“One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him…Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’” Luke 17:15-18
I am convicted with a heaviness for which I haven’t felt in a while. It is no coincidence that God laid this passage at my feet this morning. This is the story of The Ten Lepers who all had faith to be healed by Jesus but only one came back to thank Him. My Bible Commentary states, ‘Only the grateful ten percent inherit Christ’s true riches. Jesus meets our turning back and our giving thanks with fresh blessings.’ p. 1436.
I have been one of the nine who didn’t return. I have been praying to God over the past week to fill me with His compassion and His love so I can pass that along to my father-in-law. It seemed that any little bits I could muster up would dissipate within 15 seconds of interacting with Bud. I began questioning the state of my heart and my ability to care and have compassion with him. I began doubting the kind of Christian I am and the compassion that I thought I have always had. Then God showed me my sin of unthankfulness. The reason I couldn’t access His riches such as love, compassion, patience and grace was because I had an unconfessed sin – lack of true gratitude. Yesterday, out of the blue I wrote down the first part of Psalm 51:10-12 – ‘Create in me a pure heart, O God and a steadfast spirit.’ It wasn’t until this morning that I read the rest of the verse. “Do not cast me from your presence of take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
I would like to share my journal entry from this morning in an effort to show the spiritual necessity of gratitude and praise to God in everything.
July 17, 2010: Oh Father, what a sinner I have been regarding my lack of thankfulness to You. You have given me everything to carry me in this season victoriously but I have lacked gratitude and praise lately. I haven’t truly praised you for all that you have provided. As a result I have not felt Your presence and mercies and have been void of joy in my life on all levels. Last night I said to Bruce that I do not feel joy in any part of my life…the devil had a victory in this war and here I lay spiritually wounded and bleeding. I now understand times that you withhold your best from us when we are less than our best. This morning I praise you for showing me the condition of my heart even if I do not like what I see! I thank you for the work you did on the cross that provides Your awesome forgiveness and continual blessings. I pray the prayer of David (Psalm 139:23-24) as I approach this day: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Amen)
Let us be in that ten percent who returns and falls at the feet of Jesus to thank and praise Him .
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
No Place Like Home
“For this reason I kneel before the Father…I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being…Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen.” Eph 3:16, 20
Nothing is more entertaining than watching the Wizard of Oz. It is one of my favorite movies and is full of life principles. Two scenes stand out in particular as moments that move my heart. The first scene which I relate to is where she stands before the wizard in disbelief that the wizard has a solution in his ‘bag of fixes.’ She has journeyed through her circumstances in hope of finding her solution and is at the end of her pursuit. There she stands at the face of her final hope only to realization that what she desires is not tangible. The second scene that moves me is her realization that everything she desired was within her all along.
When Christ indwells in our hearts through the Spirit we are afforded His little black bag of glorious riches. We do not have to beg for its contents as it is promised to us by Christ himself. We do not have to pursue its contents as it is within our inner beings once we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. Much like Dorothy, we approach the One who has the fixes desperate to get home, searching frantically for something that resembles our lives. I know for me it has been most recent the challenges of caregiving. It is a constant depletion of strength, energy and sometimes compassion. Unable to access these by my own ability I am daily approaching God to give me His ability to love sincerely, His patience, and His compassion. It is something that He guarantees if we will only believe that our depletions can be refilled by His riches of love, patience and compassion.
Dorothy was only asking for a way home but was given much more than a ride! She was given enlightenment, wisdom and gratitude. She was given a realization of riches within her own heart and an understanding of appreciation for her circumstances.
God will give us so much more than what we think we need from Him if we will only submit to Him and trust that He has everything required to live a victorious life in Him.
Remember, there is no place like Home!
Nothing is more entertaining than watching the Wizard of Oz. It is one of my favorite movies and is full of life principles. Two scenes stand out in particular as moments that move my heart. The first scene which I relate to is where she stands before the wizard in disbelief that the wizard has a solution in his ‘bag of fixes.’ She has journeyed through her circumstances in hope of finding her solution and is at the end of her pursuit. There she stands at the face of her final hope only to realization that what she desires is not tangible. The second scene that moves me is her realization that everything she desired was within her all along.
