“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:15-16
Many years ago Bruce and I went to California because of a work obligation on his part. One of the most breathtaking views was the one experienced from a ferry as we approached the city of Sausalito. I was taken aback with the beauty of its horizon as the beautiful homes peppered the rolling landscape. No one home towered over the other but each had an ordinary and humble beauty of its own creating a collective beauty in the city.
We have a city on the hill in Christ that shines as a beacon for those who approach. We each have an ordinary life with an extraordinary Light to shine through if we will use our adversities for the glory of God. If we selfishly take our pain and our circumstances and do not share it with others we will become ineffective in making this city shine. We must follow God’s instructions and live a life of transparency by placing our trials and God’s faithfulness in view for others to witness.
Those who do not know Christ are on the ferry searching for a place where they can feel at home. They are looking for a harbor for which to anchor where they can find accommodations, nourishment and provisions. They are longing for a place to live where the community opens their arms through encouragement and love.
The brighter we shine our individual light the more radiant the city becomes in its appeal to those weary travelers.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Pass The Salt
“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?” Matthew 5:13 The Message
What else can I say but I LOVE SALT! I probably don’t love it as much as Bruce does but I will never pass up salt. There is something about the taste that makes my gumbo more complete and my spaghetti just right. However, too much salt can ruin a dish.
God instructs each of us to be ‘salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors.’ I love this translation of the verse. As we interact with those in our lives or with the strangers we meet, we must be prepared to sprinkle the attributes of Christ through our actions. We should not withhold the seasoning of God - His compassion, His mercy, His forgiveness and love. In contrast, we should not dump the entire salt shaker over people’s heads leaving a bitter taste in their mouths from our ‘holier than thou’ attitude. When Christ is leading us we will be able to rub in just the right amount of seasoning. ‘Salt preserves and purifies, but not inside the shaker. It only works after it has been rubbed into the food.’ Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering, p. 62.
The process of ‘maintaining our saltiness’ is through the discipline of prayer, daily meditation and living inside of His word. If we live inside His word, His word will live inside of us and we will live our lives as seasoned salt bringing out the God-flavors of this world. We must have a heart of humility for the salt to preserve and purify our testimony. We cannot withhold our faith story from others by keeping it private. We must rub our story into the world and allow them to taste our God.
You may be the only one who offers this dish to them.
What else can I say but I LOVE SALT! I probably don’t love it as much as Bruce does but I will never pass up salt. There is something about the taste that makes my gumbo more complete and my spaghetti just right. However, too much salt can ruin a dish.
God instructs each of us to be ‘salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors.’ I love this translation of the verse. As we interact with those in our lives or with the strangers we meet, we must be prepared to sprinkle the attributes of Christ through our actions. We should not withhold the seasoning of God - His compassion, His mercy, His forgiveness and love. In contrast, we should not dump the entire salt shaker over people’s heads leaving a bitter taste in their mouths from our ‘holier than thou’ attitude. When Christ is leading us we will be able to rub in just the right amount of seasoning. ‘Salt preserves and purifies, but not inside the shaker. It only works after it has been rubbed into the food.’ Living Your Life As A Beautiful Offering, p. 62.
The process of ‘maintaining our saltiness’ is through the discipline of prayer, daily meditation and living inside of His word. If we live inside His word, His word will live inside of us and we will live our lives as seasoned salt bringing out the God-flavors of this world. We must have a heart of humility for the salt to preserve and purify our testimony. We cannot withhold our faith story from others by keeping it private. We must rub our story into the world and allow them to taste our God.
You may be the only one who offers this dish to them.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Blessed Are The Persecuted
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:10
Many of us believe that we cannot relate to this final beatitude since we live in a country that exercises the right to worship. There are still many people in this world who are persecuted for their following of Christ with torture and death. While these are certainly extreme degrees of service to God we all experience our own form of attacks and suffering for living a righteous life, a life pursuing the excellence of God.
