“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? … Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes or daily food. If one of you says, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 3:14-17.
Okay, we have all been the giver of this and the recipient of this scenario. We are in public having ourselves a nice day when we bump into someone we know and ask them how they are. They proceed to break down naming the burdens for which they face for that day or even that painful season in their lives. We can feel it in our stomach…you know the feeling. We feel bombarded and even a little irritated by their ambush of emotions. Our physical body language changes and our mind races through the possibilities of a quick exit. We consider what acceptable dialogue will tie this conversation up with a quick little bow tied with fractional mercy. We might even tell them, ‘I hope things get better; I will pray for you,’ only to catch a good sale in the corner of our eye. How many times a day do we comment on someone’s facebook, ‘Praying for you’ only to keep reading the news feed and combing through the lives of others? WHAT GOOD IS IT?
When we are the recipient of this treatment we feel betrayed by our audience when they part with an empty ‘Go, hope you have a good day and things get better.’ Our burdens and emotions have just taken another hit on a day that had no more space for pain. We ask ourselves, WHAT GOOD WAS IT to open our suffering to our sister or brother in Christ?
Mercy and action do not have to cost anything! It is free from the One who already paid the price. Mercy has many ways to manifest itself if we allow ourselves to mentally and emotionally hear our sufferer through the ears of God. Sometimes our action may require our willingness to pray at that moment…with that person…in that public place. Some of the most precious and uplifting times have been when I have heard my name lifted to God from the mouth of someone else right at the time of discouragement.
We must take one step further than whatever our mind defaults to when dealing with the pain of others. Instead of our brother or sister shaking their heads as they walk away from us saying, ‘What good was that?’ let’s give them the opportunity to say as they depart ‘Now that was good!’
Faith without action is like a car without gas. It goes nowhere and stays stranded on the side of the road missing most of the journey. When Godly action is taken, mercy has conceived, God’s comfort is activated and faith expands…NOW THAT IS GOOD!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Unimpressed
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy or selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven, but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil…But the wisdom that comes down from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit…Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:13-17.
James continues to exhort that we should live out our lives with a reign on our tongue and let our actions do the talking. I only have to rewind to this time last year to let this passage hit me right between the eyes. If we had a limited amount of words for one lifetime I would have met mine last year. Over the course of last year as I was caregiving for my father-in-law, I don’t think I practiced being wise and understanding much at all. I was constantly talking about what I had done yesterday, how I was doing it and what was going to be required of me tomorrow. My fruit consisted of holes and worms…
I love my commentary regarding James 3:13. It states, ‘The Greek word rendered ‘humility’ (NIV) or ‘gentleness’ (NCSB) … refers to “the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance.” James, Mercy Triumphs - p. 124. The two types of wisdom of which James speaks are heavenly wisdom and earthly wisdom. One wags the tongue and points while the other pursues the purity of God and acts. One speaks of self while the other acts for the sake of others. One confirms its foolishness while the other lives out its righteousness. I love how Proverbs doesn’t pull any punches… it states ‘A man of knowledge uses words with restraint…Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.’ Prov. 17:27-18.
My parents and grandparents were wonderful examples of those who sowed in peace and raised a harvest of righteousness from the overflow of heavenly wisdom. Their legacy left me with fertile spiritual soil, but I didn’t water it with the purified water of God. It was only through the humbling experience of God’s gentle discipline was I able to till the soil, allow Him to remove its impurities and give Him complete control of what He would accomplish in my life. We can live our lives with earthly wisdom harboring bitterness, grumbling and searching for self or can pursue purity and produce the fruit for which we were created to provide for others - the fruit of the Spirit.
James continues to exhort that we should live out our lives with a reign on our tongue and let our actions do the talking. I only have to rewind to this time last year to let this passage hit me right between the eyes. If we had a limited amount of words for one lifetime I would have met mine last year. Over the course of last year as I was caregiving for my father-in-law, I don’t think I practiced being wise and understanding much at all. I was constantly talking about what I had done yesterday, how I was doing it and what was going to be required of me tomorrow. My fruit consisted of holes and worms…
I love my commentary regarding James 3:13. It states, ‘The Greek word rendered ‘humility’ (NIV) or ‘gentleness’ (NCSB) … refers to “the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance.” James, Mercy Triumphs - p. 124. The two types of wisdom of which James speaks are heavenly wisdom and earthly wisdom. One wags the tongue and points while the other pursues the purity of God and acts. One speaks of self while the other acts for the sake of others. One confirms its foolishness while the other lives out its righteousness. I love how Proverbs doesn’t pull any punches… it states ‘A man of knowledge uses words with restraint…Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.’ Prov. 17:27-18.
My parents and grandparents were wonderful examples of those who sowed in peace and raised a harvest of righteousness from the overflow of heavenly wisdom. Their legacy left me with fertile spiritual soil, but I didn’t water it with the purified water of God. It was only through the humbling experience of God’s gentle discipline was I able to till the soil, allow Him to remove its impurities and give Him complete control of what He would accomplish in my life. We can live our lives with earthly wisdom harboring bitterness, grumbling and searching for self or can pursue purity and produce the fruit for which we were created to provide for others - the fruit of the Spirit.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Campgrounds
“For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter…So the people grumbled against Moses… and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet…He said, ‘If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes…for I am the LORD, who heals you.’ Then they came to Elim [large tree], where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.” Ex 15:22-27.
Everyone on this earth will travel into the desert of adversity becoming parched for the water of resolution. Life presents trial upon trial beckoning some form of response from us. Will our response be bitter or sweet? Will we grumble for what we lack or will we praise Him for what we have and expect more of His good? My commentary states that although they grumbled against Moses the Lord considered their grumbling directly against Him.
James 3:10 states ‘Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be’…but yet it is. God has also shown us two pieces of wood that will sweeten our life when we throw it into every area we experience. They just happen to cross near the top and represent the sweet Lamb who sacrificed all for our eternity. Once we camp at the base of the wooden tree that held our Savior we come in for the promise of His healing. If we stay near the living waters, not roaming far from the bank, we will never be diseased by our culture.