When Christ indwells in our hearts through the Spirit we are afforded His little black bag of glorious riches. We do not have to beg for its contents as it is promised to us by Christ himself. We do not have to pursue its contents as it is within our inner beings once we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. Much like Dorothy, we approach the One who has the fixes desperate to get home, searching frantically for something that resembles our lives. I know for me it has been most recent the challenges of caregiving. It is a constant depletion of strength, energy and sometimes compassion. Unable to access these by my own ability I am daily approaching God to give me His ability to love sincerely, His patience, and His compassion. It is something that He guarantees if we will only believe that our depletions can be refilled by His riches of love, patience and compassion.
Dorothy was only asking for a way home but was given much more than a ride! She was given enlightenment, wisdom and gratitude. She was given a realization of riches within her own heart and an understanding of appreciation for her circumstances.
God will give us so much more than what we think we need from Him if we will only submit to Him and trust that He has everything required to live a victorious life in Him.
Remember, there is no place like Home!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Broken By Circumstances...Forgiven Through Grace
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned…I am no longer worthy…’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe…Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf…Let’s have a feast and celebrate.’” Luke 15: 21-24
The father in this parable didn’t pay attention to what his son had so diligently rehearsed upon returning home. The father didn’t give weight to his son’s words but rather celebrated his actions. He was home…enough said. The same was true with my daughter when she was living apart from us during her drug addiction. Her words continuously told us she was sorry, was coming home and was turning away from her lifestyle of drugs. Her actions told another story which was her real truth.
The son’s appearance on the horizon told the story to his father. He was forgiven and restored to his previous status and position in the family. The boy’s discipline was in his consequences that he brought on himself. By the time he returned home he had suffered at the hands of his own doing which served as his discipline. The father didn’t have to do anything but celebrate. The same was true with me and my husband when Kristen appeared on the horizon humbled, repentant and hungry for reconciliation.
Discipline through consequences is that in-between stage between injury to relationship and reconciliation of fellowship. It is the work that must be completed before restoration may be returned and fellowship is deepened.
Christ acts much like this father. Sometimes He doesn’t chase after us when we ignore Him, set out for a distant country (our will) and become disobedient to His purpose. He knows the natural consequences of actions will bring on the downward spiral that will bring us to our knees. Words of promise of reconciliation will not suffice but only our appearance on the horizon with a broken heart and a defeated spirit desiring to return to our Father and to the heart of God.
The father in this parable didn’t pay attention to what his son had so diligently rehearsed upon returning home. The father didn’t give weight to his son’s words but rather celebrated his actions. He was home…enough said. The same was true with my daughter when she was living apart from us during her drug addiction. Her words continuously told us she was sorry, was coming home and was turning away from her lifestyle of drugs. Her actions told another story which was her real truth.
The son’s appearance on the horizon told the story to his father. He was forgiven and restored to his previous status and position in the family. The boy’s discipline was in his consequences that he brought on himself. By the time he returned home he had suffered at the hands of his own doing which served as his discipline. The father didn’t have to do anything but celebrate. The same was true with me and my husband when Kristen appeared on the horizon humbled, repentant and hungry for reconciliation.
Discipline through consequences is that in-between stage between injury to relationship and reconciliation of fellowship. It is the work that must be completed before restoration may be returned and fellowship is deepened.
Christ acts much like this father. Sometimes He doesn’t chase after us when we ignore Him, set out for a distant country (our will) and become disobedient to His purpose. He knows the natural consequences of actions will bring on the downward spiral that will bring us to our knees. Words of promise of reconciliation will not suffice but only our appearance on the horizon with a broken heart and a defeated spirit desiring to return to our Father and to the heart of God.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
A Long Way Off...
“…the younger son got together all that he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth…After he had spent everything…he began to be in need. He longed to fill his stomach…” Luke 15:13-16
I cannot think of a better parable than this one as we can relate to the entire cast of characters. At different points in our lives we are called to be the forgiving one as God forgives us. There will be times in our lives when we are the rebellious son who flees from everything we know. Other times, we are asked to be joyful towards those who may not deserve it based on past circumstances. Several important points are worthy of notice.