When we make a conscious decision to turn away from our own standard of living and adopt God’s righteous standard of living Satan will turn up the heat. Living a righteous life is far from being perfect but it is choosing to live a life bent towards Christ through righteous living. In 2006, I made a decision one morning to go deeper with Christ and began doing little things differently which eventually turned my life upside down. As I grew more intimate with God, Satan launched a campaign against me. I have been under physical, emotional, mental and spiritual attacks. There were days that Satan won the battle but God was victorious in the war. God has had experience with Satan throughout time and is well aware of the onslaught of attacks from him to His children. God is all about preparing us for these attacks so we also must be aware and prepared. ‘Be prepared in season and out of season…with great patience and careful instruction.’ 2 Timothy 4:2.
He will make our steps firm as we navigate through suffering because He delights in us. ‘If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he will make his steps firm though he stumble he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.’ Psalm 37:23. To stumble is to trip up, to skin a knee or bruise a bone requiring minimal healing. To fall is to most likely sustain injuries, perhaps even a break, creating a longer period of healing and the possibility of secondary problems. With God carrying us through our suffering, we have the guarantee that while some days we may stumble in our faith we will never fall from His grace.
Though I stumble I will not fall for Christ holds my hand, sustains me and watches for cliffs…blessed are those who are persecuted for they will experience Christ.
Many of us believe that we cannot relate to this final beatitude since we live in a country that exercises the right to worship. There are still many people in this world who are persecuted for their following of Christ with torture and death. While these are certainly extreme degrees of service to God we all experience our own form of attacks and suffering for living a righteous life, a life pursuing the excellence of God.
When we make a conscious decision to turn away from our own standard of living and adopt God’s righteous standard of living Satan will turn up the heat. Living a righteous life is far from being perfect but it is choosing to live a life bent towards Christ through righteous living. In 2006, I made a decision one morning to go deeper with Christ and began doing little things differently which eventually turned my life upside down. As I grew more intimate with God, Satan launched a campaign against me. I have been under physical, emotional, mental and spiritual attacks. There were days that Satan won the battle but God was victorious in the war. God has had experience with Satan throughout time and is well aware of the onslaught of attacks from him to His children. God is all about preparing us for these attacks so we also must be aware and prepared. ‘Be prepared in season and out of season…with great patience and careful instruction.’ 2 Timothy 4:2.
He will make our steps firm as we navigate through suffering because He delights in us. ‘If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he will make his steps firm though he stumble he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.’ Psalm 37:23. To stumble is to trip up, to skin a knee or bruise a bone requiring minimal healing. To fall is to most likely sustain injuries, perhaps even a break, creating a longer period of healing and the possibility of secondary problems. With God carrying us through our suffering, we have the guarantee that while some days we may stumble in our faith we will never fall from His grace.
Though I stumble I will not fall for Christ holds my hand, sustains me and watches for cliffs…blessed are those who are persecuted for they will experience Christ.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Blessed Are The Peacemakers
“Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9
When I was growing up I would baby-sit for a family whom had adopted a little boy. I do not remember his story before the adoption but I was witness to all that he inherited as a result of this adoption. Many blessings and much security came into his life from the desire and love of his adoptive parents.
We have a Father who wishes to lavish everything He has on each of us. He has promised to take the worries and our fears and turn them into comfort and peace. He wishes for each child to have faith in His wisdom and promises, and trust that He is working everything together for our good. Everything passes through the filter of God so He is prepared to handle the fallout in any situation. There is not one set of circumstances wherein peace cannot be found if we are searching in the right place. ‘Now may the LORD of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.’ 2 Thess. 3:16.
Through receiving His peace we are positioned to dispense peace to others. We cannot impart what we do not possess. ‘God-peace stands out.’ Living Your Life As a Beautiful Offering, p. 50.
Yesterday, I awoke in the same set of circumstances in which I have awakened over the past eleven months. The only difference is that God set up a sequence of events that reminded me of my previous life of calm and order. It was an entire day of amazing peace…transcending peace…hopeful peace. Wednesday’s peace was a gentle reminder of good things from my past and a hope for good things in my future. It was a peaceful day that clothed me like a warm blanket, sipping on the warmth all day long.
When we take our position in the divine family we inherit His peace which we can pass along to others. Blessed are the peacemakers…as we share our inheritance.