‘Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life…flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit…And the leaves of the tree are for the healing…’ Rev. 22:1-2.
Who says we can’t experience a little bit of heaven on earth through the Holy Spirit? ‘Having believed, you were marked in him with … the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.’ Eph. 1:13-14.
Everyone on this earth will travel into the desert of adversity becoming parched for the water of resolution. Life presents trial upon trial beckoning some form of response from us. Will our response be bitter or sweet? Will we grumble for what we lack or will we praise Him for what we have and expect more of His good? My commentary states that although they grumbled against Moses the Lord considered their grumbling directly against Him.
James 3:10 states ‘Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be’…but yet it is. God has also shown us two pieces of wood that will sweeten our life when we throw it into every area we experience. They just happen to cross near the top and represent the sweet Lamb who sacrificed all for our eternity. Once we camp at the base of the wooden tree that held our Savior we come in for the promise of His healing. If we stay near the living waters, not roaming far from the bank, we will never be diseased by our culture.
‘Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life…flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit…And the leaves of the tree are for the healing…’ Rev. 22:1-2.
Who says we can’t experience a little bit of heaven on earth through the Holy Spirit? ‘Having believed, you were marked in him with … the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.’ Eph. 1:13-14.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Wagging Tongues
“…but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” James 3:8-9, 11.
I love my morning coffee and Bruce loves his morning tea. We cannot begin our day unless we have prepared, settled in and sipped on our energizing beverages. But what if we were to prepare our morning drinks with salt water? The outcome would not be quite so enjoyable. The taste would change and the experience would be less than desirable.
The same is with our tongues when preparing our speech. James wrote 12 verses exhorting and cautioning us to tame the tongue. Acts 2 uses the metaphor of the tongues of fire coming from heaven as the Holy Spirit was sent from God to rest on His chosen. James compares the tongue in its most evil form as deadly poison, ‘corrupting the whole person’ and ‘sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.’ James 3:6. It seems to me that the difference in our words is the motivation from where they originated…the compassionate and merciful heaven or the judgmental and condemning gates of hell.
We use the tongue more than any other part of our body. James also states, ‘Everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak…’ James 1:19. Proverbs 10:19a lends us its wisdom as it is written, ‘When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.’
The most effective way to use our tongues when speaking at all is to believe God in Exodus 4:12 when Moses didn’t know what to say. God comforted him with the truth of how man should prepare his speech… ‘I will teach you what to say.’ If we become a ‘quick to hear, slow to speak’ people and allow God to speak through us with His teachings our spring will run fresh and clear with His living waters.
May our tongues become restless to share the things of God with everyone we meet instead of becoming restless with evil words.
I love my morning coffee and Bruce loves his morning tea. We cannot begin our day unless we have prepared, settled in and sipped on our energizing beverages. But what if we were to prepare our morning drinks with salt water? The outcome would not be quite so enjoyable. The taste would change and the experience would be less than desirable.
The same is with our tongues when preparing our speech. James wrote 12 verses exhorting and cautioning us to tame the tongue. Acts 2 uses the metaphor of the tongues of fire coming from heaven as the Holy Spirit was sent from God to rest on His chosen. James compares the tongue in its most evil form as deadly poison, ‘corrupting the whole person’ and ‘sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.’ James 3:6. It seems to me that the difference in our words is the motivation from where they originated…the compassionate and merciful heaven or the judgmental and condemning gates of hell.
We use the tongue more than any other part of our body. James also states, ‘Everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak…’ James 1:19. Proverbs 10:19a lends us its wisdom as it is written, ‘When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.’
The most effective way to use our tongues when speaking at all is to believe God in Exodus 4:12 when Moses didn’t know what to say. God comforted him with the truth of how man should prepare his speech… ‘I will teach you what to say.’ If we become a ‘quick to hear, slow to speak’ people and allow God to speak through us with His teachings our spring will run fresh and clear with His living waters.
May our tongues become restless to share the things of God with everyone we meet instead of becoming restless with evil words.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Working Together
“Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous by what he did when he offered his son Isaac to the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies…” James 2:21-22.
We have all most likely witnessed and have been guilty of actions not living up to claims. The things we claim many times are not really what we believe as testified by our actions. James was very clear on one without the other. In this particular subject of his writings he named two bookends of faith – Abraham, the father of nations, and Rahab, Jericho’s resident prostitute. We all fall within these spiritual bookends as God included in Holy Writ both man and woman from one end of the spectrum to the other.
Even in the story of the Good Samaritan we are given two men of God whose faith is strong but avoid the actions of love that would have represented their strong faith. How many times do we claim the things of God only to ignore one of His children? We read some story that moves our heart but not our hands. We see something for which we should take a spiritual stand but we sit instead. Strong belief will also predicate actions for the good or the bad.
Faith is what we claim – action is what we do out of the overflow of our faith.
We have all most likely witnessed and have been guilty of actions not living up to claims. The things we claim many times are not really what we believe as testified by our actions. James was very clear on one without the other. In this particular subject of his writings he named two bookends of faith – Abraham, the father of nations, and Rahab, Jericho’s resident prostitute. We all fall within these spiritual bookends as God included in Holy Writ both man and woman from one end of the spectrum to the other.
Even in the story of the Good Samaritan we are given two men of God whose faith is strong but avoid the actions of love that would have represented their strong faith. How many times do we claim the things of God only to ignore one of His children? We read some story that moves our heart but not our hands. We see something for which we should take a spiritual stand but we sit instead. Strong belief will also predicate actions for the good or the bad.
Faith is what we claim – action is what we do out of the overflow of our faith.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
All Bets Off!
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And, the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40. “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right…For whoever is keeping the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” James 2:8-9.
When I think of the passages above I draw a parallel to my own life as a parent. You and I can have such an amazing relationship with each other, but the moment you do not show loving actions towards my children all bets are off! We cannot go any further until you reconcile with my child. The message in the Word is loud and clear from our Father: You don’t love me if you are not loving my children…end of story…no need to go on to the other commands, because they all hinge on these two commands. God is not a God of words only but a God who follows up His declaration of love with action. To say we love and withhold action is not the pattern of love for which God speaks.
