“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6
Growing up my mother made the most wonderful beef vegetable soup. It was prepared mostly in the winter time as I remember. Even now, as I press on the door of my 50’s I can focus on her soup and almost taste its comfort. All I have to do is see the snow elegantly floating to the ground, feel the plunging cold temperatures and remember days out of school. These memories trigger a sweeter and kinder time that leave me hungering for the comfort of her soup. Other days, not so much because my focus is not there and the triggers are quiet.
Our hunger and thirst for God seems to act the same way. Our trials trigger our need for His comfort and nourishment. Our spiritual stomach growls highlighting its emptiness and need to be filled. ‘Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are promised satisfaction. They are described as people who have a thirst no earthly stream can satisfy, a hunger that must feed on Christ or die.' Believer's Bible Commentary, p. 1216.
I cannot delay in my pursuit of Him until the snow begins falling and the cold dark envelops. I must constantly pursue God and His kingdom to be given a steady stream of nourishment. I must open my heart during all seasons and make room for His nourishment. This hunger and pursuit of His filling is the feeding tube we all need for sustenance and strength. We must hook up to the lifeline of the Holy Spirit who pumps the living fluid into our spiritual veins.
We must empty out ourselves of our own strength so that there is room to receive the fresh waters of His power. Lastly, we must long for that righteousness in Him that only He can provide. ‘A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul’ Proverbs 13:12.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Those Who Mourn
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
The wonderful thing about this beatitude is that the blessing comes before we must face the loss. God places us on the road of preparation before we ever experience the individual grief. Grief comes in many forms as we live our lives. Obviously, the most severe form of grief is the death of a loved one.
Personally speaking, this beatitude has been put to the test and has proven it's worth in gold! The comfort that God has brought me in the loss of my loved ones has been unparalleled and ‘beyond understanding.’ Don’t get me wrong – I have felt the sting of salty tears in my eyes, more tears than I would ever wish to shed. But the comfort that has been mine has held back the flood of uncontrolled emotions much like the waters being held back for the crossing of the Jordan. God laid on my heart the truth that He called my loved ones home and they found eternal lift free from all pain and suffering. God’s nature is always love which is His motivation for everything. Grief places our focus on our pain - not on our loved one’s gain. We approach our loved one’s death as me-first, then them instead of them-first, then us. It is our humanity crying out.
Psalm 139:16 states my highest form of comfort. ‘You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.’ “The concept is that God has a departure date for us. He knows the exact time we will enter eternity. God does not see time the way we see time. God measures one’s success not in terms of longevity but rather as fulfillment of one’s God-given purpose in life.” Zig Ziglar
“Success is finishing what God gave you to do. From the world’s viewpoint, these things are great tragedies. But from the divine perspective, this was an incredible triumph, for each of our losses has represented them having finished well the appointed tasks they had been given to do by the Lord before their births.” Rev Harold Cook
My grandmother told of an afternoon when she had visited my grandfather’s grave 4 weeks after his death. She stated that for one moment in time she felt that God allowed her to feel the full extent of her grief at his gravesite. She couldn’t believe the amount of comfort that God had lavished upon her days since Granddaddy’s death. It was at that moment that she realized the full extent of this beatitude. She laid her mourning on the lap of Jesus and came in for the blessing. The other blessing I have realized in my mourning is the fact that my deep grief is a result from being blessed with a deep love. If I grieve it is only because I have loved!
Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.
The wonderful thing about this beatitude is that the blessing comes before we must face the loss. God places us on the road of preparation before we ever experience the individual grief. Grief comes in many forms as we live our lives. Obviously, the most severe form of grief is the death of a loved one.
Personally speaking, this beatitude has been put to the test and has proven it's worth in gold! The comfort that God has brought me in the loss of my loved ones has been unparalleled and ‘beyond understanding.’ Don’t get me wrong – I have felt the sting of salty tears in my eyes, more tears than I would ever wish to shed. But the comfort that has been mine has held back the flood of uncontrolled emotions much like the waters being held back for the crossing of the Jordan. God laid on my heart the truth that He called my loved ones home and they found eternal lift free from all pain and suffering. God’s nature is always love which is His motivation for everything. Grief places our focus on our pain - not on our loved one’s gain. We approach our loved one’s death as me-first, then them instead of them-first, then us. It is our humanity crying out.
Psalm 139:16 states my highest form of comfort. ‘You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.’ “The concept is that God has a departure date for us. He knows the exact time we will enter eternity. God does not see time the way we see time. God measures one’s success not in terms of longevity but rather as fulfillment of one’s God-given purpose in life.” Zig Ziglar
“Success is finishing what God gave you to do. From the world’s viewpoint, these things are great tragedies. But from the divine perspective, this was an incredible triumph, for each of our losses has represented them having finished well the appointed tasks they had been given to do by the Lord before their births.” Rev Harold Cook
My grandmother told of an afternoon when she had visited my grandfather’s grave 4 weeks after his death. She stated that for one moment in time she felt that God allowed her to feel the full extent of her grief at his gravesite. She couldn’t believe the amount of comfort that God had lavished upon her days since Granddaddy’s death. It was at that moment that she realized the full extent of this beatitude. She laid her mourning on the lap of Jesus and came in for the blessing. The other blessing I have realized in my mourning is the fact that my deep grief is a result from being blessed with a deep love. If I grieve it is only because I have loved!
Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Poor In Spirit
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3
Our first beatitude covers seasons that we all have experienced. Being poor in spirit can involve hopelessness in our circumstances wherein we have cried out and feel unheard. It can involve extreme loneliness in our situation when we feel as if no one understands the deep dark depression in which we find ourselves. For me, it has been the brokenness I experienced when I realized that attitudes that previously worked no longer do. Bottom line, being poor in spirit is desperation of the heart.
It is easy to get in a ‘poor in spirit spiral’ when we rehearse everything that is wrong with our lives instead of the blessings from God that carry us. Sometimes, if we will just step away and re-assess all that has been done for us and through us during our tough times we can get a handle on that spiral.
Laying our honest brokenness on God’s altar for surrender is paramount in releasing the hopelessness in any situation. God cannot do anything with our brokenness until we release it. He knows our hearts regardless of what is spoken to Him so why not come before Him in complete honesty.
It is also imperative to find a few Christ-centered friends with whom you can share your brokenness. I know personally for me within the past year there have been two times in particular that have played out this principle. The first was Griefshare at my church which enabled me to share deep wounds and brokenness with other people in pain. The other time was a woman’s retreat I shared with precious women back in October. When we get together as a Christ-centered group we see the pain of others helping us to put our own suffering in prospective. ‘Broken hearts and broken lives don’t get put back together while you’re laying on your bed in the dark. They get healed inside the arms of healthy love.’ Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering, p. 18. The loving support of Christians between each other is a command from God. ‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.’ Gal. 6:2.
Usually being poor in spirit is the result of long suffering and waiting on a situation to resolve. The longer our trials consume us the more likely we will spiral into helplessness and hopelessness. We must trust in our Savior during times of wait. He has not forgotten us and has never left us. ‘I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud.’ Psalm 40:1 – The Message. ‘The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.’ Psalm 34:18. ‘He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.’ Psalm 147:3.
The lessons we learn during our brokenness will be the faith we rest on in future trials. It will be our hope during the next season of suffering. Our pain is never wasted and will be used for our future ministry in giving hope to others in the midst of their pain.
We will be delivered from our troubles and our lives will reflect the beauty of this blessing. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Our first beatitude covers seasons that we all have experienced. Being poor in spirit can involve hopelessness in our circumstances wherein we have cried out and feel unheard. It can involve extreme loneliness in our situation when we feel as if no one understands the deep dark depression in which we find ourselves. For me, it has been the brokenness I experienced when I realized that attitudes that previously worked no longer do. Bottom line, being poor in spirit is desperation of the heart.
It is easy to get in a ‘poor in spirit spiral’ when we rehearse everything that is wrong with our lives instead of the blessings from God that carry us. Sometimes, if we will just step away and re-assess all that has been done for us and through us during our tough times we can get a handle on that spiral.
Laying our honest brokenness on God’s altar for surrender is paramount in releasing the hopelessness in any situation. God cannot do anything with our brokenness until we release it. He knows our hearts regardless of what is spoken to Him so why not come before Him in complete honesty.
