“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.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
No Distinctions...
“God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? … We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. Therefore we are sending…to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing…” Acts 15:8-10; Acts 15:24
The Book of Acts is one of those books in the Bible that I have scanned through with minimal concentration…until now. I have always perceived this book as a book of politics within the church. God led me to the Bible Study of James, the brother of Christ, who was a leader in the church. What I am finding in Acts is a parallel to what I see occurring in 2011…Christians drawing lines in the spiritual sand in attempts to define who is chosen by God. These invisible lines are man-made and not God-drawn.
It is the work of the enemy to set up man-made divisions within the children of God. We view others who may not go to church as less than ourselves ‘in the name of God.’ We criticize people who contradict our view of a perfect Christian ‘in the name of God.’ We proclaim our belief that it is by faith we are saved and not by works, all the while judging what he or she is not doing. We assign faith to those who look like our design of a Christian and discredit those who do not.
God did not sacrifice His only Son to cover some people. His Son hung on the cross lifeless for that man who doesn’t go to church but believes in God. He took on the sins of the addict, the prostitute and the sexually immoral. God is God for all once a child is brought into the family through the acceptance of Christ Jesus.
We must realize that putting other Christians to the test is the same as putting God to the test as in the early church. Just as in the early church, we as Christians must stand up and right the wrongs of the stinging judgment of others. We must encourage those who are new to the faith by reminding them of the truth. When our actions as Christians discourage, cast judgment upon or tear down the attempts of others trying to build their faith we become stumbling blocks for them. 'We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.' 2 Co. 6:3.
The only spiritual lines drawn by God are the intersecting lines of the cross – those whom accept salvation through Christ Jesus and those who reject the cross.
The Book of Acts is one of those books in the Bible that I have scanned through with minimal concentration…until now. I have always perceived this book as a book of politics within the church. God led me to the Bible Study of James, the brother of Christ, who was a leader in the church. What I am finding in Acts is a parallel to what I see occurring in 2011…Christians drawing lines in the spiritual sand in attempts to define who is chosen by God. These invisible lines are man-made and not God-drawn.
It is the work of the enemy to set up man-made divisions within the children of God. We view others who may not go to church as less than ourselves ‘in the name of God.’ We criticize people who contradict our view of a perfect Christian ‘in the name of God.’ We proclaim our belief that it is by faith we are saved and not by works, all the while judging what he or she is not doing. We assign faith to those who look like our design of a Christian and discredit those who do not.
God did not sacrifice His only Son to cover some people. His Son hung on the cross lifeless for that man who doesn’t go to church but believes in God. He took on the sins of the addict, the prostitute and the sexually immoral. God is God for all once a child is brought into the family through the acceptance of Christ Jesus.
We must realize that putting other Christians to the test is the same as putting God to the test as in the early church. Just as in the early church, we as Christians must stand up and right the wrongs of the stinging judgment of others. We must encourage those who are new to the faith by reminding them of the truth. When our actions as Christians discourage, cast judgment upon or tear down the attempts of others trying to build their faith we become stumbling blocks for them. 'We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.' 2 Co. 6:3.
The only spiritual lines drawn by God are the intersecting lines of the cross – those whom accept salvation through Christ Jesus and those who reject the cross.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Our Spiritual Scales
“But you his son…have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of Heaven…you did not honor God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways…Therefore he sent the hand that wrote the inscription…Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given…” Daniel 5:22, 23, 26-28.
This king was the son of King Nebuchadnezzar who undoubtedly knew the history of the seven year temporary insanity that God brought to his dad. His father had made a very public proclamation regarding the way God humbled him. Anything that occurs in our family history that brings on despair and devastation is generally communicated to the following generation. In this case, the next generation heaped more on the family scales instead of using them to balance his life.
We have the opportunity to witness to others in an effort to encourage them to avoid our spiritual pitfalls. We can communicate how God has moved in our lives to transform a heart of ‘anything goes’ to a heart of ‘He reigns.’ God will look at each of our hearts in an effort to weigh its motives. ‘All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.’ Prov. 21:2.
We cannot load up our scales with the things of this world which will never honor God. Our lives represent a set of scales which God will keep in balance. If one side gets too heavy God will determine that it is time for a new season to be ushered in – a season to regain balance. These seasons seldom bring comfort and peace but rather a realignment of His ways. Any area of our life that God determines we are spiritually off balance will be reworked, reshaped and molded into a more balanced life in Him.
We must be so aligned with God and His ways that our spiritual scales only move when He moves.
This king was the son of King Nebuchadnezzar who undoubtedly knew the history of the seven year temporary insanity that God brought to his dad. His father had made a very public proclamation regarding the way God humbled him. Anything that occurs in our family history that brings on despair and devastation is generally communicated to the following generation. In this case, the next generation heaped more on the family scales instead of using them to balance his life.
We have the opportunity to witness to others in an effort to encourage them to avoid our spiritual pitfalls. We can communicate how God has moved in our lives to transform a heart of ‘anything goes’ to a heart of ‘He reigns.’ God will look at each of our hearts in an effort to weigh its motives. ‘All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.’ Prov. 21:2.
We cannot load up our scales with the things of this world which will never honor God. Our lives represent a set of scales which God will keep in balance. If one side gets too heavy God will determine that it is time for a new season to be ushered in – a season to regain balance. These seasons seldom bring comfort and peace but rather a realignment of His ways. Any area of our life that God determines we are spiritually off balance will be reworked, reshaped and molded into a more balanced life in Him.
We must be so aligned with God and His ways that our spiritual scales only move when He moves.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Shadow Puppets
“Don’t be deceived…Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:16-17.
When I was a little girl there was a french door off of my bedroom leading onto a balcony. We lived in the middle of five acres with many large trees around the house. There were nights when I would fall asleep to shadows on my wall that had been cast through the trees and glass panes. Through the night I would awaken only to find the benign shadows on the wall had shifted and plastered scary and disturbing images. I can remember the paralyzing fear as I tried to determine if the subject of the shadow was real or just that…a distortion. The more intensely I would focus on the image the more my mind would determine it was real.
When going through the eight years of my daughter’s drug use I lived in the constant shadows of paralyzing fear. What God had promised in the light of day was not what my faith reflected in the darkness. The shadows would shift from hope to despair and the distortion in my mind made it crippling. My focus was on the scary shadows of what may be than the promises from God of what was! In addition to my own fear was the vulnerability that gave the enemy a stronghold. He took pleasure in making shadow puppets with my circumstances. Focusing on fear over faith took him on a thrilling ride that he wanted to keep on enjoying.
Praise be to the heavenly Light who made the ride stop and threw him out of the park. I was deceived by my circumstances and allowed the enemy to shift the truth of who God was to how He was absent. The shadows were tall and ominous but the daylight returned and the truth was revealed once again…hope, promise, a miracle and restoration.
While our circumstances may change, our God will never shift. He is the same God in the daylight as He is in the darkness, despite the shifting images of our situation.
Don’t be deceived!
When I was a little girl there was a french door off of my bedroom leading onto a balcony. We lived in the middle of five acres with many large trees around the house. There were nights when I would fall asleep to shadows on my wall that had been cast through the trees and glass panes. Through the night I would awaken only to find the benign shadows on the wall had shifted and plastered scary and disturbing images. I can remember the paralyzing fear as I tried to determine if the subject of the shadow was real or just that…a distortion. The more intensely I would focus on the image the more my mind would determine it was real.
When going through the eight years of my daughter’s drug use I lived in the constant shadows of paralyzing fear. What God had promised in the light of day was not what my faith reflected in the darkness. The shadows would shift from hope to despair and the distortion in my mind made it crippling. My focus was on the scary shadows of what may be than the promises from God of what was! In addition to my own fear was the vulnerability that gave the enemy a stronghold. He took pleasure in making shadow puppets with my circumstances. Focusing on fear over faith took him on a thrilling ride that he wanted to keep on enjoying.
Praise be to the heavenly Light who made the ride stop and threw him out of the park. I was deceived by my circumstances and allowed the enemy to shift the truth of who God was to how He was absent. The shadows were tall and ominous but the daylight returned and the truth was revealed once again…hope, promise, a miracle and restoration.
While our circumstances may change, our God will never shift. He is the same God in the daylight as He is in the darkness, despite the shifting images of our situation.
Don’t be deceived!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Our Spiritual Storehouses
“While Belshazzar was drinking his wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver goblets that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives and concubines might drink from them.” Daniel 5:2.
Imagine the scene. Many years after King Nebuchadnezzar left the throne, his son is ruling in his place. He is throwing a huge party and the wine is flowing. He invites the women which is extremely uncustomary and remembers that his dad plundered the temple of God many years before. He considered how in his father’s storehouse of treasures there were many expensive things. He summoned his officials to get a few of the things dedicated to the God of the Israelites from his dad’s possessions. I am sure he thought that it was a good thing his father left them lying around.
