Respond… When in a difficult situation, facing conflict or uncertainty, maybe even a threat…how do you respond? Or do you?…
Often I think we don’t. Instead of responding, we react. And there’s a big difference.
To react, according to Webster, is to resist the action of another body by an opposite force. To respond, is to answer; to reply.
I believe it is much easier to react than to respond. I also believe as followers of Christ, we are called not to react, but to respond.
Our mission is to imitate Jesus. We are to have taken off the “ old self with its practices
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. “(Col.3:10) That old WWJD has a lot of profound truth.
Let us purpose in our minds and hearts to respond in every thing …purposefully, for HIS purpose, led by the Holy Spirit, depending on Him to defend and protect us, trusting Him to supply all our needs and even bless us far beyond our needs. “God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”(Eph. 3:20 The Message)
We must remember, He does not work things out like we do. In my experience, it never ‘looks’ like He is answering or sometimes even paying attention!! And almost never within my time frame!! My task is simply to live in this moment, making RIGHT choices, behave as HIS child…in my now. And trust Him to work everything out. I believe that it will always be for my good.
“The moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. …. He knows us far better than we know ourselves…That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in Him. (Romans 8:26-29 The Message )
“But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way…(every word, deed, and response,) Christ is preached.(imitated WWJD) And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me (every difficult situation and hard response) will turn out for my deliverance.” (Phil. 1:18-19 The Message with personal application by me)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Wireless...
Wireless… It’s a fascinating concept. The little machine across the room from me can print out whatever I type on this machine, just by my pushing the ‘Print’ button.
No wires connecting it, it’s completely separated from the brain of this computer. How does that happen? How can information and data be transferred thru thin air?
Imagine all the data that’s floating around you right now. If you had a receiver to process each different one, it might fill up the room! The information is there, but it must have a proper receiver.
In the spiritual realm, God’s Spirit is present and is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”(Eph.. 3:21)
We aren’t connected to Him by special lineage. We are Gentiles, not Jews, (but praise God that “ Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 3:6)
We don’t get connected by doing some particular activity. “…not by works,”(Eph. 2:9)
We don’t SEE this connection. "No eye has seen….but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”(1Cor. 2:10)
He chooses us to receive. “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Thes. 5:9)
So the question is, “Will you?”
Will you be a receiver to re-present Jesus Christ?
Will you respond to His wireless request?
Will you let Him transform you, changing you so that you document and display the power of His saving grace?
I am not hardwired to God. But there is a definite wireless connection….
I don’t push the ‘print’ button and have Him do my bidding. He presses mine.
His desire is that my life duplicate the life of His dear Son.
The print job is in progress.
“And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Eph. 2:22)
No wires connecting it, it’s completely separated from the brain of this computer. How does that happen? How can information and data be transferred thru thin air?
Imagine all the data that’s floating around you right now. If you had a receiver to process each different one, it might fill up the room! The information is there, but it must have a proper receiver.
In the spiritual realm, God’s Spirit is present and is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…”(Eph.. 3:21)
We aren’t connected to Him by special lineage. We are Gentiles, not Jews, (but praise God that “ Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 3:6)
We don’t get connected by doing some particular activity. “…not by works,”(Eph. 2:9)
We don’t SEE this connection. "No eye has seen….but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”(1Cor. 2:10)
He chooses us to receive. “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Thes. 5:9)
So the question is, “Will you?”
Will you be a receiver to re-present Jesus Christ?
Will you respond to His wireless request?
Will you let Him transform you, changing you so that you document and display the power of His saving grace?
I am not hardwired to God. But there is a definite wireless connection….
I don’t push the ‘print’ button and have Him do my bidding. He presses mine.
His desire is that my life duplicate the life of His dear Son.
The print job is in progress.
“And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Eph. 2:22)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Sliding...
sliding...dread driving on ice to work...don't like that feeling of sliding.
But I manage to do it often...in the sunshine. With my mouth.
I said I'd speak life with my mouth.
'If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall.'(1Co.10:13)
Using my tongue is like driving on ice..better slow it way down, think before every action, and be aware of everyone around you...
but I CAN use my brakes on my words. I just don't always……
I know I'm probably the only one with that problem.... :)
Fire...
fire..in weather like this, it is so comforting to hear it crackling from our Earth Stove.
