Come on in and sit down with me, this morning. The sun is shining, my puppy is in a snuggly disposition, and coffee is brewing. What would you like for breakfast? I can make you anything from biscuits and gravy, or I can slice you up a fresh pineapple and make you some whole grain toast. I want to talk to you....about the honor principle.
Are you comfortable? Is there anything else I can get you? Oh, wait a minute...(rooting around the large basket by the couch)....here's the softest lap blanket ever. All tucked in? Good. Because I'm going to keep you here for a little while.
::smile::
Honor is a principle, woven all throughout the Scripture, Old Covenant and New. Just as sowing and reaping is a principle, just as First Fruits is a principle (the New Covenant manifestation of the Old Covenant tithe), just as generosity is a principle - honor is an unalterable, unavoidable principle that many legalists choose to overlook.
Legalists love to believe that their blessings are somehow attached to their performance. Funny thing, though...the one area they never perform well in, is this area of relationships. And relationships are what walking with God is all about.
There is a difference between law and principle. I can keep the law by obeying the speed limit. I avoid the curse that comes with breaking the law, but I don't come under any particular supernatural blessing. And I will never in my lifetime obey the speed limit in all places, at all times. I live under a curse - knowing that there is a ticket somewhere in my future, if only by accident.
Godly principles contain only blessing. The law (as contained in the commandments and ordinances) has been replaced by a Better Thing, period. No "if's, and's, or but's". Principle remains. Some attitudes (principles) will always tend towards life, whether you are a Christian or not. Generosity somehow always tends towards prosperity, for example.
Honor tends towards Great Blessing. I'm talking about the blessing of true wellness - "it will be well with thee" - Full, Multi-Dimensional, Well-Rounded Blessing - as opposed to one or two dimensional blessing, such as mere financial prosperity, without rich relationship, or rich relationships without physical health, etc.
There are three levels of honor: 1. honor towards those who we know are our superiors, 2. honor towards those we think are our equals, and 3. honor towards those we are responsible for...those below us, for lack of a better term. Some of the greatest theologians in church history have said that a man or woman is defined by the honor they give, not to superiors, not to inferiors, but you and I are defined by the honor we give to those we perceive as being equals. Even more than the honor we give, we are thoroughly known and tested by who it is we think is our equal.
Most fools will treat an obvious superior with a measure of deference. Many fools will treat a perceived inferior with pity and generosity. But all fools will eventually treat their perceived equals with patronizing airs, then with irritation, leading to indifference, and even scorn.
Jesus said that superiors, equals, and inferiors are to receive our honor. Not all equally, of course, but all are to receive their level of honor. Jesus said "And whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward." (there's the superior) "And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward." (there's your perceived equal)
"And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple" (there's your inferior), assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."
So there you have it. Jesus said this to those under the law. Before the cross, it was all about the law and the prophets. After the resurrection, God made it all about the church and the five-fold ministries who equip her. To carry this honor principle into the New Covenant, it is simple and solid reasoning to say that Jesus would convey the honor principle like this:
"Whoever receives (meaning "honors") an apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, or evangelist in the name of (out of respect towards) those ascension gifts, given by Jesus to the church, that person will by no means lose his reward. This is some big reward we are talking about.
He who receives a righteous man, in the name of that righteous man, will not lose his reward. In other words, when we give honor to someone equal in terms of responsibilities and abilities - when we recognize his talents and take note of his hard work and service, we are also rewarded.
Lastly, I cannot even offer a cup of cold water to a young one, as an act of compassion and honor, without there being a sure reward coming to me.
We do okay honoring those beneath us or dependant on us with their cup of water. We struggle with giving heartfelt honor to those we deem as our equals in intelligence or experience. We outright balk and often refuse to give honor to those God has placed over us in the faith - whether that be domestic authority, church authority, or job authority.
