Not Just an "April Fool"

 For [simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [of you were considered to be] wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, not many of high and noble birth. [No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. - 1 Corinthians 1:26&27 AMP

Regarding this passage of scripture, Matthew Henry says:

“God did not choose philosophers, nor orators, nor statesmen, nor men of wealth and power and interest in the world, to publish the gospel of grace and peace. Not the wise men after the flesh, though men would apt to think that a reputation for wisdom and learning might have contributed much to the success of the gospel. Not the mighty and noble, however men might be apt to imagine that secular pomp and power would make way for its reception in the world. But God [sees] not as man [sees]. He hath chosen the foolish things of the world, the weak things of the world, the base and despicable things of the world, men of mean [lacking distinction or eminence] birth, of low rank, of no liberal education, to be the preachers of the gospel and planters of the church. His thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor his ways as our ways. He is a better judge than we what instruments and measures will best serve the purposes of his glory…To beat down the pride and vanity of men. God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.”

Among the founders of the gospel we find fishermen, and a tax collector; not philosophers, nobility, and those considered to be of high rank within society. These are the people Jesus chose to pour His life and truth into on a consistent basis. These are the people He chose to spread the gospel; the founders of His church. In Acts 4, we read: Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common men with no educational advantages], they marveled; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (vs.13 AMP)

What I’m trying to impress upon you is that you, YES YOU, can be used mightily by God regardless of any societal category you may fit into—rich, poor, unmarried, married, childless, foster parenting, living with physical impairment, very young, very old, renting a room, managing an empire…whatever! Humility is needed to be used by God. Whether society esteems you or not, God looks at the heart, and when you humble yourself, He will esteem you (James 4:10). Will you be a fool for God?

He's Preparing Me

Friday we talked about fighting the good fight of faith and that when those challenging seasons come upon us, God can use them to deepen our faith and trust in Him. In those circumstances He can also use them to prepare us for our future. It's tough but we can choose to adopt the perspective that says: "MY LIFE IS AWESOME. EVEN THOUGH I’M FACING A SERIOUS CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW, I’M SO THANKFUL THAT THE LORD IS GUIDING ME THROUGH IT, STEP-BY-STEP. Please hear my heart when I say that I do not exhort you in this manner lightly.  Some of the difficulties we face in this life are so hard that it may seem like they will kill us. I’ve been there. But in the midst of challenge, I’ve learned that we need to press into God; to read the Word, to meditate on and memorize the Word, to pray, to seek wise counsel, to pray in agreement with other believers, to submit to God...to do all the things we need to do to exercise our spiritual muscle. Not saying I’ve mastered this; I don’t do it perfectly. But it is true for us that this is how we must respond to the inevitable challenges. And, if you can get any encouragement from it, know that you are being prepared not only for your future matters but also for the benefit of others. (if you’re interested in hearing more about how I’ve arrived at this place, email me)

So, those thoughts reminded me of this simple and wonderful song by Daryl Coley “He’s Preparing Me”. These are the words:

He's preparing me for something I cannot handle right now.

He's making me ready just because He cares.

He's providing me with what I'll need to carry out the next matter in my life.

Preparing me! He cares for me!

Preparing me for everything that comes in my life!

Preparing me because He cares for me.

He's maturing me because He cares for me.
He's arranging me. Rearranging me.
He's preparing because He cares for me.
He is training me. He is tuning me.
He is purging me. He is pruning.

 

Preparing me! He cares for me!

Preparing me for everything that comes in my life

 

In case you want to enjoy this old school gospel song, here’s a link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WcwZO9htds

 

Closer Than a Brother

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Just a quick word about this verse. Matthew Henry says this:

Solomon here recommends friendship to us, and shows, 1. What we must do that we may contract and cultivate friendship; we must show ourselves friendly…Si vis amari, ama—If you wish to gain affection, bestow it.—Sen.Ut ameris, amabilis esto—The way to be beloved is to be lovely.—Ovid. [Solomon also shows] 2. That it is worth while to [cultivate friendship], for we may promise ourselves a great deal of comfort in a true friend...In our troubles we expect comfort and relief from our relations, but sometimes there is a friend, that is nothing akin to us, the bonds of whose esteem and love prove stronger than those of nature, and, when it comes to the trial, will do more for us than a brother will. Christ is a friend to all believers that sticks closer than a brother; to him therefore let them show themselves friendly.

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!

“But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit].” 1 Corinthians 9:27 (AMP)

I love boxing! Not doing it; watching it. J I appreciate the athleticism needed to be good at it. I know that among Christians, there is debate about boxing. The brutality and gratuitous violence are a point of contention. But please don't let that debate distract you from what I’m sharing today.