It is also imperative to find a few Christ-centered friends with whom you can share your brokenness. I know personally for me within the past year there have been two times in particular that have played out this principle. The first was Griefshare at my church which enabled me to share deep wounds and brokenness with other people in pain. The other time was a woman’s retreat I shared with precious women back in October. When we get together as a Christ-centered group we see the pain of others helping us to put our own suffering in prospective. ‘Broken hearts and broken lives don’t get put back together while you’re laying on your bed in the dark. They get healed inside the arms of healthy love.’ Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering, p. 18. The loving support of Christians between each other is a command from God. ‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.’ Gal. 6:2.
Usually being poor in spirit is the result of long suffering and waiting on a situation to resolve. The longer our trials consume us the more likely we will spiral into helplessness and hopelessness. We must trust in our Savior during times of wait. He has not forgotten us and has never left us. ‘I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud.’ Psalm 40:1 – The Message. ‘The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.’ Psalm 34:18. ‘He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.’ Psalm 147:3.
The lessons we learn during our brokenness will be the faith we rest on in future trials. It will be our hope during the next season of suffering. Our pain is never wasted and will be used for our future ministry in giving hope to others in the midst of their pain.
We will be delivered from our troubles and our lives will reflect the beauty of this blessing. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Blessed Are Those...
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 5:3-10
I have begun a Bible Study called Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering by Angela Thomas. It is based on the Sermon on the Mount in the Bible more commonly known as The Beatitudes. The Latin word beautido comes from the same root that means beautiful. Honestly, I have always felt like this was an impossible list to live up to. The author hit the nail on the head for me when she called these the when you do’s opposed to the gotta be’s. The freedom of knowing that this is more a cause and effect instead of a list measuring my successes and failures has liberated my heart.
For me the past year has been a year of brokenness, mourning, exhaustion and feeling unfulfilled on so many levels. I am anticipating wonderful spiritual breakthroughs in studying these beautiful promises of what will occur as a result of when we choose a certain way of living. Over the next little while, I will be taking each when we do and celebrate the what we will get!
Please pray for these next weeks of devotionals to work in our hearts and liberate our spiritual barriers. 2011 is going to be spiritually great…blessed are those who study His word!
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 5:3-10
I have begun a Bible Study called Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering by Angela Thomas. It is based on the Sermon on the Mount in the Bible more commonly known as The Beatitudes. The Latin word beautido comes from the same root that means beautiful. Honestly, I have always felt like this was an impossible list to live up to. The author hit the nail on the head for me when she called these the when you do’s opposed to the gotta be’s. The freedom of knowing that this is more a cause and effect instead of a list measuring my successes and failures has liberated my heart.
For me the past year has been a year of brokenness, mourning, exhaustion and feeling unfulfilled on so many levels. I am anticipating wonderful spiritual breakthroughs in studying these beautiful promises of what will occur as a result of when we choose a certain way of living. Over the next little while, I will be taking each when we do and celebrate the what we will get!
Please pray for these next weeks of devotionals to work in our hearts and liberate our spiritual barriers. 2011 is going to be spiritually great…blessed are those who study His word!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Smelling Like Pigs
“He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said… ‘I will set out and go back...’ But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:16-20
We all have heard this story until it has become mechanical, numb to the powerful message for which is possesses. It is not a story that should highlight the selfish runaway since that character can be any of us on any given day. It is not the story of an embittered but justified older brother who consistently does the right thing with little notoriety. It is the story of a waiting father with arms wide open and passion for his wayward son in his heart. It is the story of unrelenting hope on the part of that father with a determination to never take his eyes off the horizon for his son’s return.
Many of us at some point have gathered our things and set out to find a better way searching for that illusive something that will fill our stomachs. Like the wayward son we find ourselves ‘smelling like pigs’ – empty, unfulfilled and hungry for what we once knew. We see ourselves for the depleted souls that we have become and cannot imagine our Father seeing us any differently. But He does…
In our story, the father never gave up scanning the horizon for his son’s return and neither will our Father. He constantly searches our circumstances and leaves spiritual bread crumbs to find our way back to Him. He knows that we cannot cover the distance on our own so like the father in our story, He makes up the distance running to us. He meets us halfway knowing our deficiencies carrying us part of the way back. When we are living in our distant country, our deepest place of brokenness, it is never beyond the scope of where our Father can restore us. Our brokenness is the point in time where the Father runs to us, picks us up and begins restoring our lives the way only a parent can. When we incline ourselves to the Father He will cover the ground we cannot do on our own.
As we come back to our Father with the heart of a beggar He will restore us to the position of a prince or princess.
We all have heard this story until it has become mechanical, numb to the powerful message for which is possesses. It is not a story that should highlight the selfish runaway since that character can be any of us on any given day. It is not the story of an embittered but justified older brother who consistently does the right thing with little notoriety. It is the story of a waiting father with arms wide open and passion for his wayward son in his heart. It is the story of unrelenting hope on the part of that father with a determination to never take his eyes off the horizon for his son’s return.
Many of us at some point have gathered our things and set out to find a better way searching for that illusive something that will fill our stomachs. Like the wayward son we find ourselves ‘smelling like pigs’ – empty, unfulfilled and hungry for what we once knew. We see ourselves for the depleted souls that we have become and cannot imagine our Father seeing us any differently. But He does…
In our story, the father never gave up scanning the horizon for his son’s return and neither will our Father. He constantly searches our circumstances and leaves spiritual bread crumbs to find our way back to Him. He knows that we cannot cover the distance on our own so like the father in our story, He makes up the distance running to us. He meets us halfway knowing our deficiencies carrying us part of the way back. When we are living in our distant country, our deepest place of brokenness, it is never beyond the scope of where our Father can restore us. Our brokenness is the point in time where the Father runs to us, picks us up and begins restoring our lives the way only a parent can. When we incline ourselves to the Father He will cover the ground we cannot do on our own.
As we come back to our Father with the heart of a beggar He will restore us to the position of a prince or princess.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Walk It Out!
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword…it penetrates…it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Heb. 4:12
This year has been a year of ‘being laid bare and attitudes uncovered.’ It has been a year of dark desert wandering and transformation of the ‘unlovelies’ in my heart. The word of God is indeed living and active and breathing life into the dead dark corners of our hearts.
In 2010, through His word and mediation on His revelations I have walked around in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3); I have sulked under the broom tree (Jonah 4); I have been protected and delivered from giants (1 Sam. 17); I have grumbled in my wilderness (Exodus); Raging storms have been calmed and enormous mountains have fallen praise be to God! If we are really connected to and engaged in His word we will walk out the Bible in our lives.
Wilderness suffering is the classroom for our faith. ‘Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ…praise God that you bear that name.’ 1 Peter 4:12, 13, 16. Not that we enjoy the suffering but the rejoicing comes from the deliverance and emerging faith from the suffering. ‘We are often weary in His service, but not weary of His service.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 2169. Just as God doesn’t waste one bit of our pain in suffering, we cannot waste one bit of our growth and response to Him in our suffering.
If we are Christians, we have either just come out of a trial, are presently in a trial or will experience one in the future…just walk it out and let the Word be your guide!
This year has been a year of ‘being laid bare and attitudes uncovered.’ It has been a year of dark desert wandering and transformation of the ‘unlovelies’ in my heart. The word of God is indeed living and active and breathing life into the dead dark corners of our hearts.
In 2010, through His word and mediation on His revelations I have walked around in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3); I have sulked under the broom tree (Jonah 4); I have been protected and delivered from giants (1 Sam. 17); I have grumbled in my wilderness (Exodus); Raging storms have been calmed and enormous mountains have fallen praise be to God! If we are really connected to and engaged in His word we will walk out the Bible in our lives.
Wilderness suffering is the classroom for our faith. ‘Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ…praise God that you bear that name.’ 1 Peter 4:12, 13, 16. Not that we enjoy the suffering but the rejoicing comes from the deliverance and emerging faith from the suffering. ‘We are often weary in His service, but not weary of His service.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 2169. Just as God doesn’t waste one bit of our pain in suffering, we cannot waste one bit of our growth and response to Him in our suffering.
If we are Christians, we have either just come out of a trial, are presently in a trial or will experience one in the future…just walk it out and let the Word be your guide!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Showing Ourselves
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciple.” John 15:8
Funny thing about Sundays – they are not the only day of the week God wants His glory shown. In the Bible God did His most powerful work through businessmen and women during the week. Below are just a few of His callings in the workplace:
Moses and David – working as shepherds
Abraham and Isaac – successful businessmen in the marketplace
Joseph – grain administrator
Elisha – plowed fields
Amos – sheep breeder and tender of sycamore trees
Daniel – government official
Jesus – carpenter
Disciples – fishermen, tax collector, etc.
Lydia, Aquila and Priscilla – successful business people who financially helped plant churches.