Without a culture of honor in our churches, however, there is no wellness. Without a culture of honor, soul-prosperity (as well as other forms of prosperity) is limited at best. We are rewarded in direct proportion to the honor we give to legitimate authority. This is a principle. There is blessing attached to honor, just as reaping is attached to sowing, and the mercy we receive is attached to the mercy we have shown.
Those women who scoff and doubt that such a principle of honor even exists, those are the very ones who tend to not manifest soul prosperity. (The men don't manifest soul prosperity either...but that is another topic for another day. Suffice it to say, they are discontented men, grasping at career props and money props and position props to keep them soul-satisfied...because they neither give honor to their wife, nor are they honored by their wife. They do not give honor to legitimate authority, and thus experience only a limited wellness.)
Return. Go back. Start all over, like an innocent child, and begin giving honor where it is due. If you will honor the people God placed in your life, and honor them in the proper way, at the proper time, with proper sincere honesty, there will be released into your spirit a steady rain of His Spirit...rising waters of mercy and grace, washing you inside and out, and leaving you feeling fresh, washing the cynicism away. You will experience the lightness and wholesomeness of an unjaded soul. You will begin to walk in multi-dimensional, powerful Blessing. It will be well with you, and you will live long and large upon the earth.
That is how powerful the Honor Principle is.
To not give honor where it is due will not bring down a curse on your life. That is old covenant thinking. I can't say this enough: you are no longer under the law!
But to withhold honor from legitimate authority, to treat authority as common, or worse, to treat anyone as beneath you, is to lose out on a deep reaching, profoundly generation-altering blessing.
I don't want to lose out on that.
In Which Sheila Declares, "Give Honor Where It Is Due..."
(me - doling out punch. In this case, please think of this picture as quite prophetic and illustrative of "a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down", because Imabouta get down and dirty with you!)
Too many complain about their husband.
Too many do not honor their father. Too many do not honor their mother. (It seems fashionable, almost, in this generation for a woman to have "mother issues". Friends, I will not be part of that.)
Too many do not show proper respect for spiritual authority - pastors, teachers, etc. They cross the line in their mannerisms, in their perceived intellectual superiority, in their attitudes.
And in all cases, these whiny, disrespectful women wonder why they are not prospering in their souls. (And soul-prosperity is the only prosperity that matters, quite frankly.)
Wonder no more. Just observe how you respond to legitimate authority. To whom are you rendering due honor and respect?
Wake up, and smell the cappacino, girls. I wouldn't bring this up if I didn't care! I so want to see women truly experience well-being...
Fall Harvest Decor, White Palette
As Autumn drew near, this past September, I began to wonder how decorating for Harvest would look in my home, with my new light, white color palette.
I shouldn't have worried, after all, the Bible does say that "the fields are white unto the harvest...", so white and harvest should be two concepts that easily go together.
I know. That's a reach. And a little cheesey. But this is my blog, so deal with it. Anyhow, here are some shots I took today of how my harvest decorating finally all came together. I'll be leaving things "as is" until Christmas...
I shouldn't have worried, after all, the Bible does say that "the fields are white unto the harvest...", so white and harvest should be two concepts that easily go together.
I know. That's a reach. And a little cheesey. But this is my blog, so deal with it. Anyhow, here are some shots I took today of how my harvest decorating finally all came together. I'll be leaving things "as is" until Christmas...
Of course, pumpkins and gourds are everywhere. I edited out the green gourds this year, because my carefully-chosen colors for fall are orange and blue, brown and white...
I took the turquoise coffee mugs down, and replaced them with brown transferware teacups (though I still drink coffee in them - shhhhhh...don't tell.)
A close up. Gotta love this.
whatever you do, do it elegantly - which means "as simple as possible, but still making an impact." Three white pumpkins placed on a brown glass mosaic leaf plate...this is perhaps my favorite idea I came up with.
replaced the usual candles on our covered front porch with three small pumpkins, and one large one on the table. That's it! That is all I did to our front porch, yet somehow it shouts "HARVEST TIME"...
