Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires

Anita Mathias's Blog on Faith and Art

What Nature tells us of God

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Romans 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

What may be known about God from nature? What is plain?

That God is a God

* of order.

* Of economy–in brilliant ecosystems in which everything is recycled and nothing is wasted. God values efficiency it seems, everything has its purpose.

* who loves beauty

* who is creative

* whose goodness is extravagant–orchids which no eye ever sees

* who works for the joy of work, creating animals, insects, plants, stars, which will never be seen except by himself

* whose generosity is built into creation–in general, one reaps more than one sows, a multitude of fruit from a single apple or tomato seed.

* whose love is built into creation, in the parent-love most living creatures have for their offspring (and the longing to/for a mate).  All living creatures are made to serve and be served, (to love and be loved–to take it a bit further). Everything is alive because of food and sustenance provided by other plants and animals, and they and their body, and life and endeavours will in turn provide food and sustenance for others. 


* who has made variety in his creations, and treasures human variety too


* who is both fierce and gentle–Lord of hurricanes and earthquake and gentle winds

* That life contains light and darkness, winter and summer, rain and sunshine, abundance in summer and autumn, paucity in winter. As there is no reason to doubt the return of spring in winter, or dawn in the middle of the night, there is no reason to doubt God’s goodness in times of sadness or reverses. One might even say that times of both plenty and paucity are encoded into creation.

* creation rewards diligence-the planting and tending of seeds



“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:14-22

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Jesus praying

Matthew 21:14

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 
The silver lining in our sorrows is that they are more likely to impel us to turn to Jesus, and to receive his healing.


15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
They were indignant when they saw the wonderful things he did. Do not be surprised to find yourself punished for your excellence, your spiritual giftedness, for anything which makes you stand out, and threaten the less gifted.

 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
   “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
   “‘From the lips of children and infants
   you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
The natural response to the glory of God comes forth more easily from children.

 17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Jesus Curses a Fig Tree
 18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
In line with the parable of talents. Gifts not used wither.
Since, the fruit of the fig tree begins to appear about the same time as the leaves, the appearance of leaves in full bloom should have indicated that the fruit was already growing. Jesus’s actions are symbolic, indicating the hypocrisy of those who have the appearance of bearing fruit, but in fact are not. 
 20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

 21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 

22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

The Jewish teacher’s use of hyperbole.

If you have faith, and do not doubt, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. 
1) How can we have faith and not doubt?
 Pray to.

2) How can we tell if we have the faith that ensures we “receive whatever we ask for in prayer? 

We pray for something, and then? 

Are we building up a lot of contingency plans for what to do if God does not come through? Is our prayer simply another string to our bow?

Are we prepared to let our own plans, schemes and subterfuges rest once we have prayed?

Sometimes, when I pray, it’s as if I see Jesus in front of me, see him nod, and I just know that God has heard my prayer and will grant what I have asked. 

And other times, more often than not, I pray half-heartedly, with hope rather than shining faith.

Even though prayer is all gain, and we just get to ask God for anything we want, how feebly and half-heartedly we pray so often. With so little faith, almost as if we don’t want to embarrass God with our requests. 
                                                 * *  *

It is recorded that at the Transfiguration, And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.’ 

One secret of effective prayer is simply “seeing” Jesus with the eyes of faith, and chatting to him rather than sending our earnest requests into the void.

Learning to “see Jesus” has been transformational in the spiritual walk of many heroes of the faith.

Glory in the heavens and on earth, words. Psalm 19. Blog Through the Bible Project

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Psalm 19

For the director of music. A psalm of David.


 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; 
the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
   night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
   no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth,
   their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
   like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
   and makes its circuit to the other;
   nothing is deprived of its warmth.




Does your life feel flat? Do you find it hard to glimpse the glory of God. 

What is glory anyway? The glory of God?

Be quiet and still at night, and look up at the heavens. At its infinity, spreading everywhere you look. 



See its changing moods, white as I write. Sometimes a glorious blue, sometimes dappled with clouds, red in the morning, rose turning to vermilion in the evening, the most glorious sapphire in the night. Sometimes a Giotto-blue.


The moon, floating in the wide expanses. The silent, eternal stars. “Le silence eternel de ces espaces infinis” as Pascal puts it.


The things God made speak of him without words in a way Francis of Assisi who is reputed to have said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary use words,” would have approved of.


7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
   refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
   making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
   giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
   giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
   enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
   and all of them are righteous.

 10 They are more precious than gold,
   than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
   than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
   in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
   Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
   may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
   innocent of great transgression.