The list goes on and on as they walked their spiritual journey with the focus on God’s kingdom. It is so easy for us to leave the church on Sundays inspired, spiritually fed with our souls nourished only to leave His altar behind. We enter into our own arena of work (including those who do not work out of the home) and spend more time with our colleagues and acquaintances than with our family. Within a few weeks of getting to know someone they most likely know our marital status, some details about our spouse and the names of our children. There is much talk about the workplace, responsibilities and the opinions of co-workers. But do our acquaintances know our God? Are they aware that we are working for Him instead of working for some earthly gain? Do they hear the name of our Savior on our lips showing ourselves to be His disciple?
Do they know that we belong to the most amazing Father in history who is the reason for our presence, our blessings and our successes? We cannot claim to know Him, love Him and be His disciples without giving Him the credit for all things. Is there a chance that if He is not on our lips He most likely is not on our minds and hearts?
It is our responsibility to reflect His image and claim our place as disciples in the workplace as well as on Sundays. How else will the lost recognize Him?
Funny thing about Sundays – they are not the only day of the week God wants His glory shown. In the Bible God did His most powerful work through businessmen and women during the week. Below are just a few of His callings in the workplace:
Moses and David – working as shepherds
Abraham and Isaac – successful businessmen in the marketplace
Joseph – grain administrator
Elisha – plowed fields
Amos – sheep breeder and tender of sycamore trees
Daniel – government official
Jesus – carpenter
Disciples – fishermen, tax collector, etc.
Lydia, Aquila and Priscilla – successful business people who financially helped plant churches.
The list goes on and on as they walked their spiritual journey with the focus on God’s kingdom. It is so easy for us to leave the church on Sundays inspired, spiritually fed with our souls nourished only to leave His altar behind. We enter into our own arena of work (including those who do not work out of the home) and spend more time with our colleagues and acquaintances than with our family. Within a few weeks of getting to know someone they most likely know our marital status, some details about our spouse and the names of our children. There is much talk about the workplace, responsibilities and the opinions of co-workers. But do our acquaintances know our God? Are they aware that we are working for Him instead of working for some earthly gain? Do they hear the name of our Savior on our lips showing ourselves to be His disciple?
Do they know that we belong to the most amazing Father in history who is the reason for our presence, our blessings and our successes? We cannot claim to know Him, love Him and be His disciples without giving Him the credit for all things. Is there a chance that if He is not on our lips He most likely is not on our minds and hearts?
It is our responsibility to reflect His image and claim our place as disciples in the workplace as well as on Sundays. How else will the lost recognize Him?
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Father's Perfect Plan
“The word of the LORD came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;” Jeremiah 1:4
Each of my children was planned and loved in thought before they were ever born. I had thought of having children since I was a little girl and knew that someday I would be a mommy. It was a plan I had more for myself than for my children.
God knows each of us and our children spiritually before we are ever formed physically. He has known us, loved us and set us apart for a divine purpose – a purpose for us alone to accomplish in His kingdom. This passage is dear to me as it removes the random placement of babies in the world. Each baby is specifically chosen and set apart from the Creator of the universe to accomplish something holy and unique that only that child can accomplish. The importance of every child coming into this world is ordained before conception ever occurs. Every child has a place in His kingdom and is royalty. No one child’s crown is any shinier than the other and no child’s service is exalted any higher.
I remember seeing my children on a screen of an ultrasound and loving them first in that form. There was no love returned at that point but a one-sided love until that child grew into the fellowship of the love we shared. That is how the love of God begins…His love for us is first and complete without any participation from us. It is the basis for which we begin and we grow towards Him in understanding, reciprocated love and fulfilled purpose. He has set us apart before our formation and the responsibility lies within us to pursue His foreknown purpose.
We were all created with spiritual puzzle pieces that when perfectly placed together form a Christ-like image of beauty, love and purpose. Our picture begins to come into focus and reveal the image for which we were born into this temporary place called earth. Once the earthly puzzle is complete God will bring us to our heavenly home in His kingdom and we will enjoy ‘living like royalty.’
Whether you are grieving the loss of a loved one or expecting the birth of a sweet one, take comfort in Psalm 139:13-17 as I do:
'You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!'
There is neither birth nor death that has not be ordained and perfectly planned by a perfect Father.
Each of my children was planned and loved in thought before they were ever born. I had thought of having children since I was a little girl and knew that someday I would be a mommy. It was a plan I had more for myself than for my children.
God knows each of us and our children spiritually before we are ever formed physically. He has known us, loved us and set us apart for a divine purpose – a purpose for us alone to accomplish in His kingdom. This passage is dear to me as it removes the random placement of babies in the world. Each baby is specifically chosen and set apart from the Creator of the universe to accomplish something holy and unique that only that child can accomplish. The importance of every child coming into this world is ordained before conception ever occurs. Every child has a place in His kingdom and is royalty. No one child’s crown is any shinier than the other and no child’s service is exalted any higher.
I remember seeing my children on a screen of an ultrasound and loving them first in that form. There was no love returned at that point but a one-sided love until that child grew into the fellowship of the love we shared. That is how the love of God begins…His love for us is first and complete without any participation from us. It is the basis for which we begin and we grow towards Him in understanding, reciprocated love and fulfilled purpose. He has set us apart before our formation and the responsibility lies within us to pursue His foreknown purpose.
We were all created with spiritual puzzle pieces that when perfectly placed together form a Christ-like image of beauty, love and purpose. Our picture begins to come into focus and reveal the image for which we were born into this temporary place called earth. Once the earthly puzzle is complete God will bring us to our heavenly home in His kingdom and we will enjoy ‘living like royalty.’
Whether you are grieving the loss of a loved one or expecting the birth of a sweet one, take comfort in Psalm 139:13-17 as I do:
'You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!'
There is neither birth nor death that has not be ordained and perfectly planned by a perfect Father.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Personal Saviors
“You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
Simple…easy…very understated. We profess our Christianity and claim our God…one God…the only God…and yet we serve many idols. I am enjoying a new Bible Study that puts a new face on an old commandment. Our verse this morning is a commandment that carries all other commandments much like a ship carries its cargo. A ship is only as good as its body which requires solidity, strength in its ability to carry and uncompromising structure. The same is true with our obedience to this first anchoring commandment. Without obeying this first command all of the others fall away, the hole in our vessel of faith is exposed and our ship sinks.
The author of No Other Gods by Kelly Minter describes two gods- a professed god and a functional god. ‘A professed god is who or what we say our god is; a functional god is who or what actually operates as our god.’ Many of our functional gods are things we become infatuated with in our circumstances. For me, it was my secret spending that replaced my professed god during my dark journey through my daughter’s drug addiction. The word infatuation means ‘an intense but short lived passion or admiration for something.’ I had a professed god but my functional god was fed and ruled my life. Other areas of functional gods include worry, drinking too much, over-eating, drug use, control, etc…anything that replaces God in search of a solution. We cannot be infatuated with God (a short-lived passion) but must be infiltrated by God.
Another functional god has disguised itself in my service to God. I professed that God was the reason for which I served in helping those in need. In reality my functional god was the desire to be accepted and to be perceived as hero. I failed to set boundaries and burned myself out. We cannot claim obedience to this commandment and serve another idol in our lives.
Pray that God will show you what is operating as a functional god in your life creating a rip in your spiritual vessel.
Simple…easy…very understated. We profess our Christianity and claim our God…one God…the only God…and yet we serve many idols. I am enjoying a new Bible Study that puts a new face on an old commandment. Our verse this morning is a commandment that carries all other commandments much like a ship carries its cargo. A ship is only as good as its body which requires solidity, strength in its ability to carry and uncompromising structure. The same is true with our obedience to this first anchoring commandment. Without obeying this first command all of the others fall away, the hole in our vessel of faith is exposed and our ship sinks.
The author of No Other Gods by Kelly Minter describes two gods- a professed god and a functional god. ‘A professed god is who or what we say our god is; a functional god is who or what actually operates as our god.’ Many of our functional gods are things we become infatuated with in our circumstances. For me, it was my secret spending that replaced my professed god during my dark journey through my daughter’s drug addiction. The word infatuation means ‘an intense but short lived passion or admiration for something.’ I had a professed god but my functional god was fed and ruled my life. Other areas of functional gods include worry, drinking too much, over-eating, drug use, control, etc…anything that replaces God in search of a solution. We cannot be infatuated with God (a short-lived passion) but must be infiltrated by God.