What is it that we possess as parents which we have stored up for our children to borrow…prejudice, pride, emotional abuse, anger? The list goes on and on. They have grown up knowing it is there even if we are not around. Belshazzar could have stopped the legacy, the legacy that served himself over God. Instead, he continued the cycle of self first, all else second. Not only did he borrow his dad's sin but built on the sin that already existed.
I was so blessed to have a storehouse of spiritual treasures for which I surrounded myself thanks to my grandparents and parents. These treasures glistened so beautifully and were used to glorify God. They were not closed up in some closet but rather displayed for the beauty for which they possessed. These treasures of God were always used to exalt God and to encourage others to build a storehouse of their own with God at the center.
It doesn’t matter what spiritual legacy from which we come, the treasures of God are for all. As I have heard my mother say, God doesn’t have grandchildren. Every child is a direct son or daughter of God and has access to the amazing treasures of our Father. Let us all examine our storehouses and get rid of the things that lead to sin before our children decide to borrow them.
Imagine the scene. Many years after King Nebuchadnezzar left the throne, his son is ruling in his place. He is throwing a huge party and the wine is flowing. He invites the women which is extremely uncustomary and remembers that his dad plundered the temple of God many years before. He considered how in his father’s storehouse of treasures there were many expensive things. He summoned his officials to get a few of the things dedicated to the God of the Israelites from his dad’s possessions. I am sure he thought that it was a good thing his father left them lying around.
What is it that we possess as parents which we have stored up for our children to borrow…prejudice, pride, emotional abuse, anger? The list goes on and on. They have grown up knowing it is there even if we are not around. Belshazzar could have stopped the legacy, the legacy that served himself over God. Instead, he continued the cycle of self first, all else second. Not only did he borrow his dad's sin but built on the sin that already existed.
I was so blessed to have a storehouse of spiritual treasures for which I surrounded myself thanks to my grandparents and parents. These treasures glistened so beautifully and were used to glorify God. They were not closed up in some closet but rather displayed for the beauty for which they possessed. These treasures of God were always used to exalt God and to encourage others to build a storehouse of their own with God at the center.
It doesn’t matter what spiritual legacy from which we come, the treasures of God are for all. As I have heard my mother say, God doesn’t have grandchildren. Every child is a direct son or daughter of God and has access to the amazing treasures of our Father. Let us all examine our storehouses and get rid of the things that lead to sin before our children decide to borrow them.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Choking on Smoke
“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3
Ask any firefighter and you will be told that when entering a burning building many times the greater hindrance is the smoke. The smoke chokes, blinds and disorients preventing them from the immediate fire. They must work through the smoke to tackle the fire. The same is with our spiritual life as we battle our own burning buildings. We cannot see God’s fire for all of the smoke for which we have created between us and His will. Our bitterness, resentment and self-will dizzies and disorients causing a barrier between our agenda and the will of God. We become entangled with our own sin of self, depleting our energy and losing sight of our faith. We claim that we believe that God is in control but we choke on our own smoke.
Whether our entanglement with sin is our own doing or the doing of another we are affected by its circumstances. Every one of us approaches our trials with our own agenda, past experiences and preconceived ideas for how we should respond. We build in our minds and hearts what should happen, what had better happen and how we will respond. We will face a crisis of belief when we stand at the crossroads of surrendering ‘what I think’ and picking up ‘what I believe God says.’ Our hearts must be open to all possibilities when approaching God instead of the resolution that we feel we must have. We must pray for God to reveal any stubbornness or tightly fisted power we are holding onto. We must be willing to hear and obey his decision even if it goes against everything we believe should happen. We must recite what we really believe about God.
‘A crisis of belief is not a calamity in your life but a turning point where you must make a decision. You must decide what you truly believe about God. The way you respond at this turning point will determine whether you become involved with God in something God-sized that only He can do or whether you will continue to go your own way and miss what He has purposed in your life…The way you live your life is a testimony of what you believe about God.’ Experiencing God, p. 134.
In the words of my grandmother, God is LORD of everything or LORD of nothing!
Ask any firefighter and you will be told that when entering a burning building many times the greater hindrance is the smoke. The smoke chokes, blinds and disorients preventing them from the immediate fire. They must work through the smoke to tackle the fire. The same is with our spiritual life as we battle our own burning buildings. We cannot see God’s fire for all of the smoke for which we have created between us and His will. Our bitterness, resentment and self-will dizzies and disorients causing a barrier between our agenda and the will of God. We become entangled with our own sin of self, depleting our energy and losing sight of our faith. We claim that we believe that God is in control but we choke on our own smoke.
Whether our entanglement with sin is our own doing or the doing of another we are affected by its circumstances. Every one of us approaches our trials with our own agenda, past experiences and preconceived ideas for how we should respond. We build in our minds and hearts what should happen, what had better happen and how we will respond. We will face a crisis of belief when we stand at the crossroads of surrendering ‘what I think’ and picking up ‘what I believe God says.’ Our hearts must be open to all possibilities when approaching God instead of the resolution that we feel we must have. We must pray for God to reveal any stubbornness or tightly fisted power we are holding onto. We must be willing to hear and obey his decision even if it goes against everything we believe should happen. We must recite what we really believe about God.
‘A crisis of belief is not a calamity in your life but a turning point where you must make a decision. You must decide what you truly believe about God. The way you respond at this turning point will determine whether you become involved with God in something God-sized that only He can do or whether you will continue to go your own way and miss what He has purposed in your life…The way you live your life is a testimony of what you believe about God.’ Experiencing God, p. 134.
In the words of my grandmother, God is LORD of everything or LORD of nothing!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Losing Our Mind
“For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” John 7:5; “When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’” Mark 3:21; “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” Mark 3:32; “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35.
OUCH! If any of my children were to say this regarding our family my earthly feelings would be hurt. But, at a very tender age of 12, Jesus determined His family to be those who were vertical to God. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ Luke 2:49.
We are told that Jesus experienced everything on earth that we experience so He can relate to our suffering. Introduced in our passage is sibling rivalry in its purest form. The brothers of Jesus did not buy what their oldest brother was selling. To them, He was most likely a renegade…a loose canon. So they ran to their mother and convinced her that her eldest and supernatural blessing from God has lost His mind! Being a mom, she rushes to His side in an effort to save Him. The teachers of the law communicated to the family of Jesus that Satan himself has entered Jesus, giving Satan credit for driving out the demons in the miracles of Jesus.
Jesus immediately drew a line in the sand concerning His true family. Oh, His biological family was accurate in determining He had lost His mind. For the mind He found was the mind of God. Every thought, every action and every word came from our Father in Heaven. Jesus lived the perfect life of a Son aligned with God as His Father and determined His mother, brother and sisters are those who pursued this same family.
If we are to pattern our lives after Jesus, let us lose our mind to God.
OUCH! If any of my children were to say this regarding our family my earthly feelings would be hurt. But, at a very tender age of 12, Jesus determined His family to be those who were vertical to God. ‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ Luke 2:49.
We are told that Jesus experienced everything on earth that we experience so He can relate to our suffering. Introduced in our passage is sibling rivalry in its purest form. The brothers of Jesus did not buy what their oldest brother was selling. To them, He was most likely a renegade…a loose canon. So they ran to their mother and convinced her that her eldest and supernatural blessing from God has lost His mind! Being a mom, she rushes to His side in an effort to save Him. The teachers of the law communicated to the family of Jesus that Satan himself has entered Jesus, giving Satan credit for driving out the demons in the miracles of Jesus.
Jesus immediately drew a line in the sand concerning His true family. Oh, His biological family was accurate in determining He had lost His mind. For the mind He found was the mind of God. Every thought, every action and every word came from our Father in Heaven. Jesus lived the perfect life of a Son aligned with God as His Father and determined His mother, brother and sisters are those who pursued this same family.
If we are to pattern our lives after Jesus, let us lose our mind to God.
Monday, November 14, 2011
You Are The Man!
“You, O king, are that tree...Renounce your sins by doing what is right…It may be that then your prosperity will continue.” Daniel 4:22, 27. “Than Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’ 2 Samuel 12:7.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to see the sins of others but are blind to our own sins? This was the case with King Nebuchadnezzar and King David but the responses were miles apart. Daniel pled with the king of Babylon to repent of his sins and care for the poor and oppressed in an effort to show God the remorse for his pride and compassion for others. Daniel knew that more was required than simply lip service…it was time for action if God was going to change His mind. King David, however, immediately repented before the Lord with a broken heart. His pride was dismantled by the heart breaking experience of losing his child to death.
God will not allow His children to sit in pride. If we have wrapped ourselves in this garment of self-focus and status seeking, we will be stripped and re-clothed in humility. I know this story too well...I waited too long. I do not wish this season on anyone for the humility will always lie in the areas for which we have doted on the most, those areas in which we feel most entitled. God will determine the avenue of this dismantling after a season of warning. God never cuts us back without giving us ample time to cut ourselves back. He knows the condition of our hearts and determines if we are going to be unwilling to surrender ourselves. At that point, He will arise from the throne and with loving but firm discipline set up the circumstances for our dissent down.
