“The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.’” Gen. 2:15-17; “…but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden…’” Gen. 3:3.
God was crystal clear about His instructions to both Adam and Eve. They both heard straight from God’s mouth ‘Do not eat that particular fruit off that particular tree in that particular spot.’ How much clearer could God have been with the pair? He had given them a beautiful garden with abundance and full access to 99% of its offerings. It was that 1% that became the hook…the lure…the focus.
On any given day we all are walking through our gardens for which God has given us. God builds our lives in a way that forms a garden for which we must care. It is a life full of abundance and blessing when we focus on the Creator of our lives. It is a life that produces delicious fruit for both our soul and spirit. Every garden God plants will possess a forbidden fruit to help grow us and discipline us. It will tempt our appetite in some manner luring us and calling to us providing a hope for a better life. The more we focus on that 1% the juicier it looks and we develop an irresistible urge to take a bite. That bite will set in motion our spiritual nakedness and send us down a path in our garden that will become a painful detour. ‘The tree of the knowledge of good and evil provided a test of man’s obedience. The only reason it was wrong to eat of that fruit was because God had said so. In different forms, that fruit is still with us today.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 34.
Forbidden fruit is in everyone’s life. For some it is alcohol or drugs, for others it is spending. God makes it crystal clear in each of our lives what forbidden fruit stands in the midst of our gardens. If we will feed upon the fruit of His word we stand a better chance against reaching for that fruit.
God gave us all a wonderful garden in Him… ‘work it and take care of it!’
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Beauty In The Offering
Early this morning as I was on my way to the Hospice House under the blue/gray sky, I was reflecting over the past year since my father-in-law came to live with me and Bruce. Most of what came to mind were my ‘unlovelies’ that I constantly had to fight such as impatience, exhaustion, frustration and sometimes resentment. I had hoped that I had cared for Bud as an offering to God for His glory to be shown, but was beginning to doubt that as my thoughts reeled. With an increasingly heavy heart, I heard myself ask God ‘Was there ANY beauty in the offering?’
As I rounded the corner a portion of the sky exploded with pinks, oranges and reds displaying one of the most remarkable sunrises I have ever seen. The peculiar part of this sunrise was that the majority of the sky was still blue/gray with only a portion that appeared on fire. The beauty simply took my breath away and I knew immediately God’s answer was in the sunrise.
My offering of caring for Bud over the past year has been marked with the day to day journey producing many attitudes, some of the flesh and some of the Spirit. God will use those attitudes of the Spirit to further His kingdom, and thankfully it will be those Spirit moments that will catch the focus of others. Our Creator will make sure that the work of our hands for Him will display a splendor of His beauty just like the sunrise.
Our daily lives may be a dull bluish gray horizon but the beauty of our offerings will be that part of our lives that explode with His beauty. In the words of Matt Redman, Blessed Be Your Name.
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
As I rounded the corner a portion of the sky exploded with pinks, oranges and reds displaying one of the most remarkable sunrises I have ever seen. The peculiar part of this sunrise was that the majority of the sky was still blue/gray with only a portion that appeared on fire. The beauty simply took my breath away and I knew immediately God’s answer was in the sunrise.
My offering of caring for Bud over the past year has been marked with the day to day journey producing many attitudes, some of the flesh and some of the Spirit. God will use those attitudes of the Spirit to further His kingdom, and thankfully it will be those Spirit moments that will catch the focus of others. Our Creator will make sure that the work of our hands for Him will display a splendor of His beauty just like the sunrise.
Our daily lives may be a dull bluish gray horizon but the beauty of our offerings will be that part of our lives that explode with His beauty. In the words of Matt Redman, Blessed Be Your Name.
Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Friday, January 28, 2011
So Long In Coming
“The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold. The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.” Ex. 12:35-36
You would think as intelligent as mankind is we could come up with some new material. This morning God’s children of 1400 B.C. collide with His children of 2011. Same struggles, same impatience, same temptations and unfortunately the same responses. The Israelites had been delivered personally by God’s hand through miracle after miracle. God had given them monetary blessings by making their captors favorable to them. Through this the Israelites were given all kinds of silver, gold, jewelry and treasures. God truly gifted them with much but required their devotion and faithfulness.
They fell short when asked to wait on Moses to bring back the commands and instructions from God. ‘When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down…So all the people took off their earrings and brought them…He took what they handed him and made it into an idol.’ Ex. 32:3-4
Fast forward to 2011 and meet Ted Williams, the man with the golden voice. It is no secret of the gift that God entrusted him with early in life. At 14, he worked at a radio station and became enthralled with the life of announcing. He knew he had an awesome gift and began using that gift as God intended. But like the Israelites something went wrong in the motivation of using that gift. He turned to a god of alcohol and drugs using his God given gift to fund his worship. The gift didn’t change…the change was in the heart. He threw the gift God gave him into the fire and what emerged was something that took the place of God.
Many times, we exalt the very thing that will imprison us. God blesses every one of His children with a special gift for kingdom significance if we will only wait upon the Lord to show us the ‘when, where and how.’
Guard your heart in Christ and your gift will also be protected.
You would think as intelligent as mankind is we could come up with some new material. This morning God’s children of 1400 B.C. collide with His children of 2011. Same struggles, same impatience, same temptations and unfortunately the same responses. The Israelites had been delivered personally by God’s hand through miracle after miracle. God had given them monetary blessings by making their captors favorable to them. Through this the Israelites were given all kinds of silver, gold, jewelry and treasures. God truly gifted them with much but required their devotion and faithfulness.
They fell short when asked to wait on Moses to bring back the commands and instructions from God. ‘When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down…So all the people took off their earrings and brought them…He took what they handed him and made it into an idol.’ Ex. 32:3-4
Fast forward to 2011 and meet Ted Williams, the man with the golden voice. It is no secret of the gift that God entrusted him with early in life. At 14, he worked at a radio station and became enthralled with the life of announcing. He knew he had an awesome gift and began using that gift as God intended. But like the Israelites something went wrong in the motivation of using that gift. He turned to a god of alcohol and drugs using his God given gift to fund his worship. The gift didn’t change…the change was in the heart. He threw the gift God gave him into the fire and what emerged was something that took the place of God.
Many times, we exalt the very thing that will imprison us. God blesses every one of His children with a special gift for kingdom significance if we will only wait upon the Lord to show us the ‘when, where and how.’
Guard your heart in Christ and your gift will also be protected.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Need Not Linger...
“God has brought pain in my life. But as I have surrendered to it, He has used the flames of hurt to burn away the parts that need not linger. Good has been in his mind from the beginning.” No Other Gods, Kelly Minter, p. 45.
…the parts that need not linger…WOW! Sometimes we read a word, phrase or thought that resonates in such a deep part of our soul it hurts. When I read these thoughts the realization of what has been burned away through my pain is staggering. We all wish to avoid the pain and suffering life brings but none of us can hide forever. We can run from painful situations and ignore our responsibilities in those circumstances but we cannot run from God. If we do not use the purpose-driven pain to grow and become more dependent on God, we will keep getting burned.
In my life, I have doused water on my pain over and over again but the fire would not go out. It wasn’t until I turned and faced the fire with surrender to God that the raging flames turned to warm embers reflecting God’s warmth and gentleness. A few of my ‘parts that need not linger’ have been the obsession to be a hero and save the day. It has included my sinful desire to receive credit for things that God did through me. I am tearful and embarrassed by these things that need not linger. With my regret however is my humble thankfulness to God that He has worked so hard in burning these things away no matter how much it hurt. I have been totally forgiven by a God that I can never out-sin.
Why is it that we polarize ourselves away from the very thing that will move us closer to Christ? Instead we should brace ourselves in Scripture and faith and embrace our privilege and opportunity to experience God on earth as we will in Heaven.
We must pray for God to remind us daily of our parts that need not linger so they will no longer attach themselves to the manner in which we live our lives.