I love the imagery given here by the Amplified version of the Scriptures. Paul is telling the Believers at Corinth that he makes it a point to subject himself to hardship on behalf of God. To the Roman church, he encouraged them to present their bodies as living sacrifices unto God. This is the same sentiment that he is sharing with the Corinthians. Paul is willingly and proactively ready to undergo beatings (literally and figuratively) in order to be able to present himself as a holy and pleasing sacrifice to the Lord. Hardships are the way in which we grow in a depth of faith and trust that allows us to present ourselves as a sacrifice to God. As we’ve all heard before, the problem with a living sacrifice is that it moves! We try to get off the altar; not stay on and endure the burn! But Paul says that he brings his body under submission because he wants to be a steadfast believer. Because heaven forbid that he should teach the truth to others only to learn, when the trial comes his way, that his faith is a sham!

How about you? When the bell rings and it’s time to fight, will you come out of your corner ready to do battle? Ready to face an attack? To buffet means to strike sharply…to strike repeatedly…to batter…to drive, force, move, or attack by or as if by repeated blows. Jesus assures us that in this life we are going to have times of attack. There is no way to avoid that. So will you face it and fight or will you cower in the corner? Take a moment to close your eyes and imagine this: you are a boxer, you are standing in your corner of the ring, the first round bell rings and your opponent comes out of their corner with a murderous look in their eye. You, instead of coming out of your corner to fight, curl up in a ball on the floor. Your opponent (the adversary), starts beating the tar out of you as you cower! This is not the image of a fighter that the Lord is looking for.

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12

“Be careful—watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart.” 1 Peter 5:8 (TLB)

Let me encourage you – FIGHT! Welcome that buffeting because in that, the Lord is building up a giant in the faith! And as He builds you up, you become an unstoppable force for Christ.

Lord, may Your kingdom come and Your will be done on this earth and especially in our lives. Father, the buffeting is not pleasant but may we join in the suffering (MSG version says “take it on the chin”) like a good soldier of Christ Jesus [2 Tim. 2:3], so that along with those we’ve encouraged, we will be found to be holy and pleasing to You. Amen.

Don't Fret

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1

These are the words of our precious Savior. He is speaking words of comfort to His disciples…and to us; also His disciples. He spoke these words at the event which we call The Last Supper. He’d washed the disciple’s feet, He told them of Judas’ betrayal, that He would be leaving them, and even told Peter that he would deny Him in very short order. All of this He’d done out of love for them-for us. John 13:1b says “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” Jesus was about to go to the cross and this is what He chose to say to those He loved, “Do not let your hearts be troubled…” I well up with tears thinking about our dear Savior knowing what He was going to face in just a few hours, yet loving them—loving us—to the very end. But His love did not stop there. This was the end of His time here on earth but not the end of His love.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3b

Jesus, Who is God, comforted His followers saying that just as they believe in God, so also should they believe in Him. He knew there were some never before seen events that were going to occur and that they would need to firmly hold on to their faith. In 2014, and if we’ve been in church for a good length of time, we may not be as moved by the reality of what was going to take place with Jesus, the magnitude of Judas’ betrayal, the importance of Peter’s denial (and redemption), or the death and resurrection of Jesus, as we would have been to live through all of that firsthand. But for the disciples who also would go on to suffer unbelievable persecution, this was all new and very….well, troubling. Jesus gives them a little preview of things to come but says they need not be troubled. He also tells them that they will have an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, Who the Father will send to them to help them and be with them forever.

He says the same to us. We need not be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Christ Who will never leave nor forsake us. Dear one, no matter what the circumstances are that you are facing, don’t let your heart be troubled. Jesus is with you. He knows. He cares. And He’s sent His Holy Spirit to be with us forever – to help us.

Praise God!

DIGG Sessions

As followers of Christ we have a call on our lives. We each have a unique call, but there is also a “corporate call”, if you will, that is for all believers. A couple of days ago we recognized the “corporate call” of Micah 6:8 to act justly, love mercy, and live humbly. Here are a couple more scripts that help us to understand how we are to live in this world. We are to be His ambassadors on this earth. We are to lift Him up so that He can draw all men unto Himself.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

Well, as we engage this life of good works, we need to stay connected to God and make sure that we are hearing from Him exactly what He desires from us. We need to understand the work that He wants done because He gives us grace (divine power) to do His will and when we do His will, His kingdom will come.

Taking time in prayer and reading the Word is the perfect way to determine God’s will for us. My daughter refers to these times as “DIGG Sessions”. The question you are seeking to answer in these sessions is “Does It Glorify God?” The action you are contemplating, the words you want to say, the move you want to make – does it glorify God? I asked her a few questions about this idea…

What is a DIGG Session?

A DIGG Session is when you are thinking about what you are going to do and “Does it glorify God?” You’re asking yourself, “What I’m about to do, is this something that will draw me closer to God? Is this something that if God was right here with me, I would be happy to do with Him looking at me?”

Is there a structure for a DIGG Session?

The structure of your DIGG Session depends on you. You may consult your Bible with the glossary, you will want to consider God’s presence in the matter. Perhaps you will want to create a pros and cons list. Also, you can seek the wise counsel of others as a part of your DIGG Session.

Should a DIGG Session last a certain amount of time?

