Breath… Ever feel like you can’t breathe? Feel like you are suffocating? ….like the air you breathe in just isn’t enough somehow, and you find yourself sighing over and over?
I often find myself doing that.
I just don’t always breathe right. Don’t breathe deeply enough. Breathe in the wrong stuff…
When God formed the first human, Scripture says “He breathed the breath of life into him. And the man became a living person.”(Gen.2:7)
“The heavens were made when the LORD commanded it to happen. All of the stars were created by the breath of his mouth.”(Ps. 33:6)
God created life and every facet of our reality.
God sustains life and every facet of our reality.
Don’t be fooled. You don’t do it.
Government doesn’t do it.
Education doesn’t do it.
A wealthy economy doesn’t do it.
Medicine doesn’t do it.
Not even religion does it.
He does.
“When You turn Your face away from them, they are terrified. When You take away their breath, they die and turn back into dust.”(Ps. 104:29)
A look into history will show that when the blessings begin to be withdrawn, when things get tough and the tough can’t seem to bring about restored blessing….people begin to pant and search for God, begging for help.
Time and time again, He has brought restoration and healing. How I praise Him for His mercy, and the perfect love He offers. My human nature is incapable of that perfect love, I am slow to extend love to those I deem undeserving.
Thank You Lord God that you do not have a heart like mine. And thank You Father that you have said, “I will not find fault with my people forever. I will not always be angry with them. If I were, I would cause their spirits to grow weak. The very breath of life would go out of the people I created.”(Isa. 57:16)
The breath of life within me is more than the oxygen my lungs process for maintaining this flesh. The real breath within me is what He breaths out.
Some days, I choose not to breath it in.
Some days I choose to ignore the breathe He provides, and choose to choke and spew on whatever is available. And be assured, the enemy of my soul provides alternatives to the breath of life from God.
Today, I choose life.
Today, I choose to breath in, what He breaths out.
“ God has breathed life into all of Scripture. It is useful for teaching me what is true. It is useful for correcting my mistakes. It is useful for making my life whole again. It is useful for training me to do what is right. By using Scripture, I can be completely prepared to do every good thing”(2 Tim. 3:16-17 personalized by me)
Call me a Bible banger. Call me a religious finatic. Call me a Jesus freak.
Call me whatever you like.
He calls me friend. (John 15:15)
I breath oxygen and have a heartbeat and pulse because He created human life, a life so very different from plant and animal life, because of His breath.
I breath the breath of God as I inhale what He has said, what He has done, and as I “Receive The Holy Spirit… that He breaths on me …” (John 20:22 personalized by me)
Don't be satisfied with anything else than the life made available and sustained by the very breath of God.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Limbo...
Limbo… Have you ever felt like you were living in it…just suspended somehow? Waiting?
Waiting to be a teenager.
Waiting to be 21 years old, that ‘magical’ ‘legal’ age.
Waiting to get married.
Waiting to have children.
Waiting for the children to be grown.
Waiting to have the house paid for.
Waiting for retirement.
Waiting to get a doctor’s report.
Waiting for a treatment plan.
Waiting on some difficult situation to get better.
Waiting on financial burdens to be lighter.
Waiting for next year when political offices change.
Waiting on the next election.
Waiting for the right candidate to come forward.
Waiting, waiting, waiting….
Living in limbo while you wait….trying to figure out what to do, how to do it, what not to do, and how to keep from doing that…..
And waiting on promises.
I often feel like I’m in limbo.
There are seasons of my life when that feeling is a constant thing.
There are times I want to do what the Thessalonians did, but Paul wrote to them, it’s recorded and preserved in scripture, so I have been instructed against it.
They believed in Jesus Christ, Who He is, what He accomplished. And they believed He was coming back to get them. So, they just pretty much quit the business of life, sat down and waited in limbo for that to happen.
“ Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him….
…….. stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter….
We hear that some among you are idle…..Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him.
Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.
Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
(2 Thes. 2:1,15 3:11-15)
It is true. I am in limbo.