…the parts that need not linger…WOW! Sometimes we read a word, phrase or thought that resonates in such a deep part of our soul it hurts. When I read these thoughts the realization of what has been burned away through my pain is staggering. We all wish to avoid the pain and suffering life brings but none of us can hide forever. We can run from painful situations and ignore our responsibilities in those circumstances but we cannot run from God. If we do not use the purpose-driven pain to grow and become more dependent on God, we will keep getting burned.
In my life, I have doused water on my pain over and over again but the fire would not go out. It wasn’t until I turned and faced the fire with surrender to God that the raging flames turned to warm embers reflecting God’s warmth and gentleness. A few of my ‘parts that need not linger’ have been the obsession to be a hero and save the day. It has included my sinful desire to receive credit for things that God did through me. I am tearful and embarrassed by these things that need not linger. With my regret however is my humble thankfulness to God that He has worked so hard in burning these things away no matter how much it hurt. I have been totally forgiven by a God that I can never out-sin.
Why is it that we polarize ourselves away from the very thing that will move us closer to Christ? Instead we should brace ourselves in Scripture and faith and embrace our privilege and opportunity to experience God on earth as we will in Heaven.
We must pray for God to remind us daily of our parts that need not linger so they will no longer attach themselves to the manner in which we live our lives.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
One Hot Mess!
“The LORD has kept me from having children. Go…perhaps I can build a family through her’…Then Sarai said, ‘You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering.’” Gen. 16 2, 5
This story is one of long-suffering, unmet needs, manipulation and calculating without God. It could be your story and it has been mine. It is a story about a woman whom had decided that her identify would be found in producing a family. Her timing was not the same as God’s timing. She took matters into her own hands and created a situation filled with pain and despair for all. After she demanded Abram, her husband, to sleep with Hagar, their maidservant, Hagar became pregnant with Ishmael. Hatred, jealousy and dissention followed suit.
Sarai had a deep desire in her heart that went unmet for years beyond the practicality of it coming to pass. God had previously given His promise of conception and motherhood to her, but Sarai was impatient and unbelieving. She jumped ahead of God and built her own Ishmael which turned out to be what my children call ‘ONE HOT MESS!’
Turn ahead to Gen. 21:1 – ‘Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.’ There we have it – many times God is going to give us the desires of our heart if it aligns with His will, but we must wait upon His timing. There will always be purpose in our wait. We cannot jump to Chapter 21 in our lives when God has us in Chapter 16. We must sit in wait and allow God to turn each precious page in our lives according to His will and His perfect timing.
Many times in my own life I have created my own Ishmaels requiring God to clean up my messes. The name Ishmael means God hears. How amazing is His grace that from the depths of the Ishmaels for which we create He hears our cries. He sees our pain resulting from our own manipulation and puts in place a recovery plan…a plan of love, restoration and blessings.
The LORD will do what He has promised if we will allow Him full access to our book of life. We must exist within the pages for which He orchestrates and not try to live in a future chapter. It is when we try to write our own book in our own timing that Ishmaels are born.
‘…and the LORD did…what he had promised.’
This story is one of long-suffering, unmet needs, manipulation and calculating without God. It could be your story and it has been mine. It is a story about a woman whom had decided that her identify would be found in producing a family. Her timing was not the same as God’s timing. She took matters into her own hands and created a situation filled with pain and despair for all. After she demanded Abram, her husband, to sleep with Hagar, their maidservant, Hagar became pregnant with Ishmael. Hatred, jealousy and dissention followed suit.
Sarai had a deep desire in her heart that went unmet for years beyond the practicality of it coming to pass. God had previously given His promise of conception and motherhood to her, but Sarai was impatient and unbelieving. She jumped ahead of God and built her own Ishmael which turned out to be what my children call ‘ONE HOT MESS!’
Turn ahead to Gen. 21:1 – ‘Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.’ There we have it – many times God is going to give us the desires of our heart if it aligns with His will, but we must wait upon His timing. There will always be purpose in our wait. We cannot jump to Chapter 21 in our lives when God has us in Chapter 16. We must sit in wait and allow God to turn each precious page in our lives according to His will and His perfect timing.
Many times in my own life I have created my own Ishmaels requiring God to clean up my messes. The name Ishmael means God hears. How amazing is His grace that from the depths of the Ishmaels for which we create He hears our cries. He sees our pain resulting from our own manipulation and puts in place a recovery plan…a plan of love, restoration and blessings.
The LORD will do what He has promised if we will allow Him full access to our book of life. We must exist within the pages for which He orchestrates and not try to live in a future chapter. It is when we try to write our own book in our own timing that Ishmaels are born.
‘…and the LORD did…what he had promised.’
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
You Are Chosen
“‘Give us a king to lead us.’ ‘When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.’ But the people refused. ‘The LORD answered, ‘Listen to them and give them their king.’” 1 Sa. 8:6, 18, 22.
It is hard to believe that God moved heaven and earth to free the Israelites only to have them searching to exalt someone over them in an effort to be defined. They wanted a king who would make them more like the other nations, and similar instead of being set apart. God gave them over to their desires but warned them first through Samuel that when the day of despair came resulting from their desires, He would not answer their cry. This does not mean that God will not deliver us from our idols for which we have exalted, but means that there will be a ‘season’ wherein we will have to experience the consequences of our choices.
We must live our lives according to who God says we are. We are chosen by Him! The other day my daughter searched over many pictures of puppies to find the perfect one. After hours of searching she finally chose one to enter into her family. As much as I was loved by my parents they did not choose me. They chose to have a second child but didn’t actually select me personally. Our heavenly Father actually chooses us for His family before we are cute and cuddly, and before we have that sweet baby scent. He chooses us while we lack purity. ‘But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ Romans 5:8. Through His death He chose us and placed that sweet new birth scent upon our lives.
1 Peter 2:9 describes who we are as defined by God. ‘But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wondrous light.’
We cannot exalt the things of earth above the God who created them. We must define ourselves and our lives by God’s perception and not the perception of the world.
Remember…we already have a king!
It is hard to believe that God moved heaven and earth to free the Israelites only to have them searching to exalt someone over them in an effort to be defined. They wanted a king who would make them more like the other nations, and similar instead of being set apart. God gave them over to their desires but warned them first through Samuel that when the day of despair came resulting from their desires, He would not answer their cry. This does not mean that God will not deliver us from our idols for which we have exalted, but means that there will be a ‘season’ wherein we will have to experience the consequences of our choices.
We must live our lives according to who God says we are. We are chosen by Him! The other day my daughter searched over many pictures of puppies to find the perfect one. After hours of searching she finally chose one to enter into her family. As much as I was loved by my parents they did not choose me. They chose to have a second child but didn’t actually select me personally. Our heavenly Father actually chooses us for His family before we are cute and cuddly, and before we have that sweet baby scent. He chooses us while we lack purity. ‘But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ Romans 5:8. Through His death He chose us and placed that sweet new birth scent upon our lives.
1 Peter 2:9 describes who we are as defined by God. ‘But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wondrous light.’
We cannot exalt the things of earth above the God who created them. We must define ourselves and our lives by God’s perception and not the perception of the world.
Remember…we already have a king!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
By Him We Cry...
“During that long period…they groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groanings and he remembered his covenant…So God looked on…and was concerned about them. The LORD said, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people... I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from…and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing of milk and honey.’” Exodus 3:7-8, 23-25.
Separated by thousands of years but connected by suffering. Thursday evening I sat up in my loft crying out to my God. I miss my daddy, I was totally depleted of strength, patience and endurance. I had nothing more to give in caregiving, but have so far to go in this land of Alzheimer’s. The disease is my slave driver and I needed a reprieve. Through tears and words of desperation my groanings were heard by God. My prayers moved His heart and He remembered His covenant with me – ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ Jos. 1:5. God put it in writing in the most wonderful book every written – The Holy Bible.