The son was born into that family, so although he could separate himself from the family he never lost the birth into that family. Once we receive God as our Father through Christ we are solid and secure in the Body of Christ. We cannot lose our spiritual birth status, nor can we separate ourselves from the love of the Father.
At certain points in our lives we emotionally abandon a healthy and loving environment. We set our sights on a distant country in an effort to run away emotionally from our adversities. I know that I did this when I was secretly spending during the adversity of my daughter’s substance abuse.
I still get teary eyed when I read the portion of passage, ‘After he had…he began to be in need’ for this is moment of reckoning that each of us realize when things appear to be in shambles. The heaviness of realization of where our lives derailed creates a longing for home. When the inner emptiness and emotional loneliness envelopes us like a heavy fog in the dark early mornings we long for our spiritual stomachs to be filled.
As I humbly and thankfully type this next verse I praise the Father for His parental and unconditional love. “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw this arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20. God will not wait until we have it all together before He welcomes us back to Him. While we are far from perfect and reconciliation He runs to us and meets us where we are. Remember, the Bible teaches that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Women of Faith Study Bible states, ‘Through that parable, Jesus simply wanted to illustrate dramatically and clearly that we are loved by God the Father – loved beyond measure, loved beyond comprehension and yes, loved beyond what we deserve.’ Marilyn Meberg, p. 1719.
The father in our story didn’t seek his son but rather knew that his son must seek him first. Once the father saw his son’s intention of heart that was all it took for his father to come to him. The same is with our Father as He runs to meet us once the condition of our heart is shown with regret, humility and a longing for repentence.
I cannot think of a better parable than this one as we can relate to the entire cast of characters. At different points in our lives we are called to be the forgiving one as God forgives us. There will be times in our lives when we are the rebellious son who flees from everything we know. Other times, we are asked to be joyful towards those who may not deserve it based on past circumstances. Several important points are worthy of notice.
The son was born into that family, so although he could separate himself from the family he never lost the birth into that family. Once we receive God as our Father through Christ we are solid and secure in the Body of Christ. We cannot lose our spiritual birth status, nor can we separate ourselves from the love of the Father.
At certain points in our lives we emotionally abandon a healthy and loving environment. We set our sights on a distant country in an effort to run away emotionally from our adversities. I know that I did this when I was secretly spending during the adversity of my daughter’s substance abuse.
I still get teary eyed when I read the portion of passage, ‘After he had…he began to be in need’ for this is moment of reckoning that each of us realize when things appear to be in shambles. The heaviness of realization of where our lives derailed creates a longing for home. When the inner emptiness and emotional loneliness envelopes us like a heavy fog in the dark early mornings we long for our spiritual stomachs to be filled.
As I humbly and thankfully type this next verse I praise the Father for His parental and unconditional love. “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw this arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20. God will not wait until we have it all together before He welcomes us back to Him. While we are far from perfect and reconciliation He runs to us and meets us where we are. Remember, the Bible teaches that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Women of Faith Study Bible states, ‘Through that parable, Jesus simply wanted to illustrate dramatically and clearly that we are loved by God the Father – loved beyond measure, loved beyond comprehension and yes, loved beyond what we deserve.’ Marilyn Meberg, p. 1719.
The father in our story didn’t seek his son but rather knew that his son must seek him first. Once the father saw his son’s intention of heart that was all it took for his father to come to him. The same is with our Father as He runs to meet us once the condition of our heart is shown with regret, humility and a longing for repentence.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A Victorious Way
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust.” Psalm 40:1-4
Like many of the Psalms this was written by David. David seemed to possess an unquenchable passion for Christ. He ate, drank and breathed Christ in every facet of life with a few backslides that every other Christian experiences. I believe we can use these 4 verses to sum up the Christian life and responsibility to bring others to Christ.
1 – ‘I wait patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.’ – We will experience long running trials and endure suffering in this life. Notice that David didn’t say that ‘he came to me’ but rather ‘he turned to me.’ This infers that He is right by our side and never leaves us.
2 – ‘He lifted me out…and set my feet…a firm place to stand.’ – He responds and acts on our prayers. Our seasons of trials are temporary and He will provide calm times again. Through His deliverance we will get our bearings again and return to a calm life.