Between eternity past, and eternity future.
But I am not to just sit and wait. I pray in agreement with Paul, “ May the Lord direct my heart into God's love and Christ's perseverance.( 2 Thes. 3:5 personalized by me)
Waiting to be a teenager.
Waiting to be 21 years old, that ‘magical’ ‘legal’ age.
Waiting to get married.
Waiting to have children.
Waiting for the children to be grown.
Waiting to have the house paid for.
Waiting for retirement.
Waiting to get a doctor’s report.
Waiting for a treatment plan.
Waiting on some difficult situation to get better.
Waiting on financial burdens to be lighter.
Waiting for next year when political offices change.
Waiting on the next election.
Waiting for the right candidate to come forward.
Waiting, waiting, waiting….
Living in limbo while you wait….trying to figure out what to do, how to do it, what not to do, and how to keep from doing that…..
And waiting on promises.
I often feel like I’m in limbo.
There are seasons of my life when that feeling is a constant thing.
There are times I want to do what the Thessalonians did, but Paul wrote to them, it’s recorded and preserved in scripture, so I have been instructed against it.
They believed in Jesus Christ, Who He is, what He accomplished. And they believed He was coming back to get them. So, they just pretty much quit the business of life, sat down and waited in limbo for that to happen.
“ Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to Him….
…….. stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter….
We hear that some among you are idle…..Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.
And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him.
Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.
Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
(2 Thes. 2:1,15 3:11-15)
It is true. I am in limbo.
Between eternity past, and eternity future.
But I am not to just sit and wait. I pray in agreement with Paul, “ May the Lord direct my heart into God's love and Christ's perseverance.( 2 Thes. 3:5 personalized by me)
Friday, January 20, 2012
Retirement...
Retirement… It’s a biblical concept, but I wonder if we haven’t distorted it.
After the tribes of Hebrew people left Egypt, and while they were traveling thru to the land that God intended to give them, there was a portable structure called the Tabernacle that served as the place to meet with God.
When the people moved, the Tabernacle was disassembled and moved with them, the structure itself and all the furniture and furnishings that served various purposes in the worship conducted there.
When the people stopped again and made camp, the Tabernacle was reassembled and readied again for worship and meeting with God.
One of the tribes of people, the Levi people, were designated to take care of everything concerning God’s Tabernacle and were also to conduct the worship activities.
If you were a Levite man, at the age of 25 you began to train for your work as a priest. At 30, you began to serve. (“Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting.” Numbers 4:3)
At the age of 50, you retired.
“The LORD said to Moses, "This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting, but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves must not do the work….”(Numbers 8:23-26)
The difference in their retirement and what we think of as retirement if huge. The 50 year old Levite priest retired only from taking down the structure and from the physical parts of the worship rituals.
They didn’t ‘retire’ and go back to the tent and sit in the recliner.
Their retirement was becoming a supervisor instead of a laborer.
Their retirement relieved them early from physical stress on an aging body. It allowed the older men to advise and counsel the upcoming workforce by on-the-job mentoring.
Retirement in our culture sounds like a great thing.
But I really doubt anyone enjoys not being useful to some body, some way, some how.
Maybe so, maybe no…. don’t know if I’ll ever find out !!!
After the tribes of Hebrew people left Egypt, and while they were traveling thru to the land that God intended to give them, there was a portable structure called the Tabernacle that served as the place to meet with God.
When the people moved, the Tabernacle was disassembled and moved with them, the structure itself and all the furniture and furnishings that served various purposes in the worship conducted there.
When the people stopped again and made camp, the Tabernacle was reassembled and readied again for worship and meeting with God.
One of the tribes of people, the Levi people, were designated to take care of everything concerning God’s Tabernacle and were also to conduct the worship activities.
If you were a Levite man, at the age of 25 you began to train for your work as a priest. At 30, you began to serve. (“Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work in the Tent of Meeting.” Numbers 4:3)
At the age of 50, you retired.