We must examine our lives and our priorities and measure them against the walk of Jesus when He was on earth. Our lives either reflect the comparison to Jesus or the contrast. This is how we know if we are living a life of pride or a life of humility. So in the spirit of Daniel we should all identify the areas where we are that tree and flee from pride.
…and it may be that then….
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to see the sins of others but are blind to our own sins? This was the case with King Nebuchadnezzar and King David but the responses were miles apart. Daniel pled with the king of Babylon to repent of his sins and care for the poor and oppressed in an effort to show God the remorse for his pride and compassion for others. Daniel knew that more was required than simply lip service…it was time for action if God was going to change His mind. King David, however, immediately repented before the Lord with a broken heart. His pride was dismantled by the heart breaking experience of losing his child to death.
God will not allow His children to sit in pride. If we have wrapped ourselves in this garment of self-focus and status seeking, we will be stripped and re-clothed in humility. I know this story too well...I waited too long. I do not wish this season on anyone for the humility will always lie in the areas for which we have doted on the most, those areas in which we feel most entitled. God will determine the avenue of this dismantling after a season of warning. God never cuts us back without giving us ample time to cut ourselves back. He knows the condition of our hearts and determines if we are going to be unwilling to surrender ourselves. At that point, He will arise from the throne and with loving but firm discipline set up the circumstances for our dissent down.
We must examine our lives and our priorities and measure them against the walk of Jesus when He was on earth. Our lives either reflect the comparison to Jesus or the contrast. This is how we know if we are living a life of pride or a life of humility. So in the spirit of Daniel we should all identify the areas where we are that tree and flee from pride.
…and it may be that then….
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Rocky Paths
“The king said to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings…’” Daniel 2:47; “King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold…whoever does not fall and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Daniel 3:1,6; “Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego…’ Daniel 3:28; “(He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)” Daniel 4:8.
What in the world is wrong with King Nebuchadnezzar? One chapter he is praising God with the passion and zeal of a man who has experienced a life-altering event only to grow cold the next chapter. Time goes by and he experiences another life-altering event with the same God of the universe. Chapters in the Book of Daniel separate the chapters of the king’s life. He praises, he receives and once again he forgets as he travels through his life. Now let’s not judge ol’ King Neb too harshly for we may be no better. His spiritual condition is what is described in Mark as Jesus beautifully described in a parable.
‘Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word, and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time.’ Mark 4:16-17. How many times in our own lives has an urgent need been offered in prayer to God and lovingly met by God? For a while, we are praising His name to all and sharing our testimonies, but then like our king our stories become cold. We return to our self-focused lives and praise to our God ‘only lasts a short time’ until the next urgent need arises.
When we experience God in any situation, that revelation will live fresh in our hearts only if we have allowed God access to grow deep roots. We must spend time in His word, prayer and meditation if we are to build fertile soil upon His truths. Let us not live on spiritual trampolines bouncing around emotionally not anchored in anything, responding to Him only in times of rocky moments.
As we travel chapter to chapter in our lives, let us praise God with more consistency and continuity than that of our wayward king.
What in the world is wrong with King Nebuchadnezzar? One chapter he is praising God with the passion and zeal of a man who has experienced a life-altering event only to grow cold the next chapter. Time goes by and he experiences another life-altering event with the same God of the universe. Chapters in the Book of Daniel separate the chapters of the king’s life. He praises, he receives and once again he forgets as he travels through his life. Now let’s not judge ol’ King Neb too harshly for we may be no better. His spiritual condition is what is described in Mark as Jesus beautifully described in a parable.
‘Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word, and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time.’ Mark 4:16-17. How many times in our own lives has an urgent need been offered in prayer to God and lovingly met by God? For a while, we are praising His name to all and sharing our testimonies, but then like our king our stories become cold. We return to our self-focused lives and praise to our God ‘only lasts a short time’ until the next urgent need arises.
When we experience God in any situation, that revelation will live fresh in our hearts only if we have allowed God access to grow deep roots. We must spend time in His word, prayer and meditation if we are to build fertile soil upon His truths. Let us not live on spiritual trampolines bouncing around emotionally not anchored in anything, responding to Him only in times of rocky moments.
As we travel chapter to chapter in our lives, let us praise God with more consistency and continuity than that of our wayward king.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
A Collision with Insecurity
“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous.” Daniel 4:4
‘Contented and prosperous’…two pursuits that seem to elude us as we chase them through life. Capturing these ghosts is as hard as identifying what makes up these words. The bottom line of this pursuit is our belief that they will bring us security.
In our lives, we all build palaces surrounding those beliefs of what it is that will secure our happiness. We build things and relationships around those who feed our insecurities giving us doses of our prescribed fixes. For me, my insecurity has always dealt with attainment of the approval and love of others. Very early in life, I decided that the more I did for people the better the chance they would approve of me. The problem came when I entered a season where my insecurity had a head-on collision with another person’s insecurity.
The more I served in that season in attempts to get my insecurity fix the more it triggered her life-long insecurity. I was consistently attacked verbally and emotionally and had never worked so hard serving in my entire life. This cycle continued for almost a year…nobody was receiving their dose of medicine.
It wasn’t until I surrendered my emotional condition to God that He was able to prescribe the perfect medicine…His love and approval no matter what. I gave myself permission to accept the fact that not everyone is going to love me or even like me. God showed me in that season that my service should be measured against the approval of God, not man. He freed me up from an emotional condition that I had nursed my entire life. ‘Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.’ Gal. 1:10.
Seeking the approval of others over the approval of God will no longer reside in my palace. My content and security will be in the Lord alone. ‘My soul finds rest in God alone…He alone is my rock…he is my fortress.’ Psalm 62:1-2
I, Brenda, am at home in my palace in Him, contented and prosperous!
‘Contented and prosperous’…two pursuits that seem to elude us as we chase them through life. Capturing these ghosts is as hard as identifying what makes up these words. The bottom line of this pursuit is our belief that they will bring us security.
In our lives, we all build palaces surrounding those beliefs of what it is that will secure our happiness. We build things and relationships around those who feed our insecurities giving us doses of our prescribed fixes. For me, my insecurity has always dealt with attainment of the approval and love of others. Very early in life, I decided that the more I did for people the better the chance they would approve of me. The problem came when I entered a season where my insecurity had a head-on collision with another person’s insecurity.
The more I served in that season in attempts to get my insecurity fix the more it triggered her life-long insecurity. I was consistently attacked verbally and emotionally and had never worked so hard serving in my entire life. This cycle continued for almost a year…nobody was receiving their dose of medicine.
It wasn’t until I surrendered my emotional condition to God that He was able to prescribe the perfect medicine…His love and approval no matter what. I gave myself permission to accept the fact that not everyone is going to love me or even like me. God showed me in that season that my service should be measured against the approval of God, not man. He freed me up from an emotional condition that I had nursed my entire life. ‘Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.’ Gal. 1:10.
Seeking the approval of others over the approval of God will no longer reside in my palace. My content and security will be in the Lord alone. ‘My soul finds rest in God alone…He alone is my rock…he is my fortress.’ Psalm 62:1-2
I, Brenda, am at home in my palace in Him, contented and prosperous!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
It Is My Pleasure...
“It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.” Daniel 4:2
There is nothing more powerful than the testimony of a child of God whom has been brought through the fire by the hand of God’s power. King Nebuchadnezzar spoke these words at the end of a seven year season of insanity due to his pride. God restored what was temporarily removed from his rule at the point when the king acknowledged the sovereignty and exaltation of the one true God in heaven. He went from glorifying himself to glorifying God. God will never share His glory with anyone else.
I traveled through a season that seemed like insanity in my own personal life. It was a time when I believe God allowed Satan to sift me and strip me from everything I believed about myself. Leading up to that horrible season if my words were to be written my verse would have said, ‘It is my pleasure to tell you about the wonders that I have done for …….’ The way I rolled out the tongue like a red carpet for myself sickens me. I praise God for that season of sifting and never want to be that person of pride again.
Pride is one of the hardest conditions of the heart to break. The flesh encourages us to compare, size up and predetermine others. Pride convinces us of our entitlement based on our own accomplishments and achievements. Pride puffs up while humility kneels. And as if this were not enough, the puppeteer of pride is satan. He pulls the strings of our minds and we move to his urgings of prioritizing our hearts to the ‘me first and everyone else second’ mentality. Pride yells "Look at me!" while humility kneels and points to Him.
The essence of giving glory is drawing attention so who do you give glory to?
There is nothing more powerful than the testimony of a child of God whom has been brought through the fire by the hand of God’s power. King Nebuchadnezzar spoke these words at the end of a seven year season of insanity due to his pride. God restored what was temporarily removed from his rule at the point when the king acknowledged the sovereignty and exaltation of the one true God in heaven. He went from glorifying himself to glorifying God. God will never share His glory with anyone else.