Anytime the Bible states ‘God remembered,’ it was always followed up with an action. I lived out this scene over the past few days. After my groanings, Heaven burst open yesterday and the LORD came down…my father-in-law was accepted into Hospice Home Health. I will have nurses and a doctor anytime with many resources just a phone call away. God has moved me from one land into the other, the land where my resources flow in abundance and I will receive as much support as I have had to give. It is a land God has given me breathing new life and strength into the final walk of this journey. ‘My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.’ Psalm 73:26.
We will experience misery and suffering in this place called life, but God will move heaven and earth for His children. He will never forget His many covenants with us and His heart will always be moved and grieved by our suffering. Don’t be ashamed to cry out to Father when your heart and strength fail. ‘For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again…but you received the Spirit of son-ship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Romans 8:16.
Separated by thousands of years but connected by suffering. Thursday evening I sat up in my loft crying out to my God. I miss my daddy, I was totally depleted of strength, patience and endurance. I had nothing more to give in caregiving, but have so far to go in this land of Alzheimer’s. The disease is my slave driver and I needed a reprieve. Through tears and words of desperation my groanings were heard by God. My prayers moved His heart and He remembered His covenant with me – ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ Jos. 1:5. God put it in writing in the most wonderful book every written – The Holy Bible.
Anytime the Bible states ‘God remembered,’ it was always followed up with an action. I lived out this scene over the past few days. After my groanings, Heaven burst open yesterday and the LORD came down…my father-in-law was accepted into Hospice Home Health. I will have nurses and a doctor anytime with many resources just a phone call away. God has moved me from one land into the other, the land where my resources flow in abundance and I will receive as much support as I have had to give. It is a land God has given me breathing new life and strength into the final walk of this journey. ‘My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.’ Psalm 73:26.
We will experience misery and suffering in this place called life, but God will move heaven and earth for His children. He will never forget His many covenants with us and His heart will always be moved and grieved by our suffering. Don’t be ashamed to cry out to Father when your heart and strength fail. ‘For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again…but you received the Spirit of son-ship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” Romans 8:16.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Sling That Stone!
“A champion named Goliath…came out…He was over nine feet tall. He had a bronze helmet…wore a coat of scale armor of bronze…wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back…Goliath stood and shouted…For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand…Then Saul dressed David is his own tunic… ‘I cannot go in these,’ he said to Saul, ‘because I am not used to them.’ Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in his pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.” 1 Sam. 17-40.
Growing up, the story of David and Goliath was one of my favorite stories in the Bible. I enjoyed the image of little David coming against a giant only to be victorious in the face of impossibility. I can still remember my Sunday School teacher laying Goliath on his side on the felt board as she acted out the story.
In 2010 I discovered that this is no cute little story in reality. Over the past year I have been taunted by my own Goliath. This nine foot, 675 pound giant has stood at a distance tormenting me and hurling insults about my faith. He has been well armed by Satan who knows my insecurities and weak spots. He has taken his place every morning and evening in an effort to discredit my faith and chip away at my character. He almost convinced me that I was not strong enough to participate in this battle. Others have tried to arm me with their faith but God had to build my armor according to His wisdom. I had to allow God to gather stones in His stream that were unique to me for victory and triumph. God knows my opponent as well as He knows my abilities. Over the past year He has been filling my shepherd’s bag with the smooth stones of love, patience, wisdom, endurance, perseverance and promises.
I come to the battle armed, and am fully intended on winning. I have the Shepherd’s promise of victory and the smooth stones of triumph. I recognize that anything I do apart from the Shepherd will not bring down my giant, but in Him the battle will be won. ‘…but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies…whom you have defiled…All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.’ 1 Samuel 17.
What Goliath looms in the distance in your valley? What lies are being hurled at you? Ask the Shepherd to fill your little bag from His stream and arm you with a fresh awareness of faith and new possibilities.
Sling that stone!
Growing up, the story of David and Goliath was one of my favorite stories in the Bible. I enjoyed the image of little David coming against a giant only to be victorious in the face of impossibility. I can still remember my Sunday School teacher laying Goliath on his side on the felt board as she acted out the story.
In 2010 I discovered that this is no cute little story in reality. Over the past year I have been taunted by my own Goliath. This nine foot, 675 pound giant has stood at a distance tormenting me and hurling insults about my faith. He has been well armed by Satan who knows my insecurities and weak spots. He has taken his place every morning and evening in an effort to discredit my faith and chip away at my character. He almost convinced me that I was not strong enough to participate in this battle. Others have tried to arm me with their faith but God had to build my armor according to His wisdom. I had to allow God to gather stones in His stream that were unique to me for victory and triumph. God knows my opponent as well as He knows my abilities. Over the past year He has been filling my shepherd’s bag with the smooth stones of love, patience, wisdom, endurance, perseverance and promises.
I come to the battle armed, and am fully intended on winning. I have the Shepherd’s promise of victory and the smooth stones of triumph. I recognize that anything I do apart from the Shepherd will not bring down my giant, but in Him the battle will be won. ‘…but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies…whom you have defiled…All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.’ 1 Samuel 17.
What Goliath looms in the distance in your valley? What lies are being hurled at you? Ask the Shepherd to fill your little bag from His stream and arm you with a fresh awareness of faith and new possibilities.
Sling that stone!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Set Up, Not By Man
“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain…” Psalm 127:1
Boy does this sound simple but it is one of the most difficult things in life to accomplish. Each of us carries within us the passion and ability to build our lives around something. We were born to long for…to pursue…to be fulfilled. We determine which god we will serve by building churches based upon the god we exalt. Will our chosen god be God, the Creator? Will we build our temple surrounding the god of excess, the god of work or the god of bitterness?
Within the walls of our self-made churches we walk down the aisle of self-focus and lay ourselves upon the altar. We set up buffets of potluck dinners feeding our egos and our drive for power. We volunteer within its walls to exalt ourselves and satisfy our own desires. We build churches around our gods and attend more than just once a week. We give more than one-tenth to our god and sign up for everything to make sure we get what we think we deserve. We look out for number one in this self-made building not realizing that everything done within and for our church is in vain because the presence of the one true God is absent. We appoint ourselves as elder, deacon and pastor eliminating the need for God to serve in any role in this church.
We must build our spiritual temples pouring the footings of Christ into the foundation. Through the guidance of our Builder we must lay brick by brick, layer by layer and allow God to fill in with His mortar for eternal significance. Any labor that works towards our own agenda must be stopped and replaced with the blueprint of Christ. Only by tearing down our self-made temples, will the presence of the one true God move into our hearts, lead our lives and build His church within us in His way. ‘Now there have been many of those priests…but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood…Such a high priest meets our needs – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens… We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.’ Hebrews 7:23-8:2.
...tabernacles…not set up by man!
Boy does this sound simple but it is one of the most difficult things in life to accomplish. Each of us carries within us the passion and ability to build our lives around something. We were born to long for…to pursue…to be fulfilled. We determine which god we will serve by building churches based upon the god we exalt. Will our chosen god be God, the Creator? Will we build our temple surrounding the god of excess, the god of work or the god of bitterness?
Within the walls of our self-made churches we walk down the aisle of self-focus and lay ourselves upon the altar. We set up buffets of potluck dinners feeding our egos and our drive for power. We volunteer within its walls to exalt ourselves and satisfy our own desires. We build churches around our gods and attend more than just once a week. We give more than one-tenth to our god and sign up for everything to make sure we get what we think we deserve. We look out for number one in this self-made building not realizing that everything done within and for our church is in vain because the presence of the one true God is absent. We appoint ourselves as elder, deacon and pastor eliminating the need for God to serve in any role in this church.
