  They must learn to see not as the world sees, and when they do, they will never want to see of this world again.”  (Journey Through The Stillness)

We can traverse the journey from brokenness to sacredness each and every day of our lives.  We are all sinners in need of forgiveness.  In His brokenness we are made whole.  Because of His Sacredness we are saved.  Seek out Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, and pray for Heavenly eyes to see through His brokeness to sacredness.  Then, never look back.

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Come And Be Healed

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Martha

Sacred Heart“LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.”  Psalm 30:2

     Below I am sharing an entry from my personal spiritual journal.  Never be frightened of Him by whose sacrificial love we are healed.  Come and be healed…

April 14, 2011 (Journey Through The Stillness) – My Scourged, Crowned and Crucified Lord is before me.  When He reaches out to place His Hands on me in blessing, I see it is His Wounded Hands.  I hang my head low and ask His forgiveness and mercy for my part in His pain and suffering.  He says, “Do not be frightened by these Wounded Hands and this ravaged body.  Besides great suffering in them, there is great healing.  All who come seeking forgiveness and mercy are healed.  Never be frightened of My pain and suffering.  Instead, seek to be one with it.  Seek forgiveness and mercy.  Come and be healed.”

(Personal thoughts – He wants each of us to see His pain and suffering, His excruciating, horrible death by torture and crucifixion.  He wants us to see and be moved to sorrow and repentance.  He bids us see, be moved, and then be healed.  Look closely at Our Lord upon the Cross.  Let it move your heart, stir your soul, and let it draw you to Him.  Be healed; be made whole in Jesus Christ, your LORD AND SAVIOR.  The time is NOW.)

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Out Of Wretchedness

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Martha
Colosseum, Rome

Colosseum, Rome, Italy, 2011, taken by Martha Wiggins

“What a wretched man I am!  Who can free me from this body under the power of death?”  Romans 7:24

My first response when He asks me to do something is to ask, “Why me, Lord.” I ask out of a sense of unworthiness, wretchedness. He knows me better than I know myself and uses me anyway!

He doesn’t ask anything of us that He doesn’t already know we can do, that He doesn’t already know the outcome.  Sometimes we work so hard at not being prideful, that we overdo the humility!  There is a balance here to be struck.  We need be humble that He has called upon us, and at the same time confident we can accomplish what He asks of us.

In excessive humility we never accomplish anything.  We think we are too unworthy to even attempt what is being asked of us.  We think someone else could do a better job!  However, He didn’t choose someone else, He chose us!

When we are over confident the opposite occurs, and still nothing is accomplished.  We think we can do it all, and either get in over our head and find out we can’t, or run everyone else off because we think we are the only one who can!

God asks us to ask His forgiveness, and then to come out of our wretchedness.  He does not want us to live in guilt, but instead, to live in forgiveness, wholeness.  He asks us to be open to His will for us.  He knows our limitations.  He sees our faults, and still He chooses to use us for His Glory.

When He asks us to do something, instead of asking, “Why me, Lord?”, we need to ask, “Where do I start?”  We need to say, “Here I am, Lord.”  We need to leave our wretchedness behind and let His Spirit fill us with enough confidence to get the job done!

In His infinite wisdom, God gave each of us a free will.  We can choose to wallow in our wretchedness, or we can choose to live in Spirit, in wholeness.

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He Holds The Year For You In Trust

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Martha
Icefields Parkway, Banff National Park, Canada, taken by Martha Wiggins, 2010

Icefields Parkway, Banff National Park, Canada, taken by Martha Wiggins, 2010

“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you’.”  Isaiah 41:13

     Hope everyone has a great New Year celebration.  My next post here will be on Wednesday, January 2nd.

