Week 1–Bringing the Attitude of Jesus to Marriage: Philippians 2:3-11

Posted on March 25, 2014 by rebeccabruner

In the fall, I taught a women’s Bible study based on material from my current work in progress, A Wife of Valor: Your Strategic Importance in God’s Battle Plan. This seven-week course focused on teaching women to more effectively partner with their husbands as fellow soldiers in God’s battle.

Here’s what participants said they found most helpful, challenging or thought provoking from Week 1:

 “The illustration of battling back to back with my husband, being warriors together for God’s cause.”

 “The reminder that we should just give thanks for the man our husband is, instead of desiring a ficticious delusion of who our husband ‘should’ be.”

 “When I make ‘sacrifices’ and humbly yield my own desires, I am following Jesus’ example.”

 Week1– http://www.fcov.org/wp-content/uploads/WK-1-1.mp3

Posted in Jesus, Love, Marriage, Spirituality | Tagged | 7 Comments

If Jesus Were a Mom, Like Me–Part 3: Whatever He Sees the Father Doing

Posted on February 12, 2014 by rebeccabruner

If Jesus were me, He would ask God for direction.  He would be responsive to God’s leading.  He wouldn’t make decisions based on peer pressure or guilt.  He wouldn’t cling to His own predetermined plans, the way I do.

  I remember a time when I was supposed to be leading a Bible study.  That’s where I wanted to be that morning, fellowshipping with other women and learning about the Lord.  I was needed there.  I had important responsibilities there.

Instead, I was at home with my son, who was then just a pre-schooler, because he wouldn’t stop throwing up.  I had a very bad attitude about having my plans derailed.  That’s when the Lord directed me to the passage in Luke chapter eight, about Jairus and the unclean woman who touched Jesus’ cloak. 

Jesus is hurrying to the home of Jairus, an important synagogue official, on an urgent mission to heal the man’s daughter. There is no time to lose, but when Jesus suddenly realizes that a person in the crowd has touched Him and been healed, He drops everything.  He doesn’t care whom He must keep waiting.  He knows that God has done something miraculous, and He will not rest until He has joined in what the Father is doing.

He waits for the woman who touched him to come forward and tell her story.  During this delay, messengers report that Jairus’ daughter has died, making it pointless for him to take up any more of Jesus’ time. But Jesus says, “Do not be afraid any longer; only believe and she shall be made well” (Luke 8:50b).

In the end, because Jesus followed God’s leading, the unclean woman was healed both in body and in spirit, and Jesus did more than Jairus dared to hope for by raising his daughter from the dead.  God’s direction and timing are always perfect.

It became so clear that just then God was working in the life of my son, and He wanted me to join Him.  That morning, there was really nothing more important for me to do than hold my little boy in my lap, feeding him Gatorade by the teaspoonful, and letting the Father’s love flow through me to him.

The Father’s love for our little ones is great.  So much so that Jesus tells us their angels in heaven continually see His face (Matt 18:10).  That shouldn’t really surprise us.  Jesus says over and over that the kingdom of heaven belongs to them. It’s time we really started believing that He meant what He said.

For those in the midst of the wild, hectic, wonderful season of young motherhood, I propose a new spiritual discipline, uniquely suited to the shape of our lives right now: the discipline of child-watching.  Let’s ask the Father to open our eyes to all that He loves most about our children, and see what we will discover as He teaches us to follow their example, “…for he who is least among you, this is the one who is great.” (Luke 9:48)

Rebecca D. Bruner © 2011

Posted in Apprentices of Jesus, Jesus, Kids, Mothering, Spiritual Disciplines, Spirituality, The Kingdom of Heaven, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

If Jesus Were a Mom, Like Me–Part 2:To Everything There is a Season

Posted on February 5, 2014 by rebeccabruner

  In time the fever heat of summer began to abate.  School started and I was blessed with several hours each day when I could commune with the Lord in silence and solitude.  I could go for prayer walks in my neighborhood, study my Bible and write in my journal. 