Another functional god has disguised itself in my service to God. I professed that God was the reason for which I served in helping those in need. In reality my functional god was the desire to be accepted and to be perceived as hero. I failed to set boundaries and burned myself out. We cannot claim obedience to this commandment and serve another idol in our lives.
Pray that God will show you what is operating as a functional god in your life creating a rip in your spiritual vessel.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Another Way Home
“They entered…where the child was…and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave…But when it was time to leave, they went home another way…” Matthew 2:11-12
Everyone loves the story of the birth of Christ. It is probably one of the most well known and well loved stories throughout history. In this passage the focus is on the wise men as they traveled by way of the Bethlehem star to find the Lamb who was sent to save mankind. They were visited by God in a dream who warned them that after they found Jesus they should go home another way…a way that didn’t involve Herod who wanted information about the baby for malicious intent.
Every one of us has our own testimony of the birth of Christ in our own lives. Whether we were born into a God-centered family or God was received later in life, we all possess within our hearts a birth story. Each story is personal and unique as we pursued a Savior who could transform our lives. Each story tells of the treasures of our hearts that we surrendered to Christ. Each story testifies how we fell down before Him, worshipping Him and opening our hearts to Him.
Once the wise men encountered Christ their focus was returning home. But they knew they couldn’t return the way they had come. As Christians, once we have visited the King, surrendered our hearts and have chosen to worship Him we cannot return to our present lifestyles. We must be homeward bound with Heaven as our destination. Once we have stood before the Messiah and proclaimed Him as our Savior we must forge a new path…a path that was cut for our individual journey with God.
When we find Jesus we will never be satisfied experiencing life ‘the way we came.’
Everyone loves the story of the birth of Christ. It is probably one of the most well known and well loved stories throughout history. In this passage the focus is on the wise men as they traveled by way of the Bethlehem star to find the Lamb who was sent to save mankind. They were visited by God in a dream who warned them that after they found Jesus they should go home another way…a way that didn’t involve Herod who wanted information about the baby for malicious intent.
Every one of us has our own testimony of the birth of Christ in our own lives. Whether we were born into a God-centered family or God was received later in life, we all possess within our hearts a birth story. Each story is personal and unique as we pursued a Savior who could transform our lives. Each story tells of the treasures of our hearts that we surrendered to Christ. Each story testifies how we fell down before Him, worshipping Him and opening our hearts to Him.
Once the wise men encountered Christ their focus was returning home. But they knew they couldn’t return the way they had come. As Christians, once we have visited the King, surrendered our hearts and have chosen to worship Him we cannot return to our present lifestyles. We must be homeward bound with Heaven as our destination. Once we have stood before the Messiah and proclaimed Him as our Savior we must forge a new path…a path that was cut for our individual journey with God.
When we find Jesus we will never be satisfied experiencing life ‘the way we came.’
Friday, December 17, 2010
December Living
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:15-16
It is extremely easy this time of year to get caught up in the things of the world. The month of December perpetuates hectic schedules, fancy parties and the desire for expensive gifts. We actually are walking and moving within a living catalog as we are saturated with the ‘must do’s, the I wants, and the must haves.’ We travel from page to page in living form justifying our purchases and squeezing in our desires. Everything we work so hard for during the year is thrown into the mix creating a ‘pay the piper later’ attitude. The problem is that January rolls around and the catalog is used for fire kindling. The bills roll in after the fact along with our good sense.
There are also ‘December days’ in our spiritual lives which causes us to focus on the worldly things instead of the spiritual things. We replace our love for God with our love for ourselves without even realizing the shift. We place our faith in our own strength and wisdom creating a break in fellowship with God. We build idols without the awareness of what we are constructing. Greed comes in many forms whether it is our time, money or service.
‘The threat to fellowship is anything that causes you to lose your first love for God. Loving money or things more than God will break your fellowship with Him. Your sinful cravings or lust can capture your first love. You can even fall in love with what you have or what you are able to do. When your love is not pure toward God, fellowship with God is broken. Your fellowship with others will then reflect your broken fellowship with God. Greed of any kind is a dangerous threat to fellowship with God.’ Experiencing God, p. 241.
Let us get out of our December thinking, and return to our first love… ‘for He first loved us.’
It is extremely easy this time of year to get caught up in the things of the world. The month of December perpetuates hectic schedules, fancy parties and the desire for expensive gifts. We actually are walking and moving within a living catalog as we are saturated with the ‘must do’s, the I wants, and the must haves.’ We travel from page to page in living form justifying our purchases and squeezing in our desires. Everything we work so hard for during the year is thrown into the mix creating a ‘pay the piper later’ attitude. The problem is that January rolls around and the catalog is used for fire kindling. The bills roll in after the fact along with our good sense.
There are also ‘December days’ in our spiritual lives which causes us to focus on the worldly things instead of the spiritual things. We replace our love for God with our love for ourselves without even realizing the shift. We place our faith in our own strength and wisdom creating a break in fellowship with God. We build idols without the awareness of what we are constructing. Greed comes in many forms whether it is our time, money or service.
‘The threat to fellowship is anything that causes you to lose your first love for God. Loving money or things more than God will break your fellowship with Him. Your sinful cravings or lust can capture your first love. You can even fall in love with what you have or what you are able to do. When your love is not pure toward God, fellowship with God is broken. Your fellowship with others will then reflect your broken fellowship with God. Greed of any kind is a dangerous threat to fellowship with God.’ Experiencing God, p. 241.
Let us get out of our December thinking, and return to our first love… ‘for He first loved us.’
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Loving the Unlovely
“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
To walk in the light with Jesus as our example we must emulate His journey. While on earth He found His way by staying in the light of His Father. He came with one agenda – to do the will of God. He didn’t move until God initiated the move and He didn’t tarry when God called Him to duty. He moved within the boundary of the Light creating unprecedented fellowship with mankind and serving as the ultimate sacrifice for mankind.
Look at any street light and you will see an arc of light on the ground that the light casts. Standing within that light our sight is sharp and precise but when we move out of that circle we experience the contrast of our cold and black surroundings. Within that light we move in and out in activity with limited restrictions. The same is true while living within the lighted will of God. We will be shown things from above with precise and sharp vision.
Another aspect of the example of Jesus is to love in the Light. Jesus was loved by many during His time on earth but was also hated by many. It is impractical to think that everyone we love will love us in the same way. There have been a few relationships in my own life wherein the more I loved the less I received love. It is not difficult to love when love is returned, but to love those in our lives who are difficult to love is radical love as Jesus demonstrated. He died for us ‘while we were still sinners.’ He loved those who hated Him and put Him to death. He interceded for those who crucified Him as He prayed for God to forgive them.
‘God enables you to love your archenemy. If you can love your enemy at level 10, your capacity to love other persons will increase. All others you have been loving will receive a greater dimension of concern than you have previously been able to give. God can deepen our capacity to love as He enables us to care for the unlovely. When we learn to love on a deeper level, our capacity to love others grows.’ Experiencing God, p. 236.
I have experienced this first hand as I was called to forgive and love over and over again. I was called to show mercy and compassion where there was none to be found for me. I was called to love not based on what I was receiving but what was being asked of me by God. Looking back He was building my character to move me closer to His image. It wasn’t about what the other person deserved, rather God developing my heart for future work in His kingdom. God is all about relationship and growth to accomplish the Kingdom work for which He created us.
Stay in the Light, show mercy, love the unlovely and keep in mind we may be someone else’s ‘unlovely.’
To walk in the light with Jesus as our example we must emulate His journey. While on earth He found His way by staying in the light of His Father. He came with one agenda – to do the will of God. He didn’t move until God initiated the move and He didn’t tarry when God called Him to duty. He moved within the boundary of the Light creating unprecedented fellowship with mankind and serving as the ultimate sacrifice for mankind.
Look at any street light and you will see an arc of light on the ground that the light casts. Standing within that light our sight is sharp and precise but when we move out of that circle we experience the contrast of our cold and black surroundings. Within that light we move in and out in activity with limited restrictions. The same is true while living within the lighted will of God. We will be shown things from above with precise and sharp vision.
Another aspect of the example of Jesus is to love in the Light. Jesus was loved by many during His time on earth but was also hated by many. It is impractical to think that everyone we love will love us in the same way. There have been a few relationships in my own life wherein the more I loved the less I received love. It is not difficult to love when love is returned, but to love those in our lives who are difficult to love is radical love as Jesus demonstrated. He died for us ‘while we were still sinners.’ He loved those who hated Him and put Him to death. He interceded for those who crucified Him as He prayed for God to forgive them.
