I love this passage, Rolland Baker’s introduction to Heidi Baker’s book, There is Always Enough.I find it a beautiful and inspiring description of the kind of Christian life which is possible to us, if we but believe.
I (Rolland) always wanted to believe and live the Sermon on the Mount. I would read the Scriptures longingly, trying to imagine how wonderful it would be not to worry about anything, safe and secure in the presence of Jesus all the time. Miracles would be normal. Love would be natural. We could always give and never lose. We could be lied to, cheated and stolen from, and yet always come out ahead. We would never have to take advantage of anyone, or have any motive but to bless people. Rather than always making contingency plans in case Jesus didn’t do anything, we could count on him continually. We, our lives and all that we preach and provide would not be for sale, but would be given freely, just as we have received freely. Our hearts would be carefree in the love of our Father in heaven, who always knows what we need, and we could get on with the glorious business of seeking first His Kingdom, and His righteousness. There would always be enough.”
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A Rhapsody on Heidi Baker, one of the most inspiring Christians alive!
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Lolly Woodward Dunlap 1/2/1922-9/8/2009
Thanks Anita, I think that's good advice.
Sorry for the duplicate comment – I posted from my phone and it must have introduced a technological gremlin somehow 🙂
Thank you, Ian, and blessings to you as God continues to lead and bless you on your road full of difficulty and blessings.
You write well. Each of us has our own unique writing style given us in accordance with the readers God wishes us to reach!
@ Tim, sometimes one needs to feed oneself, and follow a private path of spiritual nourishment which is not the one promoted from the pulpit and by the church. My current church is not charismatic, but I find myself excited and stirred by writers such as Bill Johnson, Heidi Baker, John Arnott, Patricia Bootsma etc. So I am reading them, privately,and praying for a renewed filling of the spirit. I co-lead a group, and I am sure it will all overflow there eventually.
Perhaps you can deepen contemplatively privately, and thus enrich your church with another spiritual stream?
Hi Anita
WOW! I do love Your Blog so! I wish I was able to write like you do.
I just Love reading through your Blog and though some of the posts I choose to read have been from last year, He(Love) The Father has spoken to me through them.
This one and the other one about Heidi Baker's book, I like very much.
I have been held in the book Matthew Chapters 5,6,7 for quite some time, with the odd brief visit else where.
I'm sure this is true of us all, I keep hearing it seems a voice (Not audible) calling me.
Yesterday as I read your Blog and what you said about Heidi, these word's entered my heart, Deep calls unto deep? I know now it's a Psalms.
My small efforts to help my Homeless family do at times seem like I'm passing them an empty cup saying here you go use this for when it rains and you get thirsty. Pretty much of little help.
Though to be fair, I know I am being used in a small way.
My heart aches for them and I feel God is going to do something significant with the UK's Homeless. I think I'm being invited to by Him (Love) God to participate with Full life engagement and surrender.
I could go on and share what I believe about that, however reading your blog has confirmed that I'm being led down a certain preplanned route.
I like too, that on your blog you mention whispers, as I often refer to Him(Love)God whispering to my heart too.
Anyway Just wanted to say I like visiting with you at your blog home here.
Oh and I have ordered the Book from Heidi.
Every Blessing to you, your Family, and to your readers.
Ian
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That does make sense. Two of my favourite writers are St John of the cross and madame Guyon. They describe that contemplative spiritual path which isn't often discussed in my church setting (pentecostal). The profound inner surrender is very much a response to a steady revelation of divine love, and often seems to come through inner pain and even perceived or felt distance from God.
Tim, I am far from reaching this myself–and so it spoke to me as a beautiful vision.
Of course, it is a process. Everything in the spiritual life is. A mustard seed slowly grows into a tree.
Absolute surrender and obedience hasten the process; but yes, we only grow into happy faith slowly–and since few of us surrender as deeply as Rolland and Heidi, few of us perhaps experience their level of spiritual happiness!
Hi Anita,
I appreciated reading this – thanks for posting. I'm certain this is a true description of how God intends us to live however I wonder; to what extent are we just a step away from this “if we but believe” and to what extent is there process involved?
What this description brings home to me is that the barriers to this life have nothing to do with circumstance – they are all inside us. Pride, doubt or fear, if allowed to take control, would very quickly wreck this kind of existence so I wonder… if someone were living like this, where did they go? Do they rise up and get dealt with quickly or were they so completely flattened to begin with that such a person isn't struggling with them any more (I can't really imagine this could be the case, could it?)
I am challenged to search for this level of abandonment to the love of God but I'm aware that all of the doubts and fears that cause me to stop resting and trusting are, and will be, continually tested.