“The LORD said to Moses, "This applies to the Levites: Men twenty-five years old or more shall come to take part in the work at the Tent of Meeting, but at the age of fifty, they must retire from their regular service and work no longer. They may assist their brothers in performing their duties at the Tent of Meeting, but they themselves must not do the work….”(Numbers 8:23-26)
The difference in their retirement and what we think of as retirement if huge. The 50 year old Levite priest retired only from taking down the structure and from the physical parts of the worship rituals.
They didn’t ‘retire’ and go back to the tent and sit in the recliner.
Their retirement was becoming a supervisor instead of a laborer.
Their retirement relieved them early from physical stress on an aging body. It allowed the older men to advise and counsel the upcoming workforce by on-the-job mentoring.
Retirement in our culture sounds like a great thing.
But I really doubt anyone enjoys not being useful to some body, some way, some how.
Maybe so, maybe no…. don’t know if I’ll ever find out !!!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Becoming...
There is a slogan among hair salons… “If your hair is not becoming to you, you should be coming to us.”
It’s a catchy little advertising slogan. I’ve seen it printed on t-shirts and coffee cups.
I don’t use it. But during my quiet time this morning, I’m hearing it… with just a little twist…
“Connie…if what you see in yourself is not becoming to you, you should be coming to Me.”
What is unbecoming in me is beyond my fixing it. And once He has addressed the unbecoming mess, there’s always another unbecoming mess that becomes a problem.
Just like my house, my temple needs cleaning regularly. "What is my beloved doing in my temple as she….. works out her evil schemes?……”(Jer. 11:15)
And so, again, I find myself convicted by scripture.
“…. on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. (2 Thes. 1:10)
When, not if. He IS coming….to be recognized and acknowledged for all that He is…IN His holy people. And since I am His, that includes me.
He is coming to be glorified in me. And if you’re His, that means you too.
That process is begun. It is visible, or should be…for we “are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory.”(2 Cor. 3:18)
When He comes, it will be no longer be a matter of ‘good hair days’ and ‘bad hair days’.
For now, some days we look a little more like Jesus than others.
On that day, He will be revealed in every one of us. Never again will we evaluate each other “…. from a worldly point of view.” (2Cor. 5:16)
It’s a catchy little advertising slogan. I’ve seen it printed on t-shirts and coffee cups.
I don’t use it. But during my quiet time this morning, I’m hearing it… with just a little twist…
“Connie…if what you see in yourself is not becoming to you, you should be coming to Me.”
What is unbecoming in me is beyond my fixing it. And once He has addressed the unbecoming mess, there’s always another unbecoming mess that becomes a problem.
Just like my house, my temple needs cleaning regularly. "What is my beloved doing in my temple as she….. works out her evil schemes?……”(Jer. 11:15)
And so, again, I find myself convicted by scripture.
“…. on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. (2 Thes. 1:10)
When, not if. He IS coming….to be recognized and acknowledged for all that He is…IN His holy people. And since I am His, that includes me.
He is coming to be glorified in me. And if you’re His, that means you too.
That process is begun. It is visible, or should be…for we “are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory.”(2 Cor. 3:18)
When He comes, it will be no longer be a matter of ‘good hair days’ and ‘bad hair days’.
For now, some days we look a little more like Jesus than others.
On that day, He will be revealed in every one of us. Never again will we evaluate each other “…. from a worldly point of view.” (2Cor. 5:16)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Temple...
I’ve never seen a building called a temple, but I have studied a lot about the worship conducted in the temple of God in scripture.
The temple very costly to construct. It was damaged by enemy forces, and restored. It was completely destroyed in 70 A.D. Some people think it will be rebuilt, some don’t. It’s according to your interpretation of end-time events.
One thing that is certain, I am a temple. Now.
“…Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God…”(1Cor. 6:19)
The construction process was lengthy, and there has been lots of attacks from the enemy on this temple, lots of damages done, at a lot of different times…
… and there have been lots of restorations made. At one time, I thought the restoration came from the front end of a church-house aisle.. I have come to the conclusion that true restoration comes only from the One Who created it to begin with. He built it, He re-builds it.