‘God enables you to love your archenemy. If you can love your enemy at level 10, your capacity to love other persons will increase. All others you have been loving will receive a greater dimension of concern than you have previously been able to give. God can deepen our capacity to love as He enables us to care for the unlovely. When we learn to love on a deeper level, our capacity to love others grows.’ Experiencing God, p. 236.
I have experienced this first hand as I was called to forgive and love over and over again. I was called to show mercy and compassion where there was none to be found for me. I was called to love not based on what I was receiving but what was being asked of me by God. Looking back He was building my character to move me closer to His image. It wasn’t about what the other person deserved, rather God developing my heart for future work in His kingdom. God is all about relationship and growth to accomplish the Kingdom work for which He created us.
Stay in the Light, show mercy, love the unlovely and keep in mind we may be someone else’s ‘unlovely.’
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Father and Child
“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another...” 1 John 1:7. “Everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.” 1 John 5:1-2
This morning I am learning about the word ‘koinonia.’ It is the Greek word most frequently translated as fellowship. In my study it is described as ‘the fullest possible partnership and fellowship with God and with other believers. Koinonia with God comes only from a real, personal encounter with the living Christ and surrendering to Him as the absolute Lord of your life.’ Experiencing God, p. 229.
As parents we love and protect our children. We watch out for their best interest and want them to experience every form of love. So what happens when someone doesn’t show love to our children? It blocks our relationship with them. You and I can have an intimate and active relationship but if I treat your child with a lack of love you and I are going to have a problem. We will no longer be able to experience the open flow of a relationship due to the brokenness of the relationship between me and your child.
The same is true of God the Father as we treat His other children less than what we would want for our children. Our relationships with other believers express our true relationship with God. We cannot live in true fellowship with God and out of fellowship with His children. It would be extremely difficult for me to love you if you do not show love to my children. If we are to sincerely and honestly love God we must open our hearts and love other believers. If there is a barrier between you and one of His children, there is a barrier between you and God.
Barriers can provide growth in relational opportunities at the proper time. We cannot know how God works but thankfully He is a patient and loving God. He will allow His children relational license to interact with each other, but at some point He will step in and mediate just as we do with our own children. We learn to love through experience and example and God provides both.
The depth of the love you show to my children will determine the fellowship we will experience. That is the application for love that we must apply to our co-heirs in Christ.
This morning I am learning about the word ‘koinonia.’ It is the Greek word most frequently translated as fellowship. In my study it is described as ‘the fullest possible partnership and fellowship with God and with other believers. Koinonia with God comes only from a real, personal encounter with the living Christ and surrendering to Him as the absolute Lord of your life.’ Experiencing God, p. 229.
As parents we love and protect our children. We watch out for their best interest and want them to experience every form of love. So what happens when someone doesn’t show love to our children? It blocks our relationship with them. You and I can have an intimate and active relationship but if I treat your child with a lack of love you and I are going to have a problem. We will no longer be able to experience the open flow of a relationship due to the brokenness of the relationship between me and your child.
The same is true of God the Father as we treat His other children less than what we would want for our children. Our relationships with other believers express our true relationship with God. We cannot live in true fellowship with God and out of fellowship with His children. It would be extremely difficult for me to love you if you do not show love to my children. If we are to sincerely and honestly love God we must open our hearts and love other believers. If there is a barrier between you and one of His children, there is a barrier between you and God.
Barriers can provide growth in relational opportunities at the proper time. We cannot know how God works but thankfully He is a patient and loving God. He will allow His children relational license to interact with each other, but at some point He will step in and mediate just as we do with our own children. We learn to love through experience and example and God provides both.
The depth of the love you show to my children will determine the fellowship we will experience. That is the application for love that we must apply to our co-heirs in Christ.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Your Chariot Awaits...
“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south…’ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official…The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I…unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him…Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.” Acts 8:26-39.
The sun rose that morning and Philip had many things to accomplish I am sure. As he went about his day surrendered to God he was given an extremely vague assignment without details. He was obedient to God with this assignment without asking questions. He obeyed the instructions anticipating God’s activity along the way. Once a chariot was in sight he was given the next baby step of approaching the chariot. Philip immediately ran up to the chariot once again without any details. I would imagine any of us would feel uncomfortable with these limited instructions with a perfect stranger and important official no doubt. In the end, Philip’s assignment allowed God to work through his obedience to save a lost soul who would have a valuable impact in his region. Scripture says that Philip was suddenly taken away, and the eunuch did not see him again but was filled with joy.
This story has so many applications in the life of the Christian. First and foremost, there will always be chariots along the way for God to assign our service. Secondly, we must be surrendered to recognize our chariots. Thirdly, we must not tarry but approach our assignments making ourselves available for the next set of instructions. Through this process God will accomplish His purpose through those who are surrendered to Him. The final principle is that while Philip was His chosen instrument for this man’s salvation the real glory went to God as the vessel was removed and replaced with the Holy Spirit.
We cannot miss the activity of God which is all around us. We must posture ourselves in expectation of receiving assignments from God. Everyone has a function in the Body of Christ to bring those unsaved souls to Him. We must open our spiritual eyes and ears to accomplish His will. ‘He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.’ John 8:47.
This example was lived out in my Griefshare group. The morning before the group was to meet one night, I realized that the subject was ‘Why God?’ I felt God was leading me to put together a handout explaining the unconditional and sustaining love of God and His character. After the group went through the evening this one member informed us that she didn’t believe in God but took the handout home. She came back a few times then never returned. Through Griefshare she was exposed to the transforming comfort and healing of God through the testimonies of the other members. She never returned but her chariot has been touched by God through our little group. God used this group to introduce her to the real God and to experience what He can do through the life of a believer at the most difficult time in their lives. We will never know what impact this group had on her but much like the eunuch she was shown the face of God in a hurting nation. Some things you can never ‘un-see’!
Don’t miss your chariots for they are lining your streets!
The sun rose that morning and Philip had many things to accomplish I am sure. As he went about his day surrendered to God he was given an extremely vague assignment without details. He was obedient to God with this assignment without asking questions. He obeyed the instructions anticipating God’s activity along the way. Once a chariot was in sight he was given the next baby step of approaching the chariot. Philip immediately ran up to the chariot once again without any details. I would imagine any of us would feel uncomfortable with these limited instructions with a perfect stranger and important official no doubt. In the end, Philip’s assignment allowed God to work through his obedience to save a lost soul who would have a valuable impact in his region. Scripture says that Philip was suddenly taken away, and the eunuch did not see him again but was filled with joy.
This story has so many applications in the life of the Christian. First and foremost, there will always be chariots along the way for God to assign our service. Secondly, we must be surrendered to recognize our chariots. Thirdly, we must not tarry but approach our assignments making ourselves available for the next set of instructions. Through this process God will accomplish His purpose through those who are surrendered to Him. The final principle is that while Philip was His chosen instrument for this man’s salvation the real glory went to God as the vessel was removed and replaced with the Holy Spirit.
We cannot miss the activity of God which is all around us. We must posture ourselves in expectation of receiving assignments from God. Everyone has a function in the Body of Christ to bring those unsaved souls to Him. We must open our spiritual eyes and ears to accomplish His will. ‘He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.’ John 8:47.
This example was lived out in my Griefshare group. The morning before the group was to meet one night, I realized that the subject was ‘Why God?’ I felt God was leading me to put together a handout explaining the unconditional and sustaining love of God and His character. After the group went through the evening this one member informed us that she didn’t believe in God but took the handout home. She came back a few times then never returned. Through Griefshare she was exposed to the transforming comfort and healing of God through the testimonies of the other members. She never returned but her chariot has been touched by God through our little group. God used this group to introduce her to the real God and to experience what He can do through the life of a believer at the most difficult time in their lives. We will never know what impact this group had on her but much like the eunuch she was shown the face of God in a hurting nation. Some things you can never ‘un-see’!
Don’t miss your chariots for they are lining your streets!
Monday, December 13, 2010
In One Spirit...
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” 1 Co. 12:4-7
This message was from Paul to the Corinthians to warn them against their spiritual elitism. Some of the Corinthians were maintaining a sense of spiritual superiority based on the fact they had been given the gift of tongues. They acted as if this was the only gift the Holy Spirit enabled creating some division among them. "Paul says here, 'No, your unity is not found in the possession of one common gift, but rather in the possession of the Holy Spirit who is the source of all the gifts.'" Believer’s Bible Commentary.