No. It will last as long as you need to get to an answer. Also, sometimes you do not have the luxury of time. In that case you may need to make a quick decision and then have a DIGG Session afterward. But whenever possible, take the time to DIGG prior to making your final decision.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah is attributed to the saying “Think 100 times before you take a decision, but once that decision is taken, stand by it as one man.” The idea here is that you do not rush into a decision, but once you have made your decision, you stand firmly by that decision and are not double-minded. James mentioned this idea of being double-minded in the book of James, chapter 1. And Christ made mention of this concept as recorded in the book of Matthew, chapter 6. S. Michael Houdmann says this: “A double-minded person is restless and confused in his thoughts, his actions, and his behavior. Such a person is always in conflict with himself. One torn by such inner conflict can never lean with confidence on God and His gracious promises. Correspondingly, the term unstable is analogous to a drunken man unable to walk a straight line, swaying one way, then another. He has no defined direction and as a result doesn’t get anywhere. Such a person is ‘unstable in all he does.’”

Remember that you are God’s design and that you have been crafted for good works. Works that will glorify God! Regularly engage in DIGG Sessions: seek wise counsel, seek God’s will, pray and read His Word. Ask God for wisdom in all that you do and He will give it to you…liberally! (see James 1) And then, once you have an understanding of what God desires from you, do not waiver. Do not let the enemy or any opposition deter you from fulfilling God’s will for your life. Go forward in His power. Glorify Him!

The Evaluation of Stewardship by Dr. tony Evans

I came across this devotional on stewardship by Dr. Tony Evans, and thought I’d share it with you. There’s a great question toward the end. And tomorrow, we will “DIGG” a little deeper into this idea of stewarding our talents.

The Evaluation of Stewardship

In His Presence: 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Each Christian will one day come before the judgment seat of Christ and will be evaluated for their Christian walk. This is when God will look at our stewardship, at our use of time, talents, and treasures. He will evaluate us not to determine our entrance to heaven—that has already been given through Christ’s finished work on the cross—but to determine our reward in heaven.

As we reconsider the parable of the three stewards in Matthew 25, let us first remember the issue of responsibility in stewardship. The three servants did not own the possessions they took care of; those things belonged to the master. None of the slaves could claim ownership of anything they had. In the same way, everything we have, are, or ever will be belongs to God.

We must also remember the issue of accountability. After time had passed, the master came back to see what the slaves had done with his money. We will all one day answer for the use of our resources. To the servants who invested wisely, the master gave public praise and more treasures (vv. 21, 23), but to the servant who buried his talent in the ground, he gave a tongue-lashing (v. 26). Each one got the reward he was due.

How can we prepare for the day when we will answer for the use of our time, talents, and treasures? Start rewriting our obituaries now! We can’t change the past, but we can change tomorrow. Begin reorganizing your life to reflect your changed priorities.

One Minute Please

Live so that at His judgment seat, God will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

VICTORY!

You cannot win the battle that you do not fight.

You will not win a race that you do not run.

But if you will fight and if you will run, you will be victorious!

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7&8

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” Revelation 2:11

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” Hebrews 12:1

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” 1 Corinthians 9:24&25

“but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

Thank God for the victory!

Sunday!

Knowledge...Sobriety...Faith...Fittin' In

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3

There is a risk that the more we learn (and the more we think we know) we can begin to think of ourselves as superior to others. Although “knowledge is power”, we who have attained a great deal of it, must remain humble. With increased knowledge, ideally, we begin to understand how much we really don’t know. For the Christian, this is particularly important because, as Paul goes on to explain, we are all part of one body and each of us has value and a purpose. Perhaps our purpose is different from our brother, but it is no less and no more important that his. There is no room in the Christian life to be anything other than humble. Brennan Manning gives this great illustration:

Pundits have long maintained that the only person more arrogant than a newly certified physician is a newly ordained priest. At the age of twenty-nine, with the holy oils of ordination still wet on my hands, I sallied forth to teach theology at the university level. Exuding a brisk air of professional enthusiasm and a suffocating spirit of hubris, I expostulated so brilliantly on the mystery of God that after one semester, there was no mystery left. When I heard an elderly and saintly friar in the monastery comment, “The older I get, the less I understand about God,” I assumed that it was his sincere attempt at modesty. Secretly, however, I pitied his shallowness. Looking back now, I shudder at my “profundity.”

It is God who works in us, who moves through us, who gives us grace to do all that we do. It is the Lord who liberally imparts wisdom when we ask. It is the Lord who has “assigned” our value and crafted our calling in this world. It is He who imparts the gifts we have. So it is with sober thinking that we must recognize His work in our lives and, by faith and with humility, fulfill His call and purpose.

Hope

May [you allow] the God of hope [to] fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 [brackets added for clarity]

Amen! ‘Nuf said. I want the God of hope to fill me with all joy and peace, and I want to overflow with hope! I receive this blessing.