For many years the following excerpt from “God Calling” has been my favorite reflection to begin the New Year:

“I stand between the years.  The Light of My Presence is flung across the year to come – the radiance of the Sun of Righteousness.  Backward, over the past year, is My Shadow thrown, hiding trouble and sorrow and disappointment. … I hold the year in My Hands – in trust for you.  But I shall guide you one day at a time. … And for each day I shall supply the wisdom and the strength.”  (An excerpt from January 1st in “God Calling”, A.J. Russell)

          It brings such comfort to know He is in control.  Even so, like many, I have the tendency to want to know the outcome before I begin.  Sometimes I spend so much time ‘getting started’ that I never really begin!  I research, organize, question, and plan.  I want every little detail in place to assure success before I actually begin.  In the August 24th, 2010, entry from “Journey Through The Stillness”, my personal spiritual journal shared on facebook,  He tells me, “It is that first step that is the hardest.  Remember when you stepped out onto facebook?  Wasn’t I there leading the way?  The first step leads to the next, and so on.” 

The reality is success is never secure.  There are just too many variables outside our control.  Ultimately, we are not in control of anything except our actions, our free will.  We give our best effort, and then hope for the best outcome.  However, if we are honest, sometimes the failures we experience are actually successes, because they lead us to the next step … to the right step, the right plan, the real success.

I tend to tussle with Jesus over this very thing quite often.  I want perfection; He wants action.  Or, I want to be part of the flock when He wants me to lead the flock!  I often say He drags me, kicking and screaming, to what is good for me.  And while hindsight is 20/20, I know if I was allowed to see all before I began, I might run backwards and never realize the good that was in store for me!

I have come to learn He will not ask anything of me He doesn’t already know I can do.  He assures me, if I step out in faith, all I need will be waiting for me.  He understands I want to know all the steps before I take the first one, but this is not His way.  His Way is Trust.  Only after many convincing signs of His will for me to do so, did I begin to share my faith outwardly, through my personal journal on facebook.  It is the same with the website and blog.  I have truly stepped out in faith and trust, and He has met me with everything I need.  Has it been easily done, NO; but able to be done?  YES!

Remember, He holds the year for you in Trust.  Think about this; let it sink in.  Then, unafraid, step out into your New Year in trust.  All you need will be there.  What is waiting there for you?

A Blessed and Happy New Year to all!

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Are You In A Long Distance Relationship?

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Martha

409px-Jesus_Rescuing_a_Lamb_Caught_in_Thorns“But Jesus took hold of her hand and called to her, “My child, stand up!”  Her spirit came back into her, and she stood up at once.  Then Jesus ordered that she be given something to eat.”  Luke 8:54-55

     Doldrums, stagnant, desert; all familiar terms used to represent faith in a long distance relationship.  As believers we know the Truth.  He is ever there; it is us.  We move.  We may only move a tiny bit, a little to one side or the other, but it is just enough to bend or break the connection, and our spirit suffers as a result.  We no longer “feel” our faith, or His presence.

In a favorite daily devotional of mine, “God Calling” by A.J. Russell, the December 28th entry reads, “I am here.  Do not need feeling too much. … What does it matter what you feel?  What matters is what I am, was, and ever shall be to you – A Risen Lord. … The feeling that I am with you may depend upon any passing mood of yours – upon a change of circumstances, upon a mere trifle.  I am uninfluenced by circumstances. … My Promise given is kept.  I am here, one with you in tender loving friendship.”  How comforting it is to know that He is here even when we are not.  We change; He does not.  He is the same today as yesterday, and ever shall be!

I have come to learn that I do not like long distance relationships, especially when it involves my loved ones.  I want them to always be close at hand; even more so with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I have also discovered that I would rather be ‘asked’ to do that which I am uncomfortable doing than be alone in the dark with no direction.  At least when I am doing His will, or trying to do His will, I know He is there with me.

If we are in a long distance relationship and don’t wish to be, then how do we get out of it?  How do we return to, or begin, a closer relationship with Him?  If He didn’t move, then it is us who must move again.  It may not be easy.  It may take some time, but the most important thing we can do is continue to ‘visit’.  We must move toward Him by meeting Him halfway.  Spend time in His presence even if He doesn’t speak, even if we don’t feel anything.