When my children were little I volunteered in the PTA like many of you. The goal of the PTA Board was to serve as one body with many functions. The creation of committees enabled work to include the gifts of everyone. Without these committees and the overall direction and guidance of the Board there would have been a lack of unity. Not everyone could serve but some could give in monetary ways. Not everyone could give financially but many could donate their time and talents. Each role was vital to the overall good of the school.
Any Christian organization should also function in this manner as the focus should always be kept on the Head, Christ. The unity of the Church will begin and end by maintaining this focus and earnestly seeking our part in the church. ‘There is no believer who does not have a function to perform.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1791.
It is easy to look around and feel intimidated by the service, monetary gifts and talents of others. This is why we should take our focus off of the ministries of others and focus on what we are being called to accomplish through the Holy Spirit. Each ministry (calling from God) is equally important and created by God for our service. Our ministry may be a beautiful voice for song serving in front of the congregation or singing Jesus loves me to a child privately. Don’t ever underestimate the power of your calling because our service, in whatever form, is the obedience of a child when the Father calls. Obedience will always be blessed by God.
It is essential to pray to God for Him to show us where our talents and service lie so that we can work in the Kingdom for the overall good of bringing lost sheep to the Shepherd.
This message was from Paul to the Corinthians to warn them against their spiritual elitism. Some of the Corinthians were maintaining a sense of spiritual superiority based on the fact they had been given the gift of tongues. They acted as if this was the only gift the Holy Spirit enabled creating some division among them. "Paul says here, 'No, your unity is not found in the possession of one common gift, but rather in the possession of the Holy Spirit who is the source of all the gifts.'" Believer’s Bible Commentary.
When my children were little I volunteered in the PTA like many of you. The goal of the PTA Board was to serve as one body with many functions. The creation of committees enabled work to include the gifts of everyone. Without these committees and the overall direction and guidance of the Board there would have been a lack of unity. Not everyone could serve but some could give in monetary ways. Not everyone could give financially but many could donate their time and talents. Each role was vital to the overall good of the school.
Any Christian organization should also function in this manner as the focus should always be kept on the Head, Christ. The unity of the Church will begin and end by maintaining this focus and earnestly seeking our part in the church. ‘There is no believer who does not have a function to perform.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1791.
It is easy to look around and feel intimidated by the service, monetary gifts and talents of others. This is why we should take our focus off of the ministries of others and focus on what we are being called to accomplish through the Holy Spirit. Each ministry (calling from God) is equally important and created by God for our service. Our ministry may be a beautiful voice for song serving in front of the congregation or singing Jesus loves me to a child privately. Don’t ever underestimate the power of your calling because our service, in whatever form, is the obedience of a child when the Father calls. Obedience will always be blessed by God.
It is essential to pray to God for Him to show us where our talents and service lie so that we can work in the Kingdom for the overall good of bringing lost sheep to the Shepherd.
Friday, December 10, 2010
In Christ
“This is the message you heard from the beginning. We should love one another. Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ and to love one another as he commanded us.” 1 John 3:11, 18, 23
From the beginning was God and God is love. Love has been the foundation of His message since before the earth was formed. It is the message of hope when there is despair, forgiveness when there is wrongdoing and life when there is death.
Love has body parts to express itself in the Body of Christ. We are to be His hands and touch the lives of others pointing them to God. We are to be His feet and walk in His ways showing others the path to truth. We are to be His mouth to speak of His faithfulness in our adversities. We are to be His ears and eyes hearing and seeing the cries of His people.
This agape love can only be accessed through the love of Christ. It is ours to receive when we love Him who is loved by His Father. Love flows when there is no barrier. To say we love and not act in love is contradictory and a stumbling block to our relationship with God. Our actions should follow our statements of belief instead of offering ‘chin music’ as my sweet daddy use to say. Chin music without action is just chaotic noise but faith and service in action is the beautiful song of the Holy Spirit.
We must love one another as Christ loves us. The Kingdom work gets accomplished in its highest beauty when all members of the Body are working in unity following the wisdom of the Head of the Body.
‘In Christ we who are many form one body, and each belongs to all the others.’ Rom. 12:5
From the beginning was God and God is love. Love has been the foundation of His message since before the earth was formed. It is the message of hope when there is despair, forgiveness when there is wrongdoing and life when there is death.
Love has body parts to express itself in the Body of Christ. We are to be His hands and touch the lives of others pointing them to God. We are to be His feet and walk in His ways showing others the path to truth. We are to be His mouth to speak of His faithfulness in our adversities. We are to be His ears and eyes hearing and seeing the cries of His people.
This agape love can only be accessed through the love of Christ. It is ours to receive when we love Him who is loved by His Father. Love flows when there is no barrier. To say we love and not act in love is contradictory and a stumbling block to our relationship with God. Our actions should follow our statements of belief instead of offering ‘chin music’ as my sweet daddy use to say. Chin music without action is just chaotic noise but faith and service in action is the beautiful song of the Holy Spirit.
We must love one another as Christ loves us. The Kingdom work gets accomplished in its highest beauty when all members of the Body are working in unity following the wisdom of the Head of the Body.
‘In Christ we who are many form one body, and each belongs to all the others.’ Rom. 12:5
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Follow The Leader!
“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.’” John 14:6
How many of us ask the question daily that Thomas asked Jesus? I know for me that question can be heard in all of my prayers. It can be challenging to know the direction in which God wants us to move. I am constantly going back to Him for clarification and confirmation. Sometimes I am caught up in analyzing whether the direction is from Satan or is indeed the activity of God. Our example was given in the wilderness when Jesus did not focus on Satan and his ways, but rather focused strictly on what lined up with Scripture. His focus was on the written Word instead of the disorienting distractions.
‘When Canadian Mounties train officers in anti-counterfeiting work, they don’t let a trainee see a counterfeit bill. Instead trainees thoroughly study the genuine bill so they can readily identify anything that doesn’t measure up to that standard.’ Experiencing God, p. 194. I love this fact about recognizing genuine from counterfeit.
Satan is the counterfeit of God. Everything God does Satan will deceitfully and effectively emulate. We must keep our focus and examination upon God’s truth and His way to receive life. Through our intense study of His word there is nothing He has left out in living a life victoriously through Him. Satan holds no power over God but certainly holds power over God’s children if we do not arm ourselves against him. Satan is as real as God and works full time at destroying our faith and testimony. He cannot touch our salvation so he goes after the next best thing – our ability to witness through tough times. He holds up all types of counterfeit bills for us to pass off to others.
At certain times in my life, my spiritual wallet contained counterfeit bills of bitterness, unbelief and feelings that God wasn’t near. It wasn’t until I began intense time with Him every morning that I could recognize the counterfeit bills for which I was carrying. God faithfully replaced old thinking with new and reminded me of past faithfulness and future deliverance.
Whatever we focus on will power our thinking. Satan does not know the mind of God so our focus should be on the One who knows the way.
How many of us ask the question daily that Thomas asked Jesus? I know for me that question can be heard in all of my prayers. It can be challenging to know the direction in which God wants us to move. I am constantly going back to Him for clarification and confirmation. Sometimes I am caught up in analyzing whether the direction is from Satan or is indeed the activity of God. Our example was given in the wilderness when Jesus did not focus on Satan and his ways, but rather focused strictly on what lined up with Scripture. His focus was on the written Word instead of the disorienting distractions.
‘When Canadian Mounties train officers in anti-counterfeiting work, they don’t let a trainee see a counterfeit bill. Instead trainees thoroughly study the genuine bill so they can readily identify anything that doesn’t measure up to that standard.’ Experiencing God, p. 194. I love this fact about recognizing genuine from counterfeit.
Satan is the counterfeit of God. Everything God does Satan will deceitfully and effectively emulate. We must keep our focus and examination upon God’s truth and His way to receive life. Through our intense study of His word there is nothing He has left out in living a life victoriously through Him. Satan holds no power over God but certainly holds power over God’s children if we do not arm ourselves against him. Satan is as real as God and works full time at destroying our faith and testimony. He cannot touch our salvation so he goes after the next best thing – our ability to witness through tough times. He holds up all types of counterfeit bills for us to pass off to others.
At certain times in my life, my spiritual wallet contained counterfeit bills of bitterness, unbelief and feelings that God wasn’t near. It wasn’t until I began intense time with Him every morning that I could recognize the counterfeit bills for which I was carrying. God faithfully replaced old thinking with new and reminded me of past faithfulness and future deliverance.