Praise God, though I’m not there yet, He is in the process of restoring me to be what He intended me to be all along. Praise God, He has mended damage done from the enemy, damage from past hurts…damage from sin.
Some of the damages to this temple were done from the inside…..my temple hasn’t always been used as it was designed to be used. “…Therefore honor God with your body.”(1Cor. 6:20)
I have not always honored God with my behavior. Very often, I’ve done the damage myself. The enemy is persistent, he attacks on a regular basis. Some of his attacks are simply methods of deceiving me into tearing down the temple myself….
He’s a pesky rascal. He is defeated and he knows it, “….I am more than conqueror through Him who loved me. 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 me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus my Lord. (Rom. 8:37-39 personalized by me)
He continues to make those drive-by attacks and cause as much trouble as he can, get me distracted…. When he can catch me off guard, he still gets an arrow thru or knocks a hole in the wall somewhere…
That’s ok. There is One Who restores me every single time. He is within, on the job at all times, helping me and restoring me…
“ ….."I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple…”(1 Kings 9:3)
The temple very costly to construct. It was damaged by enemy forces, and restored. It was completely destroyed in 70 A.D. Some people think it will be rebuilt, some don’t. It’s according to your interpretation of end-time events.
One thing that is certain, I am a temple. Now.
“…Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God…”(1Cor. 6:19)
The construction process was lengthy, and there has been lots of attacks from the enemy on this temple, lots of damages done, at a lot of different times…
… and there have been lots of restorations made. At one time, I thought the restoration came from the front end of a church-house aisle.. I have come to the conclusion that true restoration comes only from the One Who created it to begin with. He built it, He re-builds it.
Praise God, though I’m not there yet, He is in the process of restoring me to be what He intended me to be all along. Praise God, He has mended damage done from the enemy, damage from past hurts…damage from sin.
Some of the damages to this temple were done from the inside…..my temple hasn’t always been used as it was designed to be used. “…Therefore honor God with your body.”(1Cor. 6:20)
I have not always honored God with my behavior. Very often, I’ve done the damage myself. The enemy is persistent, he attacks on a regular basis. Some of his attacks are simply methods of deceiving me into tearing down the temple myself….
He’s a pesky rascal. He is defeated and he knows it, “….I am more than conqueror through Him who loved me. 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 me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus my Lord. (Rom. 8:37-39 personalized by me)
He continues to make those drive-by attacks and cause as much trouble as he can, get me distracted…. When he can catch me off guard, he still gets an arrow thru or knocks a hole in the wall somewhere…
That’s ok. There is One Who restores me every single time. He is within, on the job at all times, helping me and restoring me…
“ ….."I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple…”(1 Kings 9:3)
Friday, January 13, 2012
Flattery...
Webster says “commendation bestowed for the purpose of gaining favor and influence, or to accomplish some purpose.”
Flattery is used a lot for self-interest. People flatter others to push forward their own agenda, gain favor, be benefited.
Flattering words are always easy to hear. The flattering words might have shreds of truth in them, but there are phony. They are self-serving….far different than a simple compliment. And it covers up a person’s real intentions.
I’d never thought this much about flattery, never considered it’s root, nor its purpose. I’ve experienced flattery, and have recognized it as being manipulative. It is difficult for me to take a simple compliment, so flattery has always been quite distasteful. While I don’t enjoy a harsh delivery of truth, neither do I enjoy or want to be buttered up.
“We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else..”(1 Thes. 2:4-6)
In writing to his spiritual family in Thessalonica, Paul assured them he had no ulterior motive in his ministry to them. It was always about God and his love in providing salvation.
He didn’t do anything to make it easier to hear.
He didn’t hold out the need for repentance and a change of heart, change of attitude, and changes of behavior.
And, he didn’t flatter them by needing their praise. Ouch.