But it can be so destructive.
My words are so often like that. I confess.
"The tongue is a small part of the body....consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark."(Jam.3:5) "The tongue has the power of life and dea...th"(Prov.18:21)
Today, I will speak life with my mouth.
But it can be so destructive.
My words are so often like that. I confess.
"The tongue is a small part of the body....consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark."(Jam.3:5) "The tongue has the power of life and dea...th"(Prov.18:21)
Today, I will speak life with my mouth.
Cold....
cold..anybody complaining about it?
Want to be hot? Nope...we complain about that too.
We want to be somewhere in the middle.
What about your spiritual heart? Is it cold or hot?
If it's somewhere in the middle, I urge you to the consider this..our God is a consuming fire( Dt.4:24) and it's one or the other...all or nothing...hot or cold. No lukewarm. (Rev.3:16)
Don't think to follow God somewhere in the middle.(Rev.3:16)
Want to be hot? Nope...we complain about that too.
We want to be somewhere in the middle.
What about your spiritual heart? Is it cold or hot?
If it's somewhere in the middle, I urge you to the consider this..our God is a consuming fire( Dt.4:24) and it's one or the other...all or nothing...hot or cold. No lukewarm. (Rev.3:16)
Don't think to follow God somewhere in the middle.(Rev.3:16)
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Connection....
Connection…
Isn’t it frustrating when you need to make a call, and your phone tells you ‘no service’ or ‘failed connection’?
The metal walls of the store you are in interfere with the signal, or the mountains are too high they cut off the signal all together, or you’re simply so far away from a tower, there is absolutely no signal at all. Been there?
Yep… Me too.
It’s especially frustrating when the call is vital, you need to get an important message thru to someone or you need help.
We are so accustomed to our easy communications, but they fail occasionally, and we are shocked and frustrated. Even scared sometimes.
Our communications are built around a system… towers, little tiny devices we call cell phones, and invisible things called digital signals. They all work together to keep us invisibly connected to each other.
Ever call God and feel like you’re got ‘no service’?
Ever thought you just didn’t know how to pray at all, that you just don’t have a contract with Him for ‘service’?
Ever pray about something and seeing no answer think you just failed to make a ‘connection’, that your prayers don’t reach His ears?
Sometimes in prayer time, I find myself NOT praying at all, but thinking about what I need from the grocery store tomorrow or some such thing…I call that a ‘dropped call’ …and I’m the one who dropped.
God does not fail.
And the truth is, He’s even interested in my grocery list !!
This is not a perfect analogy, but it gives us a reference point.
When we use a cell phone, we have to operate within the system. Our location is important.
When we want to communicate with God, our location is important.
We have to be praying WITHIN His will.
THAT is our main problem. We often talk to God about things strictly based on our perspective. What we desperately need is to see from HIS.
Jesus Himself deliberately chose to pray within The Father’s will. “..if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away…may Your will be done.’ (Matt.26:42)
He surely didn’t relish the idea of spikes being hammered thru His hands and feet, but He saw from The Father’s perspective. He saw the big picture, what was at stake overall.
He could save Himself from the circumstances...
.. or save every person throughout time.
He chose to save those who would choose to participate in His death, choosing that He be responsible for their penalty of sin, instead of them being responsible for their own sentence of death and separation from God.
‘..this is my 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….’ (Phillipians 1:9)
This morning, I am again encouraged and filled afresh with love and adoration because of the words of Jesus as recorded by John in chapter 17.
I encourage you to read this chapter for yourself. Pay close attention to verse 20
...because if you believe in Him, Jesus personalized this for you.
Put your name in it…
He did.
Isn’t it frustrating when you need to make a call, and your phone tells you ‘no service’ or ‘failed connection’?
The metal walls of the store you are in interfere with the signal, or the mountains are too high they cut off the signal all together, or you’re simply so far away from a tower, there is absolutely no signal at all. Been there?
Yep… Me too.
It’s especially frustrating when the call is vital, you need to get an important message thru to someone or you need help.
We are so accustomed to our easy communications, but they fail occasionally, and we are shocked and frustrated. Even scared sometimes.