When we are living a Christian life bent on righteousness we are on the right path. We try to be loving and compassionate people in a world that seems to show us little of the same in return. We attempt to live out the commands of God but so many times we live out the commands of our heart. We pick and choose which laws to follow in our lives and which laws we slam down the gavel in convicting others.
The One who spoke the command in Matthew written above is also the One who forbids murder, envy, adultery and a host of other laws. We seem to gloss over the fact that the command to love God first and our neighbor second sits in authority over all of the others. Christ came to fulfill the law of freedom and paid the price for each of us. When we humbly ask Him to whom we should make out our check, He expects us to pay our debt to Him by loving those who we deem as unlovable. That is our debt to pay in full – to think of the most unlovable person in our lives and love them as God commands. ‘Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law…Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.’ Romans 13:8, 10.
Our benefit from Christ’s death will continue throughout eternity but so does our debt to love others.
When I think of the passages above I draw a parallel to my own life as a parent. You and I can have such an amazing relationship with each other, but the moment you do not show loving actions towards my children all bets are off! We cannot go any further until you reconcile with my child. The message in the Word is loud and clear from our Father: You don’t love me if you are not loving my children…end of story…no need to go on to the other commands, because they all hinge on these two commands. God is not a God of words only but a God who follows up His declaration of love with action. To say we love and withhold action is not the pattern of love for which God speaks.
When we are living a Christian life bent on righteousness we are on the right path. We try to be loving and compassionate people in a world that seems to show us little of the same in return. We attempt to live out the commands of God but so many times we live out the commands of our heart. We pick and choose which laws to follow in our lives and which laws we slam down the gavel in convicting others.
The One who spoke the command in Matthew written above is also the One who forbids murder, envy, adultery and a host of other laws. We seem to gloss over the fact that the command to love God first and our neighbor second sits in authority over all of the others. Christ came to fulfill the law of freedom and paid the price for each of us. When we humbly ask Him to whom we should make out our check, He expects us to pay our debt to Him by loving those who we deem as unlovable. That is our debt to pay in full – to think of the most unlovable person in our lives and love them as God commands. ‘Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law…Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.’ Romans 13:8, 10.
Our benefit from Christ’s death will continue throughout eternity but so does our debt to love others.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Crystal Clear...
“Then the angel showed me the river of life, clear as crystal…” Rev. 22:1
A couple of nights ago I was visited by one of heaven’s residents, my dad. I know that it is not biblical that our loved ones become angels upon entry into heaven. However, I do consider that while my dad was on earth he was one of my earthly angels, as he and my mother raised and ministered to me in the principles of Christ.
In our visit my dad was telling me the importance of setting my sights on the spiritual things instead of the earthly things. He encouraged me in the message that whatever I experience on earth is worth the suffering when I receive the rewards of heaven. We were somewhere in between earth and heaven as we moved together and talked. I didn’t really notice anything around us in the realm for which we traveled but my dad noticed that the body of water below us was crystal clear. He was in awe of how deep the water was since it was transparent to him. God keeps revealing different revelations to me in connection with my dream.
This morning I was so enamored with God’s message I just had to share it with you. In remembering that the water was crystal clear to Daddy I started remembering different verses that spoke of transparency. In Ex. 24:10 it is written ‘Under his feet was something like a pavement of sapphire, clear as the sky itself.’ In Rev. 21:21 it is written, ‘The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.’ I began thinking about my dad seeing the same body of water as I but his spiritual perception was different than mine. Then the revelation came and what a blessing is was!
Every thing in this world was created by God and sits under His authority with the ability to be prisms. The world clouds and smudges our spiritual ability to reflect God and every facet of His character in our lives. The closer we move to the throne of God the cleaner our prisms become. Through the Holy Spirit our lives are polished and made transparent so that each facet is colored with the individual ‘Christ color.’ These colors do not distort or change the prism but enhance the transparency and its beauty.
To walk with God on these transparent streets we must become transparent ourselves. I get the feeling that heaven is full of crystal clear and transparent surroundings so that God’s glory will not be obstructed by anything. Every beam of light from Him will have a landing spot and will illuminate so brilliantly that there will be no need for light. ‘They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.’ Rev. 22:5.
A couple of nights ago I was visited by one of heaven’s residents, my dad. I know that it is not biblical that our loved ones become angels upon entry into heaven. However, I do consider that while my dad was on earth he was one of my earthly angels, as he and my mother raised and ministered to me in the principles of Christ.
In our visit my dad was telling me the importance of setting my sights on the spiritual things instead of the earthly things. He encouraged me in the message that whatever I experience on earth is worth the suffering when I receive the rewards of heaven. We were somewhere in between earth and heaven as we moved together and talked. I didn’t really notice anything around us in the realm for which we traveled but my dad noticed that the body of water below us was crystal clear. He was in awe of how deep the water was since it was transparent to him. God keeps revealing different revelations to me in connection with my dream.
This morning I was so enamored with God’s message I just had to share it with you. In remembering that the water was crystal clear to Daddy I started remembering different verses that spoke of transparency. In Ex. 24:10 it is written ‘Under his feet was something like a pavement of sapphire, clear as the sky itself.’ In Rev. 21:21 it is written, ‘The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.’ I began thinking about my dad seeing the same body of water as I but his spiritual perception was different than mine. Then the revelation came and what a blessing is was!
Every thing in this world was created by God and sits under His authority with the ability to be prisms. The world clouds and smudges our spiritual ability to reflect God and every facet of His character in our lives. The closer we move to the throne of God the cleaner our prisms become. Through the Holy Spirit our lives are polished and made transparent so that each facet is colored with the individual ‘Christ color.’ These colors do not distort or change the prism but enhance the transparency and its beauty.
To walk with God on these transparent streets we must become transparent ourselves. I get the feeling that heaven is full of crystal clear and transparent surroundings so that God’s glory will not be obstructed by anything. Every beam of light from Him will have a landing spot and will illuminate so brilliantly that there will be no need for light. ‘They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.’ Rev. 22:5.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Bridles & Trumpets
“If any of you considers himself religious, and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself, and his religion is worthless. Religion that God accepts as pure and faultless is: to care for the needy…to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27.