Do you feel that?
When someone else is so important to me that I need their approval regardless of whether it lines up with God’s will….I flatter them.
And I insult God.
Paul didn’t go there. I wonder how often I do.
How about you? Do you use words of praise to bring some benefit to yourself? Do you need someone to think highly of you so much that you make compromises? Like me, have you been guilty of attempting to make the truth easier to hear? More easily acceptable?
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Imitate...
Imitate…
My sons have fun with imitating people. They have been especially known for imitations by telephone conversations. (…stirred up quite a ruckus on occasion before they ‘fessed up to the person on the other end of the line…)
I know that I am the subject of imitation sometimes. In the summer, when it is swimming pool time, a simple movement of the hands in a certain way brings a response of laughter. Everyone knows who is being imitated. Me.
Lots of money is made by comedians who imitate famous people.
Lots of hurt feelings come from unkind imitations of others.
Being imitated is sometimes done out of humor. Sometimes, it’s out of ridicule.
Sometimes it is the highest form of flattery.
“ You became imitators of us and of the Lord..”(1 Thes. 1:6)
Paul wrote a lot of follow up letters. He had been with the people of this city, taught them the truth about Jesus Christ, and educated them on the salvation that was not possible for all people.
It is incredible to me that Paul stayed humble. He could have been very prideful about all the imitators of his gospel message. He could easily have been tempted into taking credit. Satan tempted Jesus in that way, I feel sure he wouldn’t hesitate to tempt Paul in that way.
What these new believers imitated was merely Paul’s own imitation of Jesus Christ.
I pray that any person I can influence to Christ, will fully understand, that they are to imitate only Jesus Christ in me. There will be opportunity to see shortcomings. Certainly there will be things I would never want imitated.
How I pray to be a good example, a good role model, and that they will be pointed past me to Him.
He is the absolute only good in me.
My sons have fun with imitating people. They have been especially known for imitations by telephone conversations. (…stirred up quite a ruckus on occasion before they ‘fessed up to the person on the other end of the line…)
I know that I am the subject of imitation sometimes. In the summer, when it is swimming pool time, a simple movement of the hands in a certain way brings a response of laughter. Everyone knows who is being imitated. Me.
Lots of money is made by comedians who imitate famous people.
Lots of hurt feelings come from unkind imitations of others.
Being imitated is sometimes done out of humor. Sometimes, it’s out of ridicule.
Sometimes it is the highest form of flattery.
“ You became imitators of us and of the Lord..”(1 Thes. 1:6)
Paul wrote a lot of follow up letters. He had been with the people of this city, taught them the truth about Jesus Christ, and educated them on the salvation that was not possible for all people.
It is incredible to me that Paul stayed humble. He could have been very prideful about all the imitators of his gospel message. He could easily have been tempted into taking credit. Satan tempted Jesus in that way, I feel sure he wouldn’t hesitate to tempt Paul in that way.
What these new believers imitated was merely Paul’s own imitation of Jesus Christ.
I pray that any person I can influence to Christ, will fully understand, that they are to imitate only Jesus Christ in me. There will be opportunity to see shortcomings. Certainly there will be things I would never want imitated.
How I pray to be a good example, a good role model, and that they will be pointed past me to Him.
He is the absolute only good in me.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Usually...
We humans tend to have patterns of behavior. Habits are made easily, both good habits and bad habits.
We have lots of encouragement from our enemy to make the bad ones.
Making good habits is encouraged by the God Who loves us, but He doesn’t force us.
It has always been our choice, and the operating procedure of the enemy hasn’t changed. He tempts, lies, deceives, and encourages poor choices.
What do other people expect of you? What is your ‘usually’?
Last week I didn’t have my iPod playing the music I like. People asked about it. They said "it is ‘usually’ playing".
I wasn’t at church last week, this week people asked why. “You’re usually here…” they said.
My husband asked if I was taking a nap after we had lunch Sunday, “You usually do.” he said.