When I was growing up I would baby-sit for a family whom had adopted a little boy. I do not remember his story before the adoption but I was witness to all that he inherited as a result of this adoption. Many blessings and much security came into his life from the desire and love of his adoptive parents.
We have a Father who wishes to lavish everything He has on each of us. He has promised to take the worries and our fears and turn them into comfort and peace. He wishes for each child to have faith in His wisdom and promises, and trust that He is working everything together for our good. Everything passes through the filter of God so He is prepared to handle the fallout in any situation. There is not one set of circumstances wherein peace cannot be found if we are searching in the right place. ‘Now may the LORD of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.’ 2 Thess. 3:16.
Through receiving His peace we are positioned to dispense peace to others. We cannot impart what we do not possess. ‘God-peace stands out.’ Living Your Life As a Beautiful Offering, p. 50.
Yesterday, I awoke in the same set of circumstances in which I have awakened over the past eleven months. The only difference is that God set up a sequence of events that reminded me of my previous life of calm and order. It was an entire day of amazing peace…transcending peace…hopeful peace. Wednesday’s peace was a gentle reminder of good things from my past and a hope for good things in my future. It was a peaceful day that clothed me like a warm blanket, sipping on the warmth all day long.
When we take our position in the divine family we inherit His peace which we can pass along to others. Blessed are the peacemakers…as we share our inheritance.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Pure In Heart
“Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.” Matthew 5:8
I am always amazed at the images for which God inspires me each morning. This morning as I was studying the concept of being pure in heart I pictured my fountain that is out on our patio. When kept clean it is beautiful and refreshing and brings me joy to experience. I am glad you are not on my patio to see the condition of my fountain! It is filled with stagnant water the color of grass and sits there ignored and neglected. (I believe there is even a dead lizard that found its tiny grave!) The joy that I receive when I clean up the fountain should keep me steadfast in caring for its cleanliness. Unfortunately, I get lazy and don’t want to do the work required to experience its beauty and refreshment.
This is the concept of being pure in heart. We allow our hearts to become still and stagnant, ignoring the daily cleansing required to keep our water running clear. It becomes tinted with hues that do not reflect the purity of Christ. Without running fresh water through the inner parts spiritual mold begins to gather. It becomes a graveyard for emotions instead of a cascade of living waters for not only our enjoyment but for others. I know that if the ‘fountain’ is clean the water that flows from within will also flow clear.
In the Bible, David was accredited with being a man after God’s own heart. He was a man in passionate pursuit of the Fountain that ran clear. In Psalm 51:10, his prayer was for a pure heart and a steadfast spirit. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” David was basically explaining to God that he had fallen away from his first love, God. He was in need of a total reworking of his inner parts. His fountain needed an overhaul from the inside out. He was asking for renewal and restoration as he had lost the joy he once possessed. We ask for what we know we can receive.
I can barely see that lizard through the green slimy water. It is a negative distraction and is a barrier for me experiencing joy. I have to get in there and pour out the old stagnant water and cleanse it well to clean it up. We must pray for a pure heart and do the work required for the water to run clear if we want to see God. Our lives will reflect the living waters and our joy will be restored.
Blessed are the pure in heart…their waters will run clear.
I am always amazed at the images for which God inspires me each morning. This morning as I was studying the concept of being pure in heart I pictured my fountain that is out on our patio. When kept clean it is beautiful and refreshing and brings me joy to experience. I am glad you are not on my patio to see the condition of my fountain! It is filled with stagnant water the color of grass and sits there ignored and neglected. (I believe there is even a dead lizard that found its tiny grave!) The joy that I receive when I clean up the fountain should keep me steadfast in caring for its cleanliness. Unfortunately, I get lazy and don’t want to do the work required to experience its beauty and refreshment.
This is the concept of being pure in heart. We allow our hearts to become still and stagnant, ignoring the daily cleansing required to keep our water running clear. It becomes tinted with hues that do not reflect the purity of Christ. Without running fresh water through the inner parts spiritual mold begins to gather. It becomes a graveyard for emotions instead of a cascade of living waters for not only our enjoyment but for others. I know that if the ‘fountain’ is clean the water that flows from within will also flow clear.
