tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51773462111087736832009-03-02T22:54:16.962-05:00Zoe Hatcher's BlogHelga Zoe Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14040644184585148584helgazoe@verizon.netBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177346211108773683.post-31143989759622748702008-09-03T06:08:00.003-05:002008-09-03T06:51:14.995-05:00FreeI had a dream last night. (You ought to ask my husband, I do have crazy dreams...) It was so real, I could feel it. I dreamt my family was attacked and only I made it out alive and was sold into slavery. I had many different cruel masters. I worked in the fields. I was sold as a sex slave. I was a slave at a governor's house. I was a slave in a print shop. In each place, I was beaten and there was not much of my spirit left. Finally, I was on the run with a band of slaves trying to gain their freedom. I had done this before only to be caught, beaten and sold to another cruel master. We saw some people coming. We ran into a large building and hid under some chairs. The people came in and started looking under the chairs. They found the others one by one. But they passed me over. I was so afraid. But the ones they found, they weren't screaming or running. It was acutally fairly quiet. Suddenly, the lights came on. I shrank back and put my hands over my face just like a child, hoping they wouldn't see me. I heard someone calling my name. I kept thinking, "Shhh, they'll find me." But they kept saying, "It's alright now, come on out." So tenatively, I crawled out of hiding. I stood and looked around. I was amazed. There were all my friends smiling. They brought me to a chair near the front and lavished me with gifts. I was still shocked and didn't quite know what to think. Then everyone got quiet. In a side door walked my husband. I thought he was long gone. I didn't move, I thought he was a mirage. He was smiling, and said, "It's alright now, it's over. You're free!" He had somehow escaped death and bought me back. My last and final master. I looked down and gathered around me were my children, healthy and happy. He had protected them. And I started sobbing. Remembering how awful it was, what I had been through, and now it was over. Really over. And not only that, but now here I was, with my friends, my children and my wonderful husband who saved me. Then I woke up. And as always, it takes me a minute to convince myself that it was a dream. I was safe in my bed and it didn't happen. Then it hit me, it was true. I was a slave, cowering, hiding. I had One who loves me, who I was separated from, come for me. And buy me back. I wonder if that's what Heaven will be like. Briefly remembering the pain that I left, and then the joy in seeing my Savior's face. Knowing that it's over. It's done, and I'm free. Gathered around me are the saints and my children in the faith. And just sobbing, laying all the gifts and my tears down to Him. Because I know I don't deserve it. I chose that slavery. I sold myself, and I stayed for a time because I liked it. But when I tried to run away, I was captured again and again. I needed a Savior. And He came.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5177346211108773683-3114398975962274870?l=www.openarmsbradford.org%2Fechurch%2Fblogs%2Fzoehatcher.html'/></div>Helga Zoe Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14040644184585148584helgazoe@verizon.net1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177346211108773683.post-82309677663367873342007-08-31T18:06:00.000-05:002007-08-31T19:11:09.689-05:00Convict or ConvictionsBeing a Christian, I've been around people a lot more than I probably would be if I were not a Christian. Probably because I'm commanded to be... If I had the choice, I would just hole up with a good book. LOL This wonderful art of fellowship can bring awesome times of encouragement that leave you buzzing all day. And sometimes it can leave you feeling burned. I wonder why it is when you try to get more than three Christians together (especially when they're from three different churches) for more than three hours, a coup is sure to follow. We have more "personal convictions" than hairs on our heads and they all happen to stick out like quills. And as long as your quills look like mine, we're good. But give me a minute, you're sure to step on my toes and the quills will start flying. It makes me sick to my stomach. We might as well have a sign around our neck that says, "Beware of Christian. Offends easily." And that can mean be offended and offend others... Being raised in a non-Christian family, I've seen nastiness. But I never saw it with a smile until I started hanging around church. Don't get me wrong, I love Christians, church people, and especially my beautiful Christian friends. But sometimes I do feel like I'm back in middle school. We have the cliques and the immaturity. It's like we're a part of this big Christian Yearbook that has each one of our pictures in it and under our picture is our specific "brand" of Christianity. Complete with our preferences that are always hanging out and we yell at people when they trip over them. Here's Joe: a conservative, republican, fox-news watching Christian. Don't be liberal around him. Here's Jack: a cool, contemporary, tolerant Christian. Don't be old and set in your ways around him. Here's Jean: a stay at home, homeschooling mom Christian. Don't