Yes, I exhibit many definite patterns of behavior. Certainly not all good. (…I’ll not reflect on those here…)
In studying the events of Paul’s travel, I was struck with his ‘usual’.
“….as he usually did…”(Acts 17:2 The Message)
“…Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.”(Acts 17:2-3 NIV)
Paul’s main objective was to inform every person he could influence about Who Jesus is, that Jesus was not dead but alive, and what that meant to them personally. He always had an audience at the local church house. He might not be welcomed for long, they might reject his message and throw him out, or throw him in jail, but he went.
And he told them truth.
That’s what he usually did.
What do I usually do? Do I look for opportunities to talk about who Jesus is?
Or is my ‘usually’ something far different?
Lord, help me to never miss an opportunity to relate to someone else the awesome truth of Who You are and what You have made possible for us.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Results...
Results…. I like to see them quick, or else I usually get discouraged. It is something I struggle with……walking in obedient faith.
Faith is not being sure of what we see. It is not hoping intensely for what we hope for…not wishful thinking, or even positive thinking. It is “being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see.”(Hebrews 11:1)
Tonight, since sleep alludes me, I open the scriptures and begun reading about Paul and his companions beginning a second trip to find people who might listen and respond to the message of Jesus the Christ.
“…..we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony. It is an important city in that part of Macedonia. We stayed there several days.”(Acts 16:12)
Several days. What can be accomplished in a mere ‘several days’?
I’ll tell you the most recent thing.
It started when this little band of mission minded, sold-out-to-Jesus, born-again sons of God traveled to Philippi and stayed a few days. Paul ministered there and some years later wrote a letter to those same people.
That letter is the book of Phillipians in our Bible.
And that letter has brought me more encouragement than I can recall….these being just a few.
“…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”(1:6)
“…this is my (Paul’s) prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best..”(1:9-10)
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”(2:4,5)
“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.(2:12,13)
“I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord..”(3:8)
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection..Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me….Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal ”(3:10,12,14)
“…. our citizenship is in heaven…He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. ”(3:20,21)
“ Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but by prayer …. present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable
—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—
put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you. (4:4-9)
Thank you my brother Paul…for going to Phillipi and staying for ‘several days’….for getting acquainted with those people to whom you later wrote this letter. I can’t tell you have many times I’ve read it and been encouraged by your words…by knowing that even you struggled, by hearing how you dealt with difficulty, from your admonishments to rejoice, to pray, to think on excellent things…
You could never have known the results…you certainly didn’t see them.
Faith is not being sure of what we see. It is not hoping intensely for what we hope for…not wishful thinking, or even positive thinking. It is “being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see.”(Hebrews 11:1)
Tonight, since sleep alludes me, I open the scriptures and begun reading about Paul and his companions beginning a second trip to find people who might listen and respond to the message of Jesus the Christ.
“…..we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony. It is an important city in that part of Macedonia. We stayed there several days.”(Acts 16:12)
Several days. What can be accomplished in a mere ‘several days’?
I’ll tell you the most recent thing.
It started when this little band of mission minded, sold-out-to-Jesus, born-again sons of God traveled to Philippi and stayed a few days. Paul ministered there and some years later wrote a letter to those same people.
That letter is the book of Phillipians in our Bible.
And that letter has brought me more encouragement than I can recall….these being just a few.
“…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”(1:6)
“…this is my (Paul’s) prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best..”(1:9-10)
“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”(2:4,5)
“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.(2:12,13)
“I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord..”(3:8)
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection..Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me….Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal ”(3:10,12,14)
“…. our citizenship is in heaven…He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. ”(3:20,21)
“ Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but by prayer …. present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable
—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—
put it into practice.
And the God of peace will be with you. (4:4-9)
Thank you my brother Paul…for going to Phillipi and staying for ‘several days’….for getting acquainted with those people to whom you later wrote this letter. I can’t tell you have many times I’ve read it and been encouraged by your words…by knowing that even you struggled, by hearing how you dealt with difficulty, from your admonishments to rejoice, to pray, to think on excellent things…
You could never have known the results…you certainly didn’t see them.