In the Bible, David was accredited with being a man after God’s own heart. He was a man in passionate pursuit of the Fountain that ran clear. In Psalm 51:10, his prayer was for a pure heart and a steadfast spirit. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” David was basically explaining to God that he had fallen away from his first love, God. He was in need of a total reworking of his inner parts. His fountain needed an overhaul from the inside out. He was asking for renewal and restoration as he had lost the joy he once possessed. We ask for what we know we can receive.
I can barely see that lizard through the green slimy water. It is a negative distraction and is a barrier for me experiencing joy. I have to get in there and pour out the old stagnant water and cleanse it well to clean it up. We must pray for a pure heart and do the work required for the water to run clear if we want to see God. Our lives will reflect the living waters and our joy will be restored.
Blessed are the pure in heart…their waters will run clear.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Blessed Are The Merciful
“Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7
There is nothing more heart wrenching than the realization that we need someone to show us mercy. We know we have wronged someone and question whether they will able to forgive and restore the relationship. For me, it was when God called me to expose my secret spending to Bruce. I knew that it would take a divine dose of mercy with my awareness that Bruce would not be able to give this to me on his own. I had created darkness for him through my lies and deceit and only through God placing His mercy into Bruce’s heart could light shine into the dark corners of hurt. This verse does not only mean God will show us mercy, but He will enable the hearts of those whom need to show mercy to us when we ask.
We cannot withhold mercy from those who ask us to forgive if we expect to receive God’s mercy. God will not give to us what we are unwilling to give to others. Thankfully, Bruce had received mercy so he was able through Christ to give mercy. He had been pardoned, so he pardoned…he had been given clemency, so he gave me clemency. Without the awareness and realization that we are shown mercy daily it will be impossible to show mercy to others. ‘To effectively give away mercy we must recognize where we have been given mercy.’ Living Your Life As a Beautiful Offering, p. 42. When we are granted mercy from someone our heart is humbled, our soul is grateful and our spirit is enlarged. When we are called to dispense mercy when someone repents for causing our hurt, we must give away the mercy that has been given to us.
‘Mercy requires that we keep short accounts of sin and injustice; have eyes to see beyond a circumstance and into the heart; learn to desire the salve of mercy more than the satisfaction of punishment; be willing to lay down our quick judgment and work on becoming compassionate.’ p. 42
Honestly speaking, there have been times in my life when I held mercy tightly in my fist. Thankfully, my awareness of my own flaws and need for mercy kept me focused on the obedience of showing mercy through receiving mercy. We do not determine to whom mercy will be given since we are all given mercy.
Mercy released is mercy returned…blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.
There is nothing more heart wrenching than the realization that we need someone to show us mercy. We know we have wronged someone and question whether they will able to forgive and restore the relationship. For me, it was when God called me to expose my secret spending to Bruce. I knew that it would take a divine dose of mercy with my awareness that Bruce would not be able to give this to me on his own. I had created darkness for him through my lies and deceit and only through God placing His mercy into Bruce’s heart could light shine into the dark corners of hurt. This verse does not only mean God will show us mercy, but He will enable the hearts of those whom need to show mercy to us when we ask.
We cannot withhold mercy from those who ask us to forgive if we expect to receive God’s mercy. God will not give to us what we are unwilling to give to others. Thankfully, Bruce had received mercy so he was able through Christ to give mercy. He had been pardoned, so he pardoned…he had been given clemency, so he gave me clemency. Without the awareness and realization that we are shown mercy daily it will be impossible to show mercy to others. ‘To effectively give away mercy we must recognize where we have been given mercy.’ Living Your Life As a Beautiful Offering, p. 42. When we are granted mercy from someone our heart is humbled, our soul is grateful and our spirit is enlarged. When we are called to dispense mercy when someone repents for causing our hurt, we must give away the mercy that has been given to us.
‘Mercy requires that we keep short accounts of sin and injustice; have eyes to see beyond a circumstance and into the heart; learn to desire the salve of mercy more than the satisfaction of punishment; be willing to lay down our quick judgment and work on becoming compassionate.’ p. 42
Honestly speaking, there have been times in my life when I held mercy tightly in my fist. Thankfully, my awareness of my own flaws and need for mercy kept me focused on the obedience of showing mercy through receiving mercy. We do not determine to whom mercy will be given since we are all given mercy.
