Thursday, July 1, 2021

On Cultivating a Gentle & Lowly Spirit

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:29

Everyone is broken some way, some how.  

This plays out differently for each of us.  There's no one size fits all.   

For we have no idea what has occurred in the messy weaving of another's storyline.  We can't fully appreciate another's unique brokenness and if we try we'll come far short of grasping the immensity of its impact on the way they live their lives.

We don't have a clue about another's gene pool, upbringing, trauma, losses, catastrophes, betrayals, or other unspeakable circumstances they've had to make their way through.  

Some of us hide our pain quite well under a mask of fake-happy, phony spiritual piety, self-isolation, or commonly accepted addictions to food, shopping, work, relationships, or technology.  We gossip and slander in subconscious attempts to puff ourselves up, hoping that we'll somehow be seen as doing 'just fine' even as our emotional and spiritual pain churns deep within.  

Others are not able to hide their pain and it emerges in addiction to dangerous substances, catastrophic choices, abusive behavior, broken sexuality, violence, serious mental illness, and other tragic scenarios often fueled by fear, sorrow, and the belief that no one really cares.  

Jesus weeps. 

Misery and suffering comes with living in a broken world.  So I dare not be judge and jury, try to manipulate or fix, wield a Bible like a sledgehammer, or come up with simplistic 1 - 2 - 3 solutions to life-shattering heartbreak.

I dare only to listen well.  And have the compassion of Christ.


'Time and again it is the morally disgusting, the socially reviled, the inexcusable and undeserving, who do not simply receive Christ's mercy but to whom Christ most naturally gravitates.  He is, by his enemies' testimony, the "friend of sinners" {Luke 7:34}.

The cumulative testimony of the four Gospels is that when Jesus Christ sees the fallenness of the world all about him, his deepest impulse, his most natural instinct, is to move toward that sin and suffering, not away from it ... Pity flooded his heart, the longing of true compassion' {pages 27-31}.  

Gentle and Lowly: the Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers 
- Dane Ortland
Hardcover Book
Book & Study Guide - pre-order for 8/17 publication
Book & Journal - pre-order for 8/17 publication


'Everyone needs compassion ... the kindness of a Savior,' but sadly, in our current culture, far too many Christ-followers are 'known for how deeply we judge, not for how deeply we love.'  

As you begin to think about your next Bible Study / Small Group / Book Club, this month's Bookbag selection just might be the ticket to cultivating a more tender, merciful, loving faith ~
Linda

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visiting with
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if you use the Amazon links to purchase
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I may receive a small financial profit

thanks to my college roomie Cyndi
for sharing her copy with me

54 comments:

  1. Oh, how important this is though: "I dare only to listen well. And have the compassion of Christ." To do those things is to give the greatest gift of grace.

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    1. A grace-filled gift of quiet, empathetic, presence. I can't imagine something more divine.

      In every sense of the word ...

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  2. Beautiful verse. I needed it.

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  3. i purchased this book well over a year ago. Before the pandemic even started but have had trouble getting into it. That may say as much about what I NEED to read as to how I see this book. I think I will eventually get to it (probably after I tell myself to stop reading books which help me in my preaching and pastoring). I hope it helps those who participate.

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    1. This was good, Bill --> 'That may say as much about what I NEED to read as to how I see this book.'

      That's an interesting take about the books we lay aside, that somehow don't grab us right away. I gotta mull that over a bit.

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  4. Meaningful post. We all heal in our own way and in our own time. Our pain can be as fresh to us as the time it happened. God was there then, is still there and will still be there as we continue to accept, struggle, heal and walk with Him.

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    1. Yes, yes, and yes again.

      Walking with you ...
      xo

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  5. Great reminder and lots of truth. Everyone needs compassion is a line I hope to carry in my heart. Happy weekend!!

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    1. I love that song. Be careful or I might just start singing!

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnXX8TbUX-E

      ;-}

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  6. I really LOVE this book, Linda. A friend gifted it to me, and I have been so blessed by all the deep truths about the heart of Christ in it. Oh, to be more like Him! Love and blessings to you!

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    1. Trudy, with your tender heart toward Christ, your thumbs up is an assurance that this is a book worth reading.

      I'm glad you're here in the midst of your blogging break. Makes me smile ...

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  7. Matthew 11:29 is a favorite verse. Finding rest for my soul in Christ in this broken world…thank you Linda!

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    1. Pam, yes. Rest for our souls is what we're truly yearning for. We may think it's something else we want, but this is what matters most, this is the void that can only be filled by Him.

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  8. I love the image of Jesus moving toward the sin, not away from it. We must nurture and grow that same practice.
    Blessings, Linda!