We must build our spiritual temples pouring the footings of Christ into the foundation. Through the guidance of our Builder we must lay brick by brick, layer by layer and allow God to fill in with His mortar for eternal significance. Any labor that works towards our own agenda must be stopped and replaced with the blueprint of Christ. Only by tearing down our self-made temples, will the presence of the one true God move into our hearts, lead our lives and build His church within us in His way. ‘Now there have been many of those priests…but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood…Such a high priest meets our needs – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens… We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.’ Hebrews 7:23-8:2.
...tabernacles…not set up by man!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Yet We Will Not Fall...
“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” Matthew 7:24-26.
A few years back we took a family vacation to the beach which included our children and grandchildren. The first day we went down on the beach I noticed there was a line of huge rocks leading down to the ocean serving as a barrier. I was amazed at all of the sand castles that peppered the beach creating a small village. You could tell they were carefully and intentionally constructed for the outward appearance and enjoyment of others. As we all know, sand castles are for the enjoyment of the day with little hope of survival through the night. The tide creeps in and steals its structure with the first few waves creating a distorted castle with no lasting beauty.
My grandson Carson didn’t like the pull of the undertow so instead of building castles he chose to watch others build upon the sand as he safely sat upon the rocks. Within the rocks there were patches of sand which provided a safe haven for sand castle building. His castles were secondary to the rocks instead of the castle being primary to the sand. The rocks provided a barrier from the dangers of the ocean and a security on which he could depend.
We cannot control the trials of life anymore than we can control the tide rolling in. As adversity creeps into our lives it exposes and erodes the things on which we have built in the flesh. It steals our peace and creates holes in the place of legs on which to stand. We cannot spend our time during times of calm building elaborate sand castles which only have temporal beauty on the outside but no structural integrity underneath. If we have built our faith on sand, we will feel the erosion of its foundation under our feet when the trials roll in. If we have built our faith on a rock, the truths of Jesus, our foundation will be unmoved. We will still get cold and wet but we will have the security of the Rock and will not lose our footing.
…yet we will not fall.
A few years back we took a family vacation to the beach which included our children and grandchildren. The first day we went down on the beach I noticed there was a line of huge rocks leading down to the ocean serving as a barrier. I was amazed at all of the sand castles that peppered the beach creating a small village. You could tell they were carefully and intentionally constructed for the outward appearance and enjoyment of others. As we all know, sand castles are for the enjoyment of the day with little hope of survival through the night. The tide creeps in and steals its structure with the first few waves creating a distorted castle with no lasting beauty.
My grandson Carson didn’t like the pull of the undertow so instead of building castles he chose to watch others build upon the sand as he safely sat upon the rocks. Within the rocks there were patches of sand which provided a safe haven for sand castle building. His castles were secondary to the rocks instead of the castle being primary to the sand. The rocks provided a barrier from the dangers of the ocean and a security on which he could depend.
We cannot control the trials of life anymore than we can control the tide rolling in. As adversity creeps into our lives it exposes and erodes the things on which we have built in the flesh. It steals our peace and creates holes in the place of legs on which to stand. We cannot spend our time during times of calm building elaborate sand castles which only have temporal beauty on the outside but no structural integrity underneath. If we have built our faith on sand, we will feel the erosion of its foundation under our feet when the trials roll in. If we have built our faith on a rock, the truths of Jesus, our foundation will be unmoved. We will still get cold and wet but we will have the security of the Rock and will not lose our footing.
…yet we will not fall.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Sweet Aromas
“…but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25. “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” 2 Co. 2:15.
The last week of my dad’s life I was spending the night to help my mother. My dad was up every two hours which lent itself to the night bleeding into the day. I had the baby monitor by my side in case they needed me again. As I was dozing off I heard some whispers in the monitor. I picked up the monitor to better understand the noises for which I was hearing. My dad, who barely had consciousness, was praying to God on my behalf. I was exhausted and totally depleted with my focus not on prayer but rather on the responsibilities I had that day. I barely recognized the person for whom he was praying as he pled on my behalf. He described a person who was so worthy of God's blessings. For a moment, I wasn't sure he was still referring to me but then I remembered how much he loves me. He flavored his prayers with his bias love and unconditional devotion to me. When I heard the manner in which my dad was praying, and the way he formed his thoughts regarding my needs I knew the true meaning of intercessory prayer. It is a prayer for the needs of others above our own needs. It is an offering of self on the Lord’s altar for the benefit of others. In my case, it was a prayer from the one who knew and loved me most and spoke on my behalf. This is an earthly example of what Christ does for us in the heavenlies.
We lift our prayers to Christ and He enhances them by scenting our prayers with His words, His flavors and His all consuming love. He approaches His Father knowing the exact manner in which we need to be lifted up. He takes our worst and transforms it into His best. He takes our tarnished attitudes and brings out His beautiful character in us. He brings the stench of our flesh and replaces it with His righteousness so that we may look more like Him. Through the aroma of Christ, God recognizes us as His children, bearing the resemblance of His first-born. ‘The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…’ Romans 8:16.
With Christ taking our prayers and sweetening the pot, we are represented before God in the most pure and perfect way.
The last week of my dad’s life I was spending the night to help my mother. My dad was up every two hours which lent itself to the night bleeding into the day. I had the baby monitor by my side in case they needed me again. As I was dozing off I heard some whispers in the monitor. I picked up the monitor to better understand the noises for which I was hearing. My dad, who barely had consciousness, was praying to God on my behalf. I was exhausted and totally depleted with my focus not on prayer but rather on the responsibilities I had that day. I barely recognized the person for whom he was praying as he pled on my behalf. He described a person who was so worthy of God's blessings. For a moment, I wasn't sure he was still referring to me but then I remembered how much he loves me. He flavored his prayers with his bias love and unconditional devotion to me. When I heard the manner in which my dad was praying, and the way he formed his thoughts regarding my needs I knew the true meaning of intercessory prayer. It is a prayer for the needs of others above our own needs. It is an offering of self on the Lord’s altar for the benefit of others. In my case, it was a prayer from the one who knew and loved me most and spoke on my behalf. This is an earthly example of what Christ does for us in the heavenlies.
We lift our prayers to Christ and He enhances them by scenting our prayers with His words, His flavors and His all consuming love. He approaches His Father knowing the exact manner in which we need to be lifted up. He takes our worst and transforms it into His best. He takes our tarnished attitudes and brings out His beautiful character in us. He brings the stench of our flesh and replaces it with His righteousness so that we may look more like Him. Through the aroma of Christ, God recognizes us as His children, bearing the resemblance of His first-born. ‘The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…’ Romans 8:16.
With Christ taking our prayers and sweetening the pot, we are represented before God in the most pure and perfect way.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Who Wants Ice Cream?
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Co. 5:10.
When I first read this my past sins flashed before my eyes, and I pulled out my Believer’s Bible Commentary hoping for a loophole. Luckily God is the God of loopholes and second chances. It reads, ‘We must all have our lives laid open before the tribunal of Christ. It is one thing to appear in a doctor’s office and quite another thing to be X-rayed by him there. The judgment seat of Christ will reveal our lives of service for Christ exactly as they have been. Not only the amount of our service, but also its quality, and even the very motives that prompted it will be brought into review. Although sins after conversion will have an effect on our service, a believer’s sins will not be brought into review for judgment at this solemn time. That judgment took place over 1900 years ago, when the Lord Jesus bore our sins in His body on the tree…The judgment seat of Christ has to do with our service for the Lord…But it is a matter of reward and loss at that time.’ P. 1839.
When my children were young there would be opportunities for them to help around the house. If one got an invitation to go somewhere from a friend and accepted, this removed them from helping me. Many times they would return to find that I had taken the child who worked with me to get ice cream or had financially rewarded them. Neither child knew up front of any reward that may come from their help, but each made a choice.