Whatever we focus on will power our thinking. Satan does not know the mind of God so our focus should be on the One who knows the way.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Proving Faithful
“Now it is required that those of you who have been given a trust, must prove faithful.” 1 Co. 4:2
When my children were young, on occasion (very few!) they would come to me and ask if there was something I wanted them to do to help me. I would generally give them an assignment and continue on with my own list. A little while later they would come to me and ask for additional assignments. Upon following up on their first duty I realized that instead of completing the first task, they had plopped down on the couch and watched their favorite show. In frustration I would ask them why they had offered their help only to fail to follow through. It generally was due to the fact they put their own desire ahead of the task at hand. Another cause was that the duty I had assigned wasn’t the one they had wanted. They had become bored, disinterested and lazy when asked to complete what they had been given.
Sound familiar? God will not entrust another assignment to us when we haven’t proved faithful with the ones He has previously given us. How many of us can actually name His Ten Commandments from the Bible? How can we obey and prove faithful when we don’t even know what the commands state? We cannot lay on our spiritual couches in our laziness. He has given us a precious trust of love, promise and blessings but we must prove faithful. He will never give us more assignments and blessings if we are sitting on the unfulfilled ones. ‘God doesn’t give you His commands so you can choose the ones you want to obey and neglect the rest. He wants you to obey all His commands from your love relationship with Him. When He sees you are faithful and obedient in a little, He will trust you with more.’ Experiencing God, p. 185.
As we experience life obeying the original ten commandments God will assign additional activity for us to accomplish for Him. As God sees our heart full of passion for Him and the desire to do His will we will be given additional tasks to complete.
‘To those who are given much, much is required.’
When my children were young, on occasion (very few!) they would come to me and ask if there was something I wanted them to do to help me. I would generally give them an assignment and continue on with my own list. A little while later they would come to me and ask for additional assignments. Upon following up on their first duty I realized that instead of completing the first task, they had plopped down on the couch and watched their favorite show. In frustration I would ask them why they had offered their help only to fail to follow through. It generally was due to the fact they put their own desire ahead of the task at hand. Another cause was that the duty I had assigned wasn’t the one they had wanted. They had become bored, disinterested and lazy when asked to complete what they had been given.
Sound familiar? God will not entrust another assignment to us when we haven’t proved faithful with the ones He has previously given us. How many of us can actually name His Ten Commandments from the Bible? How can we obey and prove faithful when we don’t even know what the commands state? We cannot lay on our spiritual couches in our laziness. He has given us a precious trust of love, promise and blessings but we must prove faithful. He will never give us more assignments and blessings if we are sitting on the unfulfilled ones. ‘God doesn’t give you His commands so you can choose the ones you want to obey and neglect the rest. He wants you to obey all His commands from your love relationship with Him. When He sees you are faithful and obedient in a little, He will trust you with more.’ Experiencing God, p. 185.
As we experience life obeying the original ten commandments God will assign additional activity for us to accomplish for Him. As God sees our heart full of passion for Him and the desire to do His will we will be given additional tasks to complete.
‘To those who are given much, much is required.’
Monday, December 6, 2010
Setting Up House
“Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will obey my teachings. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.’” John 14:23
There is a certain spiritual order of things in the emergence of our relationship with Christ. First and foremost is the decision to accept Him, pursue Him and love Him. Through this love we are called to a higher level of living. We are called to seek Him first and His teachings which grants access to the Father. Through the intercessory role of Christ we are made pure and forgiven in the eyes of God through His sacrifice. Once we are powered by His love and motivated by His teachings we invite the Trinity to take up residence in our heart wherever we are at that moment. Once invited in, the work of obedience on our part is our daily walk.
God doesn’t wait until we have cleaned house but relishes in the responsibility of cleaning house with us. He meets us where we are and works the redemptive work from ground zero. Each level of obedience and service will require fresh knowledge and understanding of Him. ‘The previous level of your walk with God will not be adequate for the new work God does through you.’ Experiencing God, p. 181.
One of the chapters in Dear Adversity describes me and Christ entering a room to decide what should remain and what clutter should no longer have a place in my life. ‘As I entered this room I was caught off guard when the first action item was to clean up all of the broken glass. The different shards of glass were reflecting different shapes and colors throughout the room. It was difficult to make sense of this room since there were so many distractions through my perception of the individual pieces. Together Christ and I knelt and piece by piece decided which had worth and were part of our new way of living.'’
This room represented to me an excerpt from a book that speaks on trusting and obeying God as He transforms us.
“When suffering shatters the carefully kept vase that is our lives, God stoops to pick up the pieces. But he doesn't put them back together as a restoration project patterned after our former selves. Instead, he sifts through the rubble and selects some of the shards as raw material for another project - a mosaic that tells the story of redemption.” Ken Gire, The North Face of God.
Genuine love for Him should naturally generate sincere devotion and obedience to Him.
There is a certain spiritual order of things in the emergence of our relationship with Christ. First and foremost is the decision to accept Him, pursue Him and love Him. Through this love we are called to a higher level of living. We are called to seek Him first and His teachings which grants access to the Father. Through the intercessory role of Christ we are made pure and forgiven in the eyes of God through His sacrifice. Once we are powered by His love and motivated by His teachings we invite the Trinity to take up residence in our heart wherever we are at that moment. Once invited in, the work of obedience on our part is our daily walk.
God doesn’t wait until we have cleaned house but relishes in the responsibility of cleaning house with us. He meets us where we are and works the redemptive work from ground zero. Each level of obedience and service will require fresh knowledge and understanding of Him. ‘The previous level of your walk with God will not be adequate for the new work God does through you.’ Experiencing God, p. 181.
One of the chapters in Dear Adversity describes me and Christ entering a room to decide what should remain and what clutter should no longer have a place in my life. ‘As I entered this room I was caught off guard when the first action item was to clean up all of the broken glass. The different shards of glass were reflecting different shapes and colors throughout the room. It was difficult to make sense of this room since there were so many distractions through my perception of the individual pieces. Together Christ and I knelt and piece by piece decided which had worth and were part of our new way of living.'’
This room represented to me an excerpt from a book that speaks on trusting and obeying God as He transforms us.
“When suffering shatters the carefully kept vase that is our lives, God stoops to pick up the pieces. But he doesn't put them back together as a restoration project patterned after our former selves. Instead, he sifts through the rubble and selects some of the shards as raw material for another project - a mosaic that tells the story of redemption.” Ken Gire, The North Face of God.
Genuine love for Him should naturally generate sincere devotion and obedience to Him.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Mounting Up
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
My family makes fun of me in church because every song that the band plays I claim it as my favorite. So in that spirit, might I say that this verse is one of my most well loved verses. The eagle is such a powerful bird demonstrating beauty, position, power and strength. The picture this so beautifully illustrates is the dependency on God for what we need when we need it. Approaching our difficult seasons places us in seasons of captivity wherein we must wait for the Lord to bring us through these times.
‘Renew their strength…’ The Hebrew word renew commonly refers to change, revive, renewal causing something to flourish again, as, e. g., a tree that has decayed and fallen down. This renewal refers to something that has been depleted but through our wait on the Lord is being replenished. It means that the people of God who trust in Him shall become strong in faith, being able to contend with their challenges gaining victory over the trials of life. God gives them strength if they seek him.
‘Mount up wings…’ The eagle prepares to take flight through mounting up. The eagle is aware of his need to prepare for flight instead of flapping about aimlessly. When we wait for God to move us from one spot to another we are to be still and prepare for His activity in our lives. God is always working and moving around us initiating involvement on our part when He deems it is the proper time. We must live a life of expectancy for His invitation to join Him and preparation for the call. We must ‘mount up’ so that when He calls we are ready to take flight for Him.
‘Run and not be weary…’ This phrase is another mode of expressing the same idea – if we will trust in God we will be vigorous, elevated, and unwearied. He will sustain and uphold us, and in his service we will never be too weak.
‘Walk, and not faint…’ Through walking in the ways of God we can experience a life of balance and peace apart from our seasons of adversity. We will not run in chaos from here to there but rather trust in Him during our faith walk. In Him, we shall neither sink under our burdens, nor give out because of our burdens.
Our Christian walk should show spiritual commitment and contentment whether our circumstances have us waiting on the ground or soaring high above.
My family makes fun of me in church because every song that the band plays I claim it as my favorite. So in that spirit, might I say that this verse is one of my most well loved verses. The eagle is such a powerful bird demonstrating beauty, position, power and strength. The picture this so beautifully illustrates is the dependency on God for what we need when we need it. Approaching our difficult seasons places us in seasons of captivity wherein we must wait for the Lord to bring us through these times.