I traveled through a season that seemed like insanity in my own personal life. It was a time when I believe God allowed Satan to sift me and strip me from everything I believed about myself. Leading up to that horrible season if my words were to be written my verse would have said, ‘It is my pleasure to tell you about the wonders that I have done for …….’ The way I rolled out the tongue like a red carpet for myself sickens me. I praise God for that season of sifting and never want to be that person of pride again.
Pride is one of the hardest conditions of the heart to break. The flesh encourages us to compare, size up and predetermine others. Pride convinces us of our entitlement based on our own accomplishments and achievements. Pride puffs up while humility kneels. And as if this were not enough, the puppeteer of pride is satan. He pulls the strings of our minds and we move to his urgings of prioritizing our hearts to the ‘me first and everyone else second’ mentality. Pride yells "Look at me!" while humility kneels and points to Him.
The essence of giving glory is drawing attention so who do you give glory to?
Friday, November 4, 2011
Never Shaken...
“When I felt secure, I said, ‘I will never be shaken.’ O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.” Psalm 30: 6-7
One of the most convincing lies from Satan is the manipulation of our minds that we can do all things in our strength, power and wisdom. He sends idea upon idea luring us into calculating without God and running things around in our mind for which we chew on, digest and feed upon. David knew about this when he stated these words. Notice that he assigned his condition of confidence as being a feeling…not a fact.
We can easily be hypnotized by our own feelings assigning ourselves the job of resolving problems so much larger than our abilities. It is only when we assign our mountain to our God that we can assess the steadfast footing of which David speaks. When we determine our own fixes outside of the strength of God we will be despaired at the lack of results. But when we turn our face to the mountain of God we worship Him alone instead of the altars that we set up.
‘My soul finds rest in God alone…He alone is my rock…he is my fortress. I will never be shaken.’ Psalm 62:1-2. ‘…but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”’ Hebrews 12:26-29.
If anything is to be shaken, let it be the actual mountain instead of our faith in the mountain Mover!
One of the most convincing lies from Satan is the manipulation of our minds that we can do all things in our strength, power and wisdom. He sends idea upon idea luring us into calculating without God and running things around in our mind for which we chew on, digest and feed upon. David knew about this when he stated these words. Notice that he assigned his condition of confidence as being a feeling…not a fact.
We can easily be hypnotized by our own feelings assigning ourselves the job of resolving problems so much larger than our abilities. It is only when we assign our mountain to our God that we can assess the steadfast footing of which David speaks. When we determine our own fixes outside of the strength of God we will be despaired at the lack of results. But when we turn our face to the mountain of God we worship Him alone instead of the altars that we set up.
‘My soul finds rest in God alone…He alone is my rock…he is my fortress. I will never be shaken.’ Psalm 62:1-2. ‘…but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. The words ‘once more’ indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”’ Hebrews 12:26-29.
If anything is to be shaken, let it be the actual mountain instead of our faith in the mountain Mover!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Blessed Are We....
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly…but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1-3.
Billy Graham correctly observed, ‘Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. We must constantly strive to keep our integrity intact. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost; all is lost.’ God has called each and every one of us to live a life exemplified through the earthly walk of Jesus.
As Christians we focus on the life of Jesus as being a life of teaching and ministry. It certainly was all of this and more. We rarely focus on His day to day living since we are given snapshots of the life experiences of Christ in the Bible. There are snapshots of miracles, written accounts of seasons in the life of Jesus and testimonies of His suffering at the end. It is easy for us to lose sight of the fact that He walked this earth for 33 years. He was fearful of future events as testified in His relentless prayer life. He was separated from His parents early in life which had to leave him lonely for their presence. His ministry took Him away from the siblings with whom He had grown up. He had to experience such loneliness and fearfulness.
The level of His prayer life was directly related with the level of His challenges as Jesus walked this earth. He chose integrity over worldliness, faith over fear, and His Father’s agenda over His own. Sound familiar?
Jesus Christ had a 33 year season on earth and the fruit He brought forth is everlasting fruit for you and for me. We must walk a life of integrity with a goal of building the character of Christ in our lives producing lasting fruit and faith that will not wither.
Through our faith in God, our character in Christ and the integrity of our actions we will always prosper in whatever He calls us to accomplish.
Blessed are we…
Billy Graham correctly observed, ‘Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. We must constantly strive to keep our integrity intact. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost; all is lost.’ God has called each and every one of us to live a life exemplified through the earthly walk of Jesus.
As Christians we focus on the life of Jesus as being a life of teaching and ministry. It certainly was all of this and more. We rarely focus on His day to day living since we are given snapshots of the life experiences of Christ in the Bible. There are snapshots of miracles, written accounts of seasons in the life of Jesus and testimonies of His suffering at the end. It is easy for us to lose sight of the fact that He walked this earth for 33 years. He was fearful of future events as testified in His relentless prayer life. He was separated from His parents early in life which had to leave him lonely for their presence. His ministry took Him away from the siblings with whom He had grown up. He had to experience such loneliness and fearfulness.
The level of His prayer life was directly related with the level of His challenges as Jesus walked this earth. He chose integrity over worldliness, faith over fear, and His Father’s agenda over His own. Sound familiar?
Jesus Christ had a 33 year season on earth and the fruit He brought forth is everlasting fruit for you and for me. We must walk a life of integrity with a goal of building the character of Christ in our lives producing lasting fruit and faith that will not wither.
Through our faith in God, our character in Christ and the integrity of our actions we will always prosper in whatever He calls us to accomplish.
Blessed are we…
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Who Is Equal to Such a Task?
“The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.” Daniel 3:22.
We can only imagine this scene in our minds as we read the story of these devoted men of God being ushered to what appeared would end in death. They climbed the stairs to the mouth of the furnace bound and fully dressed as they prepared to die for their wholehearted devotion to God. The men who worshipped Nebuchadnezzar led them up the steps with the heat of the furnace intensifying with every step. The soldiers couldn’t even take the heat of the mouth of the furnace, as we are told they were killed. Our amazing men of God however not only survived the heat of the entrance but survived the full fury of the fire without ‘burns or even the smell of smoke.’
Every one of us will peer into the mouth of the furnace and some of us will actually fall directly into the fire. The degree of our burns will be determined by the level of intimacy for which we possess with Christ. We can be destroyed at the beginning of the fire if our faith is flimsy. It is only when we are walking with God in the midst of the fiery furnace that we are able to escape the flames’ lasting effects. We will not be consumed by the heat of the season but will be carried right out of the mouth of our furnaces triumphantly.
Like the soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar, when we worship something other than God it becomes instantly clear when the fire engulfs us that we will be burned. But when we live our lives ‘firmly tied’ and led by the Trinity we will not fear but be delivered from our sentence of death. We will possess the aroma of Christ instead of the smell of smoke from our fires. ‘But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ…To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?'
And who is equal indeed?
We can only imagine this scene in our minds as we read the story of these devoted men of God being ushered to what appeared would end in death. They climbed the stairs to the mouth of the furnace bound and fully dressed as they prepared to die for their wholehearted devotion to God. The men who worshipped Nebuchadnezzar led them up the steps with the heat of the furnace intensifying with every step. The soldiers couldn’t even take the heat of the mouth of the furnace, as we are told they were killed. Our amazing men of God however not only survived the heat of the entrance but survived the full fury of the fire without ‘burns or even the smell of smoke.’
Every one of us will peer into the mouth of the furnace and some of us will actually fall directly into the fire. The degree of our burns will be determined by the level of intimacy for which we possess with Christ. We can be destroyed at the beginning of the fire if our faith is flimsy. It is only when we are walking with God in the midst of the fiery furnace that we are able to escape the flames’ lasting effects. We will not be consumed by the heat of the season but will be carried right out of the mouth of our furnaces triumphantly.
Like the soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar, when we worship something other than God it becomes instantly clear when the fire engulfs us that we will be burned. But when we live our lives ‘firmly tied’ and led by the Trinity we will not fear but be delivered from our sentence of death. We will possess the aroma of Christ instead of the smell of smoke from our fires. ‘But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ…To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?'
And who is equal indeed?
Monday, October 31, 2011
Come What May...
“But even if he does not, [save, rescue] we want you to know…we will not serve your gods or worship you…” Daniel 3:18. “And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16. “May it be to me, as you have said.” Luke 1:38.
There are fewer movie scenes that move my heart more than the one near the end of Moulin Rouge where Satine and Christian were belting out their love and loyalty to each other. She is standing on stage singing her heart out to the love of her life as he walks towards her singing down the aisle. The words captivated our hearts only to be heightened by their passion and conviction while singing the words…come what may.
We only have to look in the Bible to find this wholehearted devotion to God in the lives of many. Three men face the king basically singing…come what may. A little virgin teenager impregnated in a supernatural way knows the disgrace that will follow and yet she sings…come what may. A queen who has everything must make a decision to risk losing it all to save God’s people and yet her lifesong plays…come what may.
We have to live a life of come what may…a life that sings our wholehearted devotion to God. We must stand on the stage of life and belt out our unwavering love and commitment to the One who loves us unconditionally.