Disagreements....
Why is it easier to disagree in anger? Why can we not just agree to disagree and move on?
It seems to me that anger is often a tool in the enemy’s hand….a genuine emotion that is twisted and used against us.
I wish I could say I never enter there. I wish every conflict I face could be dealt with without anger being a factor. But, I’m not there….
It is not true that conflict can always be avoided. It is not required of us to be the doormat for someone who disagrees with us, but conflict can be worked out, and God can and will continue to work out His will.
“ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company..”(Acts 15:37-39)
There is a lot of applicable lessons in this situation recorded in scripture. Disagreements happen even in the most ‘spiritual’ of us. We are all in an imperfect state, there was only One Who had no faultiness in His Personality.
We may disagree and disagree passionately. But we must not disagree on the purpose before us. To re-present Jesus Christ to anyone we can influence.
You may do that differently than I do.
And God is ok with that…It’s His work anyway, remember?
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Choosing...
Choosing…
There is an Indiana Jones movie line that is repeated often around our house. “He chose poorly…” The greedy villain was choosing which vessel might be the 'holy grail' and looked over the wooden cup, choosing instead a very ornate gold one.
He chose poorly.
I thought about that while studying the characters of the “Hall of Faith” of Hebrews 11. Moses chose well.
“ By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house. He chose a hard life with God's people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin…”(Hebrews 11:24-25 The Message)
It sure didn’t look like a good choice. I’m quite sure it made absolutely no sense to the woman who had taken him from the river to the king’s palace and raised him as a prince of Egypt. I bet she had a fit…and I bet the royal family was quite insulted.
But Moses chose to seek God.
Lord, help me not to choose poorly. Help me to see the opportunities to sin for what they are, help me to see past the pleasure of that moment, and choose to seek You with an undivided heart.
I’m sure Moses has no regrets about his choices. I want to have no regrets about mine….
There is an Indiana Jones movie line that is repeated often around our house. “He chose poorly…” The greedy villain was choosing which vessel might be the 'holy grail' and looked over the wooden cup, choosing instead a very ornate gold one.
He chose poorly.
I thought about that while studying the characters of the “Hall of Faith” of Hebrews 11. Moses chose well.
“ By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house. He chose a hard life with God's people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin…”(Hebrews 11:24-25 The Message)
It sure didn’t look like a good choice. I’m quite sure it made absolutely no sense to the woman who had taken him from the river to the king’s palace and raised him as a prince of Egypt. I bet she had a fit…and I bet the royal family was quite insulted.
But Moses chose to seek God.
Lord, help me not to choose poorly. Help me to see the opportunities to sin for what they are, help me to see past the pleasure of that moment, and choose to seek You with an undivided heart.
I’m sure Moses has no regrets about his choices. I want to have no regrets about mine….
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Unclear...
Unclear…
I don’t like the unclear. I like it plain as day. I don’t like surprises, I like knowing what is ahead, what to expect…and I like understanding the who, what, when, where, and why of it.
I’ve studied the eleventh chapter of Hebrews recently, and again looked at the portraits hanging in the ‘hall of faith’ we are shown there.
“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.”(Hebrews 11:17-19)
There is a song I like to sing that calls on this event. The lyrics are ‘There he stood upon that hill, Abraham with knife in hand, was poised to kill….but God, in all Your sovereignty, had bigger plans, and just in time, You brought a lamb. Cause You were there, You were there, in the midst of the unclear. You were there, you were there….always. You were there when obedience seemed to not make sense. You were there. You were always there.”
I find it incredible that Abraham intended to obey at such great length. Killing a son who was promised, the son who would supposedly be the beginning of a great lineage..multitudes of heirs to be born in the future. It just didn’t make sense.
Abraham figured God would just over-rule a dead Isaac, and make him alive again. God could certainly do that…HAS done that.