I love the KJV of ‘keeping a tight reign on his tongue.’ It says ‘to bridle his tongue’ giving us the image of a horse that needs to be controlled and guided by this apparatus. At first glance I felt James was talking about controlling our tendency to gossip, using our tongues as a whipping board towards others, repeating dirty jokes or using offensive language that grieves the Holy Spirit. But, in my spirit I realized that another way that deems our religion worthless by our tongues is by calling attention to ourselves and our works.
In Matthew, Jesus speaks of the value of bridled words when helping the needy, who is anyone in any type of distress. “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do…But when you give…do not let the left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:2-4. Basically, Jesus is saying that once it is stated it is negated!
God deems our religion pure and faultless when we care for the needs of others without the witness of man. Only through the bridling of the Holy Spirit can we be protected against the pollution of pride, power and status.
The only thing our trumpets should announce is the presence and power of the King…who was, and who is and who will always be!
I love the KJV of ‘keeping a tight reign on his tongue.’ It says ‘to bridle his tongue’ giving us the image of a horse that needs to be controlled and guided by this apparatus. At first glance I felt James was talking about controlling our tendency to gossip, using our tongues as a whipping board towards others, repeating dirty jokes or using offensive language that grieves the Holy Spirit. But, in my spirit I realized that another way that deems our religion worthless by our tongues is by calling attention to ourselves and our works.
In Matthew, Jesus speaks of the value of bridled words when helping the needy, who is anyone in any type of distress. “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do…But when you give…do not let the left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:2-4. Basically, Jesus is saying that once it is stated it is negated!
God deems our religion pure and faultless when we care for the needs of others without the witness of man. Only through the bridling of the Holy Spirit can we be protected against the pollution of pride, power and status.
The only thing our trumpets should announce is the presence and power of the King…who was, and who is and who will always be!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Chopsticks or Concertos
“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who builds his house on the sand. The rain came down, the stream rose and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:26. “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or see in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Phil. 4:9. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourself. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word and does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But anyone who looks intently into the perfect law, that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:22-25.
I took piano for over 5 years growing up and learned many principles of reading music and the discipline of practicing. Finally, I talked my parents into allowing me to quit. Within one year I had forgotten most of what I had learned. No doubt I could still play elementary songs such as Chopsticks and Row, Row, Row Your Boat but not much more.
The parallel I draw this morning to my short-lived piano career is like reading and hearing the message of Bible Studies only to close the final page and place it on a shelf. We walk away and forget everything that was planted in our hearts by God. Shortly after we shelve our study, we can remember nothing more than our ‘spiritual version of chopsticks.’ We throw around a John 3:16 here and a Phil 4:7 there.
We are told over and over throughout the Bible that the blessings of God are not in the knowing but in the doing. Doing Bible Studies, listening to sermons, and memorizing verses without application is like planting seeds with no intention of watering them. Nothing grows from the act of planting but rather what active steps are taken afterwards, the pruning, the weeding and the watering. We will lose what we do not use.
I knew a lot spiritually growing up due to the blessing of my family. There was a time my home was built on the sand and when the storms rose and beat against my faith, it did not endure and came crashing down around me. But when I began hearing and applying God’s fresh word I was anchored in His foundation. When the rain came again, this time I was prepared with my faith and had built a fortified fort against the fierce storm. Thanks to God and His faithfulness I was blessed in every storm I endured.
‘The Word of God is meant to do more than penetrate. It’s meant to activate. It’s not until the hearing turns into doing that believing leads to blessing.’ James, Mercy Triumphs- Beth Moore.
Even Jesus knew this to be true as a young man… ‘My mother and My brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.’ Luke 8:21.
I took piano for over 5 years growing up and learned many principles of reading music and the discipline of practicing. Finally, I talked my parents into allowing me to quit. Within one year I had forgotten most of what I had learned. No doubt I could still play elementary songs such as Chopsticks and Row, Row, Row Your Boat but not much more.
The parallel I draw this morning to my short-lived piano career is like reading and hearing the message of Bible Studies only to close the final page and place it on a shelf. We walk away and forget everything that was planted in our hearts by God. Shortly after we shelve our study, we can remember nothing more than our ‘spiritual version of chopsticks.’ We throw around a John 3:16 here and a Phil 4:7 there.
We are told over and over throughout the Bible that the blessings of God are not in the knowing but in the doing. Doing Bible Studies, listening to sermons, and memorizing verses without application is like planting seeds with no intention of watering them. Nothing grows from the act of planting but rather what active steps are taken afterwards, the pruning, the weeding and the watering. We will lose what we do not use.
I knew a lot spiritually growing up due to the blessing of my family. There was a time my home was built on the sand and when the storms rose and beat against my faith, it did not endure and came crashing down around me. But when I began hearing and applying God’s fresh word I was anchored in His foundation. When the rain came again, this time I was prepared with my faith and had built a fortified fort against the fierce storm. Thanks to God and His faithfulness I was blessed in every storm I endured.
‘The Word of God is meant to do more than penetrate. It’s meant to activate. It’s not until the hearing turns into doing that believing leads to blessing.’ James, Mercy Triumphs- Beth Moore.
Even Jesus knew this to be true as a young man… ‘My mother and My brothers are those who hear and do the word of God.’ Luke 8:21.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Shechinah
“My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you which can save you.” James 1:21.
Well leave it to James to point out yet another spiritual habit for which I need to cultivate. As children or parents, I am sure that each of us has either heard or said at one point, ‘If you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything at all.” James is taking it one step further, telling us not to just keep it to ourselves but to rid it from our lives. It was believed in ancient Judaism that the angry man who had not mastered his ‘impulses’ would lose his Shechinah. Shechinah refers to a resting or settling of the glory of God.