When we serve God we should serve from a desire to help Him accomplish what is important to His heart. There will be times when we will choose to ‘go out and play’ instead of serving. Just as in the above example, we will not be punished because of our choice but will miss out on that reward. God is a loving parent and has a desire to lavish us with rewards and blessings.
Our Father is all about relationship and wants to give out of His divine abundance.
When I first read this my past sins flashed before my eyes, and I pulled out my Believer’s Bible Commentary hoping for a loophole. Luckily God is the God of loopholes and second chances. It reads, ‘We must all have our lives laid open before the tribunal of Christ. It is one thing to appear in a doctor’s office and quite another thing to be X-rayed by him there. The judgment seat of Christ will reveal our lives of service for Christ exactly as they have been. Not only the amount of our service, but also its quality, and even the very motives that prompted it will be brought into review. Although sins after conversion will have an effect on our service, a believer’s sins will not be brought into review for judgment at this solemn time. That judgment took place over 1900 years ago, when the Lord Jesus bore our sins in His body on the tree…The judgment seat of Christ has to do with our service for the Lord…But it is a matter of reward and loss at that time.’ P. 1839.
When my children were young there would be opportunities for them to help around the house. If one got an invitation to go somewhere from a friend and accepted, this removed them from helping me. Many times they would return to find that I had taken the child who worked with me to get ice cream or had financially rewarded them. Neither child knew up front of any reward that may come from their help, but each made a choice.
When we serve God we should serve from a desire to help Him accomplish what is important to His heart. There will be times when we will choose to ‘go out and play’ instead of serving. Just as in the above example, we will not be punished because of our choice but will miss out on that reward. God is a loving parent and has a desire to lavish us with rewards and blessings.
Our Father is all about relationship and wants to give out of His divine abundance.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Horse Of Many Colors
“From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth – he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.” Psalm 33:13-17.
This passage makes me feel so small in the great scheme of things. Thankfully, the way my Father views me is so much more than how I view myself. He thought of me, formed me, loves me and is the Creator of my heart with all its desires. Before He acts, He considers my motives, my limitations and my intentions.
The Wizard of Oz has a scene where Dorothy and her companions enter the City of Oz and are chauffeured around in a horse-drawn carriage. Like everything else in the Emerald City, this horse is unique: it changes colors as it performs its duties—first white, then purple, then orange, then yellow. I cannot help to draw a comparison regarding the different colored horses we allow to lead and pull us.
Many times in my life I have chosen to ride a horse that has been in vain. I placed my trust in something or someone who could neither perform nor save. We tend to mount up on whatever horse we believe can take us to our desired destination. We guide our self-made steed in an effort to deliver and save us only to be disappointed in the results. We build our belief system around the strength of our own making instead of the strength of our Maker. We ride into our battles on horses with no legs and draw our swords with no blades. At best, we ride into war with one foot on our self-made horse and one foot on the back of Faithful and True. ‘I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.’ Rev. 19:11.
Why is it so difficult to believe that our Father is indeed Creator, Protector and Deliverer? He wears many hats as He directs all of our steps at every turn. He is the God of the small and the big…the calm and the storm…the peaceful times and the fierce battles. We will lose our spiritual balance if we ride through life with a foot on each horse.
Many years ago when trying to make an important decision my father-in-law gave me and Bruce excellent advice which I pass along to you…‘Choose a horse and ride!
You can't miss Him - He's the One in white!
This passage makes me feel so small in the great scheme of things. Thankfully, the way my Father views me is so much more than how I view myself. He thought of me, formed me, loves me and is the Creator of my heart with all its desires. Before He acts, He considers my motives, my limitations and my intentions.
The Wizard of Oz has a scene where Dorothy and her companions enter the City of Oz and are chauffeured around in a horse-drawn carriage. Like everything else in the Emerald City, this horse is unique: it changes colors as it performs its duties—first white, then purple, then orange, then yellow. I cannot help to draw a comparison regarding the different colored horses we allow to lead and pull us.
Many times in my life I have chosen to ride a horse that has been in vain. I placed my trust in something or someone who could neither perform nor save. We tend to mount up on whatever horse we believe can take us to our desired destination. We guide our self-made steed in an effort to deliver and save us only to be disappointed in the results. We build our belief system around the strength of our own making instead of the strength of our Maker. We ride into our battles on horses with no legs and draw our swords with no blades. At best, we ride into war with one foot on our self-made horse and one foot on the back of Faithful and True. ‘I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.’ Rev. 19:11.
Why is it so difficult to believe that our Father is indeed Creator, Protector and Deliverer? He wears many hats as He directs all of our steps at every turn. He is the God of the small and the big…the calm and the storm…the peaceful times and the fierce battles. We will lose our spiritual balance if we ride through life with a foot on each horse.
Many years ago when trying to make an important decision my father-in-law gave me and Bruce excellent advice which I pass along to you…‘Choose a horse and ride!
You can't miss Him - He's the One in white!
Friday, January 14, 2011
The Gate of Giving
“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your gates in the land the LORD your God is giving you, you must not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him enough for whatever need he has…Give to him, and don’t have a stingy heart when you give, and because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you do.” Deut. 15:7-10
This passage was an exhortation for Christians to give to others in need regardless of their ability to repay. Historically, the seventh year was considered the year of canceling debts. Any lent money in year one through six would be considered paid in full and reconciled at the beginning of year seven. This command was to loan in year six just as generously as year one, although the chances of repayment were less likely. The important principles in this passage are our obedience and the condition of our hearts.
Although this passage is based on financial support, we can take it to mean emotional, physical or spiritual support also. As Christians we are told that to follow Christ is to expect burdens and hardship. ‘You, however, know all about…my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me…Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.’ 2 Tim. 3:10-12. Well, there you have it…our life when surrendered to Christ.
So it is no surprise that each of us at some point will be that beggar holding out our needy hands for something. Other times, we will be that person who can extend the provisions required to get others through their tough season.
The Lord our God has given each of us our own land in which we must seek provisions for ourselves and distribute to others in need. The gate opens both ways…we must be willing to come and go…to give and to receive. Like every other act of obedience... we will be blessed in all our work and in everything we do. It is the promise of our Guarantor.
This passage was an exhortation for Christians to give to others in need regardless of their ability to repay. Historically, the seventh year was considered the year of canceling debts. Any lent money in year one through six would be considered paid in full and reconciled at the beginning of year seven. This command was to loan in year six just as generously as year one, although the chances of repayment were less likely. The important principles in this passage are our obedience and the condition of our hearts.
Although this passage is based on financial support, we can take it to mean emotional, physical or spiritual support also. As Christians we are told that to follow Christ is to expect burdens and hardship. ‘You, however, know all about…my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings – what kinds of things happened to me…Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.’ 2 Tim. 3:10-12. Well, there you have it…our life when surrendered to Christ.
So it is no surprise that each of us at some point will be that beggar holding out our needy hands for something. Other times, we will be that person who can extend the provisions required to get others through their tough season.
The Lord our God has given each of us our own land in which we must seek provisions for ourselves and distribute to others in need. The gate opens both ways…we must be willing to come and go…to give and to receive. Like every other act of obedience... we will be blessed in all our work and in everything we do. It is the promise of our Guarantor.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Get Up...Be Strengthened!
“He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, LORD,’ he said. ‘Take my life.’ Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked around and there …was a cake of bread…and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you…’ So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached…the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.” 1 Kings 19:4b-9
These were the words of Elijah - God's mighty prophet. How many times have we nestled up under the broom tree and proclaimed ‘I HAVE HAD ENOUGH, LORD!’ I know personally I feel as Paul felt many days as he wrote in 2 Co. 4: ‘Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling…For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened…and wish to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.’ Granted, Paul’s summation was more elegant than Elijah’s but Elijah’s was probably more relatable.