 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
   be pleasing in your sight,
   LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

And now David moves to another glory of God: His revealed word. It refreshes the soul, makes wise the simple, brings joy to the heart, and helps one to see clearly. 

As such, these words are more precious than much pure gold. 

Wow. I come from a culture in which gold is treasured like, well, gold.

And the word of God is more precious than gold.



I have decided to make it more precious to me by increasing the time I spend with it. People who treasure gold and wealth–and the latter has some importance in my life–spend time earning it. So people who truly treasure God’s word as more precious than gold spend time with  with it. As I have resolved to do. 


It is also sweeter than honey. For much of my life, until the last few months really, I have been addicted to sweet things, chocolate in particular.


God’s word is sweeter than honey. 


I am trying to remember to turn to God rather than to the blood sugar and energy rush of sugary things and chocolate when I need a spike in mood. 


God’s word warns us of danger. 


And there is great reward in obeying it. Reward from God who can more surely give us the best and surest rewards there are. 


David asks forgiveness for his hidden faults, the sort of sins of which we may not be fully aware of at the time of commission, and for which we need a Nathan to announce to us, “You are the man.”


He also asks God to preserve him from wilful sins (as opposed to spur of the moment sin). 


I love his concluding prayer,
    May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
   be pleasing in your sight,
   LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.



Okay, so here’s my challenge to myself, and my dear readers (and I am so honoured that you are reading along).


Do we truly believe that God’s word is more precious than gold, sweeter than honey, and provides great rewards to those who keep it.


Then, let’s look at our schedules, and see where we can carve out time to spend more time with it.

Biblical Principles for Confrontation and Social Media. Matthew 18

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Matthew 18

    15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. 
If they listen to you, you have won them over.
 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

   
Jesus here spells out the process of confrontation. The Greek for brother or sister is adelphos, fellow disciple. 
First, confront the individual directly. This is not something I am good at, but it is necessary for the heart–both for your heart, because feelings repressed fester, and for your sister’s heart, because she may be quite unaware of the offence she has caused. 
The individual may see what she has done and repent.
If you are blown off, try again with witnesses.
Then try in the presence of church authorities.
If they refuse to change, ignore them.
This outlines the process of confrontation when a brother or sister–someone you are in relationship with–sins against you. 
It is often misused by authoritarian or insecure leaders who are criticized. I have been asked myself by a church leader about a critical blog post I wrote about a church matter which affected many people, “Why didn’t you tell me directly?” His supporters asked, “Did you follow the principles of Matthew 18?”
I did not, because he was not my brother, nor was the issue a personal one. Because an individual would have been blown off. Because the  perceived “sin” wasn’t against me, but against many. Because social media is the best way for those with little power to confront those with much power. Because a blog post read by 1500 people, most of whom agreed with it, is not as easily blown off as one woman’s remonstrations. 
In the Christian controversy du jour, John Piper tweeted a dismissive, offensive and angry-making comment, “Farewell, Rob Bell,” linking to a review Justin Taylor rashly wrote of a book he had not yet read!!
Some people, somewhat preposterously, said Taylor and Piper should have spoken to Bell privately. If they knew Bell, this would have been the most respectful course, of course.
Taylor today links to a commonsensical post by Kevin DeYoung on the brouhaha.

It needs to be stated again that this is not a Matthew 18 issue.  Jesus said, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone” (Matt. 18:15). Rob Bell has not sinned against Justin Taylor or John Piper. This is not a personal offense or an interpersonal squabble that should have been left in private. The general rule of thumb, supported by Matthew 18 and sanctified common sense, is we should not make a matter more public than it has to be. But by definition, YouTube videos and Vimeo clips and books and blogs are meant to be public. That’s the whole point. The Love Wins trailer was not a private email correspondence intercepted by the Reformed Gestapo. It was deliberately made public and can be commented on in public.



Public figures– church leaders, politicians, even authors of successful blogs– I believe, can be confronted publicly. The principles of Matthew 18 do not apply in these instances. 


What do you think?