One of the most humiliating and humbling experience for me was during a Duke/UNC basketball game years ago. We were at a party and I was publicly ripping one of our players apart due to his performance on the court. The host of the party quietly informed me that the aunt of that Duke player was a guest at the party and standing right behind me. I was horrified at my mouth and my behavior. It is an understatement that my anger and actions did not bring about the righteous life that God desires for me. As a matter of fact, it was more of an outcome of Eph. 4:30-31. ‘And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.’ Not only did I forfeit the chance of showing the righteous life but I grieved the Holy Spirit. I experienced deep humility in my soul which I hope to never forget. The basketball player’s aunt displayed James 1:21 out loud! She had a spirit that could not be mistaken for anything but a life driven by the Spirit of God. She was incredibly gracious to accept my apology and I knew that the word of forgiveness was planted deep in her heart.
I think of that woman often as I know she was planted in my life to develop humility. With the escalating challenges of life providing opportunities for anger around every corner, we must cultivate the seeds of self-control, kindness, patience and Godly awareness.
There is no bitterness and anger too great from which the Holy Spirit can't rid us. In fact, any Eph. 4:30-31 attitudes will block the flow between us and our Father. We will be humbled in our righteous emotions if we resist the work of the Holy Spirit in our weaknesses.
May we always make way for Shechinah.
Well leave it to James to point out yet another spiritual habit for which I need to cultivate. As children or parents, I am sure that each of us has either heard or said at one point, ‘If you can’t say anything nice then don’t say anything at all.” James is taking it one step further, telling us not to just keep it to ourselves but to rid it from our lives. It was believed in ancient Judaism that the angry man who had not mastered his ‘impulses’ would lose his Shechinah. Shechinah refers to a resting or settling of the glory of God.
One of the most humiliating and humbling experience for me was during a Duke/UNC basketball game years ago. We were at a party and I was publicly ripping one of our players apart due to his performance on the court. The host of the party quietly informed me that the aunt of that Duke player was a guest at the party and standing right behind me. I was horrified at my mouth and my behavior. It is an understatement that my anger and actions did not bring about the righteous life that God desires for me. As a matter of fact, it was more of an outcome of Eph. 4:30-31. ‘And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.’ Not only did I forfeit the chance of showing the righteous life but I grieved the Holy Spirit. I experienced deep humility in my soul which I hope to never forget. The basketball player’s aunt displayed James 1:21 out loud! She had a spirit that could not be mistaken for anything but a life driven by the Spirit of God. She was incredibly gracious to accept my apology and I knew that the word of forgiveness was planted deep in her heart.
I think of that woman often as I know she was planted in my life to develop humility. With the escalating challenges of life providing opportunities for anger around every corner, we must cultivate the seeds of self-control, kindness, patience and Godly awareness.
There is no bitterness and anger too great from which the Holy Spirit can't rid us. In fact, any Eph. 4:30-31 attitudes will block the flow between us and our Father. We will be humbled in our righteous emotions if we resist the work of the Holy Spirit in our weaknesses.
May we always make way for Shechinah.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Chin Music or Holy Music?
“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
Monday, December 12, 2011
Good & Perfect Gifts
“…but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, has been dragged away and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights...He chose to birth us through the word of truth, so that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.” James 1:15-18.
Quite a few years back Bruce named our home Camp Fool due to several invitations I had extended to certain individuals that were…questionable. Well here I go again…I just don’t want James, half brother of Christ, to leave. He has brought with him so much light on his book that I am even more tender towards His brother this morning.
As I scan my past horizons I see where I allowed ungodly desires to drag me off into the birthing room of sin. I was anesthetized by its promises and gave birth to excruciating pain to others as I secretly mounded huge debt in an effort to satisfy my own desires. I was deceived into thinking spending equaled comfort. I have a stark contrast for the second part of James’ message.
When I began studying God’s word in 2006, I allowed the Father to share His heavenly light of truth into my heart and mind. It was at that point that He began to birth in me the ‘good and perfect gifts’ from Him. James’ choice of the word for ‘perfect’ has an expanded definition of ‘that which has achieved or reached its goal, objective, purpose.’ Through God placing His word in my mind and heart, my good and perfect gifts included His timing for building my faith in preparation for the deaths of my sister and father. His spiritual touch birthed a writing ministry in my own life in an effort to point others to Him. Out of pain, He birthed a passion in my heart to work with the grieving and hurting people whom He loves.
These are a few of the firstfruits of my life once I opened my heart to His purposes and agenda for my life. He determines our good and perfect gifts that will serve as beacons to a dark world. Do not be deceived and dragged away by your own evil desires.
If anything is to birthed it is the good and perfect gifts of our good and perfect Father!
Quite a few years back Bruce named our home Camp Fool due to several invitations I had extended to certain individuals that were…questionable. Well here I go again…I just don’t want James, half brother of Christ, to leave. He has brought with him so much light on his book that I am even more tender towards His brother this morning.
As I scan my past horizons I see where I allowed ungodly desires to drag me off into the birthing room of sin. I was anesthetized by its promises and gave birth to excruciating pain to others as I secretly mounded huge debt in an effort to satisfy my own desires. I was deceived into thinking spending equaled comfort. I have a stark contrast for the second part of James’ message.
When I began studying God’s word in 2006, I allowed the Father to share His heavenly light of truth into my heart and mind. It was at that point that He began to birth in me the ‘good and perfect gifts’ from Him. James’ choice of the word for ‘perfect’ has an expanded definition of ‘that which has achieved or reached its goal, objective, purpose.’ Through God placing His word in my mind and heart, my good and perfect gifts included His timing for building my faith in preparation for the deaths of my sister and father. His spiritual touch birthed a writing ministry in my own life in an effort to point others to Him. Out of pain, He birthed a passion in my heart to work with the grieving and hurting people whom He loves.
These are a few of the firstfruits of my life once I opened my heart to His purposes and agenda for my life. He determines our good and perfect gifts that will serve as beacons to a dark world. Do not be deceived and dragged away by your own evil desires.
If anything is to birthed it is the good and perfect gifts of our good and perfect Father!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Doubters...
“But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the LORD; he is a double-minded man, unstable, in all he does.” James 1:6-8.
