Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.
(2 Corinthians 1:20-22 MSG)
I’m learning to live my amen. The word connection came up as a prompt in a writing assignment this week. It’s no surprise. I love how His spirit infiltrates every detail of our lives. If you’re looking, there’s a lesson. An important personal message hidden amongst the mundane…probably right under your nose – in the ordinary.
This week the word connections sprouted conversations about relationships. Friendships. Most have stood the test of time. Some have been tested. Some fit into that magical category I call sweatless. The connection feels easy. Deeply connected, meant to be.
And I wondered at the root of this feeling. I think the “meant to be” is the great amen. The amen being the yes between us, even when we don’t agree.
An online friend wrote this about me. We marvel at our connection. But it’s really quite simple. We’ve let the great amen be our guide. We celebrate what connects us.
And that’s Christ.
With so much in life to divide us, I love the simplicity of coming together over Christ. His bond silences the squabbles about politics and theology and race. When we come together, under the umbrella of his love – we connect.
When online friendships break through the cyber walls that cover the cracks in our humanity – it may be different. You’ll call my honesty insensitive, I’ll call your zeal for God judgmental, we’ll squabble over gay rights and give each other the side eye because of our different, but still privileged world views.
This side of heaven we’re unfinished works. We won’t always agree. In our humanity, we’ll hurt and be hurt. But God.
But God.
He’s given us the job of loving each other well. And that sometimes means approaching the bridge, living the truth of amen. Because every bridge isn’t a battle and maybe we should lay down our swords and meet in the middle. Share a meal and connect over His love. Walk away, hand in hand, to the other side. Wherever that is. Maybe it isn’t even important that we cross the bridge, maybe it’s just that we be willing to show up. Share an amen and leave transformed, even a little….by grace. Maybe it isn’t as hard as we make it. Maybe the bridge is beautiful.
I’m feeling the ahhh in amen. I’m learning to take deep belly breaths with relationships. Let his love guard my heart and guide my steps. From inhalation to exhalation…it’s a process. I’m learning to hold loosely those people and things I keep trying to fight and fix. To forgive and to let some things be.
I keep coming back to love. I’ll stick with God and His love. It’s the only answer I have. His will. His way. Let it be. This is how I walk out the truth of amen. His amen…in me.
God often speaks to me through songs…He used this when I felt challenged this week
Here’s the wisdom for today via Paul McCartney….
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
Here’s a link to a story about the inspiration for the song.
let your handmaiden find grace in your sight…#GiveMeGrace
Give Me Grace : Living My Amen, Learning to Let It Be http://t.co/hA3GvmkK2F
Dear Lisha, I do so love that 1 Samuel prayer that you breathe, those sacred words that guide this sabbath gathering. It comes to me often since I read it here a few weeks back.
I hope this weekend is graced with the peace of His presence … for you, for yours …
Linda@Creekside recently posted…When God Sings
That one is in my bones…love when He gives me His word like that. Did you ever see the film The Book of Eli with Denzel Washinton? Don’t want to give the story away but our conversation here reminds me of it. You should see it.
It’s like my husband (who is from the place where pit fires burn each and every night) Jimmy says … and I quote … Counter in kindness.
Amen.
Amen! That is a beautiful quote which Jimmy says. Writing that one down in my journal.
Joanne Viola recently posted…In Quietness
[…] up with Lisha & Lisa […]
Yes yes yes – so much Truth , Lisha – ty for declaring it..
“When we come together, under the umbrella of his love – we connect.” definitely the qualifier – ADONAI’s Love!
Glad for the message of the Spirit in music – please accept this as your invitation to add your post link at FHC for this week’s #SONGSonSUNDAYS ! valuable entry to share – Thx!
Sharon @ Faith Hope & Cherrytea recently posted…SONGS ON SUNDAYS: LOUEZ ADONAI [PRAISE ADONAI] by Paul Baloche 6.7.14
It can safely begin and end there Sharon. I need to know His love is that powerful. So glad it is. Thanks for invitation.
Another compelling reason to walk the scary bridge of vulnerability. Thanks Lisha (and Martha, for making it look so easy). Ahhhmen from my little corner of the cyber world!
Pat Baer recently posted…Summertime
His Amen makes it easy. You always get me pat. Love you for that. Hugs sent from me to you today.
#GiveMeGrace : Living My Amen, Learning to Let It Be http://t.co/ndAMqhXtEf via @seespkhearmama #LinkUp
Beautiful post, Lisha. Very powerful. “He’s given us the job of loving each other well.” We so often want to know God’s will. That is it right there – love each other well. I have often thought the things we make such a big deal over on this side of heaven, won’t matter at all on the other side. Blessings!
Joanne Viola recently posted…In Quietness
Simply beautiful! That we should meet on the bridge of connection, lay down our swords of differences and share an amen, allow grace to work through us. Love that! What a beautiful image to start the day with today.
Kathryn Shirey recently posted…When The Wind Is Knocked From Your Sails
Such beautiful words, Lisha! Also loved the piece about you that you linked to! There is so much more that connects us than divides us if we will just give one another the grace to listen…to learn…to discover…to find the areas of commonality. We don’t have to agree on everything – how boring would that be? But we can love one another anyway. In fact we must.
Holly Barrett recently posted…Use your freedom to serve
Good Sunday morning Lisha. This is a good thought for me today. haven’t been linking lately. we made a trip to PA for a second memorial service for my dad. He grew up there, and still has relatives and long time friends. I have a post brewing of that experience. no surprise there I suppose! it made it into my journal so far!
finding our way in our new world with out caregiving. my son is moving his family cross country from PA to Portland OR. three times as far (we live in NW suburbs of Chicago) and three times as expensive to get there. this is a hard one for me….i support them in this move, but it doesn’t change how it feels!
As always, good to be here with you.
Carol Longenecker Hiestand recently posted…Making it easier for your kids!
So happy to link up with @lishsepperson for #GiveMeGrace. http://t.co/Jp5zxJMwrh
“And that sometimes means approaching the bridge, living the truth of amen. Because every bridge isn’t a battle and maybe we should lay down our swords and meet in the middle.”
Such good words, Lisha. Thank you for sharing them. And thank you for providing us all with this place to meet.
Sheila Seiler Lagrand recently posted…From Sea to Shining Sea
[…] Saturday. Remove your shoes and join us in the quiet there. Thenstop by Lisha Epperson’s Give me Grace. We saved room just for […]
Give Me Grace : Living My Amen, Learning to Let It Be http://t.co/E4b80QFrzc via @seespkhearmama
So much to add my “amen” to here, Lisha. Our pastor has been teaching us through Colossians, and today he spent quite a bit of time unpacking the verse in Ch. 2 that talks about believers being “knit together” in our love for Christ. Yes, yes, yes!
Patricia @ Pollywog Creek recently posted…I {LOVE} Sunday::to be filled with the knowledge of his will and walk worthy…
[…] I link to another group where we usually put up a photo with a verse or quote. It’s called #GiveMeGrace. The new person in charge there is Lisha Epperson who had become an online friend before I wrote […]