Don't forget the fact that the outdoors needs no ornamentation. Please, no fall leaf garlands around your front door...(unless you have no trees in your yard!)...let the real leaves have center stage. This is our pond, right off of our front porch. It is overshadowed by a dogwood - whose leaves are luscious scarlet right now.
change out your kitchen linens...put out a fall cookbook...and again, elegant simplicity...just one white ceramic pumpkin on the wood counters.
Orange and blue play beautifully together in the dining room...(that tablecloth doesn't read well in this picture - it is a sweet shade of robin's egg blue print..)
A close up of the table centerpiece - just things I've gathered in years past - the only new thing is the (real) white pumpkin under the tiny cloche...the cloche was $4 at Hobby Lobby - a deal no woman can resist.
white, white, white...and orange.
White, white, white...and orange. (actually, depression-era peach lustre-ware teacups and saucers - love they way they stack and lean - with leaves and berries...) This speaks to my philosophy to decorate with what is real and ordinary and useful whenever possible. I'm real down on "knick knacks" these days...
My stainless steel double-timer, and a box of matches. Useful. Real. Beautiful. Decorative. I love this long box of wooden matches. I much prefer to light my candles this way. I know I'm weird and I'm okay with it. Kapeesh?
Savor this special time of year - it is over all too soon, swallowed up by cheesy boy-bands who mangle beautiful old Christmas carols. Fall will soon be overtaken by all things Santa Claus. Take time to set your harvest season apart by decorating for it, and truly "giving thanks", without letting the commercialism of the Christmas season overshadow this lovely autumn of the year. There will never again be another autumn 2010 - and it is winding up fast.
Grace and peace to you, friends. Isn't that all we ever need , anyway?
~linking to the Fall Nesting Party, over at Melissa's Inspired Room Blog...
No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets
William Borden, 1887-1913
William Whiting Borden, heir to the Borden Dairy fortune, already a millionaire in high school, graduate of Yale, gave himself wholeheartedly to Christ with this motto: “No reserves, no retreats, no regrets.” He died a missionary to Muslims in Egypt.
Dr. Samuel Zwemer said this at the funeral: “He won the victory over his environment. By some the victory has to be won over poverty; by others over heredity or over shame and temptation; but Borden won the victory over an environment of wealth. He felt that life consisted not in ‘the abundance of things a man possesses’ but in the abundance of things that possess the man.”
Quoted in Mrs. Howard Taylor, Borden of Yale ’09 (Philadelphia, 1926), pages 279-280.
William Whiting Borden, heir to the Borden Dairy fortune, already a millionaire in high school, graduate of Yale, gave himself wholeheartedly to Christ with this motto: “No reserves, no retreats, no regrets.” He died a missionary to Muslims in Egypt.
Dr. Samuel Zwemer said this at the funeral: “He won the victory over his environment. By some the victory has to be won over poverty; by others over heredity or over shame and temptation; but Borden won the victory over an environment of wealth. He felt that life consisted not in ‘the abundance of things a man possesses’ but in the abundance of things that possess the man.”
Quoted in Mrs. Howard Taylor, Borden of Yale ’09 (Philadelphia, 1926), pages 279-280.
More (Real) Birdcages as a Design Element
My most-read post on this whole blog has been "The Real Birdcage as Design"...(along with "The Refreshing Signs of a Gracious Woman" and "The Sad Signs of Legalism")...each of which have been read over 400 times. The gospel and bird cages - isn't that hilarious? That is just like me - a study in contrasts.
...So, with over 400 interested people, I am not alone in my desire to see bird cages designed better, to make them a beautiful feature in a room, rather than a utilitarian eyesore. A well done bird cage can steal the show as much as a beautiful painting or fireplace. It can draw the eye instantly to its artful, graceful lines and unusual hand-made quality.
Here are more pictures I've collected over the summer - to illustrate what I mean:
...So, with over 400 interested people, I am not alone in my desire to see bird cages designed better, to make them a beautiful feature in a room, rather than a utilitarian eyesore. A well done bird cage can steal the show as much as a beautiful painting or fireplace. It can draw the eye instantly to its artful, graceful lines and unusual hand-made quality.