I know that James did not just come in, sit down, tell me to be happy in my suffering and call me unstable! This man apparently could care less about his approval rating and he just may be shown the door.
Like you, I have faced ‘trials of many kinds’ that required a bottomless pit of prayer due to my lack of confidence in the situation. Most times, when we are in the middle of our storms it is our ‘lacking’ that drives us to our knees. The ability to be optimistic and confident when the storm is showing higher waves on the horizon isn’t easy for most of us. Confidence in our resolutions is not easily attained…
James’ face just got a little brighter with the light that just went off in my head. Doubt is present when we are asking God for a certain resolution in our storms. Every circumstance in that storm is measured against a predetermined resolution in our thought process. This measuring stick focuses on circumstances, which swells and crashes like waves in the sea. When our focus is on the One who reigns over the waves we can resolve that He can be trusted and believed for whatever resolution works to the good in our lives. This good is motivated by God’s love. When looking into the waves instead of into the face of God we will lose our footing and become unstable in our stand of faith. 'God is not honored by the kind of faith that alternate between optimism and pessimism. He does not give divine insight to such vacillating unstable men.' Believer's Bible Commentary, p. 2219.
I humbly remove my hand from the doorknob and turn back to my guest…
I know that James did not just come in, sit down, tell me to be happy in my suffering and call me unstable! This man apparently could care less about his approval rating and he just may be shown the door.
Like you, I have faced ‘trials of many kinds’ that required a bottomless pit of prayer due to my lack of confidence in the situation. Most times, when we are in the middle of our storms it is our ‘lacking’ that drives us to our knees. The ability to be optimistic and confident when the storm is showing higher waves on the horizon isn’t easy for most of us. Confidence in our resolutions is not easily attained…
James’ face just got a little brighter with the light that just went off in my head. Doubt is present when we are asking God for a certain resolution in our storms. Every circumstance in that storm is measured against a predetermined resolution in our thought process. This measuring stick focuses on circumstances, which swells and crashes like waves in the sea. When our focus is on the One who reigns over the waves we can resolve that He can be trusted and believed for whatever resolution works to the good in our lives. This good is motivated by God’s love. When looking into the waves instead of into the face of God we will lose our footing and become unstable in our stand of faith. 'God is not honored by the kind of faith that alternate between optimism and pessimism. He does not give divine insight to such vacillating unstable men.' Believer's Bible Commentary, p. 2219.
I humbly remove my hand from the doorknob and turn back to my guest…
Thursday, December 8, 2011
An Unwanted Guest...
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you experience trials of many kinds, knowing that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." James 1:2.
Now don't turn the computer off and huff away! I don't believe any of us will quote this verse as one of our favorites. This is one verse that I have never offered to the participants of Griefshare, lest I find myself at the bottom of a pile of Griefshare books in an empty room! When James demands this from us after we have barely opened his book we are tempted to slam the spiritual door in his face. But instead, let's invite him in for a moment.
I was blessed this morning to find an interpretation of the word experience. It means to 'fall into' such as an event that we didn't see coming. I certainly have 'fallen into' some things that stunk, some I brought on myself and others for which I had no control. It seems to me that James was more concerned with the idea of having joy in the summer fruit following the harsh winters. The key word for me was 'knowing.' Our protagonist was basically stating the truth of the certainty of challenges opposed to the possibility. He pleads his case that trials of many kinds are inevitable in this life. Since we will experience them, we are guaranteed to have the grace to get through them using faith as our vehicle. In order for our vehicle to transport us, it must be sufficient for the journey. This sufficiency is demonstrated through the deepening of our faith, guaranteed through trials.
What greater joy can we reflect on and consider than the knowledge that our trials are not in vain. When heaven gains our loved ones, the earthly fruit lingers and does not die. When our lives produce long-running pain, the joy will be in the certainty of our deliverance. This knowledge should give us peace which can usher in joy.
Maybe I will ask James to sit a spell...
Now don't turn the computer off and huff away! I don't believe any of us will quote this verse as one of our favorites. This is one verse that I have never offered to the participants of Griefshare, lest I find myself at the bottom of a pile of Griefshare books in an empty room! When James demands this from us after we have barely opened his book we are tempted to slam the spiritual door in his face. But instead, let's invite him in for a moment.
I was blessed this morning to find an interpretation of the word experience. It means to 'fall into' such as an event that we didn't see coming. I certainly have 'fallen into' some things that stunk, some I brought on myself and others for which I had no control. It seems to me that James was more concerned with the idea of having joy in the summer fruit following the harsh winters. The key word for me was 'knowing.' Our protagonist was basically stating the truth of the certainty of challenges opposed to the possibility. He pleads his case that trials of many kinds are inevitable in this life. Since we will experience them, we are guaranteed to have the grace to get through them using faith as our vehicle. In order for our vehicle to transport us, it must be sufficient for the journey. This sufficiency is demonstrated through the deepening of our faith, guaranteed through trials.
What greater joy can we reflect on and consider than the knowledge that our trials are not in vain. When heaven gains our loved ones, the earthly fruit lingers and does not die. When our lives produce long-running pain, the joy will be in the certainty of our deliverance. This knowledge should give us peace which can usher in joy.
Maybe I will ask James to sit a spell...
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Mourning to Morning
"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 life 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 life 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.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Rotten Fruit
“Now the serpent was more crafty…He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, ‘You must not…’ for God knows that when you…, you will…’ When the woman saw that the fruit was…pleasing to the eye, and also desirable… she took some and ate it.” Gen. 3:1, 5, 6.
Throughout the Bible, Babylon was a real place of excess, corruption, temptation and sin. It also represents so much more today in our culture which parallels Babylon in attitude. There is nothing for which we consider that cannot be attained through some means, either legally or illegally. Today’s world prides itself for being on the cutting edge when in reality our culture is mimicking the oldest documented interaction between man and temptation – an attitude that I know best, I deserve most and I will seek out what I want to seek out. Instant gratification and pride hung on the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden just as it hangs in each of our lives.