The things which had been impossibly out of reach in mid-summer were readily available in the fall.  I recognized another important truth about how Jesus would approach life if He were me.  He would do what was appropriate to the season, not just of the year, but of life.

In His own life on earth, Jesus spent approximately one tenth of His time in public ministry.  What was He doing during the other 90% of His lifetime?  The things appropriate to those other seasons of His life.

When Jesus visited the temple as a twelve-year-old, His earthly parents demonstrated how little they understood Him.  They didn’t know that they should expect to find Him in His Father’s house (Luke 2:41-52).  Yet He did what was appropriate to His season of life by submitting to His parents’ authority and continuing to mature under their guidance.

At the wedding in Cana, when Mary informs Jesus that the hosts have run out of wine, He tells her, “My hour has not yet come.” (John 2:4)  In the end, He must have concluded that the time was right, because He did discreetly turn the water into wine, but His initial reaction indicates that He had been waiting for the right season to begin performing miracles.

Some of the ways I dream of serving the Lord are unfeasible during this season of my life.  That doesn’t mean God won’t eventually allow my desires to come to fruition.  It does mean that I must be patient, and recognize the importance of the work God has called me to now.   I should make the most of my present season.

But how do I do that?  There are a million worthy causes to which I could devote my energy.  How do I know what I am supposed to do, and what I’m not supposed to do during this season of my life?

Jesus tells us the secret to how He Himself knew what He should be doing in John 5:19, “…the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son does in like manner.”  Jesus looked to see where the Father was working.  Instead of charging ahead with His own predetermined plan, He allowed the Father to direct and redirect Him.

Rebecca D. Bruner © 2011

Posted in Apprentices of Jesus, Jesus, Kids, Mothering, Spirituality, The Kingdom of Heaven, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

If Jesus Were a Mom, Like Me–Part 1: The Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to Such as These

Posted on January 29, 2014 by rebeccabruner

It was the middle of an Arizona summer, when opening your front door is like checking an oven, and I had cabin fever.  No mother in a Minnesota blizzard ever had it as bad as I did.  After all, kids can still play outdoors in ten feet of snow.  (“Go build a snowman or something.  Don’t come back inside until you can’t feel your nose!”) In Phoenix, in the middle of July the only thing you can do outside is sweat or get a sunburn.  Usually both.

So my children and I were spending a lot of time together, and I was getting restless.  I’d been reading a book called The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard.  It was about becoming an apprentice of Jesus.  I was getting a lot out of it, as I read it in snatches, but some of what Willard said made me grind my teeth in frustration.  Though I knew he was right, what he suggested seemed completely divorced from the day to day reality of my world.

He recommended cultivating spiritual disciplines, including Solitude, and Silence.  “By solitude we mean being out of human contact, being alone, and being so for lengthy periods of time….Silence is a natural part of solitude and is its essential completion.  Most noise is human contact.  Silence means to escape from sounds, noises, other than the gentle ones of nature,” (Willard, 357).

“I’d love a little solitude and silence,” I wanted to scream, “but there are still six more weeks of summer vacation!”  I began to understand the impetus behind monasticism.  How was I supposed to get closer to God with my kids constantly under foot?

According to Willard, apprentices of Jesus ought to be asking, “What would Jesus do if He were me?”  Given my life, my calling, my circumstances, what would Jesus do?  So I asked Him.  I wrote in my journal, “Lord, if you were me, how would you balance the need for silence and solitude with the important responsibilities of mothering my children?”

The Lord reminded me of how He had responded to having children under foot: “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matt 19:14b)

That last phrase, “… the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,” made me sit up and take notice.  Apprentices of Jesus should strive to live as citizens of the kingdom here and now.  The Lord was saying that His kingdom belongs to little children.

I began to wonder, what if these are not just “pretty words”?  What if Jesus really meant what He says here?  Would He want me to view my children as spiritual role models, instead of as hindrances to my devotional life?  What might I learn about the kingdom of heaven from the example of my children?