Our communications are built around a system… towers, little tiny devices we call cell phones, and invisible things called digital signals. They all work together to keep us invisibly connected to each other.
Ever call God and feel like you’re got ‘no service’?
Ever thought you just didn’t know how to pray at all, that you just don’t have a contract with Him for ‘service’?
Ever pray about something and seeing no answer think you just failed to make a ‘connection’, that your prayers don’t reach His ears?
Sometimes in prayer time, I find myself NOT praying at all, but thinking about what I need from the grocery store tomorrow or some such thing…I call that a ‘dropped call’ …and I’m the one who dropped.
God does not fail.
And the truth is, He’s even interested in my grocery list !!
This is not a perfect analogy, but it gives us a reference point.
When we use a cell phone, we have to operate within the system. Our location is important.
When we want to communicate with God, our location is important.
We have to be praying WITHIN His will.
THAT is our main problem. We often talk to God about things strictly based on our perspective. What we desperately need is to see from HIS.
Jesus Himself deliberately chose to pray within The Father’s will. “..if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away…may Your will be done.’ (Matt.26:42)
He surely didn’t relish the idea of spikes being hammered thru His hands and feet, but He saw from The Father’s perspective. He saw the big picture, what was at stake overall.
He could save Himself from the circumstances...
.. or save every person throughout time.
He chose to save those who would choose to participate in His death, choosing that He be responsible for their penalty of sin, instead of them being responsible for their own sentence of death and separation from God.
‘..this is my 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….’ (Phillipians 1:9)
This morning, I am again encouraged and filled afresh with love and adoration because of the words of Jesus as recorded by John in chapter 17.
I encourage you to read this chapter for yourself. Pay close attention to verse 20
...because if you believe in Him, Jesus personalized this for you.
Put your name in it…
He did.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Forecast...
Forecast… guess you’ve watched it, know that it will likely get snowy around here in a day or two. The stores will probably be packed soon. People will ‘stock up’ on things. We won’t want to run out of milk and eggs, or bread, or whatever tops your list of important items. We want to be prepared…...right ?…..
We will make all sorts of preparations, buy more groceries than we really need, fill the tanks with gas, bring the firewood in under shelter. After all, the prediction is for snow.
Propheteia=prediction in Greek, and nbula=prediction in Hebrew, the original languages of scripture.
Predictions.
Prophecy.
I wonder, do we pay more attention to the weather-man on television than we do to the One Who is Creator and Master over it all.
‘In the beginning, God created…’ (Gen.1:1) ‘ lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do His bidding..’(Psa. 148:8) ‘He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast?’ ( Ps. 147:16) ‘…the Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet…’ (Nahum 1:3) He changes the times and seasons. (Dan. 2:21)
This is the God we serve.
Give Him more consideration than the weatherman.
Give His forecast some serious thought.
He has gone to such great lengths to help us be prepared.
The book we call the Bible is full of predictions and advice. How long since you held one in your hand, how long since you asked Him to reveal the message it contains…and it does have relevant messages for each of us, every day.
Go ahead and stock up…...but hear the words of Jesus…
’Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths, corroded by rust, or stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe..’ (Matt. 6:19 The Message)
We will make all sorts of preparations, buy more groceries than we really need, fill the tanks with gas, bring the firewood in under shelter. After all, the prediction is for snow.
Propheteia=prediction in Greek, and nbula=prediction in Hebrew, the original languages of scripture.
Predictions.
Prophecy.
I wonder, do we pay more attention to the weather-man on television than we do to the One Who is Creator and Master over it all.
‘In the beginning, God created…’ (Gen.1:1) ‘ lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do His bidding..’(Psa. 148:8) ‘He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast?’ ( Ps. 147:16) ‘…the Lord hath His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet…’ (Nahum 1:3) He changes the times and seasons. (Dan. 2:21)
This is the God we serve.
Give Him more consideration than the weatherman.
Give His forecast some serious thought.
He has gone to such great lengths to help us be prepared.
The book we call the Bible is full of predictions and advice. How long since you held one in your hand, how long since you asked Him to reveal the message it contains…and it does have relevant messages for each of us, every day.
Go ahead and stock up…...but hear the words of Jesus…
’Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths, corroded by rust, or stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe..’ (Matt. 6:19 The Message)
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