The first Babylon mentality was the apple at the hand of the enemy. How subtle our Babylon’s can be! Babylon is always offered at the point of discontent and dissatisfaction through Satan. He cannot make us eat our apple but he can put such a shine on it that we cannot resist. His presentation will be pleasing to the eye and satisfying to the concept. He places a wonderful counterfeit of our desire right in the middle of our gardens, the lives we have built for ourselves.
Temptation is never far away and the fruit is always within our reach. ‘From Satan’s first entrance on the stage in Gen. 3, he’s tried to convince believers that God is holding out on them.’ Daniel, Lives of Integrity – p. 123.
Revelation 18:10 echoes the haunting future of Babylon mentality for cultures across the calendars of time. ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come.’ God always keeps his promises for both judgment and blessings.
Just ask Adam and Eve….
Throughout the Bible, Babylon was a real place of excess, corruption, temptation and sin. It also represents so much more today in our culture which parallels Babylon in attitude. There is nothing for which we consider that cannot be attained through some means, either legally or illegally. Today’s world prides itself for being on the cutting edge when in reality our culture is mimicking the oldest documented interaction between man and temptation – an attitude that I know best, I deserve most and I will seek out what I want to seek out. Instant gratification and pride hung on the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden just as it hangs in each of our lives.
The first Babylon mentality was the apple at the hand of the enemy. How subtle our Babylon’s can be! Babylon is always offered at the point of discontent and dissatisfaction through Satan. He cannot make us eat our apple but he can put such a shine on it that we cannot resist. His presentation will be pleasing to the eye and satisfying to the concept. He places a wonderful counterfeit of our desire right in the middle of our gardens, the lives we have built for ourselves.
Temptation is never far away and the fruit is always within our reach. ‘From Satan’s first entrance on the stage in Gen. 3, he’s tried to convince believers that God is holding out on them.’ Daniel, Lives of Integrity – p. 123.
Revelation 18:10 echoes the haunting future of Babylon mentality for cultures across the calendars of time. ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come.’ God always keeps his promises for both judgment and blessings.
Just ask Adam and Eve….
Saturday, December 3, 2011
On Bended Knee...
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready.” Rev. 19:7
Very early in life, little girls begin imagining and daydreaming about their wedding day. These considerations only heighten the older they get until these thoughts develop into an urgent pursuit for many people. The day arrives, the vestibule door opens and there stands the bride all dressed in white…or is she?
We live in a world that entices contentment and satisfaction with the pursuit of our immediate desire. We are proposed to on bended knee by this culture as it promises to love us, to surround us, and to be there for us in sickness and in health. Its proposal is flattering and enticing as we search constantly for a union in which to commit ourselves. This culture is the groom who continuously gives us a reason to stay in this marriage and dotes on us to ensure devotion.
We are offered another groom, the spotless Lamb who offers more than this life. He meets us on our bended knees and transforms our lives in love and joy. He chooses us all in sickness knowing He will carry us to spiritual health. He will never leave us as widows/widowers but will be eternally ours. We can accept this marriage proposal or we can accept the proposal of the world without security. “In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.’ Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine.” Rev. 18:7-8.
We will all walk down that aisle to be joined in either unholy or holy matrimony. When we say ‘I do’ into whose face are we gazing, the world or the One?
Very early in life, little girls begin imagining and daydreaming about their wedding day. These considerations only heighten the older they get until these thoughts develop into an urgent pursuit for many people. The day arrives, the vestibule door opens and there stands the bride all dressed in white…or is she?
We live in a world that entices contentment and satisfaction with the pursuit of our immediate desire. We are proposed to on bended knee by this culture as it promises to love us, to surround us, and to be there for us in sickness and in health. Its proposal is flattering and enticing as we search constantly for a union in which to commit ourselves. This culture is the groom who continuously gives us a reason to stay in this marriage and dotes on us to ensure devotion.
We are offered another groom, the spotless Lamb who offers more than this life. He meets us on our bended knees and transforms our lives in love and joy. He chooses us all in sickness knowing He will carry us to spiritual health. He will never leave us as widows/widowers but will be eternally ours. We can accept this marriage proposal or we can accept the proposal of the world without security. “In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.’ Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine.” Rev. 18:7-8.
We will all walk down that aisle to be joined in either unholy or holy matrimony. When we say ‘I do’ into whose face are we gazing, the world or the One?
Friday, December 2, 2011
Raised For Purpose
“‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart’…I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.’ But the LORD said to me, ‘Do not say, I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 1:5-8.
This message was given by God to Jeremiah but it has been the message of truth to every generation since the beginning of time. The word ‘knew’ translates as ‘chose’ which denotes God’s loving choice of us for birth and purpose. Just as we can claim this promise, Daniel took God at His word. When Daniel was carried off to Babylon he was only 15 years old according to Scripture. I have always studied Daniel in snapshots rather than the course of his life until this morning.
Daniel’s resolve to God at 15 was displayed when he refused to eat the foods considered defiled as instructed by the king. At 16, God placed Daniel in a position to accomplish something for which no other man in the kingdom was able to accomplish. He recited and interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar and was ‘made ruler over the entire providence of Babylon.’ (Daniel 2:48) As far as I can determine Daniel remained in that favored position for the following 41 years until King Nebuchadnezzar’s death in 562 BC. With the ushering in of a new administration most likely Daniel was removed or forgotten by the administrations that followed for the next 23 years. This is based on the fact that the reigning king in 539 BC (the son or grandson of King Nebuchadnezzar most likely) had never even heard of Daniel. “The queen hearing voices of the king came…she said… ‘there is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit’…” Daniel 5:10-11. Once again, Daniel used his spiritual gift of revelation and interpretation. “Belshazzar commanded Daniel…and was proclaimed as third highest ruler in the kingdom.” Daniel 5:29. The next morning the reign of Belshazzar fell to the reign of Darius, king of Persia, who was equally impressed with Daniel. “Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” Daniel 6:3. Daniel was called back into service at the age of 80. For the following three years Daniel was given prophetic visions by the LORD in relation to end times. God chose Daniel to be born with a specific purpose and boy did Daniel perform! He delivered that which he was called upon to deliver through his spiritual gifts.