Biblical Principles for Confrontation and Social Media. Matthew 18

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Rob Bell

John Piper
Matthew 18

    15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. 
If they listen to you, you have won them over.
 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

   
Jesus here spells out the process of confrontation. The Greek for brother or sister is adelphos, fellow disciple. 
First, confront the individual directly. This is not something I am good at, but it is necessary for the heart–both for your heart, because feelings repressed fester, and for your sister’s heart, because she may be quite unaware of the offence she has caused. 
The individual may see what she has done and repent.
If you are blown off, try again with witnesses.
Then try in the presence of church authorities.
If they refuse to change, ignore them.
This outlines the process of confrontation when a brother or sister–someone you are in relationship with–sins against you. 
It is often misused by authoritarian or insecure leaders who are criticized. I have been asked myself by a church leader about a critical blog post I wrote about a church matter which affected many people, “Why didn’t you tell me directly?” His supporters asked, “Did you follow the principles of Matthew 18?”
I did not, because he was not my brother, nor was the issue a personal one. Because an individual would have been blown off. Because the  perceived “sin” wasn’t against me, but against many. Because social media is the best way for those with little power to confront those with much power. Because a blog post read by 1500 people, most of whom agreed with it, is not as easily blown off as one woman’s remonstrations. 
In the Christian controversy du jour, John Piper tweeted a dismissive, offensive and angry-making comment, “Farewell, Rob Bell,” linking to a review Justin Taylor rashly wrote of a book he had not yet read!!
Some people, somewhat preposterously, said Taylor and Piper should have spoken to Bell privately. If they knew Bell, this would have been the most respectful course, of course.
Taylor today links to a commonsensical post by Kevin DeYoung on the brouhaha.

It needs to be stated again that this is not a Matthew 18 issue.  Jesus said, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone” (Matt. 18:15). Rob Bell has not sinned against Justin Taylor or John Piper. This is not a personal offense or an interpersonal squabble that should have been left in private. The general rule of thumb, supported by Matthew 18 and sanctified common sense, is we should not make a matter more public than it has to be. But by definition, YouTube videos and Vimeo clips and books and blogs are meant to be public. That’s the whole point. The Love Wins trailer was not a private email correspondence intercepted by the Reformed Gestapo. It was deliberately made public and can be commented on in public.



Public figures– church leaders, politicians, even authors of successful blogs– I believe, can be confronted publicly. The principles of Matthew 18 do not apply in these instances. 


What do you think?


18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[f] loosed in heaven.

   19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Christ’s beautiful promise of his presence to those who gather in his name. 

The Interpreter of Dreams, Genesis 41, Day 43, Feb 12, Blog Through the Bible Project

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Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s Dreams


Genesis 41

ESV–Throughout this chapter, Joseph acknowledges God as the source of his special gifting.

Pharaoh’s Dreams
1 When two full years had passed,

Two full years, languishing in prison. Two full years, alone with God! God waits until everything is just right inside Joseph. 
In solitude, in silence, in sensory deprivation, he was shaping and completing Joseph, and making him a man who could be trusted with power, and with the destiny of his people.
Desert times are apprenticeship times. May we never forget it.
The voice of God sounds most clearly in the desert.




 Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

 5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.
 8 In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
 9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.”
Because they were from the Lord.
All spiritual gifts are given by God, and used rightly they have a role in the destiny he has intended for us. 
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
 16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
He has learnt the peace of complete reliance on God. He now has the certainty that God will carry him through.

 17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
 22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.”
 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.
 28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
An aside: The destinies of men and nations shift. Times of great abundance can be followed by times of famine. Though I find saving really boring, and always think of the fool who built bigger barns when I think of saving, some provision for a time of “famine,” which is not an unlikely possibility in the lives of men, economic cycles and nations is but prudent.
NIV Repetition of a divine revelation was often used for emphasis.

33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

Hmm, Joseph’s suggested portion to save–20%
Pharaoh is deeply impressed by Joseph’s detailed instructions. He immediately recognized Joseph’s god-given administrative ability, and promotes him.

 37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”
Joseph had found a friend in prison–the Spirit of God.
ESV note–The early readers of Genesis would have understood Joseph’s divine empowerment as being consistent with what they recognized as a recurring feature within Israelite religion. On various occasions, God empowered people for special service by giving them his spirit.

 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
So Pharaoh gets his savings plan implemented without troubling his pretty head about it. 
Joseph took a risk, went out on a limb and cared for the baker and cupbearer. His reward is this exaltation.
Joseph in Charge of Egypt

 41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

 44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
 46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt.47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
 50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
God can make us fruitful in the land of our suffering, in the land of our periods of greatest loneliness and sense of uselessness, of life passing us by. They are an apprenticeship with Christ, if we but let them be.
 ESV note–The names of the boys suggest that Joseph has not entirely forgotten the past. Manasseh means “making to forget” while Ephraim means “twice fruitful,” recalling the recurring theme of being fruitful.




53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”
 56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.