But wait! There’s more. Paul writes this to the Romans in the context of encouraging them to bear with those who are more fragile in the faith. The amplified version of verse 1 reads this way: “We who are strong [in our convictions and of robust faith] ought to bear with the failings and the frailties and the tender scruples of the weak; [we ought to help carry the doubts and qualms of others] and not to please ourselves.” Paul goes on to clarify that the way that we may do this is by taking on the mind of Christ, who accepted us and became a Servant to us – to the glory of God, the Father. In the same way, we accept and serve those more fragile than we. And through the prophetic words of old, we are taught endurance and are encouraged, so that we may serve with and impart hope.
So it is in this context, then, that Paul pronounces this blessing over the Roman believers: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace…may you overflow with hope! This is not just a blessing for believers to grasp and bask in the goodness. Rather, it is a command (of sorts) that, when adhered to, allows us to then minister to others, to support, to encourage. From what I can tell, James Strong indicates that this word “may” is not so much to be understood as an uncertain possibility, but as a right; something lawful. It indicates that we are to “let” the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace… This is the reason for the words in brackets-clarity. God wants to fill us. Our responsibility is to trust Him and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in us…for the edification of others and the glory of God.

Be Fair...Love Mercy...Live Humbly

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly [prudently] with your God. Micah 6:8

For many, me included, this is a “life verse”. You know, one of those ones that you memorize and attempt to live by. For all believers, this is a very succinct way to summarize what the Lord wants of us. And He does not leave us alone to figure it out ourselves—no, by His sufficient grace, we have the power of the Holy Spirit within us to meet this calling on our lives. Matthew Henry explains further: (1.) We must do justly, must render to all their due, according as our relation and obligation to them are; we must do wrong to none, but do right to all, in their bodies, goods, and good name. (2.) We must love mercy; we must delight in it, as our God does, must be glad of an opportunity to do good, and do it cheerfully. Justice is put before mercy, for we must not give that in alms which is wrongfully got, or with which our debts should be paid. God hates robbery for a burnt-offering. (3.) We must walk humbly with our God. This includes all the duties of the first table, as the two former include all the duties of the second table [*]. We must take the Lord for our God in covenant, must attend on him and adhere to him as ours, and must make it our constant care and business to please him…  

*[The first and second table refer to the Ten Commandments when they are separated into the categories of 1) our relationship with God, and 2) our relationship with humanity]

As Henry points out, our adherence to the mandate laid out in the Micah passage will allow us to fulfill the Ten Commandments of our God. You may be saying, “Wait a minute! We are no longer under the law. With the coming of Christ, we are now under grace!” Yes, those commandments appear in the Old Testament, as also the words in Micah, but as the words of Christ were recorded in Matthew 4:17-18, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished…” Although we are standing in the grace of God (Romans 5:2) we ought not to fool ourselves into thinking that these divine requirements are now moot. Indeed they are still relevant to us today. But again, mercifully, we have His Holy Spirit to empower us to live according to His will, and we can stand before a righteous God and be seen as righteous because of the sacrifice of our Savior!

So, what is your life verse? Do you have one? Maybe you have several of them! Feel free to share with us!

Creator...Savior...Soon Coming King

Jesus is our wonderful creator (John 1:1-3), He is our Savior (Luke 19:10), and He is the coming King (Hebrews 9:28).  It is beautiful to see Him in these three ways because it allows us to understand Him as the One who journeys with us from before conception through eternity. Jesus was at the right hand of the Father as they created all we see described in the Genesis account. Jesus is the One who went to the cross on our behalf, paying the price for our sins and thereby giving us the opportunity to live with Him eternally in heaven. And Jesus is the King who will come to gather His people unto Himself that we may be with Him where He is…for eternity. I praise God for the One who knows me and loves me unconditionally—the One who created me for relationship and desires to be in relationship with me now and for eternity.

Those who contributed to the crafting of the hymn How Great Thou Art, worshipped the Savior with these words:

O Lord my God, when I, in awesome wonder,

consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder -

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

 

Refrain:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee.

How great Thou art. How great Thou art.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee.

How great Thou art. How great Thou art!

 

And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,

sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in.

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin.

[Refrain]

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,

and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.

Then I shall bow in humble adoration

and there proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

[Refrain]

Forgiveness = Freedom

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

This is a beautiful promise which is foundational to the Christian faith. Our dear Father desires for us to come to Him with a humble heart, seeking His forgiveness of our sins. When we do, He will forgive us and reconcile us to Himself, so that we stand righteous before Him. This is freeing! Knowing that we are forgiven means that we don’t need to carry around the weights of guilt and shame which only serve to hinder God’s ability to move in our lives.

Sometimes we can know of and understand that God forgives, but withhold forgiveness from ourselves. Perhaps you have participated in an act which you label as being particularly grievous—heinous—unforgivable? God’s Word says there is forgiveness even for that. Will you receive it? Will you accept His gracious gift and also forgive yourself?

Brennan Manning expresses the sentiment this way: “If the Lord Jesus Christ has washed me in his own blood and forgiven all my sins,” the ragamuffin whispers to herself, “I cannot and must not refuse to forgive myself.”

Dear heart, if this is you, I invite you to trust and rest in the forgiveness of our great God. Draw His forgiveness into you, embracing it voraciously, and let it permeate your life so that His truth is also your reality.