‘Renew their strength…’ The Hebrew word renew commonly refers to change, revive, renewal causing something to flourish again, as, e. g., a tree that has decayed and fallen down. This renewal refers to something that has been depleted but through our wait on the Lord is being replenished. It means that the people of God who trust in Him shall become strong in faith, being able to contend with their challenges gaining victory over the trials of life. God gives them strength if they seek him.
‘Mount up wings…’ The eagle prepares to take flight through mounting up. The eagle is aware of his need to prepare for flight instead of flapping about aimlessly. When we wait for God to move us from one spot to another we are to be still and prepare for His activity in our lives. God is always working and moving around us initiating involvement on our part when He deems it is the proper time. We must live a life of expectancy for His invitation to join Him and preparation for the call. We must ‘mount up’ so that when He calls we are ready to take flight for Him.
‘Run and not be weary…’ This phrase is another mode of expressing the same idea – if we will trust in God we will be vigorous, elevated, and unwearied. He will sustain and uphold us, and in his service we will never be too weak.
‘Walk, and not faint…’ Through walking in the ways of God we can experience a life of balance and peace apart from our seasons of adversity. We will not run in chaos from here to there but rather trust in Him during our faith walk. In Him, we shall neither sink under our burdens, nor give out because of our burdens.
Our Christian walk should show spiritual commitment and contentment whether our circumstances have us waiting on the ground or soaring high above.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Throwing Out Seed
“He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy carrying sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:6
I love the imagery of Psalm 126:6 as it relates to our adversities. Our experiences in life produce many seeds for sowing. We each possess a pouch within our hearts where these seeds are kept. We either sow in the flesh or we sow in the spirit. Each season of adversity produces a seed to plant and allows God to grow the fruit from our experiences. We cannot keep the seeds in our pouch and expect a future harvest.
We must keep moving, throwing out the seed and trusting that God will grow the harvest at the proper time through our adversities. ‘Do not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’ Gal. 6:9.
A sheaf is ‘a bundle of the harvested stalks of a plant with the heads still containing their seeds.’ I love this definition as it applies to the abundance of our spiritual harvest. Not only will our seeds produce a bundle but many spiritual bundles will be harvested from one experience. Through this abundance is the potential for more growth as the seeds continue to take root.
We must plant our seeds of faith within the soil of Christ. We must allow Him to tend, grow and nourish our faith so we may ‘return with songs of joy’ in our testimonies. ‘When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed…But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.’ 1 Co. 15:37-38
If we will allow God to work in and through our adversities, our challenging experiences will provide sheaves of encouragement and fruit for the gatherer.
I love the imagery of Psalm 126:6 as it relates to our adversities. Our experiences in life produce many seeds for sowing. We each possess a pouch within our hearts where these seeds are kept. We either sow in the flesh or we sow in the spirit. Each season of adversity produces a seed to plant and allows God to grow the fruit from our experiences. We cannot keep the seeds in our pouch and expect a future harvest.
We must keep moving, throwing out the seed and trusting that God will grow the harvest at the proper time through our adversities. ‘Do not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’ Gal. 6:9.
A sheaf is ‘a bundle of the harvested stalks of a plant with the heads still containing their seeds.’ I love this definition as it applies to the abundance of our spiritual harvest. Not only will our seeds produce a bundle but many spiritual bundles will be harvested from one experience. Through this abundance is the potential for more growth as the seeds continue to take root.
We must plant our seeds of faith within the soil of Christ. We must allow Him to tend, grow and nourish our faith so we may ‘return with songs of joy’ in our testimonies. ‘When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed…But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.’ 1 Co. 15:37-38
If we will allow God to work in and through our adversities, our challenging experiences will provide sheaves of encouragement and fruit for the gatherer.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Keep Your Head
“But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministries…At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me…But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength…And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly home…” 2 Tim 4:5, 14, 17-18
I love the advice to Timothy in Paul’s letter to him. He basically confirmed that hardship is a definite and endurance is required. He also encouraged him to stay focused on the important things of Christ. He warned him that betrayal, loneliness and isolation would most likely be experienced. He continued with the proclamation that when he was at his lowest the Lord stood right next to him protecting, enabling and sustaining him. He recited past times when God was faithful in bringing him through difficult and challenging times. He stated his absolute belief in the Savior’s continued rescues in every situation as long as he walked this earth.
When our faith is losing its pulse, we must endure. We must not allow the challenges of our circumstances to overtake and disorient our faith. Timothy was a powerful leader in bringing those to Christ yet still needed constant assurance from his spiritual mentor. We are all so blessed that our spiritual Mentor established a library of books on every topic guiding and teaching us as we walk our paths in this challenging world. His words are old to the world but His messages are new to the heart. His teachings are general but the applications are individual. His Lordship is everywhere but His presence is personal.
Endurance and patience is certainly required to advance through adversity but we have the guarantee of a Savior to deliver, rescue and restore.
Better to keep your head in all situations than to lose your mind!
I love the advice to Timothy in Paul’s letter to him. He basically confirmed that hardship is a definite and endurance is required. He also encouraged him to stay focused on the important things of Christ. He warned him that betrayal, loneliness and isolation would most likely be experienced. He continued with the proclamation that when he was at his lowest the Lord stood right next to him protecting, enabling and sustaining him. He recited past times when God was faithful in bringing him through difficult and challenging times. He stated his absolute belief in the Savior’s continued rescues in every situation as long as he walked this earth.
When our faith is losing its pulse, we must endure. We must not allow the challenges of our circumstances to overtake and disorient our faith. Timothy was a powerful leader in bringing those to Christ yet still needed constant assurance from his spiritual mentor. We are all so blessed that our spiritual Mentor established a library of books on every topic guiding and teaching us as we walk our paths in this challenging world. His words are old to the world but His messages are new to the heart. His teachings are general but the applications are individual. His Lordship is everywhere but His presence is personal.
Endurance and patience is certainly required to advance through adversity but we have the guarantee of a Savior to deliver, rescue and restore.
Better to keep your head in all situations than to lose your mind!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Empty Crosses
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23
The Father continues to impress upon me the importance of going back to the cross. Granted the cross itself holds no power but the fact it stands empty tells us the work has been done and the power is in the resurrection – the life after the cross.
In thinking about the cross this morning I apply it to my situation. I have been feeling extremely uneasy in the level of sacrifice I am presently being called to make. Honestly, I feel this sacrifice it a bit over the top! It is my present sacrifice on top of past sacrifices. It is a cross that never kills me but slowly depletes me. It is my cross to bear in this season of my life and it feels as if it will never topple.
Going back to the cross of our Savior, I realize that it embodies sacrifice (…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many – Matt.20:28). It involves suffering and surrender (‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’ Matt 2:29). It involves the temporary loss of life to gain the permanent resurrection of life. The cross ended in death but hangs empty as a symbol of a resurrected life.
Our crosses to bear are just as temporary and will serve as our testimonies once out of our seasons of suffering. It will hang empty embodying the fact that through Christ we are positioned with Him and will be victorious over our trials. It will symbolize that we are saved through the blood of our Savior and will never be asked to sacrifice at that level. It may feel like it but it pales in comparison. ‘If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to give for Him.’ C.T. Stuff
May we all be encouraged as we continue to bear our burdens with the absolute belief in a future season with an empty cross, a resurrected life and a life everlasting.
The Father continues to impress upon me the importance of going back to the cross. Granted the cross itself holds no power but the fact it stands empty tells us the work has been done and the power is in the resurrection – the life after the cross.
In thinking about the cross this morning I apply it to my situation. I have been feeling extremely uneasy in the level of sacrifice I am presently being called to make. Honestly, I feel this sacrifice it a bit over the top! It is my present sacrifice on top of past sacrifices. It is a cross that never kills me but slowly depletes me. It is my cross to bear in this season of my life and it feels as if it will never topple.
Going back to the cross of our Savior, I realize that it embodies sacrifice (…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many – Matt.20:28). It involves suffering and surrender (‘My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.’ Matt 2:29). It involves the temporary loss of life to gain the permanent resurrection of life. The cross ended in death but hangs empty as a symbol of a resurrected life.
Our crosses to bear are just as temporary and will serve as our testimonies once out of our seasons of suffering. It will hang empty embodying the fact that through Christ we are positioned with Him and will be victorious over our trials. It will symbolize that we are saved through the blood of our Savior and will never be asked to sacrifice at that level. It may feel like it but it pales in comparison. ‘If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to give for Him.’ C.T. Stuff
May we all be encouraged as we continue to bear our burdens with the absolute belief in a future season with an empty cross, a resurrected life and a life everlasting.
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