Be blessed this morning and know that God stands in that aisle and passionately sings to us and over us. May we sing the beautiful lyrics of Moulin Rouge back to the Lover of our souls with the same passion and conviction…no matter what…come what may.
Listen to my heart can you hear it sing
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time
Come what may Come what may
I will love you until my dying day
And there's no mountain too high no river too wide
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide
But I love you I love you until the end of time
Come what may come what may
I will love you until my dying day.
There are fewer movie scenes that move my heart more than the one near the end of Moulin Rouge where Satine and Christian were belting out their love and loyalty to each other. She is standing on stage singing her heart out to the love of her life as he walks towards her singing down the aisle. The words captivated our hearts only to be heightened by their passion and conviction while singing the words…come what may.
We only have to look in the Bible to find this wholehearted devotion to God in the lives of many. Three men face the king basically singing…come what may. A little virgin teenager impregnated in a supernatural way knows the disgrace that will follow and yet she sings…come what may. A queen who has everything must make a decision to risk losing it all to save God’s people and yet her lifesong plays…come what may.
We have to live a life of come what may…a life that sings our wholehearted devotion to God. We must stand on the stage of life and belt out our unwavering love and commitment to the One who loves us unconditionally.
Be blessed this morning and know that God stands in that aisle and passionately sings to us and over us. May we sing the beautiful lyrics of Moulin Rouge back to the Lover of our souls with the same passion and conviction…no matter what…come what may.
Listen to my heart can you hear it sing
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time
Come what may Come what may
I will love you until my dying day
And there's no mountain too high no river too wide
Sing out this song and I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather and stars may collide
But I love you I love you until the end of time
Come what may come what may
I will love you until my dying day.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Worry's Futile Work
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough of its own.” Matthew 6:31-34.
I generally write my own devotionals in the morning with a reference or two from my commentary. This morning I will be sharing much of my commentary with a reference or two of my own thoughts. No need to try to reword something so beautifully worded. My commentary states: ‘In this passage Jesus strikes at the tendency to center our lives around food and clothing, thus missing life’s real meaning… Such worry about the future is sin because it denies the love, wisdom, and the power of God. It denies the love of God by implying that He doesn’t care for us. It denies His wisdom by implying that He doesn’t know what He is doing. And it denies His power by implying that He isn’t able to provide for our needs….this causes us to devote our finest energies to making sure we will have enough…therefore missing the central purpose for which we were made…We are here to love, worship, and serve Him and to represent His interests on earth. Our bodies are intended to be our servants, not our masters.’ Believers Bible Commentary, p. 1226.
When the word worry first appeared in Old English it meant, not to fret, but to strangle. This visual is so powerful for me as we all take a concern, consider it, pick at it and mentally tear it apart until we strangle the life out of it. Meanwhile, the days have passed and many times we have accomplished nothing more than strangling air…a ghost of what could have been but never was. Boy, can I relate to the quote of Mark Twain: ‘I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.' ~Mark Twain
We run after the things that are already ours in Christ. The way to claim what is already ours is to focus and pursue the things of God and our purpose in His kingdom. Our responsibility as believers is to live a life for God, trusting Him for our future with unshakable confidence in His provisions. We are clearly called by Jesus Christ to live one day at a time. If we are going to strangle anything, let it be worry itself for it has no lasting substance.
We must live our lives with a today confidence in God instead of a tomorrow fear.
I generally write my own devotionals in the morning with a reference or two from my commentary. This morning I will be sharing much of my commentary with a reference or two of my own thoughts. No need to try to reword something so beautifully worded. My commentary states: ‘In this passage Jesus strikes at the tendency to center our lives around food and clothing, thus missing life’s real meaning… Such worry about the future is sin because it denies the love, wisdom, and the power of God. It denies the love of God by implying that He doesn’t care for us. It denies His wisdom by implying that He doesn’t know what He is doing. And it denies His power by implying that He isn’t able to provide for our needs….this causes us to devote our finest energies to making sure we will have enough…therefore missing the central purpose for which we were made…We are here to love, worship, and serve Him and to represent His interests on earth. Our bodies are intended to be our servants, not our masters.’ Believers Bible Commentary, p. 1226.
When the word worry first appeared in Old English it meant, not to fret, but to strangle. This visual is so powerful for me as we all take a concern, consider it, pick at it and mentally tear it apart until we strangle the life out of it. Meanwhile, the days have passed and many times we have accomplished nothing more than strangling air…a ghost of what could have been but never was. Boy, can I relate to the quote of Mark Twain: ‘I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened.' ~Mark Twain
We run after the things that are already ours in Christ. The way to claim what is already ours is to focus and pursue the things of God and our purpose in His kingdom. Our responsibility as believers is to live a life for God, trusting Him for our future with unshakable confidence in His provisions. We are clearly called by Jesus Christ to live one day at a time. If we are going to strangle anything, let it be worry itself for it has no lasting substance.
We must live our lives with a today confidence in God instead of a tomorrow fear.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Projecting Images...
“He then summoned…and all the other provincial officials to the dedication of the image he had set up.” Daniel 3:2.
What King Nebuchadnezzar did in reality we do in theory as we meticulously and methodically build an image for ourselves. I didn’t notice until this morning that the word image is so closely spelled to imagination. In the context of our concept this morning I would say that the two will always lends itself to the other.
It is through our imagination that we determine pieces of ourselves that we wish to bolster and exaggerate. We grab our chisel and chip away what we do not like about ourselves forming a more perfect façade. We add water to the mix to mold other areas into the image in which we want others to see. The dedication to our image is a full time job, since constant chipping, molding and shaping is the only way to maintain it. Our imagination works in overdrive as we think of new ways to support an old image.
The images we create are nothing more than a manifestation of our imagination…a ghost without an anchor. ‘Image building is any way we intentionally make ourselves seem different…and usually more…than we really are.’ Daniel – Lives of Integrity, Beth Moore.
There is only one image that counts which is the image of Jesus Christ. Like every image, it takes time to build, mold and sustain. Only through the transforming work of the Trinity will we be people of dedication to the One true image. The more we empty ourselves and fill up with the image of Christ, the more we will match the authentic person for which God created.
People will buy whatever we are selling so I ask myself this morning, ‘Am I selling Christ or am I selling a version of myself?’
What King Nebuchadnezzar did in reality we do in theory as we meticulously and methodically build an image for ourselves. I didn’t notice until this morning that the word image is so closely spelled to imagination. In the context of our concept this morning I would say that the two will always lends itself to the other.
It is through our imagination that we determine pieces of ourselves that we wish to bolster and exaggerate. We grab our chisel and chip away what we do not like about ourselves forming a more perfect façade. We add water to the mix to mold other areas into the image in which we want others to see. The dedication to our image is a full time job, since constant chipping, molding and shaping is the only way to maintain it. Our imagination works in overdrive as we think of new ways to support an old image.
The images we create are nothing more than a manifestation of our imagination…a ghost without an anchor. ‘Image building is any way we intentionally make ourselves seem different…and usually more…than we really are.’ Daniel – Lives of Integrity, Beth Moore.
There is only one image that counts which is the image of Jesus Christ. Like every image, it takes time to build, mold and sustain. Only through the transforming work of the Trinity will we be people of dedication to the One true image. The more we empty ourselves and fill up with the image of Christ, the more we will match the authentic person for which God created.
People will buy whatever we are selling so I ask myself this morning, ‘Am I selling Christ or am I selling a version of myself?’
Monday, October 24, 2011
Seasons, Kings & Kingdoms
“He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21
This statement in Scripture is Daniel’s proclamation that he serves the sovereign God of the universe. He is unapologetic about the fact that God is in control of all things at all times. He didn’t try to sweep the reality of God’s interrupting hand under the carpet inferring that our challenging times are just chance, fate, or happenstance. Our seasons of suffering are ushered in by the providential hand of God. He sets up kingdoms of learning that are unique to our weaknesses. He allows something we worship to become our king to prove it will come up short ever time. When death finds our loved ones God is not intimidated by our emotions or our demands of why. He listens to us, His heart breaks with us, and He heals within us.
Providence is God’s intentional and purposeful interruption/intervention in life that mandates our complete focus. God does what He wants, as long as He deems necessary and the manner in which He desires to accomplish His purpose for each of our lives. To walk this journey on earth victoriously, we must believe with complete conviction that everything God allows into our lives is motivated by the same love in which He gave up His only son so we could live eternally with Him. With this truth, how can we question God's love...but sometimes our pain asks the question.
I had lunch with two of my best friends from childhood yesterday and we were discussing how challenging life has been. One of us lost a spouse in her early thirties, one of us has battled breast cancer, and one of us has traveled the road of drug addiction with her teen. God either allowed or ordained our seasons of suffering to accomplish a greater purpose than we may never know. He has spiritual purposes for our earthly walk. We cannot expect God to impart everything that has been accomplished in our times of despair, but we can know that critical work in the heavenlies is being fulfilled. Just as our children cannot understand our decisions for the greater purpose of our families, we cannot understand the greater purposes of God.