Be free.

The Good Life

This is the good life

 I've lost everything

 I could ever want

 and ever dream of.

 This is the good life

 I found everything

 I could ever need

 here in Your arms.

- Audio Adrenaline (Good Life)

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). - John 10:10 AMP

Giving a Logical Defense

“But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.” 1 Peter 3:15 AMP

This passage in Peter indicates an assumption that if we hold Christ in our hearts and reverence Him—recognizing that He is holy and honoring His lordship—we will make a noticeable impact on the world. As we live out our lives, people will be drawn to us and will ask about what they are seeing! Peter notes hope but we also see in other areas of scripture that people will see our works and glorify God and that they will recognize we are Christians because of the way we love others. It is a beautiful thing to allow the Lord to take center stage in our lives; to allow Him to shine.

So Peter is telling us that we need to live in a way that honors God and that we also need to be ready to give a logical defense for the hope that shines through us. Hope is a very attractive attribute in a person. In an age where many people are without hope; without an expectation and anticipation (esp. of good, as we Christians have), a hopeful person shines like a beacon in the darkness. So we must be ready to tell them what’s happening in us. Are you ready to do that? Have you practiced your “3-minute gospel synopsis” so that you can share quickly and effectively whenever you are given the opportunity? If not, start working on that. Maybe you might share 1) where God brought you from 2) the fact that Christ is the Savior who give hope and 3) that the hope is for everyone who wants to receive Christ.

Finally, Peter admonishes us to do this with courtesy and respect. Other translations say “gentleness and respect” or “meekness and fear”. The fear in this verse indicates and appropriate reverence for an almighty God. That is the only “fear” we should have because God has not given us the spirit of fear [timidity and faithlessness] but of power, love, and a sound mind. So with gentleness and respect for others and with a reverence for God, we share the reason for the hope that is in us. Praise God!

…the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. - Psalm 147:11

Trust

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  Proverbs 3:5&6

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13

At the end of December we talked about resolutions for the New Year and I suggested that we may want to be resolute regarding our trust in God. I’m checking in with you on that. How are you doing with your trust?

If your 2014 has been anything like mine, you have had plenty of opportunity to trust the Lord, to lean on Him, to ask Him to show Himself strong on your behalf. And, if you are anything like me, your trust has been shaky some of the time. In order to help me with my trust, it is helpful for me to remember who God is. Yesterday we looked at just 10 of the many reasons to celebrate our God. Well, this is a good start for me because it reminds me that the One whom I trust is faithful to His word. He is trust worthy. Micah 7:5-7 says this: Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms; for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

Micah is setting the trust worthiness of our Lord against the trust worthiness of man and concludes that it is best to look to the Lord for strength and grace. He is our salvation. He is our guide. He is to be trusted over any human being or circumstance.

Thank You Lord that we can put our trust in You. “As the Scriptures tell us, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.’” Romans 10:11

Celebrating God...10 Reasson

There are so many reasons to celebrate our great God! Here are just a few that are on my heart today. What will you add to the list?

He is perfect.

As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30

He loves us.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

He deeply cares about every person He created.

How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God! How vast in number they are! Psalm 139:17

He is our source of strength.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

He carries our burdens for us.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Psalm 68:19

He sent a Savior for us.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

He has provided us with all we need.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

He has made a place in heaven for us.

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:2&3

He has sent the Holy Spirit to live in us.

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:25&26

He is our source of joy and peace.

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14.27

"Coming in Hot and on a Weird Angle!"

“Coming in hot and on a weird angle!”

This is how my daughter humorously described an attempt I made at pulling into a parking space about two months ago. Admittedly, I probably should not have been trying to get into that space because I was on a weird angle. Also, because of the weird angle, I had to swing wide and, in her evaluation, was going a little too fast (hence the description “coming in hot”). We’ve laughed several times about not only that incident but also that phrase. For us, that phrase has come to be a descriptor for any event that is taking place in a way that is not as it should be and that is overly aggressive.

A while ago we talked about those “drumroll” periods in our lives—when we know something is going to happen, but it hasn’t happened yet. The purpose of that writing was to invite us to wait well. The purpose of this one is to bring awareness to the impatience that can sometimes develop while we wait, and to be mindful of how we may view and relate to God in these times.

During these waiting periods, do you ever find yourself “coming in hot” with regard to your communication with God? Do you ever notice you are being aggressive with Him rather than realizing He is on your side and that while you can be assertive, you need not be hostile? Have you ever gotten to a point that you are frustrated and feel that you are at your wit’s end? If so, you may have approached God with some aggression. And what can happen to us in these times is that we approach God from a skewed perspective. Our frustrations, our desires, our impatience, and our ignorance regarding what is happening in the spirit realm can all result in our thinking being a little bit off center—on a weird angle, so to speak.