Here are more pictures I've collected over the summer - to illustrate what I mean:
Don't you love this?
I read somewhere that a round bird cage isn't good for your birds...that they need corners, and can get disoriented in a round cage. I wonder if this shape (and the previous one) is too close to being round? More research is in order.
How stunning. I mean, really. Lovely.
My favorite! This sets my hair on fire...I want several little birdies, in wall- mounted cages like these. So I'm the crazy bird-lady. So sue me.
If I copied this idea, there would have to be trays in the bottom of each cage, easily removed...and clear plexiglass attached to the back of each cage, between the cage and wall to protect it. (that is my husband's ingenious solution - and it works! We have a pocket parrot named Audrey Hepburn positioned next to a white wall, and she is a messy, messy girl. The clear plexiglass takes care of the problem, and protects our white wall. You simply take the plexiglass off every couple of months for a good wiping down, and there you go...no splatters or spots on your wall. My husband's solution is genius, because a happy bird is a messy bird - they love to splash in their bath...)
Can I somehow encourage you to let a small bird into your life? Can I plead with you to buy a male canary - from a reputable bird dealer - the best you can afford? The emotional payoff is huge - a canary's song is absolutely happy and lilting and it will lift your spirits and bless you continually. Mine was a gift from my Tim for Valentine's Day, about two and a half years ago.
Canaries don't want to be handled...they love you from afar. But they do love you, I promise. My Bocelli calls out to me every day, enjoys my attention, adores the sound of my voice, and actually sings to me...on purpose.
Sweet.
Monday
Are your Mondays crazy-busy? I assume everyone's Mondays are like that. Wanting the best possible start to my and my family's week, I cram all I can into that day-after-Sunday, beginning day of the work week.
My favorite thing is to get everything done that I wanted to. Needless to say, I don't get to experience my favorite feeling very often.
Today was no exception. It is ten o'clock and I'm not yet done. Sheets still need to be put on beds...among other things. But oh well, I got all the grocery shopping done for the week, balanced the checkbook, processed four sinkfuls of dirty dishes (my deep double sinks - twice), did the laundry, took care of my birdies, and blah blah blah I'm boring you. Sorry.
Hey - I made an amaaaaaazing batch of home made shrimp n' grits for dinner! That was some good eatin'.
Tomorrow, I'm planning on a beef and barley soup for dinner...with a salad featuring cranberries, toasted walnuts, and blue cheese...and I think I'll try to make some yeast rolls. I think breakfast will be steel-cut oatmeal with berries. After breakfast, there'll be Isaac's school to oversee - I've got a little bit of active teaching to do there. And after that, all the stuff I couldn't get to today will be rolled into tomorrow.
::sigh::
My knitting is calling me. There was never a more relaxing, productive hobby (other than reading or walking, of course)...and to be productive while relaxing is a good, good, good thing. I'm thoroughly addicted to Yarn Arts. I do basic knitting and crochet - don't ask me which I like best, because I can't say.
Hope your Monday was full of accomplishments, small and big! And here's a hug and a prayer that your Tuesday is brim-full of grace and peace and productivity. Right now...think of something really important and amazing to do tomorrow. Can't you just feel the happiness of that? Can't you feel the anticipation beginning to brew? If so, you have positioned yourself for a blessed Tuesday...you are wise.
Our Daughter's Final Days of Maternity...
(...many thanks to the talented artist-photographer-son-in-love Jonathan Howe for these beautiful, evocative pictures of our daughter and other son-in-love and soon to be born grandson...in the womb, still, of course!)
(Hannah and I howled over this one...she calls it "The Eclipse" - ACK!)
Justin's sense of humor...
Too adorable...
On Friday, Hannah measured at 35 weeks (!!). So it looks like our mid-December baby, who moved to an end-of-November baby, might be an "any day now" baby! We can't wait...seriously. We can't.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)