When life requires too much from us and we have nothing more to give we must believe that God does send provisions to get us through that season. We are surrounded daily with God’s divine allies encouraging, strengthening and protecting. He will always send spiritual nourishment if we will just look around and see the ‘bread and water.’ Notice that immediately following Elijah’s nourishment he went right back to sleep. I can relate to this as I work each morning to obtain the peace that is mine through Christ. Sometimes within the same hour I go right back in that hypnotic trance of discouragement and despair. Again, God finds little ways to feed me throughout the day and reminds me that He understands the journey is too much for me some days.
Our circumstances do cause us to groan for resolution and a desire to pull up stakes. That is the reason we cannot depend on our earthly tent to brave the elements. We must go to the mountain of God where we will not only see Him, but we will experience His love and protection. ‘Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me…I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand…” Exodus 33:21-22. We will be adorned with our heavenly clothing soon enough, but until then we can retreat in the cleft of our Savior and enjoy freedom in Him. ‘Now the LORD is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom.’ 2 Co. 3:17.
These were the words of Elijah - God's mighty prophet. How many times have we nestled up under the broom tree and proclaimed ‘I HAVE HAD ENOUGH, LORD!’ I know personally I feel as Paul felt many days as he wrote in 2 Co. 4: ‘Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling…For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened…and wish to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.’ Granted, Paul’s summation was more elegant than Elijah’s but Elijah’s was probably more relatable.
When life requires too much from us and we have nothing more to give we must believe that God does send provisions to get us through that season. We are surrounded daily with God’s divine allies encouraging, strengthening and protecting. He will always send spiritual nourishment if we will just look around and see the ‘bread and water.’ Notice that immediately following Elijah’s nourishment he went right back to sleep. I can relate to this as I work each morning to obtain the peace that is mine through Christ. Sometimes within the same hour I go right back in that hypnotic trance of discouragement and despair. Again, God finds little ways to feed me throughout the day and reminds me that He understands the journey is too much for me some days.
Our circumstances do cause us to groan for resolution and a desire to pull up stakes. That is the reason we cannot depend on our earthly tent to brave the elements. We must go to the mountain of God where we will not only see Him, but we will experience His love and protection. ‘Then the LORD said, “There is a place near me…I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand…” Exodus 33:21-22. We will be adorned with our heavenly clothing soon enough, but until then we can retreat in the cleft of our Savior and enjoy freedom in Him. ‘Now the LORD is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom.’ 2 Co. 3:17.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
City On A Hill
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:15-16
Many years ago Bruce and I went to California because of a work obligation on his part. One of the most breathtaking views was the one experienced from a ferry as we approached the city of Sausalito. I was taken aback with the beauty of its horizon as the beautiful homes peppered the rolling landscape. No one home towered over the other but each had an ordinary and humble beauty of its own creating a collective beauty in the city.
We have a city on the hill in Christ that shines as a beacon for those who approach. We each have an ordinary life with an extraordinary Light to shine through if we will use our adversities for the glory of God. If we selfishly take our pain and our circumstances and do not share it with others we will become ineffective in making this city shine. We must follow God’s instructions and live a life of transparency by placing our trials and God’s faithfulness in view for others to witness.
Those who do not know Christ are on the ferry searching for a place where they can feel at home. They are looking for a harbor for which to anchor where they can find accommodations, nourishment and provisions. They are longing for a place to live where the community opens their arms through encouragement and love.
The brighter we shine our individual light the more radiant the city becomes in its appeal to those weary travelers.
Many years ago Bruce and I went to California because of a work obligation on his part. One of the most breathtaking views was the one experienced from a ferry as we approached the city of Sausalito. I was taken aback with the beauty of its horizon as the beautiful homes peppered the rolling landscape. No one home towered over the other but each had an ordinary and humble beauty of its own creating a collective beauty in the city.
We have a city on the hill in Christ that shines as a beacon for those who approach. We each have an ordinary life with an extraordinary Light to shine through if we will use our adversities for the glory of God. If we selfishly take our pain and our circumstances and do not share it with others we will become ineffective in making this city shine. We must follow God’s instructions and live a life of transparency by placing our trials and God’s faithfulness in view for others to witness.
Those who do not know Christ are on the ferry searching for a place where they can feel at home. They are looking for a harbor for which to anchor where they can find accommodations, nourishment and provisions. They are longing for a place to live where the community opens their arms through encouragement and love.
The brighter we shine our individual light the more radiant the city becomes in its appeal to those weary travelers.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Pass The Salt
“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?” Matthew 5:13 The Message
What else can I say but I LOVE SALT! I probably don’t love it as much as Bruce does but I will never pass up salt. There is something about the taste that makes my gumbo more complete and my spaghetti just right. However, too much salt can ruin a dish.
God instructs each of us to be ‘salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors.’ I love this translation of the verse. As we interact with those in our lives or with the strangers we meet, we must be prepared to sprinkle the attributes of Christ through our actions. We should not withhold the seasoning of God - His compassion, His mercy, His forgiveness and love. In contrast, we should not dump the entire salt shaker over people’s heads leaving a bitter taste in their mouths from our ‘holier than thou’ attitude. When Christ is leading us we will be able to rub in just the right amount of seasoning. ‘Salt preserves and purifies, but not inside the shaker. It only works after it has been rubbed into the food.’ Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering, p. 62.
The process of ‘maintaining our saltiness’ is through the discipline of prayer, daily meditation and living inside of His word. If we live inside His word, His word will live inside of us and we will live our lives as seasoned salt bringing out the God-flavors of this world. We must have a heart of humility for the salt to preserve and purify our testimony. We cannot withhold our faith story from others by keeping it private. We must rub our story into the world and allow them to taste our God.
You may be the only one who offers this dish to them.
What else can I say but I LOVE SALT! I probably don’t love it as much as Bruce does but I will never pass up salt. There is something about the taste that makes my gumbo more complete and my spaghetti just right. However, too much salt can ruin a dish.
God instructs each of us to be ‘salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors.’ I love this translation of the verse. As we interact with those in our lives or with the strangers we meet, we must be prepared to sprinkle the attributes of Christ through our actions. We should not withhold the seasoning of God - His compassion, His mercy, His forgiveness and love. In contrast, we should not dump the entire salt shaker over people’s heads leaving a bitter taste in their mouths from our ‘holier than thou’ attitude. When Christ is leading us we will be able to rub in just the right amount of seasoning. ‘Salt preserves and purifies, but not inside the shaker. It only works after it has been rubbed into the food.’ Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering, p. 62.
The process of ‘maintaining our saltiness’ is through the discipline of prayer, daily meditation and living inside of His word. If we live inside His word, His word will live inside of us and we will live our lives as seasoned salt bringing out the God-flavors of this world. We must have a heart of humility for the salt to preserve and purify our testimony. We cannot withhold our faith story from others by keeping it private. We must rub our story into the world and allow them to taste our God.
You may be the only one who offers this dish to them.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Blessed Are The Persecuted
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:10
Many of us believe that we cannot relate to this final beatitude since we live in a country that exercises the right to worship. There are still many people in this world who are persecuted for their following of Christ with torture and death. While these are certainly extreme degrees of service to God we all experience our own form of attacks and suffering for living a righteous life, a life pursuing the excellence of God.
When we make a conscious decision to turn away from our own standard of living and adopt God’s righteous standard of living Satan will turn up the heat. Living a righteous life is far from being perfect but it is choosing to live a life bent towards Christ through righteous living. In 2006, I made a decision one morning to go deeper with Christ and began doing little things differently which eventually turned my life upside down. As I grew more intimate with God, Satan launched a campaign against me. I have been under physical, emotional, mental and spiritual attacks. There were days that Satan won the battle but God was victorious in the war. God has had experience with Satan throughout time and is well aware of the onslaught of attacks from him to His children. God is all about preparing us for these attacks so we also must be aware and prepared. ‘Be prepared in season and out of season…with great patience and careful instruction.’ 2 Timothy 4:2.