3 – ‘He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.’ - Our trials of pain will provide a testimony to others. We will serve as a witness to His faithfulness and deliverance. We will give deposition for the record much like a witness in a case does for their jury.
4 – ‘Many will see…and…trust in the Lord.’ – Our trials will produce fruit of the Spirit to be shared with others. Our suffering produces the fruit of salvation as God is honored and glorified through our testimony bringing others to Christ.
5 – ‘Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust.’ – Our reward for trusting God through our trials and testifying to His deliverance and love will bring God’s best for our lives.
These are the blueprints for life with Christ and our responses as exemplified by David:
Suffering, Promise, Deliverance, Testimony and Blessings.
Like many of the Psalms this was written by David. David seemed to possess an unquenchable passion for Christ. He ate, drank and breathed Christ in every facet of life with a few backslides that every other Christian experiences. I believe we can use these 4 verses to sum up the Christian life and responsibility to bring others to Christ.
1 – ‘I wait patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.’ – We will experience long running trials and endure suffering in this life. Notice that David didn’t say that ‘he came to me’ but rather ‘he turned to me.’ This infers that He is right by our side and never leaves us.
2 – ‘He lifted me out…and set my feet…a firm place to stand.’ – He responds and acts on our prayers. Our seasons of trials are temporary and He will provide calm times again. Through His deliverance we will get our bearings again and return to a calm life.
3 – ‘He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.’ - Our trials of pain will provide a testimony to others. We will serve as a witness to His faithfulness and deliverance. We will give deposition for the record much like a witness in a case does for their jury.
4 – ‘Many will see…and…trust in the Lord.’ – Our trials will produce fruit of the Spirit to be shared with others. Our suffering produces the fruit of salvation as God is honored and glorified through our testimony bringing others to Christ.
5 – ‘Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust.’ – Our reward for trusting God through our trials and testifying to His deliverance and love will bring God’s best for our lives.
These are the blueprints for life with Christ and our responses as exemplified by David:
Suffering, Promise, Deliverance, Testimony and Blessings.
Monday, July 12, 2010
In The Spirit
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24
The word worship is defined as ‘treating somebody or something as divine (deity) and show respect by engaging in acts of prayer and devotion.’ The older I get the more I am aware of my lack of true worship in the past. Going to church was something of an obligatory nature even as an adult. I would attend because it was what good Christians and good mommies did. There have been times when I saw what topic the minister had prepared for the upcoming Sunday only to determine I wasn’t sure if I really would enjoy that topic. There have been times that I didn’t feel like turning around and greeting others at the point in the service. It was not until I truly deepened my fellowship with Christ four years ago that I truly began worshipping in ‘spirit and truth.’
Approaching church with "Me" mentality is like attending a party for someone else and expecting to receive gifts. When walking through those church doors we act like we are the guest of Honor instead of the Father. If we really get into the Spirit and the Truth we are transformed by the experience of Presence. We come with humility much like the beggar who welcomes the crumbs. The Divine Deity is offering Himself in full measure and constant access daily and worship is our chance to make it ALL about Him instead of ourselves.
I must admit that I still find myself distracted occasionally, complaining about the volume of the music, etc…but I now catch myself immediately feeling embarrassed before God and repentant that I have made it about me. Upon repentance He lifts me up and carries me in His spirit for the worship experience. When we make worship all about us we miss out on the opportunity to lavish our appreciation, love and adoration back on the Father as an offering.
Wherever we worship and whenever we bow let us not look onward to ourselves but upward to our God.
The word worship is defined as ‘treating somebody or something as divine (deity) and show respect by engaging in acts of prayer and devotion.’ The older I get the more I am aware of my lack of true worship in the past. Going to church was something of an obligatory nature even as an adult. I would attend because it was what good Christians and good mommies did. There have been times when I saw what topic the minister had prepared for the upcoming Sunday only to determine I wasn’t sure if I really would enjoy that topic. There have been times that I didn’t feel like turning around and greeting others at the point in the service. It was not until I truly deepened my fellowship with Christ four years ago that I truly began worshipping in ‘spirit and truth.’