After all the excitement, fun, and glow of Christmas has passed by it is easy to let down our guard, to move a little to either side, to become off center.  Spend the next few days making it a priority to move back to the true center.  Persistence will be rewarded and you will find yourself in a united relationship.   You will find yourself beginning the New Year in a newer, closer relationship with Our Lord.

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Lord, You Are Home

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Martha
Statuary on the facade of the Duomo, The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy, 2012, taken by Martha M Wiggins

Statuary on the facade of the Duomo, The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy, 2012, taken by Martha M Wiggins

Lord, You are Home.

Forgive me, Lord, when I live more in this world than in my true home, Life Eternal.  Forgive me when I forget I am your child, and my home is with You, my Father in Heaven.

Thank you, Lord, for continually knocking on my door and inviting me home.  Let my heart hear and then open its door to receive You as my Savior, and Lord.

     The world coninually beckons to us, but so does our Lord.  He stands at the door and knocks.  He invites us into His own home.  Open the door to your heart today and let Him in.  Accept His invitation to live in Life Eternal with Him.  Live your life here on earth in belief and love of Him.  In doing so, you will be transformed and so will those around you.  You will be made ready for your next home in Eternity.

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Eat, Sleep, and Drink your Faith

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Martha

800px-Sun_and_Clouds_001“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.”  Luke 4:18

Whenever we see someone so consumed by something that they cannot focus on anything else, we say they ‘eat, sleep, and drink’ whatever they are consumed by.  It may be a sport, a career, money, a diet, or even a religion.  They have an aura about them and become known by their enthusiasm for it.  This can be either a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on what it is, depending on the extent to which it controls the person.  There are two key questions to ask when deciding whether it is an enthusiasm or an obsession.  Does it add or take away from life?  Does it serve a higher good?

By definition the word sacred means to be consecrated to God.  Being consecrated to God, our Creator, our Savior is all encompassing.  It is a way of life.  If we ‘eat, sleep, and drink’ our faith we will create an aura around us.  Unlike the auras mentioned above this one is sacred.  When we walk with Christ, we create a Sacred Space around us.  We can choose to let in only that which serves a higher good, that which brings us closer to God.  Our Sacred Space becomes both our Light, and our Protection.  In it we are safe, free from evil.  Out of it we are vulnerable to attack by evil.

From within our Sacred Space we exude sacred energy.  Others will know we walk with Christ by our enthusiasm to embrace life, by our concern and care for all.  Others will be drawn to our Sacred Space, drawn to the Light.

It is Christmas, and we have just celebrated the coming of the Light into the world.  Let us be drawn into His aura, His Sacred Space.  Let us walk with Him into the New Year creating a Sacred Space around us.  Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

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The Greatest Truth Ever Told

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Martha

346px-Nativity_015Merry Christmas to each of you.  May His Glory shine upon you and may you feel His Peace within the very depths of your soul. 

     Please take a few minutes to read and reflect on the greatest story ever told.  Only it isn’t a story it is Truth.  Immerse yourself in it; imagine yourself there.  Let it speak to your heart.  Let it touch your soul.  Let it be the focus of your Christmas.

“While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby, and she gave birth to her first son.  Because there was not rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a box where animals are fed.  That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them.  The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened.  The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people.  Today your Savior was born in the town of David.  He is Christ, the Lord.  This is how you will know him:  You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.”  Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying: “Give glory to God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God.”  When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem.  Let’s see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about.” 

     So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a feeding box.  When they had seen him, they told what the angels had said about this child.  Everyone was amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them.  Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard.  It had been just as the angel had told them.”  Luke 2:6-20

Again, Merry Christmas to each of you.  May His Glory shine upon you and may you feel His Peace within the very depths of your soul.

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