He will make our steps firm as we navigate through suffering because He delights in us. ‘If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he will make his steps firm though he stumble he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.’ Psalm 37:23. To stumble is to trip up, to skin a knee or bruise a bone requiring minimal healing. To fall is to most likely sustain injuries, perhaps even a break, creating a longer period of healing and the possibility of secondary problems. With God carrying us through our suffering, we have the guarantee that while some days we may stumble in our faith we will never fall from His grace.
Though I stumble I will not fall for Christ holds my hand, sustains me and watches for cliffs…blessed are those who are persecuted for they will experience Christ.
Many of us believe that we cannot relate to this final beatitude since we live in a country that exercises the right to worship. There are still many people in this world who are persecuted for their following of Christ with torture and death. While these are certainly extreme degrees of service to God we all experience our own form of attacks and suffering for living a righteous life, a life pursuing the excellence of God.
When we make a conscious decision to turn away from our own standard of living and adopt God’s righteous standard of living Satan will turn up the heat. Living a righteous life is far from being perfect but it is choosing to live a life bent towards Christ through righteous living. In 2006, I made a decision one morning to go deeper with Christ and began doing little things differently which eventually turned my life upside down. As I grew more intimate with God, Satan launched a campaign against me. I have been under physical, emotional, mental and spiritual attacks. There were days that Satan won the battle but God was victorious in the war. God has had experience with Satan throughout time and is well aware of the onslaught of attacks from him to His children. God is all about preparing us for these attacks so we also must be aware and prepared. ‘Be prepared in season and out of season…with great patience and careful instruction.’ 2 Timothy 4:2.
He will make our steps firm as we navigate through suffering because He delights in us. ‘If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he will make his steps firm though he stumble he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.’ Psalm 37:23. To stumble is to trip up, to skin a knee or bruise a bone requiring minimal healing. To fall is to most likely sustain injuries, perhaps even a break, creating a longer period of healing and the possibility of secondary problems. With God carrying us through our suffering, we have the guarantee that while some days we may stumble in our faith we will never fall from His grace.
Though I stumble I will not fall for Christ holds my hand, sustains me and watches for cliffs…blessed are those who are persecuted for they will experience Christ.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Blessed Are The Peacemakers
“Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9
When I was growing up I would baby-sit for a family whom had adopted a little boy. I do not remember his story before the adoption but I was witness to all that he inherited as a result of this adoption. Many blessings and much security came into his life from the desire and love of his adoptive parents.
We have a Father who wishes to lavish everything He has on each of us. He has promised to take the worries and our fears and turn them into comfort and peace. He wishes for each child to have faith in His wisdom and promises, and trust that He is working everything together for our good. Everything passes through the filter of God so He is prepared to handle the fallout in any situation. There is not one set of circumstances wherein peace cannot be found if we are searching in the right place. ‘Now may the LORD of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.’ 2 Thess. 3:16.
Through receiving His peace we are positioned to dispense peace to others. We cannot impart what we do not possess. ‘God-peace stands out.’ Living Your Life As a Beautiful Offering, p. 50.
Yesterday, I awoke in the same set of circumstances in which I have awakened over the past eleven months. The only difference is that God set up a sequence of events that reminded me of my previous life of calm and order. It was an entire day of amazing peace…transcending peace…hopeful peace. Wednesday’s peace was a gentle reminder of good things from my past and a hope for good things in my future. It was a peaceful day that clothed me like a warm blanket, sipping on the warmth all day long.
When we take our position in the divine family we inherit His peace which we can pass along to others. Blessed are the peacemakers…as we share our inheritance.
When I was growing up I would baby-sit for a family whom had adopted a little boy. I do not remember his story before the adoption but I was witness to all that he inherited as a result of this adoption. Many blessings and much security came into his life from the desire and love of his adoptive parents.
We have a Father who wishes to lavish everything He has on each of us. He has promised to take the worries and our fears and turn them into comfort and peace. He wishes for each child to have faith in His wisdom and promises, and trust that He is working everything together for our good. Everything passes through the filter of God so He is prepared to handle the fallout in any situation. There is not one set of circumstances wherein peace cannot be found if we are searching in the right place. ‘Now may the LORD of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.’ 2 Thess. 3:16.
Through receiving His peace we are positioned to dispense peace to others. We cannot impart what we do not possess. ‘God-peace stands out.’ Living Your Life As a Beautiful Offering, p. 50.
Yesterday, I awoke in the same set of circumstances in which I have awakened over the past eleven months. The only difference is that God set up a sequence of events that reminded me of my previous life of calm and order. It was an entire day of amazing peace…transcending peace…hopeful peace. Wednesday’s peace was a gentle reminder of good things from my past and a hope for good things in my future. It was a peaceful day that clothed me like a warm blanket, sipping on the warmth all day long.
When we take our position in the divine family we inherit His peace which we can pass along to others. Blessed are the peacemakers…as we share our inheritance.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Pure In Heart
“Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.” Matthew 5:8
I am always amazed at the images for which God inspires me each morning. This morning as I was studying the concept of being pure in heart I pictured my fountain that is out on our patio. When kept clean it is beautiful and refreshing and brings me joy to experience. I am glad you are not on my patio to see the condition of my fountain! It is filled with stagnant water the color of grass and sits there ignored and neglected. (I believe there is even a dead lizard that found its tiny grave!) The joy that I receive when I clean up the fountain should keep me steadfast in caring for its cleanliness. Unfortunately, I get lazy and don’t want to do the work required to experience its beauty and refreshment.
This is the concept of being pure in heart. We allow our hearts to become still and stagnant, ignoring the daily cleansing required to keep our water running clear. It becomes tinted with hues that do not reflect the purity of Christ. Without running fresh water through the inner parts spiritual mold begins to gather. It becomes a graveyard for emotions instead of a cascade of living waters for not only our enjoyment but for others. I know that if the ‘fountain’ is clean the water that flows from within will also flow clear.
In the Bible, David was accredited with being a man after God’s own heart. He was a man in passionate pursuit of the Fountain that ran clear. In Psalm 51:10, his prayer was for a pure heart and a steadfast spirit. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” David was basically explaining to God that he had fallen away from his first love, God. He was in need of a total reworking of his inner parts. His fountain needed an overhaul from the inside out. He was asking for renewal and restoration as he had lost the joy he once possessed. We ask for what we know we can receive.
I can barely see that lizard through the green slimy water. It is a negative distraction and is a barrier for me experiencing joy. I have to get in there and pour out the old stagnant water and cleanse it well to clean it up. We must pray for a pure heart and do the work required for the water to run clear if we want to see God. Our lives will reflect the living waters and our joy will be restored.
Blessed are the pure in heart…their waters will run clear.
I am always amazed at the images for which God inspires me each morning. This morning as I was studying the concept of being pure in heart I pictured my fountain that is out on our patio. When kept clean it is beautiful and refreshing and brings me joy to experience. I am glad you are not on my patio to see the condition of my fountain! It is filled with stagnant water the color of grass and sits there ignored and neglected. (I believe there is even a dead lizard that found its tiny grave!) The joy that I receive when I clean up the fountain should keep me steadfast in caring for its cleanliness. Unfortunately, I get lazy and don’t want to do the work required to experience its beauty and refreshment.
This is the concept of being pure in heart. We allow our hearts to become still and stagnant, ignoring the daily cleansing required to keep our water running clear. It becomes tinted with hues that do not reflect the purity of Christ. Without running fresh water through the inner parts spiritual mold begins to gather. It becomes a graveyard for emotions instead of a cascade of living waters for not only our enjoyment but for others. I know that if the ‘fountain’ is clean the water that flows from within will also flow clear.