Mercy released is mercy returned…blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Blessed Are The Meek
“God blesses those who are gentle and lowly, for the whole earth will belong to them.” Matthew 5:5 (NLT)
I like this translation of the beatitude of meekness. In earlier times I translated meekness with being timid and non-effective. My ‘attitude of this beatitude’ was more of a doormat translation. I should allow others to walk over me and give in to everything to obtain their approval. This is not the definition of meekness. The Greek translation is gentle, the positive moral quality of dealing with people in a kind manner, with humility and consideration. The Hebrew translation is humble, afflicted, poor, oppressed.
When Jesus lowered Himself to the floor to wash the dusty sandals of the disciples, He understood what it was to be meek. He understood that He came to earth in a servant role to exemplify the walk that God blesses. His gentleness was apparent as He surrounded Himself with the weak, needy and sick.
For me, 2010 was a year of meekness. It was year that God gently lowered me to my knees in desperation and made me well-acquainted with my flaws. He introduced me to things about myself that were unlovely and encouraged me to leave them behind. He proved to me over and over again that I make a sorry savior and that to ‘inherit the earth’ I must live out a life of total surrender. In my Bible Study, the author wrote a prayer to God that summed up my prayer for us all as we bid farewell to 2010 and wrap ourselves in the garment of 2011. May it bless you in the same way it blessed me.
God, today it’s just me, part of the way there, but so much further to go. It’s just me in both my desire and my weakness. It’s just the woman You made, still in process, not yet the woman You must have envisioned. Show Yourself to me today. Please take this offering and make everything I’m not more than enough because You live inside me. Amen.
There is a promise of cause and effect stated in Psalm 38:11, 'But the meek with inherit the land, and enjoy great peace. When we approach life with this meekness of spirit we enter into His land of peace. This land stands up to the tornodos of life and continuously produces in times of drought. My grandmother was the epitome of meekness in her humility, gentleness and servant’s heart. At 100, she said to me that she was still working on her faith. She too believed she was a work of God still in process…now that comes in for the blessing!
I like this translation of the beatitude of meekness. In earlier times I translated meekness with being timid and non-effective. My ‘attitude of this beatitude’ was more of a doormat translation. I should allow others to walk over me and give in to everything to obtain their approval. This is not the definition of meekness. The Greek translation is gentle, the positive moral quality of dealing with people in a kind manner, with humility and consideration. The Hebrew translation is humble, afflicted, poor, oppressed.
When Jesus lowered Himself to the floor to wash the dusty sandals of the disciples, He understood what it was to be meek. He understood that He came to earth in a servant role to exemplify the walk that God blesses. His gentleness was apparent as He surrounded Himself with the weak, needy and sick.
For me, 2010 was a year of meekness. It was year that God gently lowered me to my knees in desperation and made me well-acquainted with my flaws. He introduced me to things about myself that were unlovely and encouraged me to leave them behind. He proved to me over and over again that I make a sorry savior and that to ‘inherit the earth’ I must live out a life of total surrender. In my Bible Study, the author wrote a prayer to God that summed up my prayer for us all as we bid farewell to 2010 and wrap ourselves in the garment of 2011. May it bless you in the same way it blessed me.
God, today it’s just me, part of the way there, but so much further to go. It’s just me in both my desire and my weakness. It’s just the woman You made, still in process, not yet the woman You must have envisioned. Show Yourself to me today. Please take this offering and make everything I’m not more than enough because You live inside me. Amen.
There is a promise of cause and effect stated in Psalm 38:11, 'But the meek with inherit the land, and enjoy great peace. When we approach life with this meekness of spirit we enter into His land of peace. This land stands up to the tornodos of life and continuously produces in times of drought. My grandmother was the epitome of meekness in her humility, gentleness and servant’s heart. At 100, she said to me that she was still working on her faith. She too believed she was a work of God still in process…now that comes in for the blessing!
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