Approaching church with "Me" mentality is like attending a party for someone else and expecting to receive gifts. When walking through those church doors we act like we are the guest of Honor instead of the Father. If we really get into the Spirit and the Truth we are transformed by the experience of Presence. We come with humility much like the beggar who welcomes the crumbs. The Divine Deity is offering Himself in full measure and constant access daily and worship is our chance to make it ALL about Him instead of ourselves.
I must admit that I still find myself distracted occasionally, complaining about the volume of the music, etc…but I now catch myself immediately feeling embarrassed before God and repentant that I have made it about me. Upon repentance He lifts me up and carries me in His spirit for the worship experience. When we make worship all about us we miss out on the opportunity to lavish our appreciation, love and adoration back on the Father as an offering.
Wherever we worship and whenever we bow let us not look onward to ourselves but upward to our God.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Press On
“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings…Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…But as for you, continue in what you have learned…Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season…keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work…discharge all the duties of your ministry…The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.” 2 Timothy 4:10-22
The thought was complete and the pen was laid down as his ministry was drawing to a close. Paul’s last recorded letter in the Bible was to his ‘son in the faith,’ young Timothy. Paul cared for him deeply and worried about the effects that the secular world would have on the ministry. His charge to Timothy was one we should heed. Paul took his spiritual responsibility to degrees we might not have endured. He knew the spiritual temperature was rising against those who supported Christianity. Paul’s life was certainly a ministry but his letters were his legacy.
Think of all the times we have written a few thoughts down on greeting cards for the sake of encouraging someone going through tough times. Imagine if every word was going to appear in the Holy Writ for all to read down the road. Paul had no idea that his words would become the spiritual standard for which we should live our lives. He was simply proclaiming his devotion to Christ and encouraging another ambassador of the Great Commission. By this point, Paul knew the end was near and he would most likely suffer a horrible death as many Christian martyrs had before, yet he took the time to write, encourage, love and give caution to someone else.
I think of my dad and grandmother as I read my commentary regarding the last sentence of Paul’s recorded writings, ‘The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.’ My Bible commentary states, ‘The fragrance of his life and testimony abides with us still, and we shall meet him again and talk with him…’ p. 2128
I know all about my grandmother and dad’s teaching, their way of life, their purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance and sufferings. I have gotten many notes over the course of my life from them during their times of trials as they encouraged me, loved me and shared their faith with me apart from their own sufferings. All of these letters sound the same as they are inspired by the same Author.
Our walk of faith is written in ink on the blueprint in the life of a Christian. Great Christians like these may have departed but their ink is still wet!
The thought was complete and the pen was laid down as his ministry was drawing to a close. Paul’s last recorded letter in the Bible was to his ‘son in the faith,’ young Timothy. Paul cared for him deeply and worried about the effects that the secular world would have on the ministry. His charge to Timothy was one we should heed. Paul took his spiritual responsibility to degrees we might not have endured. He knew the spiritual temperature was rising against those who supported Christianity. Paul’s life was certainly a ministry but his letters were his legacy.
Think of all the times we have written a few thoughts down on greeting cards for the sake of encouraging someone going through tough times. Imagine if every word was going to appear in the Holy Writ for all to read down the road. Paul had no idea that his words would become the spiritual standard for which we should live our lives. He was simply proclaiming his devotion to Christ and encouraging another ambassador of the Great Commission. By this point, Paul knew the end was near and he would most likely suffer a horrible death as many Christian martyrs had before, yet he took the time to write, encourage, love and give caution to someone else.
I think of my dad and grandmother as I read my commentary regarding the last sentence of Paul’s recorded writings, ‘The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.’ My Bible commentary states, ‘The fragrance of his life and testimony abides with us still, and we shall meet him again and talk with him…’ p. 2128
I know all about my grandmother and dad’s teaching, their way of life, their purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance and sufferings. I have gotten many notes over the course of my life from them during their times of trials as they encouraged me, loved me and shared their faith with me apart from their own sufferings. All of these letters sound the same as they are inspired by the same Author.
Our walk of faith is written in ink on the blueprint in the life of a Christian. Great Christians like these may have departed but their ink is still wet!
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