God invites us to labor in prayer with Him. With Him. He is our dear Father. He loves us. He has promised that He will neither leave us nor forsake us. He is on our side. (and if God is for us, who can be against us, right?!?!) When we pray with Him…when we cry out… He answers. It is tough enough to go through these times of waiting and trial without adding the tension of questioning whether or not God is on our side. Press into Him through prayer and praise. He loves when we pursue relationship with Him! Be relentless. And remember that He has great plans for you right there in the midst of your challenging season. No need to come in hot—no need for the weird angle. Instead try trust, reliance, humility, asking, seeking, knocking, and joyfully waiting with confident expectation that He fulfill every one of His promises.

For no word from God will ever fail.  Luke 1:37

Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Powerful in Him

God has granted us a great deal of authority on this earth. He has given us His Holy Spirit. He has spoken to us about the authority we have when we abide in Him and act in line with His will. And our brother Paul reminds us that we can do ALL THINGS though Christ who strengthens us (who imparts to us His divine power).

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.  Luke 10:19

“In Luke 10:19, Jesus gave authority to His disciples, giving them power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and power over the enemy. From Pentecost on, all Christians have God-given authority to do the same. Ephesians teaches that Christians are members of the Body of Christ, that Jesus Christ is the Head of His Body and all things are under His feet. Therefore, all things are subject to His Church.” – Peter Miller

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” Mark 11:22&23

The Word is replete with assurances from Christ that the Christian is to walk in their God-given authority. The Word of God also says this: Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. 1 Peter 2:16

The balancing factor for the supernatural authority and power that the Christian can exercise is the admonition to live as a slave to God. We who have accepted Christ as our Savior have been set free from the law of sin and death (John 8:36; Romans 8:2) so we are able to live as free people. This is a gift from God! But the 1 Peter passage helps us to put any wayward desires in check, reminding us that we are not to use our freedom as a ticket to live a life that is out of God’s will. We are now subject to His authority. Our authority and freedom are given to us by God therefore we now can choose to serve Him—the loving, righteous, great God—rather than being under the oppression of the enemy of our souls (Peter 5:8).

I want to encourage you to take hold of the truth found in the Word of God. I want to encourage you to operate in your God-given gifts. I want to encourage you to trust and believe all that the Lord says and to move through life with the authority given to you as a child of God—as the body of Christ. Be led by His Spirit! Fulfill His call on your life! And always remain humble and teachable so that like Paul you may have the mindset of being weak before God, and that the Lord’s power may rest on you.

But He said to me, “My grace [divine empowerment] is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  2 Corinthians 12:9a

Great is Thy Faithfulness

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

• “Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
    Morning by morning new mercies I see;
  All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
      “Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

-  Thomas Chisholm

Today let’s praise God for His great faithfulness!

Does God Change His Mind? Divine Repentance by R.C. Sproul

Doing some research, I came across this very interesting article and thought I’d share it with you. This is a matter that I’ve heard discussed a few times and I believe this article deals well with the subject...or at minimum, if provides good text for discussion....

Does God Change His Mind? If God is immutable, if He does not change at all, does that mean He never changes His mind either? This is a very thorny problem. The Bible appears to say at times that God changed His mind.

Consider, for example, the following episode that took place in the time of Moses: Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said: “LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.” So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. (Exod. 32:11-14)

God “relented”? Other translations render the words here, “changed His mind.” This narrative seems to make it absolutely clear that God does, in fact, change His mind from time to time. Maybe His being doesn’t change, but does His mind cast a shadow every once in a while? The problem becomes more vexing when we read elsewhere in Scripture:

“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it. (Num. 23:19-20)

This same concept is repeated elsewhere: “And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent” (1 Sam. 15:29).

Is this a contradiction in Scripture? How are we to understand this?

We could throw up our hands and agree with the Bible’s critics who insist that this is a blatant error or contradiction. A more judicious approach would be to grapple with the problem of what is called phenomenological language. (The illusion or appearance of something, “the way we see it” from our perspective. As they appear to us, not necessarily as they really are. The aim of the writer is to make a theological statement, a truth about God and man and his world, he’s not using modern scientific precision and technical terminology.

Scripture frequently describes events in terms of how they appear to the observer. The Bible does not “teach” that the sun revolves around the earth, but it does speak about sunrises and sunsets. (Even modern scientists do this when they are using ordinary language. Listen to what the meteorologist on your local TV station says about the sun’s “rising” and “setting.”)

The most obvious use of phenomenological language in the Bible is its use of human terms to describe God. The Bible speaks of His coming and of His going, of His becoming angry, of His turning from wrath. He is described as having arms, hands, a face, and feet. Yet this multitude of references to God via human imagery is qualified by sober biblical warnings and reminders that God is not a man. It is noteworthy that in these “troubling” passages the qualifier is spelled out precisely in these terms: God “is not a man that He should relent [change His mind]” (1 Sam. 15:29).

If we took the discussion between Moses and God in Exodus and pressed the apparent meaning to the ultimate, what would it teach us about God? Not only would we think that God relented, but we would think that He relented because Moses showed God a more excellent way. Is it even thinkable to us that God should have an idea that is corrected by a fallible creature? If we entertain such a thought the ramifications are sobering.