When despair interrupts our lives claim 1 Peter 4:12-19. ‘Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed…you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you…if you suffer as a Christian…praise God that you bear that name.’ This verse doesn’t say you will be overjoyed if His glory is revealed…the word is when implying certainty and completion.
When His work is done in our specific kingdoms He will usurp the king and bring the kingdom to an end…Amen…and we will see His glory revealed along with all of His wisdom and knowledge in that season. His Kingdom, both on earth and in heaven, will prevail.
This statement in Scripture is Daniel’s proclamation that he serves the sovereign God of the universe. He is unapologetic about the fact that God is in control of all things at all times. He didn’t try to sweep the reality of God’s interrupting hand under the carpet inferring that our challenging times are just chance, fate, or happenstance. Our seasons of suffering are ushered in by the providential hand of God. He sets up kingdoms of learning that are unique to our weaknesses. He allows something we worship to become our king to prove it will come up short ever time. When death finds our loved ones God is not intimidated by our emotions or our demands of why. He listens to us, His heart breaks with us, and He heals within us.
Providence is God’s intentional and purposeful interruption/intervention in life that mandates our complete focus. God does what He wants, as long as He deems necessary and the manner in which He desires to accomplish His purpose for each of our lives. To walk this journey on earth victoriously, we must believe with complete conviction that everything God allows into our lives is motivated by the same love in which He gave up His only son so we could live eternally with Him. With this truth, how can we question God's love...but sometimes our pain asks the question.
I had lunch with two of my best friends from childhood yesterday and we were discussing how challenging life has been. One of us lost a spouse in her early thirties, one of us has battled breast cancer, and one of us has traveled the road of drug addiction with her teen. God either allowed or ordained our seasons of suffering to accomplish a greater purpose than we may never know. He has spiritual purposes for our earthly walk. We cannot expect God to impart everything that has been accomplished in our times of despair, but we can know that critical work in the heavenlies is being fulfilled. Just as our children cannot understand our decisions for the greater purpose of our families, we cannot understand the greater purposes of God.
When despair interrupts our lives claim 1 Peter 4:12-19. ‘Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed…you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you…if you suffer as a Christian…praise God that you bear that name.’ This verse doesn’t say you will be overjoyed if His glory is revealed…the word is when implying certainty and completion.
When His work is done in our specific kingdoms He will usurp the king and bring the kingdom to an end…Amen…and we will see His glory revealed along with all of His wisdom and knowledge in that season. His Kingdom, both on earth and in heaven, will prevail.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Attitude of Gratitude
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you…” Daniel 2:20, 23
When my children were young one of the most challenging attitudes to instill was the attitude of gratitude. It seems either we are born with it or not. Bruce and I would plan on doing something special for them, only for them to ask what was next while still enjoying the blessing. If you are a parent you certainly know what I am describing. You make a decision to please a child knowing how much it will mean to them. You reveal the blessing or the answered request for which they have been asking and their ‘thank you’ falls flat. Their minds are already racing to the next request so their gratitude is diluted with impatience for the next desire.
Sometimes we are no better than children and maybe even worse. When I think about all that I ask of God measured against the praise that I give to God…something falls flat. How many times have we moved on to the next request of God without really allowing His answered prayer to fall upon a heart of humility and gratitude? Each morning I ask that He protects my children during the day, only to repeat that request the following morning. If I would truly feel the praise of an answered prayer my joy and gratitude would fuel my worship. God answers our prayers so much more than we ever realize. As parents, our children grow to depend on us to feed and clothe them but few will take the time to come to us with praise and gratitude. They develop an attitude of entitlement and expectation, becoming complacent with the blessings.
We are so much like that in our prayer lives. We take for granted that we will be kept safe through the night. We assume that the job we have will still be there in the morning. We assume that the money in our bank accounts will still be available when we drive up to the ATM. God is the giver of all things and we receive an abundance of blessings for which we don’t even ask.
Just as it blesses us to see the enthusiastic response of thanks from others, it must bless God when we emphatically and joyfully thank Him for the immeasurable answers to prayer He bestows upon us. Many times the very thing we seek in others is what we fail to give to God.
When my children were young one of the most challenging attitudes to instill was the attitude of gratitude. It seems either we are born with it or not. Bruce and I would plan on doing something special for them, only for them to ask what was next while still enjoying the blessing. If you are a parent you certainly know what I am describing. You make a decision to please a child knowing how much it will mean to them. You reveal the blessing or the answered request for which they have been asking and their ‘thank you’ falls flat. Their minds are already racing to the next request so their gratitude is diluted with impatience for the next desire.
Sometimes we are no better than children and maybe even worse. When I think about all that I ask of God measured against the praise that I give to God…something falls flat. How many times have we moved on to the next request of God without really allowing His answered prayer to fall upon a heart of humility and gratitude? Each morning I ask that He protects my children during the day, only to repeat that request the following morning. If I would truly feel the praise of an answered prayer my joy and gratitude would fuel my worship. God answers our prayers so much more than we ever realize. As parents, our children grow to depend on us to feed and clothe them but few will take the time to come to us with praise and gratitude. They develop an attitude of entitlement and expectation, becoming complacent with the blessings.
We are so much like that in our prayer lives. We take for granted that we will be kept safe through the night. We assume that the job we have will still be there in the morning. We assume that the money in our bank accounts will still be available when we drive up to the ATM. God is the giver of all things and we receive an abundance of blessings for which we don’t even ask.
Just as it blesses us to see the enthusiastic response of thanks from others, it must bless God when we emphatically and joyfully thank Him for the immeasurable answers to prayer He bestows upon us. Many times the very thing we seek in others is what we fail to give to God.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
The 4 P's
“At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him…Then Daniel returned…and explained the matter to his friends…He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery…During the night the mystery was revealed…Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.” Daniel 2:16-18.
This passage is very important in showing us not only how to pray but the importance of our belief in prayer. Daniel learned from the king’s commander that the entire group of wise men for which the king called upon would soon be executed. The king felt that because a few of the men couldn’t reveal and interpret his dream that the lot of them should be extinguished. Daniel and his friends were among these men. Daniel immediately approached this furious king who ordered his execution. He not only had the courage to approach his foe but had the faith of expectancy that God would reveal the dream and its interpretation to him. But he knew he must have time to pray. He did not proceed without prayer. He not only knew the importance of pleading for God’s wisdom, instead of his own, but also knew the necessity and urgency to enlist his prayer partners. His partners were immediate in their prayers and specific in their petitions. Through the darkness of the night God revealed the dream to Daniel. The next thing that Daniel did was paramount – He praised…right then…before the confrontation with the king had even occurred.
We must follow the example of Daniel when approaching our challenges. Whether they are challenges in the details of life or the huge storms of life we are given a road map that will not lead us astray.
We must proclaim that God will reveal, will save, and will deliver.
We must petition others to pray and recognize the important of the entire Body of Christ. As the Body of Christ, when we are asked to pray we must not tarry. Time is precious.
We must posture ourselves in a position to receive from God removing our own wisdom, perceptions and predetermined outcomes.
We must praise Him for His power, strength and delivery before we face our giants, believing He will rescue us.
All of these steps are essential in the fellowship with God and the Body of Christ through prayer. Let us be courageous in our approach and expectant in our prayers.
This passage is very important in showing us not only how to pray but the importance of our belief in prayer. Daniel learned from the king’s commander that the entire group of wise men for which the king called upon would soon be executed. The king felt that because a few of the men couldn’t reveal and interpret his dream that the lot of them should be extinguished. Daniel and his friends were among these men. Daniel immediately approached this furious king who ordered his execution. He not only had the courage to approach his foe but had the faith of expectancy that God would reveal the dream and its interpretation to him. But he knew he must have time to pray. He did not proceed without prayer. He not only knew the importance of pleading for God’s wisdom, instead of his own, but also knew the necessity and urgency to enlist his prayer partners. His partners were immediate in their prayers and specific in their petitions. Through the darkness of the night God revealed the dream to Daniel. The next thing that Daniel did was paramount – He praised…right then…before the confrontation with the king had even occurred.
We must follow the example of Daniel when approaching our challenges. Whether they are challenges in the details of life or the huge storms of life we are given a road map that will not lead us astray.
We must proclaim that God will reveal, will save, and will deliver.
We must petition others to pray and recognize the important of the entire Body of Christ. As the Body of Christ, when we are asked to pray we must not tarry. Time is precious.
We must posture ourselves in a position to receive from God removing our own wisdom, perceptions and predetermined outcomes.
We must praise Him for His power, strength and delivery before we face our giants, believing He will rescue us.
All of these steps are essential in the fellowship with God and the Body of Christ through prayer. Let us be courageous in our approach and expectant in our prayers.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
None Equal...
“At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and he found none equal … so they entered into the king’s service.” Daniel 1:18.