One answer came almost immediately.  That day, my kids turned on music and danced for hours, just for the sheer joy of it.  And the Lord said to my spirit, “When was the last time you danced for Me like that?”

Rebecca D. Bruner © 2011

Posted in Apprentices of Jesus, Kids, Mothering, Nonfiction, Spiritual Disciplines, Spirituality | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Mind Games

Posted on January 11, 2014 by rebeccabruner

I recently went to see the movie version of Orson Scott Card’s science fiction classic, Ender’s Game. While no adaptation of a book is ever flawless, I felt the film captured the essence of the main character’s journey. The performances and the overall look and feel of the show lived up to my expectations.

 However, the movie reminded me of a disturbing trend in science fiction for young audiences, one that has cropped up lately in a number of popular titles. Not only in Ender’s Game, but also in the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, and The Hunger Games series, by Suzanne Collins, readers are confronted with dystopian futures in which young characters are constantly being manipulated and used against their will. They are unwitting tools in the hands of an evil establishment. Often, they have no clear understanding of who their real enemies are until it is too late.

As an author of speculative fiction, I find myself wondering, where is Ben Kenobi? Where is Gandalf? Where are the wise mentors with the power to make a difference, as well as the willingness to sacrifice themselves in defense of the helpless? If writers abandon such archetypal figures, what will be the consequence?

 Young people are already predisposed to believe that no one really understands them. Stories like those I’ve mentioned reinforce that pessimistic outlook, but they go a step further. They imprint young minds with the destructive belief that no one can be trusted, least of all their elders or people in authority.

 Certainly, there are adults who misuse their power to manipulate, control, and abuse. But the idea that everyone is a user with ulterior motives does nothing to help those young people who live under such tyranny every day. What they really need is the reassurance that there are people who can and will come to their rescue. Instead, we have offered them the cynicism of despair.

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A Heart Like Mary’s–Joy

Posted on December 24, 2013 by rebeccabruner

“My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud
in the thoughts of their heart.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,
As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.” Luke 1:46-55

In this poetic passage, Mary expresses incredible joy. The thing that I find interesting is that she is rejoicing, not only over the great things God is doing in her own life, but also about the bigger picture of God’s work throughout history.

She talks about God having mercy on generation after generation. She is excited about His justice in bringing down the proud and the privileged, while exalting the humble and filling the hungry. The fact that God is keeping promises He made thousands of years before she was even born makes her joyful and excited.

Too often, my focus is so narrow. My joy in the Lord often hinges upon what I see Him doing in my life. I hardly give any thought to the bigger picture. I definitely don’t write poetry praising Him for His work throughout history and all over the globe.

Lord, teach me to have joy like Mary’s. Help me to lift up Your name because You are worthy, and not just because You’ve blessed me. Help me to rise above preoccupation with my own concerns and learn to rejoice in every aspect of who You are and what You have done, are doing, and will do.

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A Heart Like Mary’s–Courage

Posted on December 24, 2013 by rebeccabruner

Mary must have been a very courageous young woman. She had to know that embracing God’s plan for her life would involve terrible risks.

She risked the loss of her reputation, the rejection of her friends and family. She very nearly lost her future husband, who had every intention of breaking off their engagement until God intervened.

When her son was less than two months old, the prophet Simeon predicted that a sword would pierce even her own soul. Because Mary’s child was destined to be the Savior of the world, she would be forced to endure unimaginable heartache, watching him suffer and die on a cross. In spite of all this, she did not refuse God’s call on her life.

I have not been asked to experience anything like such agony, and yet I still find it difficult to courageously embrace the future God has for me. I want to take the safe, easy path, instead of boldly risking rejection. I want to hold my tongue, instead of saying what I know should be said. I want to hide my heart away, instead of loving others fearlessly and valiantly.

Lord, silence my fears and make me a woman of courage, like Mary.

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A Heart Like Mary’s–Faith

Posted on December 21, 2013 by rebeccabruner

After the angel tells Mary that her relative Elizabeth is pregnant with John the Baptist, she goes immediately to the hill country of Judah to visit her.