be a public school teacher career mom around her. There's Paula: a vegan, social activist Christian. Don't be like Joe around her. What's even crazier is when Joe and Jean get together and say that Paula can't be a Christian because she doesn't eat meat. Or when John the catholic can't be a Christian because he's not baptist like me. Or when Pat the secular music listener, long hair wearer, occasional drinker can't possibly be saved. Or how Jill couldn't possibly know the Lord like I do, because she wears skirts and head coverings and doesn't cut her hair. Who died and made it Great White Throne Judgment time? Convictions are convictions for a reason; I'm not knocking them. If they come from time spent with the Lord, and the Holy Spirit allowing or not allowing something into your life for your edification. But if they come from habit, tradition passed down, or something that someone (or yourself) has forced upon you in guilt, then they're just bunk. And they are certainly not something to cram down someone else's throat because you think you've become their personal Holy Spirit. I've heard people defend themselves, saying they're "standing by their convictions", but I've seen many of them (including me, I'm a work in progress) end up standing on their island... alone. Because no one can live up to something the Lord hasn't even asked of them. There are things that are indisputable. I won't get into them; read the Word, and you'll find out. And I'm not talking about sin. I am talking about preference. The word calls these things "disputable matters". <br /><dl><dt><span style="font-family:Arial, Geneva, Helvetica;font-size:85%;"><b><a href="http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?word=ro+14:1&version=niv&amp;st=1&sd=1&amp;new=1&showtools=1">Romans 14:1</a></b> -<a href="http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?passage=ro+14:1&amp;version=niv&context=1&amp;showtools=1"><br /></a></span></dt><dd><span style="font-family:Arial, Geneva, Helvetica;font-size:85%;">Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on <span style="color:#336699;"><b>disputable</b></span> <span style="color:#336699;"><b>matters</b></span>.</span></dd></dl>This is preference that becomes law in many of our hearts. I've always struggled with the "law". When I realize that what I'm struggling with is self-imposed, because Jesus set us free from that, I have to come to Him again and be cleaned out. I have to stop acting like a Christian and just BE one. It says to "Accept him whose faith is weak, WITHOUT PASSING JUDGMENT..." (And why is it usually the one whose faith is weak is passing the judgment... hmmm...) And in my opinion (because that's what these wonderful blogs are about, right? ;), if it comes down to holding onto your rules or holding your brothers and sisters close, I think I know what Jesus would choose.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5177346211108773683-8230967766336787334?l=www.openarmsbradford.org%2Fechurch%2Fblogs%2Fzoehatcher.html'/></div>Helga Zoe Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14040644184585148584helgazoe@verizon.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177346211108773683.post-30489123251508548942007-08-24T09:23:00.000-05:002007-08-24T10:48:40.799-05:00Psalm 39 and my stupid mouthAnother thing I've been reading everyday in the One Year Bible, is the psalms. Boy can I relate to David and those guys... So this is what I read today:<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td bg="" style="color: rgb(248, 244, 232);"><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:85%;" ><b>Psalms 39</b><span style="font-size:78%;"><i><a href="http://bible1.crosswalk.com/OnlineStudyBible/bible.cgi?passage=ps+39&version=niv&amp;language=en&showtools=0"><br /></a></i></span></span></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:1</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence." </span></dd></dl></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:2</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased. </span></dd></dl></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:3</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:</span> </span></dd></dl></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:4</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >"Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. </span></dd></dl></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:5</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. Selah </span></dd></dl></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:6</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.</span> </span></dd></dl></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:7</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >"But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. </span></dd></dl></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:8</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. </span></dd></dl></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:9</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. </span></dd></dl></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:10</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand.</span> </span></dd></dl></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:11</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">You rebuke and discipline men for their sin; you consume their wealth like a moth-- each man is but a breath. Selah</span> </span></dd></dl></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:12</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >"Hear my prayer, O Lord, listen to my cry for help; be not deaf to my weeping. For I dwell with you as an alien, a stranger, as all my fathers were. </span></dd></dl></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:13</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Look away from me, that I may rejoice again before I depart and am no more."</span> </span></dd></dl></td></tr></tbody></table>Have you ever felt this way? Like, "Why did I say that..." and then felt horrible. I feel that way a lot... my stupid mouth. Apparently David did too:<br /><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:85%;" ><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I said, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">So, I've tried to just not say anything. Because anything I say is going to end up being sin, right? I will complain, gossip, slander, make fun of someone or whine. The list goes on... So then I'm just this wonderful stoic personality that everyone loves to be around, right? No, I'm a hypocrite, that loves to say, Praise God! instead of what I want to say. I'm someone who says everything's great, God is good! when I want to whine. So then I don't say anything. I praise God to myself and I don't share my feelings or thoughts with anyone but Him. I don't want to sin, right? Then David says: </span></span><br /></span><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:2</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased.</span></dd></dl><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td><dl compact="compact"><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:3</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:</span></dd><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:4</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >"Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.</span></dd><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:5</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath.</span></dd><dt><br /></dt><dt>You may say, David, man, you just need some Prozac. But really, maybe he and I are the only ones in the universe who has felt this way, but if you have you understand. If you share how you feel, how you're doing, you sin, if you don't share, you get pretty depressed.<br /></dt><dd><br /></dd><dt><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b>39:7</b></span></dt><dd><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" >"But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.</span></dd></dl>This is what it comes down to. If I'm not pouring it out to God on a daily basis, then yes, I sin or hold it in. We were meant to share. And if we don't in any relationship, we lose intimacy. Try to keep a friendship going on a just "God is good!" basis. Or a marriage on a "How was work?" basis. You end up pretty shallow. And with God. If you just bring your laundry list and check out, you're going to wonder why you're wasting your time. And if it doesn't begin with Him, you pouring out those whines, gossips and complaints, He doesn't have time to set you straight with them before you say them. As Joyce Meyer would say: "Think about what you're thinking about." If I don't minute by minute pour out those things to God, they will come out of my mouth. And if they don't go through His filter, then we get impurities in our speech. The encouragements come through, even the real confessions come through. We are supposed to confess our sins to one another. I think our intention is a big factor. Why are we saying this to this person? Do they have anything to do with this situation? Or do I just want to vent... And if I vent to them, how will it affect them? Will confessing this to them keep me honest? Or do I not want to confess it because of pride... So does this mean I can be a real person with people without sinning? I don't know, but I'm gonna try...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5177346211108773683-3048912325150854894?l=www.openarmsbradford.org%2Fechurch%2Fblogs%2Fzoehatcher.html'/></div>Helga Zoe Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14040644184585148584helgazoe@verizon.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177346211108773683.post-71824951355594591082007-08-24T08:49:00.000-05:002007-08-24T09:21:44.464-05:00Soliloquies and ConfessionsI've been reading through the one year bible, and now in the Old Testament portion, I'm on Job. Job is a hard book for anyone to read at the best of times. But any time I've tried to figure out my questions (like why did God point out Job to satan? Why did God allow satan to attack him that way? Why would he want Job tested in that way? Could this happen to me?) The truth is that I don't know the answers and really don't want to know the answers. Maybe that's the fear in me. But I find that like Job's friends, whenever I try to answer any spiritual question, I end up in some blogged or journaled soliloquy about what I know. When really in the end I find out that I know nothing. Maybe that's why I haven't posted a blog in so long... I realize that talking about something like you know the answers, sometimes can sound a little...um...haughty. Especially when you find out you don't know what you're talking about. Job's friends went on what they knew about God, which was limited, and tried to encourage Job, but ended up preaching to him. And in the end, they were corrected. So, I can offer what I know, what I've lived, which isn't much in the scheme of things. But in the end. God's the one to clear things up.<br />Probably more often I've been on the end of Job. Not losing everything I have, by any means. But having all the questions, and trying to figure things out. And when you don't hear any answers, making up your own. And then in the end, getting lambasted by God, because I couldn't just wait on Him. I couldn't just trust Him to tell me what I needed to know. I couldn't let His nature and what I knew of Him already be enough. I have journal entries that go on for 12 pages of whining, and it's like God saying, "Ok, are you done? Here's what happened... And here's your part in it." My husband thinks I'm neurotic, with love, I'm sure... ;) But sometimes I get so emotionally congested that it takes me breaking down where I finally realize I've reached system failure. When I can't go on any more until I get alone with God and work out all of my baggage. And until, I've unpacked each item, unfolded it, and aired it out, I can't think straight. It happens about once a month... Ladies, anyone? :) I would love for it to not be a part of who I am. Glory to glory, right? But there are some parts of Job and the psalms where I just think, yeah... that's how I feel. God wants us to be others focused, not self-focused, so I frustrate myself when I have to take that time. Why can't I just suck it up? Go out and serve somebody with a smile on your face! And sometimes I do, but usually I'm seething underneath. And everyone can tell... That my smile is really baring my teeth... :) So I guess this rambling is trying to say, that I need time alone with God. That closet time that everyone tells us we're supposed to have but I never get to have until it's too late. And then you don't know what to say because you've been functioning on E for a month, and you really have nothing left talk about. Because it's been a month... I'll have to do something about that... And that I've figured out that I don't have it all figured out. Praise God!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5177346211108773683-7182495135559459108?l=www.openarmsbradford.org%2Fechurch%2Fblogs%2Fzoehatcher.html'/></div>Helga Zoe Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14040644184585148584helgazoe@verizon.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177346211108773683.post-34654343801274023382007-04-30T12:36:00.000-05:002007-04-30T15:47:34.353-05:00The Sum of the PiecesI once had someone ask me, "Who are you?" I never thought such a simple sounding question could throw me. "Well, I'm a wife, a mother... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Uhhh</span>...", "I mean besides that. Who are you aside from being a wife and a mother?" She was basically saying...Is that all you are? It left me with the wind knocked out of me... If you know me, you know I'm a thinker. I probably think too much... So I thought about this. That was eight years ago and I still think about it. "Who am I?" Have you ever filled out one of those surveys, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Myspace</span> and forwards are full of them. In fact I do have one on my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Myspace</span>... ;) You know the ones, what is your favorite ice cream and who do you like to watch sunsets with and such. Things that people that really know you would know about you anyway. It's just a way in our not-so-close close world of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">internet</span> we can get to know each other really fast without wading through the day to day muck of relationships. Anyway, I never really know what to put on those things. I just put the usual pieces of me... I like vanilla ice cream and watching sunsets with my husband (I know I'm boring)... But though 1,000 people may read my survey, will they ever know me? The real me? And now we're back to square one... I'm left feeling like the rich young ruler. Confused and saddened. "You mean I can't just follow you dragging all my pieces, Jesus?" Who is that "me" exactly? Well, I've got a good list. Things I do. I'm a Christ-follower, a wife and mother, a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">homeschool</span> teacher, a housekeeper, etc... But these are my pieces. Most days I walk through life deluded thinking these pieces are who I really am. The sum of the pieces. Especially if one of these pieces is ever removed. Man, does that shake me up. Don't take away one of my pieces! That's who I am! Right? And to take that away meant I was no longer whole right? Because I am the sum, and now I don't add up. There can be the viewpoint also of feeling the missing piece and knowing you don't have it yet. I don't have that home I want...yet... I'm not plugged into a ministry to use this gift... yet... I still don't have that car... yet... We can always feel not quite whole whether something has been released, taken away, or we just haven't received it yet. I've realized, that's when those things are edging into an idol position. Why is it that we need something tangible to see? To chase them down, hold up and show someone, "Here, I found it. This is who I am!" Something tangible to worship. We were reading to the kids today about when Moses came down from the mount from 6 weeks with God. You want to talk about a mountaintop experience... And then he sees the Israelites dancing around the golden calf. And got so mad he shattered the tablets of God's law. All it took was 6 weeks, the one they had been following, Moses (to some their idol) was gone. What are they going to do? Who can they see to worship? That was back in the days when everyone saw their gods. Most of them were statues. Exciting, I bet many of those statues laid down their lives... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">uhhh</span>... Say the Israelites had been asked the question by an introspective Egyptian, "Who are you?" "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Uhhh</span>... I'm a Hebrew, I worship a God that you can't see. I'm a brick maker... That's about it." They would be reaching for their household gods to show them. Some thoughts:<br />Job 17:11 -<br />My days have passed, my plans are shattered, and so are the desires of my heart.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Ps</span> 37:4 -<br />Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Eph</span> 4:22 -<br />You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ro</span> 12:3 -<br />For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.<br />1Ti 6:6 -<br />But godliness with contentment is great gain.<br /><br />And my absolute favorite verse of all time:<br /><span style=";font-family:Arial,Geneva,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."</span><br /><br />You may wonder where I'm going with this... We are so much more than just pieces. Than just fulfilled and unfulfilled desires. Woman, you are still a woman if you lose all of your hair. Man, you are still a man if you've lost your job. Note Gal. 2:20 "I NO LONGER LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME." He has redeemed the pieces of our lives. We are definitely not our pieces, our little hobbies and facets of our life that tend to define us. We are not the sum, we are whole. We have been replaced, you see. I still don't know what to say exactly the next time some artsy poet asks me who I am, but I do know that I can confidently say, "I don't know who I am, really. That's not as important as the fact that Christ fills me, and that's all I need."<br /><dl><dt><br /></dt></dl><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5177346211108773683-3465434380127402338?l=www.openarmsbradford.org%2Fechurch%2Fblogs%2Fzoehatcher.html'/></div>Helga Zoe Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14040644184585148584helgazoe@verizon.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177346211108773683.post-1238917892400927542007-04-03T09:51:00.001-05:002007-04-04T17:25:54.997-05:00Cashing In...Joshua 21: "44 The LORD GAVE THEM REST on every side, just as he had SWORN to their forefathers. Not ONE of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed ALL their enemies over to them. 45 Not ONE of all the LORD's GOOD PROMISES to the house of Israel failed; EVERY ONE WAS FULFILLED."<br /><br /> I was taught to ask God too much was being pretentious. He's given us enough as it is, right? And who am I to think I deserve anything? These things are true... To a point. I am no one. And I deserve death. But... In Christ I'm a co-heir with Him. Not through anything I've done. The only thing I did was call out to him. The only thing I keep doing is surrendering to Him. That's the beauty. That's why Christ is worthy of being praised. What he did was very costly to Him (just watch the Passion this week to be reminded...) He made us righteous. Because he loves us. He knows that the Father is faithful to his promises to the righteous. He wanted us to share in that. So he died for us so that we could recieve that cleansing and the righteousness. And share in the promises of God. Wow. A much cheaper illustration would be that we are dirty homeless people and Christ is our sponsor into the country club. So we get to golf and swim and play tennis, not because we're rich, but because we know who we're with... Just a thought...<br />Study the promises of God. Know what Christ's sacrifice bought for you. And thank Him...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5177346211108773683-123891789240092754?l=www.openarmsbradford.org%2Fechurch%2Fblogs%2Fzoehatcher.html'/></div>Helga Zoe Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14040644184585148584helgazoe@verizon.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177346211108773683.post-25619561176827969342007-02-05T11:52:00.000-05:002007-02-05T12:38:29.230-05:00To Relate or Not to RelateThis new series on relationships has got me thinking. I know that I can be a hermit if I really want to. If given the choice, I would just stay home cooking or something... Never venturing out into the world where I would have to rub shoulders with people. People who annoy me, challenge me, tire me or embarrass me. But then there are the people that I love, people who love me, challenge me, delight me and encourage me. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">Ahh</span>... It's a struggle... Wouldn't it be nice, I say to myself, to not have to deal with people. To just hide in my hole and only come out once a year to cheers like a groundhog. I think I get it honest. From my own selfish human nature and from my family. I have family and friends that prefer to live alone, and to bring anyone into that equation is always disastrous. To adjust to someone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">else's</span> idiosyncrasies is always tough. Usually you can get through that if you love the person. But it's the flip side that can get to me. The fact that other people have to deal with me and that they might not like what they have to deal with. I mean, really, if I'm annoyed with other people, I know they're going to be annoyed by me. Rejection... Putting yourself out there with all fear of being shot down, ignored or not liked. Not liked. There are probably some people I just don't like. I can't think of many. But to think I could be that person for someone else... Scary... It's really quite controlling, I guess. To assume that I should always be liked by everyone. I guess the bad thing would be disliked by someone I like very much. It's all very middle school. That's where rejection has a real face on it. I was picked on quite a bit, but who wasn't? It was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)">ok</span> to not be liked by the jerk that called me "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Egor</span>", but when one of my friends joined in... Oh... Straight to the heart... So I guess from that point we either shake it off, mature and say, "oh well, their loss." Or we crawl into a hole. I've heard hell described as a state devoid of relationships. With people and most importantly God. People can get on my nerves, but could you imagine, never, ever being known. The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">knowledge</span> that comes from putting yourself out there, and someone else putting <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">themselves</span> out there, and you're accepted. And they're accepted by you. It's a beautiful thing. And I'm blessed to have experienced it. Relationships can hurt, but they can be the most precious thing you'll ever experience. I guess in the end, I would rather have a few scraped knees and busted lips in the relationship arena, knowing that when I leave the ring, there's no loss, I'm loved. I've risked and loved and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">some one's</span> loved me and God loves me...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5177346211108773683-2561956117682796934?l=www.openarmsbradford.org%2Fechurch%2Fblogs%2Fzoehatcher.html'/></div>Helga Zoe Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14040644184585148584helgazoe@verizon.net1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177346211108773683.post-73204110473471450512007-01-23T10:29:00.000-05:002007-01-23T12:12:53.994-05:00Pleading with God<em>Genesis 18:20 "Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know." 22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing-- to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" 26 The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake." 27 Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?" "If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it." 29 Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it." 30 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." 31 Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?" He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it." 32 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it." 33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home."</em><br /><em></em><br />I always thought Abraham was bold. Begging God to save this awful city just because of his nephew. What audacity! He destroyed it anyway, right? But wait a minute... Doesn't it say that we are to boldly come before the throne?<br /><br /><em>Heb. 4:16 "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."</em><br /><em></em><br />He did it in humility too... He remembered that he is just dust and ashes to the Lord. That is something I rarely do. Remembering that God doesn't have to listen to our little pea brains, but He does because He loves us. Enough to actually promise us many things. Knowing that we don't keep our promises, but He does.<br /><br />And God actually listened to him! He heard him, Abraham convinced Him. He did destroy the city, but He couldn't even find 10 righteous people there. But if He would have, He wouldn't have destroyed the Whole city, because of Abraham's request. History as we know it would have been different. God doesn't like to see us arguing with him and questioning him. But because He loves us dearly, we have influence with Him. Can you believe that? Influence with God! I wonder how many things in history, our history, would have been different if we would have had the courage, or taken the time to plead with God. <br /><br />Think about it. There are many things we need to plead for. A new car? No. How about salvation for the people on our street? Our block? Our city? Our State? Our Nation? Abraham loved Lot's family. They were his family. But he loved the whole city. How do I know? He pleaded for it. He gave God 6 scenarios, and said would you save it if... He loved the drunkards, the adulterers, the homosexuals, he loved them all enough to ask God for their lives 6 times. Do we plead? Do we care? A lot of times I don't. Sadly, not enough to plead. I want to take time this week during prayer and fasting to plead for unloveable people. Join me. There's a vigil on Friday night at 6pm at the church. For the lost who are about to be destroyed and don't know it. God is standing over our town looking, thinking about the destruction to come. Remember judgement is coming, and we don't know when. So who is standing up there with God? Who pulled him aside before he went down like Abraham? Who is saying, "Lord, will you save Bradford if you find 50 righteous people in it?" "Lord, will you spare my street?" Lord, forgive me for not caring enough to pull you aside. Forgive me for being lazy and knowing that I can come before You boldly and intercede for others and not doing it. Please, Lord, help me to care. Help me to not be afraid to plead for other's lives...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5177346211108773683-7320411047347145051?l=www.openarmsbradford.org%2Fechurch%2Fblogs%2Fzoehatcher.html'/></div>Helga Zoe Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14040644184585148584helgazoe@verizon.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177346211108773683.post-55578534007732872472007-01-17T09:55:00.000-05:002007-01-17T11:47:31.083-05:00God's FriendshipJob. 29:4b "God's intimate friendship blessed my house."<br /><br />Job. 16:19-21 "Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. 20 My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; 21 on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend."<br /><br />When I think about being God's friend, I think about a time when I was in a huge crowd of people. I knew no one around, no one knew me or even really saw me. But I felt like God reached down and hugged me. Out of all of those people, he saw me. Have you ever felt that way? Noticed. Treasured. Not when you did anything. Not when you put on a show, or looked especially good, said something incredibly clever, or even when you weren't around anyone to fawn over you. Let me tell you, it was life-changing.<br /><br />To know the truth that you are loved by God, and not in a Sunday School way, "Jesus Loves Me". But to know that you know that you did nothing, and He saw you. There across the room. And loved you. It's even better to find out once you get to know each other that He was always there. And not just as a bystander, but your Creator, He made you. So it's quite the epiphany when you realize that he knows you better than anyone, and can love you that way. Like a friend. The perfect friend. <br /><br />The picture that Job paints that God's intimate friendship blessed his house is awesome. It's like the sun coming in and making everyone warm. And then in Job's experience, he feels like the sun has left and it's dark and cold. When in reality a dark storm front came in the room to block the sun's warmth. He's freezing cold and all he knows is that the sun left, right? <br /><br />I wish I could always feel that God-hug in a crowd. When I'm at the grocery store, or home doing dishes, or crying because I feel misunderstood or lonely. The thing I don't realize is that He's hugging me then too, just the enemy's come in and put a big puffy jacket on me and all I can feel is my pain insulated. Not that skin against skin comfort of intimacy with God. So I yell at him (and anyone around) that He's left, and good riddance. I didn't need Him anyway, right? Could you imagine how frustrating it would be for God? Him sitting there holding on to me and me turned away from Him, yelling "where are You?" I picture Him a lot of times just sitting there patiently waiting for me to finish my fit, just like I do with my kids (well, not always so patiently on my part...). And then when I'm spent, sweating in my puffy coat, He says, are you ready to throw that stupid coat off and turn around and talk to me? <br /><br />Let me just say, I'm growing up in my faith... But that's another blog for another day... ;)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5177346211108773683-5557853400773287247?l=www.openarmsbradford.org%2Fechurch%2Fblogs%2Fzoehatcher.html'/></div>Helga Zoe Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14040644184585148584helgazoe@verizon.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177346211108773683.post-92027257874240798142007-01-16T20:55:00.000-05:002007-01-16T20:58:02.983-05:00I'll admit. I've been nervous to start. How to start this blogging thing... Even though I've done it before...;) I'll be honest and transparent here. I'll try not to sound self-righteous and pretentious... So here goes... A look into my mind... Woo hoo... :)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5177346211108773683-9202725787424079814?l=www.openarmsbradford.org%2Fechurch%2Fblogs%2Fzoehatcher.html'/></div>Helga Zoe Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14040644184585148584helgazoe@verizon.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5177346211108773683.post-72446874954611869482007-01-10T22:03:00.001-05:002007-01-10T22:03:59.186-05:00WelcomeWelcome to Zoe Hatcher's Blog!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5177346211108773683-7244687495461186948?l=www.openarmsbradford.org%2Fechurch%2Fblogs%2Fzoehatcher.html'/></div>Helga Zoe Hatcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14040644184585148584helgazoe@verizon.net0