Each of us were chosen to come into this world with a specific purpose in which to glorify God. “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Romans 9:17. Every child of God has been given a spiritual gift from birth, and if obedient we will be used in a powerful way that spans our entire life, not just a season. I am both reminded and blessed this morning in considering my grandmother, who over the course of her life was an instrument in the hands of the Creator who gave her life. As she laid in her nursing home bed at 100, she still ministered to multi-generational people who moved in and out of her room in different capacities. She was chosen, loved, called upon and bestowed a spiritual gift using it with her entire body, soul and spirit until the day she was called home. We are called to the same life…will we accept?
This message was given by God to Jeremiah but it has been the message of truth to every generation since the beginning of time. The word ‘knew’ translates as ‘chose’ which denotes God’s loving choice of us for birth and purpose. Just as we can claim this promise, Daniel took God at His word. When Daniel was carried off to Babylon he was only 15 years old according to Scripture. I have always studied Daniel in snapshots rather than the course of his life until this morning.
Daniel’s resolve to God at 15 was displayed when he refused to eat the foods considered defiled as instructed by the king. At 16, God placed Daniel in a position to accomplish something for which no other man in the kingdom was able to accomplish. He recited and interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar and was ‘made ruler over the entire providence of Babylon.’ (Daniel 2:48) As far as I can determine Daniel remained in that favored position for the following 41 years until King Nebuchadnezzar’s death in 562 BC. With the ushering in of a new administration most likely Daniel was removed or forgotten by the administrations that followed for the next 23 years. This is based on the fact that the reigning king in 539 BC (the son or grandson of King Nebuchadnezzar most likely) had never even heard of Daniel. “The queen hearing voices of the king came…she said… ‘there is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit’…” Daniel 5:10-11. Once again, Daniel used his spiritual gift of revelation and interpretation. “Belshazzar commanded Daniel…and was proclaimed as third highest ruler in the kingdom.” Daniel 5:29. The next morning the reign of Belshazzar fell to the reign of Darius, king of Persia, who was equally impressed with Daniel. “Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” Daniel 6:3. Daniel was called back into service at the age of 80. For the following three years Daniel was given prophetic visions by the LORD in relation to end times. God chose Daniel to be born with a specific purpose and boy did Daniel perform! He delivered that which he was called upon to deliver through his spiritual gifts.
Each of us were chosen to come into this world with a specific purpose in which to glorify God. “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Romans 9:17. Every child of God has been given a spiritual gift from birth, and if obedient we will be used in a powerful way that spans our entire life, not just a season. I am both reminded and blessed this morning in considering my grandmother, who over the course of her life was an instrument in the hands of the Creator who gave her life. As she laid in her nursing home bed at 100, she still ministered to multi-generational people who moved in and out of her room in different capacities. She was chosen, loved, called upon and bestowed a spiritual gift using it with her entire body, soul and spirit until the day she was called home. We are called to the same life…will we accept?
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Digging & Rerouting
“Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” 2 Tim 1:14.
I am finishing up with the study of the Book of Daniel. I love this book as it provides an endless reservoir of Scriptural application for our lives. Daniel 5 ends with the relatively effortless toppling of the Babylonian empire. To give some history, Babylon was surrounded with fortified walls so secure that the need for watchmen was little to none. They were prideful, self-sufficient and self-reliant within their walls not needing anything from the outside world…or so they thought.
The Euphrates River ran through the center of Babylon providing one of the greatest assets of their kingdom which eventually became their downfall. The Persian army, credited for this defeat, overtook the most powerful kingdom of this time by simply diverting or rerouting the water by digging a canal from the river to a nearby lake. This diversion created a gap under the wall at which point they infiltrated the city and overthrew the administration.
The security of their kingdom was in the strength of their own fortified walls. Nowhere on their radar screen could they have ever imagined the enemy would enter through this means. They were caught completely off guard!
What the Persian army did in the earthly realm Satan attempts in the spiritual realm. We build walls of false security that our faith cannot be derailed and rerouted. We become complacent in our spiritual lives never imagining that Satan is digging in the weak areas. If we are harboring bitterness, anger or jealousy we provide the perfect spot for the enemy to enter into our hearts. If we are not focusing on the strengthening of our walls through the help of the Holy Spirit we can expect Satan to enter through the gaps.
Ignoring areas of weakness that run through the middle of our lives basically hand the shovel to the enemy and dares him to dig. Instead we must hand our emotions over to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to heal…and this will guard the precious deposit for which God has entrusted His children.
I am finishing up with the study of the Book of Daniel. I love this book as it provides an endless reservoir of Scriptural application for our lives. Daniel 5 ends with the relatively effortless toppling of the Babylonian empire. To give some history, Babylon was surrounded with fortified walls so secure that the need for watchmen was little to none. They were prideful, self-sufficient and self-reliant within their walls not needing anything from the outside world…or so they thought.
The Euphrates River ran through the center of Babylon providing one of the greatest assets of their kingdom which eventually became their downfall. The Persian army, credited for this defeat, overtook the most powerful kingdom of this time by simply diverting or rerouting the water by digging a canal from the river to a nearby lake. This diversion created a gap under the wall at which point they infiltrated the city and overthrew the administration.
The security of their kingdom was in the strength of their own fortified walls. Nowhere on their radar screen could they have ever imagined the enemy would enter through this means. They were caught completely off guard!
What the Persian army did in the earthly realm Satan attempts in the spiritual realm. We build walls of false security that our faith cannot be derailed and rerouted. We become complacent in our spiritual lives never imagining that Satan is digging in the weak areas. If we are harboring bitterness, anger or jealousy we provide the perfect spot for the enemy to enter into our hearts. If we are not focusing on the strengthening of our walls through the help of the Holy Spirit we can expect Satan to enter through the gaps.
Ignoring areas of weakness that run through the middle of our lives basically hand the shovel to the enemy and dares him to dig. Instead we must hand our emotions over to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to heal…and this will guard the precious deposit for which God has entrusted His children.
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