Daniel and his contemporaries had been trained, tested and tried before they were presented to the king. They had resolved to be nourished by the clean foods instead of being defiled by the unclean foods. They stuck to their convictions for the timeframe ordained by the king. Their fruit resulting from their commitment and obedience was unparalleled with anyone else in the kingdom.
We learned yesterday that we, too, have a Chief Official who has the authority to approach the King on our behalf through His work on the cross. We enter into seasons of testing and training calling us to practice our faith and live within our principles. We train during these challenging times which are accompanied with hunger, loneliness and exhaustion. But our Official is right there with us knowing what is required to be presented to the King blameless and flawless due to our position in Christ as co-heirs.
At the end of our time that the King has set we will be brought in as a member of the pure bride of Christ and will march arm in arm towards the throne of the Father. ‘To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.’ Jude :24.
…and He will find none equal!
Daniel and his contemporaries had been trained, tested and tried before they were presented to the king. They had resolved to be nourished by the clean foods instead of being defiled by the unclean foods. They stuck to their convictions for the timeframe ordained by the king. Their fruit resulting from their commitment and obedience was unparalleled with anyone else in the kingdom.
We learned yesterday that we, too, have a Chief Official who has the authority to approach the King on our behalf through His work on the cross. We enter into seasons of testing and training calling us to practice our faith and live within our principles. We train during these challenging times which are accompanied with hunger, loneliness and exhaustion. But our Official is right there with us knowing what is required to be presented to the King blameless and flawless due to our position in Christ as co-heirs.
At the end of our time that the King has set we will be brought in as a member of the pure bride of Christ and will march arm in arm towards the throne of the Father. ‘To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.’ Jude :24.
…and He will find none equal!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Orange Noses
“…and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way…At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.” Daniel 1:15.
When my grandson Carson was a baby, one of the baby foods for which my daughter fed him was carrots. He loved his carrots and never fought against this vegetable. He gladly consumed these and enjoyed them daily, to the point of his nose developing an orange hue. I can look back at his baby pictures and know whether he was still on baby food based on the color of his nose!
Daniel only digested what was spiritually healthy to his life. He sought permission from the one in charge to be nourished only with vegetables for ten days, assuring the official that he and his friends would stand apart from the others. The principles and resolve of Daniel must be the example for our lives. We, too, have a Chief Official who will honor our request to avoid the foods of the world that are not healthy for digestion. We will not be tempted beyond the delivering hand of God. The food of God will always nourish our lives and provide healthier living.
We will reflect the spiritual life opposed to looking like the world if we allow God to determine the choices He would have for our lives. All of our lives are made up of different diets and God determines the spiritual diet for which we are meant to live. We must be like Daniel and demonstrate the courage to stand up and say no to the enticements of the world.
We will reflect whatever we most value. Just like Carson, if we are living the spiritual life which God intended, we will reflect a certain spiritual hue that will be visible to all.
When my grandson Carson was a baby, one of the baby foods for which my daughter fed him was carrots. He loved his carrots and never fought against this vegetable. He gladly consumed these and enjoyed them daily, to the point of his nose developing an orange hue. I can look back at his baby pictures and know whether he was still on baby food based on the color of his nose!
Daniel only digested what was spiritually healthy to his life. He sought permission from the one in charge to be nourished only with vegetables for ten days, assuring the official that he and his friends would stand apart from the others. The principles and resolve of Daniel must be the example for our lives. We, too, have a Chief Official who will honor our request to avoid the foods of the world that are not healthy for digestion. We will not be tempted beyond the delivering hand of God. The food of God will always nourish our lives and provide healthier living.
We will reflect the spiritual life opposed to looking like the world if we allow God to determine the choices He would have for our lives. All of our lives are made up of different diets and God determines the spiritual diet for which we are meant to live. We must be like Daniel and demonstrate the courage to stand up and say no to the enticements of the world.
We will reflect whatever we most value. Just like Carson, if we are living the spiritual life which God intended, we will reflect a certain spiritual hue that will be visible to all.
Monday, October 17, 2011
The World's Buffet
“Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…” Daniel 1:8
I LOVE a good buffet! There is nothing like it…roaming down that line scanning each dish on the tabletop as it is displayed like a banquet. When Bruce and I went to Texas a few months ago we went to a restaurant known for their Sunday buffets. There was so much food to take in, and I was told ahead of time by my sister-in-law that the choices were unparalleled in flavor. I knew that before I even went to the line I needed to make a decision of how much I intended on eating. I didn’t want to end up with stomach pain which I had done so many times before. I knew the time for me to decide was not when I faced the temptation but rather by resolving ahead of time and being obedient to that decision.
This is what Daniel and his faithful friends did before they got to the kings table. They made decisions that matched their principles before they were tempted. The kings table was covered in ‘meats that were unclean, according to the Old Testament law…perhaps they were connected with idol worship.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1079.
The world offers us quite the buffet as we move down the line of its display. We don’t even need to think up our wants, for the world generates the foods for us. The offerings have been uniquely seasoned to our taste as we look upon our choices in life. We don’t even taste the salt of over-indulgence or the spice of temptation. After all, it wouldn’t be on the table if we weren’t meant to have it, right?
It is spiritually critical that we balance our indulgence of the things of this world with our principles. Does it fit on our plate? If we indulge in this particular dish of the world, does it mean the exclusion of a healthier dish, perhaps something of a spiritual taste? We must resolve up front the things for which we will consume and the degree of our participation in that choice. We must be cautious that the things we consume will not consume us. After all, ‘Everything is permissible for me – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me – but I will not be mastered by anything.’ 1 Co. 6:12.
Sometimes many of the things that are legitimate and legal in the world destroy us the most due to our lack of resolve and balance. We must be Daniels in this enticing world as we eat at the table that offers both life and death.
I LOVE a good buffet! There is nothing like it…roaming down that line scanning each dish on the tabletop as it is displayed like a banquet. When Bruce and I went to Texas a few months ago we went to a restaurant known for their Sunday buffets. There was so much food to take in, and I was told ahead of time by my sister-in-law that the choices were unparalleled in flavor. I knew that before I even went to the line I needed to make a decision of how much I intended on eating. I didn’t want to end up with stomach pain which I had done so many times before. I knew the time for me to decide was not when I faced the temptation but rather by resolving ahead of time and being obedient to that decision.
This is what Daniel and his faithful friends did before they got to the kings table. They made decisions that matched their principles before they were tempted. The kings table was covered in ‘meats that were unclean, according to the Old Testament law…perhaps they were connected with idol worship.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1079.
The world offers us quite the buffet as we move down the line of its display. We don’t even need to think up our wants, for the world generates the foods for us. The offerings have been uniquely seasoned to our taste as we look upon our choices in life. We don’t even taste the salt of over-indulgence or the spice of temptation. After all, it wouldn’t be on the table if we weren’t meant to have it, right?
It is spiritually critical that we balance our indulgence of the things of this world with our principles. Does it fit on our plate? If we indulge in this particular dish of the world, does it mean the exclusion of a healthier dish, perhaps something of a spiritual taste? We must resolve up front the things for which we will consume and the degree of our participation in that choice. We must be cautious that the things we consume will not consume us. After all, ‘Everything is permissible for me – but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me – but I will not be mastered by anything.’ 1 Co. 6:12.
Sometimes many of the things that are legitimate and legal in the world destroy us the most due to our lack of resolve and balance. We must be Daniels in this enticing world as we eat at the table that offers both life and death.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Carried Off...
“Then the king ordered…to bring in some of the Israelites from the royal family…young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve…He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians.” Daniel 1:3-4
There is nothing as sweet as the cry of a healthy new born baby. Relationships are formed and love grows as that child matures in life day by day. We train our children in the Lord and raise them to honor God and those in authority. After all, they are from the royal family of God. We teach them the values of living within the boundaries of right and wrong. Life moves forward as they approach the age where Babylon invades and threatens to carry them away.
In the times of Daniel, their reality was the physical invading and kidnapping of so many of these young men. Commentaries confirm that the young men were merely 15 years of age…teenagers. What was done physically in Daniel’s teenage years is done mentally in the lives of our teenagers. I am sure that the enemy patiently waits for the teenage years because that is where he has such overwhelming success. He lures them with the hypnotic lust of power, wealth, sex and social status. He carries them off in promise and hope for a fast track to all of these…with a silver tongue he impresses his motto, 'No need to wait for what you are entitled to receive! It is all about you and no one else!'
I only have to look at my own children as well as my nieces to see who fell for Babylon in their teenage years. Who bought the lies of the language and distributed the literature of their kidnappers? The king of evil orders and targets the children of God specifically because he knows they have the power to make a difference in God’s plans. He hypnotizes these young and formative minds with the focus being on what they deserve and to what they are entitled in this life. Some will be indoctrinated and deprogrammed and some will hold true to their teachings and convictions...but all are sealed and eternally saved if they are from the royal Family. Babylon is first introduced in the teenage years and seems to raise its ugly head throughout our lives. The motto is the same, ‘I am and there is none besides me,’ but the stakes get higher.