In the Bible, David was accredited with being a man after God’s own heart. He was a man in passionate pursuit of the Fountain that ran clear. In Psalm 51:10, his prayer was for a pure heart and a steadfast spirit. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” David was basically explaining to God that he had fallen away from his first love, God. He was in need of a total reworking of his inner parts. His fountain needed an overhaul from the inside out. He was asking for renewal and restoration as he had lost the joy he once possessed. We ask for what we know we can receive.
I can barely see that lizard through the green slimy water. It is a negative distraction and is a barrier for me experiencing joy. I have to get in there and pour out the old stagnant water and cleanse it well to clean it up. We must pray for a pure heart and do the work required for the water to run clear if we want to see God. Our lives will reflect the living waters and our joy will be restored.
Blessed are the pure in heart…their waters will run clear.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Blessed Are The Merciful
“Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7
There is nothing more heart wrenching than the realization that we need someone to show us mercy. We know we have wronged someone and question whether they will able to forgive and restore the relationship. For me, it was when God called me to expose my secret spending to Bruce. I knew that it would take a divine dose of mercy with my awareness that Bruce would not be able to give this to me on his own. I had created darkness for him through my lies and deceit and only through God placing His mercy into Bruce’s heart could light shine into the dark corners of hurt. This verse does not only mean God will show us mercy, but He will enable the hearts of those whom need to show mercy to us when we ask.
We cannot withhold mercy from those who ask us to forgive if we expect to receive God’s mercy. God will not give to us what we are unwilling to give to others. Thankfully, Bruce had received mercy so he was able through Christ to give mercy. He had been pardoned, so he pardoned…he had been given clemency, so he gave me clemency. Without the awareness and realization that we are shown mercy daily it will be impossible to show mercy to others. ‘To effectively give away mercy we must recognize where we have been given mercy.’ Living Your Life As a Beautiful Offering, p. 42. When we are granted mercy from someone our heart is humbled, our soul is grateful and our spirit is enlarged. When we are called to dispense mercy when someone repents for causing our hurt, we must give away the mercy that has been given to us.
‘Mercy requires that we keep short accounts of sin and injustice; have eyes to see beyond a circumstance and into the heart; learn to desire the salve of mercy more than the satisfaction of punishment; be willing to lay down our quick judgment and work on becoming compassionate.’ p. 42
Honestly speaking, there have been times in my life when I held mercy tightly in my fist. Thankfully, my awareness of my own flaws and need for mercy kept me focused on the obedience of showing mercy through receiving mercy. We do not determine to whom mercy will be given since we are all given mercy.
Mercy released is mercy returned…blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.
There is nothing more heart wrenching than the realization that we need someone to show us mercy. We know we have wronged someone and question whether they will able to forgive and restore the relationship. For me, it was when God called me to expose my secret spending to Bruce. I knew that it would take a divine dose of mercy with my awareness that Bruce would not be able to give this to me on his own. I had created darkness for him through my lies and deceit and only through God placing His mercy into Bruce’s heart could light shine into the dark corners of hurt. This verse does not only mean God will show us mercy, but He will enable the hearts of those whom need to show mercy to us when we ask.
We cannot withhold mercy from those who ask us to forgive if we expect to receive God’s mercy. God will not give to us what we are unwilling to give to others. Thankfully, Bruce had received mercy so he was able through Christ to give mercy. He had been pardoned, so he pardoned…he had been given clemency, so he gave me clemency. Without the awareness and realization that we are shown mercy daily it will be impossible to show mercy to others. ‘To effectively give away mercy we must recognize where we have been given mercy.’ Living Your Life As a Beautiful Offering, p. 42. When we are granted mercy from someone our heart is humbled, our soul is grateful and our spirit is enlarged. When we are called to dispense mercy when someone repents for causing our hurt, we must give away the mercy that has been given to us.
‘Mercy requires that we keep short accounts of sin and injustice; have eyes to see beyond a circumstance and into the heart; learn to desire the salve of mercy more than the satisfaction of punishment; be willing to lay down our quick judgment and work on becoming compassionate.’ p. 42
Honestly speaking, there have been times in my life when I held mercy tightly in my fist. Thankfully, my awareness of my own flaws and need for mercy kept me focused on the obedience of showing mercy through receiving mercy. We do not determine to whom mercy will be given since we are all given mercy.
Mercy released is mercy returned…blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Blessed Are The Meek
“God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.” Matthew 5:5 (NLT)
I like this translation of the beatitude of meekness. In earlier times I translated meekness with being timid and non-effective. My ‘attitude of this beatitude’ was more of a doormat translation. I should allow others to walk over me and give in to everything to obtain their approval. This is not the definition of meekness. The Greek translation is gentle, the positive moral quality of dealing with people in a kind manner, with humility and consideration. The Hebrew translation is humble, afflicted, poor, oppressed.
When Jesus lowered Himself to the floor to wash the dusty sandals of the disciples, He understood what it was to be meek. He understood that He came to earth in a servant role to exemplify the walk that God blesses. His gentleness was apparent as He surrounded Himself with the weak, needy and sick.
For me, 2010 was a year of meekness. It was year that God gently lowered me to my knees in desperation and made me well-acquainted with my flaws. He introduced me to things about myself that were unlovely and encouraged me to leave them behind. He proved to me over and over again that I make a sorry savior and that to ‘inherit the earth’ I must live out a life of total surrender. In my Bible Study, the author wrote a prayer to God that summed up my prayer for us all as we bid farewell to 2010 and wrap ourselves in the garment of 2011. May it bless you in the same way it blessed me.
God, today it’s just me, part of the way there, but so much further to go. It’s just me in both my desire and my weakness. It’s just the woman You made, still in process, not yet the woman You must have envisioned. Show Yourself to me today. Please take this offering and make everything I’m not more than enough because You live inside me. Amen.
There is a promise of cause and effect stated in Psalm 38:11, 'But the meek with inherit the land, and enjoy great peace. When we approach life with this meekness of spirit we enter into His land of peace. This land stands up to the tornodos of life and continuously produces in times of drought. My grandmother was the epitome of meekness in her humility, gentleness and servant’s heart. At 100, she said to me that she was still working on her faith. She too believed she was a work of God still in process…now that comes in for the blessing!
I like this translation of the beatitude of meekness. In earlier times I translated meekness with being timid and non-effective. My ‘attitude of this beatitude’ was more of a doormat translation. I should allow others to walk over me and give in to everything to obtain their approval. This is not the definition of meekness. The Greek translation is gentle, the positive moral quality of dealing with people in a kind manner, with humility and consideration. The Hebrew translation is humble, afflicted, poor, oppressed.
When Jesus lowered Himself to the floor to wash the dusty sandals of the disciples, He understood what it was to be meek. He understood that He came to earth in a servant role to exemplify the walk that God blesses. His gentleness was apparent as He surrounded Himself with the weak, needy and sick.
For me, 2010 was a year of meekness. It was year that God gently lowered me to my knees in desperation and made me well-acquainted with my flaws. He introduced me to things about myself that were unlovely and encouraged me to leave them behind. He proved to me over and over again that I make a sorry savior and that to ‘inherit the earth’ I must live out a life of total surrender. In my Bible Study, the author wrote a prayer to God that summed up my prayer for us all as we bid farewell to 2010 and wrap ourselves in the garment of 2011. May it bless you in the same way it blessed me.
God, today it’s just me, part of the way there, but so much further to go. It’s just me in both my desire and my weakness. It’s just the woman You made, still in process, not yet the woman You must have envisioned. Show Yourself to me today. Please take this offering and make everything I’m not more than enough because You live inside me. Amen.
There is a promise of cause and effect stated in Psalm 38:11, 'But the meek with inherit the land, and enjoy great peace. When we approach life with this meekness of spirit we enter into His land of peace. This land stands up to the tornodos of life and continuously produces in times of drought. My grandmother was the epitome of meekness in her humility, gentleness and servant’s heart. At 100, she said to me that she was still working on her faith. She too believed she was a work of God still in process…now that comes in for the blessing!
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