As soon as Mary’s greeting reaches her ears, Elizabeth’s baby leaps in her womb, and she knows at once that Mary is carrying the Christ child. Then Elizabeth says, “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

This is really significant because it is a direct contrast to how Elizabeth’s husband, Zacharias, responded when he was visited by Gabriel six months prior and told that his wife would bear him a son. After getting such an amazing message from the angel, Zacharias asked, “How shall I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.”

As a consequence for his lack of faith, the angel tells him he will be unable to speak until the baby is born.

It’s easy for me to say I have faith, but I tend to keep on questioning, like Zacharias. After years of barrenness, it was hard for him to believe his wife really would have a child.

After years of rejection, I can so easily slip into the frame of mind that assumes God has forgotten about me. That He doesn’t really have a good plan for my writing and my future. That He hasn’t heard my prayers.

Instead, I know He wants me to have faith like Mary’s. Faith that doesn’t doubt His goodness, or question His ability to bring about a future that is better than anything I could ask or think. Faith that hears tell of good news and starts walking that direction. Faith that not only prays for rain, but prepares the fields to receive it.

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A Heart Like Mary’s–Humble Obedience

Posted on December 20, 2013 by rebeccabruner

 This year, I wanted to share some meditations on Mary’s character that I wrote last Christmas. Here is the first in the series:

During this Advent season, I have spent a lot of time thinking about Mary and all the aspects of her heart that are revealed in the Christmas story. One of the most evident and important is her humble obedience.

It would have been easy for her to argue with the angel about God’s plans for her life–“Hey, could you let God know that His timing here stinks? I’ve got a wedding to plan. Plus, traveling across the country in my third trimester of pregnancy is not part of my ideal birth plan.”

But Mary didn’t argue. She didn’t demand that God provide explanations or contingency plans. She simply said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord. Be it done to me according to your word.”

For me, it’s too easy to want to know all of the why’s, when’s and wherefore’s in my life. I struggle to trust that God truly knows better than I do.  Instead of expecting God to provide me with all the answers, I need to learn to humble myself before Him and obey the things He asks of me, one day at a time, like Mary did.

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Jealousy

Posted on November 27, 2013 by rebeccabruner

On the day before Thanksgiving, when we are all supposed to be reflecting back over the past year and counting our blessings, why am I writing a blog post about jealousy? Well, let’s see…

Earlier this month, one writer friend of mine celebrated a very successful book launch. Yesterday, I got word that another fellow writer has signed with a well-known agent.

I’m happy for both of them (no, really, I am) but there’s still this little voice deep inside saying, “Why not me? When will it be my turn?”

Envy is part of the human condition. If we weren’t so prone to it, God would not have included, “Though shalt not covet,”in the Ten Commandments. We’ve all broken that one far more times than we care to admit.

Yet God describes Himself as a jealous God. If it’s okay for God to be jealous, why is it a sin for me to feel that way?

What occurs to me is that my jealousy is a sin precisely because He’s a jealous God. When I envy what He’s doing for somebody else, I place the thing I covet above my love for Him. It’s like saying, “I want the good gifts you give– especially those gifts over there– more than I want you, Lord.”

I remember the first time I realized how God felt about my envy of others’ successes. I was at a women’s leadership conference, surrounded by well-known speakers and writers. As I listened to their workshops and thumbed through their books, ugly jealousy bubbled up in my heart.

I went to the prayer room and got down on my knees, not to confess my envy, but to complain to God. “This is how I want to serve you, Lord. Why can’t I speak at a big conference like this? When do I get a book table?”

The Lord’s response blew me away. He didn’t chastise me for my sinful attitude. Instead, with a tone of sincere disappointment, He seemed to say, “Rebecca, don’t you want to see what I’ve got in store for you?”

I realized I would much rather walk alongside God into the amazing future He intends for me personally, than to wander off course in pursuit of the blessings He’s given to others.

It’s just that some days, I need a little reminder…

Posted in Faith, Spirituality, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments