God My Judge - Dayna Mazzuca

My name is Dayna. In Hebrew it means “God is my judge.” A powerful reminder to me over the years that I am not to fear any man, but only God, the true “judge” of my soul, the reader of my thoughts, the one watching over my comings and goings. The one who sits in a place of authority to reach out and bless me with his Strong Arm. To defend me when necessary, to allow his Son to intercede, to be a place of refuge and healing in a time of need. 

In my impressionable 20’s, I served as a Court Reporter for two years while working for the local newspaper in Banff, Alberta. What a great window that was into the nature of a good judge vs an apathetic or tired or even bitter judge. The heart-perspective of the person who sat in this place of authority made a huge difference, for everyone involved. 

The good judges did more good for people in one session than I had thought possible. The good judges changed lives. Brought justice, while being open to hearing so many stories, so many sides. They recognized when a young offender (or near enough to being labeled ‘young’) had someone in their camp, a father standing up at the same time his son was called. The father standing from the regular seats, with everyone around him seated and many of them staring, while his boy held his own at the front of the court, immediately in front of the judge’s bench. Good judges took note. Made allowance.

Good judges knew the lawyers. They mingled with everyone involved, even lowly community reporters. They hosted people for barbeques. They valued relationships. They had faith in the process they had signed up, for life. They seemed to have done the inner work to weather the storms (floods?) of disappointment in the nature of humanity; in our ability to love one another (or not); they sat on that bench having seen it all and come out the other side, still believing. In the good. In the right. In the process.

They stood firm by the relationship between justice (done first, to protect the innocent) and mercy (following in its wake once the lines of civil society had been enforced and affirmed in word and/or deed). They lived what they preached. Operated with integrity. Had clean hands.

God is my judge. This might sound scary if your name doesn’t give you an affinity for ‘judgment,’ or the same kind of life experiences that have led me to a deep appreciation of the whole process. But these are reassuring words to me. I have often leaned on them. And taken comfort that, thanks to my mom’s choice of my name, deep in my bones I sense what it means to say, “God is my judge.” And trust that he is good, and he is strong. And he will do right by me, as he has led me to do by him.

In the end, good judges work for freedom. A free and just society. Free, responsible individuals. The righting of wrongs and lessons learned that allow us to walk in ever-greater, more effective free will. It is a gift of God, this free will we are endowed with. But sometimes it takes a good judge on the bench to help us work out all that it means; it’s deep significance. To know that as Christians, our name means God is my judge. And he is sovereign over all; would see us all live upright and free, including being free of the fear of Man. 

I’m so glad, God is my judge.

Dayna Mazzuca is a writer, speaker and poet working from home in Sylvan Lake. Her formal background is in Philosophy, Journalism and Spiritual Formation. These topics tend to overlap in her writings on the spiritual journey, her eight books of poetry and her online work. Her most recent project is an online course called “The Power of Authentic Storytelling” and can be found on her new site – www.daynamazzuca.com.

Touched by Grief, Held by Hope by Alan Anderson

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12 ESV).

I have always had an affinity for people who suffer. Coming alongside hurting people for so long reflects my childhood. For reasons, I won’t reveal here, there was a lot of “tribulation” in my early life.

As a boy my concept of God was one of judgment and thunderous volcanic explosions. I expressed prayer to God out of fear. My prayers began with lines like, “God, I’ll be good…” or “God, I don’t know if you care about me but…” That is how I lived my childhood. I was a timid boy, and perhaps my timidity encouraged my fear. I remember thinking many times I wished I could be a grown up.

When I was a boy in Scotland I discovered writing. Writing saved me. My love for writing didn’t come out of the blue. In my InScribe blog post of Sept. 22, 2015, I wrote about a schoolteacher I remember and love to this day. Her name was Miss Gordon. Here is an excerpt of the post.

From being with Miss Gordon several times during lunch or after school I learned I loved to write. The writing was how I spoke into the world and I expressed my feelings. Miss Gordon and her care for me somehow unleashed my writing.–(InScribe blog post of Sept. 22, 2015)

Miss Gordon helped me know there was hope for me. She encouraged me. Miss Gordon allowed me to be me. This was freedom. This wonderful and caring woman, who had no children of her own, let me know I mattered. I have never forgotten her. God used Miss Gordon to introduce me to hope. She was my hope.

Tribulation can be overcome and endured. For instance, God’s people have endured suffering or tribulations for centuries. We are people of hope.

Tribulation, suffering, grief, pain, etc. have always made their presence known in life. When experiencing tribulation my patience may be hesitant at first. I can never, however, discount the might, the power, or the tender loving care of hope. Hope in spite of tribulation has helped me mature in life and faith.

My writing has also matured. I know I am not a well-known writer and that’s okay. I no longer hide my writing and this is a big step for me. I’m still an introvert and not the most outgoing person yet can socialize with people and enjoy them. This is also a big step.

 

I have a tagline I use for my writing and workshops. I think I’ve shared this in another blog post but can’t remember when. My tagline is “Touched by grief, held by hope.” Over several decades now, I have come alongside people acquainted with grief. They are my people and audience. Hope bonds and holds us together.

Tribulation does not rule over me. Without tribulation or grief or sorrowful experiences, I would not know the depth of hope God promises. Devoid of hardships, the love of God would be foreign to me.

This is how I sum up my life. As a young boy, I trembled and hid. As a man, I am scarred yet continue to hope. I know I am loved.

https://scarredjoy.ca/

 

Humility - Janis Cox

I admit it – I don’t like this word – humility. It sounds wimpy. Whenever I hear the word I get frustrated because I don’t like to admit weakness. When I want something done I look for strength to pull me through – mine or God’s strength – but certainly not humility.

But I am learning more about what God means when He uses this word.

“Humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time” (1 Peter 5:6).

That doesn’t sound as bad, does it? If I can put myself lower, show Christ, then God will exalt me later.

There are three things that keep me from attaining humility – self-righteousness, judgment and control.

When someone takes me to task for something that I have not done, my first notion is to get upset and try to right the wrong. Sometimes this would lead to words, not nice words either. A new way of dealing with this is to step back, let the harangue continue until spent, then don’t say a word. Something happens inside me when I work this way. My spirit stays calm, my peace stays secure and the other person feels perplexed. What just happened they say?

Lack of humility comes from being self-centred. I see that now.

Even in my judgment of others this rings true. I know I should not judge others because God will judge me in a harsher manner. Oswald Chambers (June 22) says succinctly I have no right to judge.

“The great characteristic of a saint is humility - Yes, all those things and other evils would have been manifested in me but for the grace of God, therefore I have no right to judge.”

So judgment is wound up in humility as well.

Then there is control. I like to be in control. I am a task-oriented person. Give me something to do, run or figure out and I will do it to the best of my ability. This, too, rubs against the ways of God. He wants to be in control, not me. So I need to push down my controlling nature – let God show me the way.

In all three, self-righteousness, judgment and control I am insisting on my own rights. And every time I do that I hurt the Son of God.

Oswald Chambers (July 14) says:

"Never look for right in the other man but never cease to be right yourself."

Here is the kick in the pants I need.

He also says (July 15):

"Quit praying about yourself and be spent for others as the bondslave of Jesus."

Identifying the problem helps me to know what to work towards.

How are you on the humility scale?

..........................................

Jan Cox



Jan, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement. She has published two devotionals and a number of articles for magazines and a Bible study. She is owner of Under the Cover of Prayer and moderates the site. She also writes at A Better Way. Jan has written a children’s book in which she is also the watercolour illustrator. She hopes to publish it this year.