We must live in a keen state of awareness of the lures of our own Babylon. Babylon knows where we live and how to invade and kidnap, but thankfully we have a King who paid our ransom. We have a way back to the One who is home and will fortify our hearts.
Let us be quick to understand and qualified to serve!
There is nothing as sweet as the cry of a healthy new born baby. Relationships are formed and love grows as that child matures in life day by day. We train our children in the Lord and raise them to honor God and those in authority. After all, they are from the royal family of God. We teach them the values of living within the boundaries of right and wrong. Life moves forward as they approach the age where Babylon invades and threatens to carry them away.
In the times of Daniel, their reality was the physical invading and kidnapping of so many of these young men. Commentaries confirm that the young men were merely 15 years of age…teenagers. What was done physically in Daniel’s teenage years is done mentally in the lives of our teenagers. I am sure that the enemy patiently waits for the teenage years because that is where he has such overwhelming success. He lures them with the hypnotic lust of power, wealth, sex and social status. He carries them off in promise and hope for a fast track to all of these…with a silver tongue he impresses his motto, 'No need to wait for what you are entitled to receive! It is all about you and no one else!'
I only have to look at my own children as well as my nieces to see who fell for Babylon in their teenage years. Who bought the lies of the language and distributed the literature of their kidnappers? The king of evil orders and targets the children of God specifically because he knows they have the power to make a difference in God’s plans. He hypnotizes these young and formative minds with the focus being on what they deserve and to what they are entitled in this life. Some will be indoctrinated and deprogrammed and some will hold true to their teachings and convictions...but all are sealed and eternally saved if they are from the royal Family. Babylon is first introduced in the teenage years and seems to raise its ugly head throughout our lives. The motto is the same, ‘I am and there is none besides me,’ but the stakes get higher.
We must live in a keen state of awareness of the lures of our own Babylon. Babylon knows where we live and how to invade and kidnap, but thankfully we have a King who paid our ransom. We have a way back to the One who is home and will fortify our hearts.
Let us be quick to understand and qualified to serve!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Plight of Answered Prayers
“In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death…Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD…And Hezekiah wept bitterly… ‘This is what the LORD…says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.’ A writing…after his illness and recovery: ‘…In the prime of my life must I go through the gates of death and be robbed of the rest of my years…You restored me to health and let me live...and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the LORD.” Isaiah 38:1-16.
The 38th chapter of Isaiah is the wonderful testimony of King Hezekiah. He has been given a death sentence only to be given the message that God has changed His mind, ordaining another 15 years of life for Hezekiah. Upon Hezekiah’s recovery he pens this beautiful testimony beginning with lament and sorrow but ending with praise and worship. He promises to testify to the glory of God every day until he dies. For Hezekiah, ‘every day of his life’ only lasted one. ‘At that time…son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift…Hezekiah received gladly and showed …everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.’ Isaiah 40:1-2. He opened himself up for friendly captivity. He became vulnerable to the enemy through his prideful display of every prized possession he owned. Instead of boasting in testimony about the LORD’s deliverance from death, he boasted about his worldly possessions for which he stored up…and was the enemy taking notes.
We can relate on some level as we have all experienced answered prayers at some point in our lives. We have a decision to make or we have been devastated with some news. We turn our minds and hearts ‘to the wall’ and begin negotiating with God, begging and pleading for the answer. We receive our answer to prayer and sing the praises of God for the moment. Then the crisis is over and life returns to the normal. We open our hearts to the world’s seepage allowing the temple of our hearts to collect its filth. We reflect our own lives instead of the reflection of God. We boast of our strength and power to others instead of testifying to the splendor of our God. We lay open our storehouses of integrity allowing the enemy to ravage through what used to be the treasures of our heart - the character of Christ.
We cannot allow the wondrous acts of our Savior to grow cold. They must be forever on our lips and remain alive in our hearts. Our testimonies are essential in our armor of God in our battle against evil. As long as we have God on our lips we cannot talk about ourselves.
The 38th chapter of Isaiah is the wonderful testimony of King Hezekiah. He has been given a death sentence only to be given the message that God has changed His mind, ordaining another 15 years of life for Hezekiah. Upon Hezekiah’s recovery he pens this beautiful testimony beginning with lament and sorrow but ending with praise and worship. He promises to testify to the glory of God every day until he dies. For Hezekiah, ‘every day of his life’ only lasted one. ‘At that time…son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift…Hezekiah received gladly and showed …everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.’ Isaiah 40:1-2. He opened himself up for friendly captivity. He became vulnerable to the enemy through his prideful display of every prized possession he owned. Instead of boasting in testimony about the LORD’s deliverance from death, he boasted about his worldly possessions for which he stored up…and was the enemy taking notes.
We can relate on some level as we have all experienced answered prayers at some point in our lives. We have a decision to make or we have been devastated with some news. We turn our minds and hearts ‘to the wall’ and begin negotiating with God, begging and pleading for the answer. We receive our answer to prayer and sing the praises of God for the moment. Then the crisis is over and life returns to the normal. We open our hearts to the world’s seepage allowing the temple of our hearts to collect its filth. We reflect our own lives instead of the reflection of God. We boast of our strength and power to others instead of testifying to the splendor of our God. We lay open our storehouses of integrity allowing the enemy to ravage through what used to be the treasures of our heart - the character of Christ.
We cannot allow the wondrous acts of our Savior to grow cold. They must be forever on our lips and remain alive in our hearts. Our testimonies are essential in our armor of God in our battle against evil. As long as we have God on our lips we cannot talk about ourselves.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The Babylon Mentality...Its All About Me
“You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’ Disaster will come upon you, and you will not know how to conjure it away. A calamity will fall upon you that you cannot ward off… a catastrophe you cannot foresee will suddenly come upon you.” Isaiah 47:10-11.
When we hear the words from fellow Christians ‘God will be faithful’ it generally evokes a word of encouragement and hope for the future. But in the same way God is faithful in our deliverance and rescues, He will be faithful in His warnings regarding our sins. The passage above is a final warning to His children regarding their worship of idols rather than God. God cannot be less than God so His word will always prove true. God handed His children over to the culture for which they worshipped. ‘Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.’ Daniel 1:1-2.
I think it is more than a coincidence that God’s children were not so blatant as to go into the city of Babylon. They allowed Babylon to invade their lives by their neglect of their city walls. They sat on the horizon unprotected and unaware of the looming attacks. They were comfortable in their worship and justified in their idols, making them vulnerable to the infiltration and kidnapping . They didn’t even lock up the articles of God in the temple but allowed them to sit as common place exposed to whatever the culture mandated.
We cannot allow our culture to carry away the precious articles of God stored up in our hearts and minds. We must spend time making God a priority in our lives building the temple walls of protection in our hearts. We cannot allow our Babylon mentality (I am, and there is none besides me) to convince us that we are justified in our emotions and are entitled to certain things and attitudes. Babylon has a king and its name is ‘I am’ (the counterfeit of God)…this king is constantly seeking a queen for its country to serve alongside and do the bidding of the culture for him. We must revere God and hold tightly to the things that belong to God so this culture will not carry away His teachings which are stored up in our hearts. Our treasure house will possess attitudes that will not fit into this earthly kingdom but are essential in God's kingdom where He will not share His crown with anyone...the true 'I AM.'
This is one crown we dare not wear….
When we hear the words from fellow Christians ‘God will be faithful’ it generally evokes a word of encouragement and hope for the future. But in the same way God is faithful in our deliverance and rescues, He will be faithful in His warnings regarding our sins. The passage above is a final warning to His children regarding their worship of idols rather than God. God cannot be less than God so His word will always prove true. God handed His children over to the culture for which they worshipped. ‘Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.’ Daniel 1:1-2.
I think it is more than a coincidence that God’s children were not so blatant as to go into the city of Babylon. They allowed Babylon to invade their lives by their neglect of their city walls. They sat on the horizon unprotected and unaware of the looming attacks. They were comfortable in their worship and justified in their idols, making them vulnerable to the infiltration and kidnapping . They didn’t even lock up the articles of God in the temple but allowed them to sit as common place exposed to whatever the culture mandated.
We cannot allow our culture to carry away the precious articles of God stored up in our hearts and minds. We must spend time making God a priority in our lives building the temple walls of protection in our hearts. We cannot allow our Babylon mentality (I am, and there is none besides me) to convince us that we are justified in our emotions and are entitled to certain things and attitudes. Babylon has a king and its name is ‘I am’ (the counterfeit of God)…this king is constantly seeking a queen for its country to serve alongside and do the bidding of the culture for him. We must revere God and hold tightly to the things that belong to God so this culture will not carry away His teachings which are stored up in our hearts. Our treasure house will possess attitudes that will not fit into this earthly kingdom but are essential in God's kingdom where He will not share His crown with anyone...the true 'I AM.'
This is one crown we dare not wear….
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