For example, in the Exodus incident Moses pleaded with God, arguing that God would look bad to the Egyptians if He carried out His threat. Then God changed His mind? Think of the meaning of this in human terms: If God first thought about punishing His people, He must have overlooked the consequence of that action on His reputation. His reasoning was flawed. His decision was impulsive. Fortunately, Moses was astute enough to see the folly of this decision and persuaded the shortsighted Deity to come up with a better plan. Fortunately for God, He was helped by a superior guidance counselor. Without the help of Moses, God would have made a foolish mistake!

Even to talk like this is to border on blasphemy. That God could be corrected by Moses or any other creature is utterly unthinkable. Yet, that seems to be the implication of the narrative. This is a major reason why we must interpret the narrative passages of Scripture by the didactic or “teaching” portions. If we try to find too much theology in narrative passages, we can easily go beyond the point of the narrative into serious errors.

The biblical narratives in which God appears to repent, or change His mind, are almost always narratives that deal with His threats of judgment and punishment. These threats are then followed by the repentance of the people or by the intercessory petitions of their leaders. God is not talked into “changing His mind.” Out of His gracious heart He only does what He has promised to do all along – not punish sinners who repent and turn from their evil ways. He chooses not to do what He has every right to do.

The point of these narratives is to encourage us to pray. We are to make intercession. The promised threats of divine punishment are given with the condition attached that if we repent, we ~vi1l escape those punishments. Sometimes that condition is spelled out explicitly, while at other times it is merely implied. When we repent, then God removes the threat of punishment. The question is, Who is ultimately repenting here? God never repents in the sense that He turns away from sin or from error.

God is not a man. He does not ultimately or literally have arms or legs. He does not repent as men repent. He listens to our prayers but is never corrected by them. He changes not- neither in the perfection of His being nor in the perfection of His thoughts.

 

This article and further resources may be found at: http://www.graceonlinelibrary.org/doctrine-theology/doctrine-of-god/does-god-change-his-mind-divine-repentance-by-r-c-sproul/

 

Learn and Obey

1.         Step forward with your left foot (slow step).

2.         Bring your right foot diagonally across from where you started and step on it (quick step).

3.         Close your left foot beside your right (quick step).

4.         Step back with your right foot (slow).

5.         Bring your left foot diagonally back/to the side (quick).

6.         Close your right foot to your left and change your weight, back to your starting position   (quick).

If you memorize the six steps above, you can confidently tell anyone and everyone that you know how to do the Rumba. If they ask you to demonstrate it…well…you may run into a bit of a problem. You see, as we all know, there is a BIG difference between having head-knowledge regarding a matter and being able to carry out that same thing.

I recently heard a pastor say that American Christians are adept at learning the Word of God but not quite as adept at executing it. He admonished those he was teaching to not only learn, but also to obey.

Brother James put it like this: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22) It’s very easy to learn what God says in His Word but it is a whole different matter to obey His Word. Often we have distractions, habits, and yearnings that get in the way of even our most sincere desire to be doers of the Word. I’d like to encourage us that each time we read God’s Word, we would be wise to ask the Lord what He wants us to do in response, and then ask for Him to help us do it. We want to be intentional about reading God’s Word as an instruction manual; not a novel—digesting the Word and allowing it to transform us from the inside out.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24

Lent!

What is Lent?

Lent is the span of time in the church calendar that starts with Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday commemorates the beginning of Jesus’ 40-day fasting and temptation in the desert, and Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus’ resurrection from the grave after his crucifixion.

Lent, then, is generally observed as a time for Christians to reflect, repent, and pray as a way of preparing their hearts for Easter. It is commonly observed by many Christian denominations—Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and others—although not every Christian church or denomination does so. Because Lent is not officially instituted in Scripture, observing it isn’t in any way a “requirement” of Christianity. However, Christians from many different theological persuasions choose to observe it as a way of focusing their thoughts on Jesus Christ during the Easter season.

How does one observe Lent? It differs from person to person and church to church, but some of the things Christians opt to do to observe Lent include:

> On the first day of Lent (Ash Wednesday), some Christians mark their foreheads with ash as a symbol of sorrow and mourning over their sin. (See Job 42 for an example of ash used as a symbol of repentance.)

> Special worship services, or additions to regular worship services, that focus in various ways on man’s need for repentance. This often takes the form of extra Scripture readings and prayer.

> Some Christians choose to give up a habit or behavior during Lent as an exercise in prayerful self-denial. This might range from something as simple as not drinking soda during Lent to a full-blown program of fasting.

> Some Christians commit to a special devotional activity during Lent—for example, daily Scripture reading, regular prayer for a specific person or topic throughout Lent, or volunteer work in their community.

The choice to observe Lent is a personal one—the whole point is to focus your heart and mind on Jesus during the journey to Easter. There’s no requirement to observe it, nor should you feel guilted into participating. However, millions of Christians around the world do observe Lent each year; if you’ve never done so, why not give it a try? Whether you observe Lent in a small or major way, you’ll be amazed at what happens when you devote a part of each day to reflecting on Jesus Christ and God’s Word.