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    1. Martha, you're so right - it's fascinating to think that One so holy and without sin wasn't afraid to head toward those whose lives were filled with it, defined by it, swallowed by it.

      What an awesome Savior!

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  9. “Time and again it is the morally disgusting, the socially reviled, the inexcusable and undeserving, who do not simply receive Christ's mercy but to whom Christ most naturally gravitates.”

    I have never seen this dramatized so perfectly as it is portrayed in The Chosen. I marvel at how the producer of the series fleshes out Jesus’ love for his disciples and what a bunch of messy people they are——just like us

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    1. Yep, we're all a mess! We're in very good company, and we have nothing to fear as we safely gather with others and work together to 'grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.'

      And isn't that why we loved CR so very much. It was the best congregation ever, wasn't it ...

      https://www.celebraterecovery.com/

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  10. Linda, such a lovely article. Having the compassion of Christ so changes our interactions with the broken. The more we connect with how Jesus views our brokenness the more we can offer that same compassion to others. I absolutely loved Gently and Lowly-on my third time through!

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    1. 3 times! Wow, Donna, that's a huge recommendation ... I'm guessing that with each rereading you found fresh nuggets of truth.

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  11. Four young women in a Bible study I'm attending shared just last night about being misjudged in their workplaces, because others were not aware of their backgrounds. Most people know better than to jump to conclusions about other people, yet it still happens. A gentle and lowly attitude would certainly go a long way to help us keep quiet long enough to inform our assumptions!

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    1. Oh yes, you hit the nail on the head, Nancy. Oh that we would be more careful, sensitive listeners instead of jumping in every other second with our endless opinions and advice ...

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  12. This is so very true. And the images you chose for illustration really are quite perfect.

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    1. Jeanie, your words are encouraging ... bless you!

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  13. When I remember the grace I have received, it keeps me from sliding into judgment. But it’s not my default. May we stick close to our loving Jesus so we will model his compassion.

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    1. I hear you, Michele. It's not my default either.

      Praise God He doesn't tire of our human messiness and always welcomes our yearning to do life more like Jesus did.

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    2. Here again this morning, nodding along with this message of Jesus-exalting gentleness.

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  14. Gentle and Lowly was my favorite book I read in 2020. Aka: everyone gets it for Christmas; specifically my sons. They both loved it too.

    * via email

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    1. 'Aka: everyone gets it for Christmas.'

      For sure!

      You're a shopper after my own heart, friend. And I'm so glad you're here.

      ;-)

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  15. May we become known for how deeply we love - once again.

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  16. Amen and amen. I struggle to love deeply and not judge deeply. God's peeling away my bad habit, one stinky layer at a time.

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    1. Yep, we're all in process, aren't we! Someday we'll be like Him.

      Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

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  17. I've heard good things about this book. Sounds like it's sorely needed for our times.

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  18. Linda, “Gentle & Lowly” was a slow, deep read for me. And also a wonderful book to read with someone else. The friend I did this with had a different sort of spiritual upbringing than I did and it was a blessing to hear each week how the book was ministering to her heart.

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    1. Lois, I'm touched by the readers that have read and appreciated this book. So many thumbs up deserve to be noticed ...

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  19. I enjoyed reading this Linda. Your words: 'Everyone needs compassion ... the kindness of a Savior,' but sadly, in our current culture, far too many Christ-followers are 'known for how deeply we judge, not for how deeply we love"....YES...you are so right. Happy 4th! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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    1. I hope you're having a lively, fun holiday with your family, friend!

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  20. These words are so beautiful and so important Linda. As Christians, we must be honest and gracious with our own and others’ brokenness. It breaks my heart how many Christians think their lives can only be a good testimony if they are perfect and shiny.

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    1. Helen, yes ... we do no one any favors by wearing a mask and proclaiming all is well. May God help us to be more transparent with Him so we can be more of redeemed ourselves with others.

      Meanwhile, I'm glad you're here.

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  21. Listening and refraining from judgement. So hard and yet so Christlike.

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    1. No wonder this often seems impossible ... it has to be Jesus loving through us ... we're simply the channel.

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  22. We definitely all need compassion, and to show that compassion to others. I have heard so many good things about this book so it's good to read your thoughts too. I got a copy recently and plan to read it over the summer.

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    1. Everyone I talk to is giving it the thumbs up, Lesley! Maybe our next Book Club read?!

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  23. Well said, Linda. We can all use more compassion these days.

    Thank you for the visit!

    P.S. Are those lychees in your last photo?

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    1. Lychees? Gee, I really don't know, Margie. But if they are, you can buy 15 lbs. for $266!
      https://www.marxfoods.com/Bulk-Lychees

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  24. Amen to that --- everyone is broken one way or the other.

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    1. May that reality help us to show more lovingkindness to those around us ...

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