The lyrics of that song haunt me and accuse me. In the midst of the unclear, am I obedient? When obedience doesn’t make sense, do I obey anyway?
Will my picture ever hang in a hall of faith?
I hope I don’t have to be tested to find out……
I don’t like the unclear. I like it plain as day. I don’t like surprises, I like knowing what is ahead, what to expect…and I like understanding the who, what, when, where, and why of it.
I’ve studied the eleventh chapter of Hebrews recently, and again looked at the portraits hanging in the ‘hall of faith’ we are shown there.
“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.”(Hebrews 11:17-19)
There is a song I like to sing that calls on this event. The lyrics are ‘There he stood upon that hill, Abraham with knife in hand, was poised to kill….but God, in all Your sovereignty, had bigger plans, and just in time, You brought a lamb. Cause You were there, You were there, in the midst of the unclear. You were there, you were there….always. You were there when obedience seemed to not make sense. You were there. You were always there.”
I find it incredible that Abraham intended to obey at such great length. Killing a son who was promised, the son who would supposedly be the beginning of a great lineage..multitudes of heirs to be born in the future. It just didn’t make sense.
Abraham figured God would just over-rule a dead Isaac, and make him alive again. God could certainly do that…HAS done that.
The lyrics of that song haunt me and accuse me. In the midst of the unclear, am I obedient? When obedience doesn’t make sense, do I obey anyway?
Will my picture ever hang in a hall of faith?
I hope I don’t have to be tested to find out……
Monday, January 2, 2012
Fake...
Fake…
I have some things that are not ‘real’. Lots of costume jewelry, some imitation furs, lots of cut glass.
….fake diamonds, fake mink, fake crystal.
It doesn’t matter to me that they are imitation. They are just as pretty.
I am pickier about some things. I don’t like fake leather. If you know me very well, you know I’m an original bag-lady. I like handbags, and I want ‘real’. Don’t give me some fake leather, I know the difference.
I heard a challenge via a radio message in my vehicle today that caused me to pause and consider my taste in authenticity.
I had just been shopping for a handbag I thought I wanted…til I felt of it and found it to be made of something called pvc. (..I think that must be plastic…)
I didn’t buy what I thought I wanted because it wasn’t ‘real’
I like leather. Real leather. Soft leather. Certainly not plastic.
The radio speaker challenged me about the authenticity of something else….my professed faith.
He said it is easy to fake religious convictions. Just learn the language, wear the clothes, and go to the right places. You’ll blend right in.
I want authentic leather in my handbags.
And I want to be authentic in the professions I make.
Lord, help me walk the talk….cause if you don’t, I’m sure to be faking it.
Help me, Father, to “do my best, fill my mind and help me to meditate on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Help me put into practice what I have learned..” (Phillipians 4:8- The Message)
I have some things that are not ‘real’. Lots of costume jewelry, some imitation furs, lots of cut glass.
….fake diamonds, fake mink, fake crystal.
It doesn’t matter to me that they are imitation. They are just as pretty.
I am pickier about some things. I don’t like fake leather. If you know me very well, you know I’m an original bag-lady. I like handbags, and I want ‘real’. Don’t give me some fake leather, I know the difference.
I heard a challenge via a radio message in my vehicle today that caused me to pause and consider my taste in authenticity.
I had just been shopping for a handbag I thought I wanted…til I felt of it and found it to be made of something called pvc. (..I think that must be plastic…)
I didn’t buy what I thought I wanted because it wasn’t ‘real’
I like leather. Real leather. Soft leather. Certainly not plastic.
The radio speaker challenged me about the authenticity of something else….my professed faith.
He said it is easy to fake religious convictions. Just learn the language, wear the clothes, and go to the right places. You’ll blend right in.
I want authentic leather in my handbags.
And I want to be authentic in the professions I make.
Lord, help me walk the talk….cause if you don’t, I’m sure to be faking it.
Help me, Father, to “do my best, fill my mind and help me to meditate on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Help me put into practice what I have learned..” (Phillipians 4:8- The Message)
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