See this full article and gain access to Lent devotionals at: http://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2012/02/what-is-lent/

Working Out Your Faith

Ok, prepare yourself. I’m getting ready to be transparent again. Three years ago I had foot surgery. It was a major surgery where a torn tendon had to be repaired and my heel bone needed to be shifted over a couple of millimeters in order to get it properly aligned with my knee. I came away with tons of stitches, and a few pieces of hardware as parting gifts. I also sport a gnarly (yet very impressive) scar on that foot. As a result of the surgery, I was unable to walk on my right foot for several months. In the process, I lost a good amount of weight in that leg and my muscles atrophied. Once I was finally able to walk without a cast or brace, I was a little self-conscious about my legs being two different sizes so I stayed away from shorts or short skirts when I was out in public. However, once I was walking again, the mass returned fairly quickly and I’m proud to say that my legs appear identical now!

Appear. You see, my right leg is not the same as my left. You’d really have to examine it closely to see that the shape and size is slightly different from my left. I did a little research regarding the rebuilding of muscles after a period of atrophy and this is what I learned: While the mass returns fairly quickly, the muscle function does not. It has to be worked on but the former strength and endurance can be regained. For me, I have the additional factor that my foot does not function exactly the way it did before surgery now that it is aligned differently so that affects how my leg has recovered. My muscles have not recovered to be quite the same yet. My right leg can be just as strong as before and just as strong as my left leg, but right now there is a difference. And in my case, it’s visible.

Did you know that the same principle applies with our spiritual muscles?

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” 2 Timothy 1:6

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12&13

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” 1 Timothy 4:8-10

We need to work out our spiritual muscles. How? Glad you asked. In Ephesians 6 we see ways in which we can be strong in the Lord: hold to truth, righteousness, faith, peace, salvation and prayer in the spirit. Some ways we might see this in action include:

Boldly operating in our spiritual gifts: Do you have the gift to heal in Jesus’ name? The gift of prophecy? How about discernment? Use these gifts boldly and frequently. Remember that the spirit of fear does not come from God. God has given you a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.

Working for, and unto, the Lord. Do what is right and good. Do what you are called to do by faith. In this way, you exercise your spiritual muscles.

Rejecting sin. We will not be perfect while we walk here on earth. However, we flex our spiritual muscles as we resist the devil. As we resist our fleshly and un-godly desires we become spiritually stronger.

Don’t let your spiritual muscles atrophy. Workout daily. Stay strong. But if you do have a period of inactivity (times of grief and loss can sometimes hinder us), you can still come back strong. As a matter of fact, you can come back bigger and stronger and deeper in faith! Don’t give up. Keep working.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10

The Art of Celebration

I was blessed and encouraged by this short story. I pray you will be also…

“There’s an old children’s story that illustrates the power of today’s lesson. It’s called the House of 1,000 Mirrors. One day, a small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit.

When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could.

To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1,000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1,000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the House, he thought to himself, “This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often.”

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1,000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1,000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, “That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again.”

Before we start our day today, let’s ask ourselves, “What am I communicating to others today? Will they celebrate with me or will they reflect my gloomy countenance?” Today, let’s make a point to reflect the Joy of the Lord.” – Sheri Rose Shepherd

I Would Rather Be a Slave

“Didn't we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Exodus 14:2

“The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.’” Exodus 16:3

The Israelites were not enjoying their transitional stage. It could have been a brief transition, but because of their hearts, it became very lengthy. Two things were true: they’d come from captivity and God promised them a wonderful land to possess and rule in. However, they were in neither place now and they were very vocal about not liking where they were.

Two problems helped to contribute to the Israelite’s discontent: #1 – glamorizing their tragic past and #2 – not taking hold of the promise of God for their future.  The Israelites were slaves who endured great oppression and genocide under Egyptian rule. Yet, in their state of transition, they remembered it for the supposed benefits. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with appreciating God’s provision in the midst of hard circumstances, but that is not what they were doing. The Israelites had been given a promise and saw the Lord move mightily on their behalf to escort them directly to the promise, but that wasn’t good enough for them. The Israelites suffered from a severe case of short-term memory loss. They saw the Lord spare their lives through the blood/doorpost miracle and the plagues. They saw the parting of the Red Sea – they walked through it! And when Pharaoh’s army tried the same thing—lights out! Cloud by day, pillar of fire by night, manna, quail, water from a rock…and still they grumbled, they lamented, they questioned.

I cannot come down too hard on the Israelites because I see myself in their behavior. Glamorizing the past? Been there. Knowing the promise but questioning God? Been there too. Forgetting the times He’s made a way for me when it looked like it couldn’t happen? Been there many times. It’s ridiculous! The fact is that God is faithful to His word. He loves us and all that He allows in our lives truly does work a good thing within us. So I have to consistently remind myself to exercise my faith, to meditate upon the truth of His word, to frequently recall all that the Lord has done on my behalf, and to remember these words:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Regardless of what my past was or was not, God has some great things planned for my future. I need to keep my eyes on Him and trust that His promises are true. How about you?