“…This poor man died, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, 'Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I'm in agony in this fire.'
"But Abraham said…….
'Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It's not like that here. Here he's consoled and you're tormented. (Luke 16:22-25 The Message)
This rich man probably considered himself happy.
Happiness we attain for ourselves can NOT be held on to.
Listen to Solomon’s advice: “Be happy……… let your heart give you joy ………… Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see….
….but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment..” (Ecc.11:9)
Whatever it is that defines that state of being ‘happy’, I purpose it to be pleasing to my Creator and ruling Force of my life.
If God isn’t happy….I certainly won’t be for very long. And most assuredly not for eternity.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Happy...
Happy… I was asked recently to define that. Just what does it mean to ‘be happy’?
Is ‘being happy’ connected to other people? Situations? Circumstances?
Is there a price tag attached? Or a location?
Is it an emotion? Or a state of mind?
Should we always BE ‘happy’?
Do we have some right to ‘be happy’?
What does it take so that we can in fact ‘be happy’?
There are dozens of scriptures that come to mind. A little searching turns up dozens more….too many to list, and certainly too many to brush aside.
In defining this thing called ‘happy’, I will begin by eliminating what it is NOT.
Is ‘being happy’ connected to other people? Situations? Circumstances?
Is there a price tag attached? Or a location?
Is it an emotion? Or a state of mind?
Should we always BE ‘happy’?
Do we have some right to ‘be happy’?
What does it take so that we can in fact ‘be happy’?
There are dozens of scriptures that come to mind. A little searching turns up dozens more….too many to list, and certainly too many to brush aside.
In defining this thing called ‘happy’, I will begin by eliminating what it is NOT.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Renovation....
Renovation… We renovated our kitchen a few years ago. Boy….what a mess to live with that going on !! I’m sure glad it wasn’t like the renovation going on with in me….
“…put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”(Col. 3: 10)
The word renewed in that verse is anakainoo in the original language. It means to renew or renovate.
When we renovated our cabinets, all the doors were removed. I thought I was pretty organized in my kitchen cabinets. Until they took all the doors off. Man, what a mess.
Our Creator took all the doors off. Oh, it’s not that He can’t see what’s behind them…it’s me that needs to see the mess and allow Him to remove the clutter and renovate.
The kitchen is done. Cabinetry is beautiful.
The renovation within me is ongoing.
It is a work in progress.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Conformed...
Conformed...Scripture says I am being conformed, and it says I am not to be conformed…
So....Conform? Or not?
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romand 8:29)
I like the plain language of this passage from The Message. “ 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”
Conformed = summorphos in the original language of scripture. It is a combination of ‘sun’ which gives a meaning of being soon, and ‘morphe’ which carries the idea of adjustment to shape and nature.
So…I’m being conformed. To become like Jesus Christ.
Then there’s this don’t thing….
“…be not conformed to this world..” (Romans 12:2)
For a very long time I thought it was up to me. I was to change and adjust my shape and nature. I was to become like Jesus. And I failed miserably.
Then, God changed the way I think. After exhausting myself in behavior modification and religious activity, screaming out to God “I can’t do this!!”…… He made my spirit to hear Him say….
“I know Child…. But I can.”
It is a work in progress.
So....Conform? Or not?
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romand 8:29)
I like the plain language of this passage from The Message. “ 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”
Conformed = summorphos in the original language of scripture. It is a combination of ‘sun’ which gives a meaning of being soon, and ‘morphe’ which carries the idea of adjustment to shape and nature.
So…I’m being conformed. To become like Jesus Christ.
Then there’s this don’t thing….
“…be not conformed to this world..” (Romans 12:2)
For a very long time I thought it was up to me. I was to change and adjust my shape and nature. I was to become like Jesus. And I failed miserably.
Then, God changed the way I think. After exhausting myself in behavior modification and religious activity, screaming out to God “I can’t do this!!”…… He made my spirit to hear Him say….
“I know Child…. But I can.”
It is a work in progress.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Image....
Image….... “Do not set up an image for yourself..”
That is a directive from The Creator God recorded in Leviticus 26:1.
At one time, I thought I had that command aced. You’ll find no ‘graven images’ in my house. I don’t have ‘idols’….never ‘bow down and worship’ them.
Then He began speaking into my life and addressing my images. There were lots of them as it turned out….my own image being set up quite high.
I deal with image every day. Creating images is my job. Changing images, altering them, enhancing them. Yep….it’s what I do. Pays my bills.
There is nothing wrong with creating a better self image. In fact, I think God intends for us to care about how we look, to ourselves….and the image we project to other people.
But I wonder if the image I often see projected is indeed what it ’looks’ like it is. Some young women look like they might be paid regularly for some very personal services. I wonder if they are anything at all like what they ’look’ like.
Makes me pause to consider….what do I ‘look’ like? Am I what I ‘look’ like?
On the flip side of that, is the image I project what I really am? Or do I too ‘look’ like something I am not?
I’ve come to the realization that it doesn’t matter what I look like on the outside if the inside is marred. And marred it is. With sin. Thank You Lord Jesus for removing that stain and taking the consequence of it.
And thank You Creator God most of all, for changing me into the image of Your dear Son. (Romans 8:29)
I continue to be a work in progress.
That is a directive from The Creator God recorded in Leviticus 26:1.
At one time, I thought I had that command aced. You’ll find no ‘graven images’ in my house. I don’t have ‘idols’….never ‘bow down and worship’ them.
Then He began speaking into my life and addressing my images. There were lots of them as it turned out….my own image being set up quite high.
I deal with image every day. Creating images is my job. Changing images, altering them, enhancing them. Yep….it’s what I do. Pays my bills.
There is nothing wrong with creating a better self image. In fact, I think God intends for us to care about how we look, to ourselves….and the image we project to other people.
But I wonder if the image I often see projected is indeed what it ’looks’ like it is. Some young women look like they might be paid regularly for some very personal services. I wonder if they are anything at all like what they ’look’ like.
Makes me pause to consider….what do I ‘look’ like? Am I what I ‘look’ like?
On the flip side of that, is the image I project what I really am? Or do I too ‘look’ like something I am not?
I’ve come to the realization that it doesn’t matter what I look like on the outside if the inside is marred. And marred it is. With sin. Thank You Lord Jesus for removing that stain and taking the consequence of it.
And thank You Creator God most of all, for changing me into the image of Your dear Son. (Romans 8:29)
I continue to be a work in progress.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Whole....
Whole… Webster says it means ‘all’. Not part, but the entire.
We are instructed to put on the ‘whole armor’ of God. (Eph. 6:11ff)
‘Panoply’ in classical Greek, is the full armor of a heavy-armed soldier. It is the word that is used by Paul here in his letter to the Ephesian Christians, teaching them truths about spiritual battles.
You can be assured that you are in spiritual battles. If you aren’t aware of a struggle, perhaps you’ve just surrendered. ???
Every choice, every decision, every attitude, every action…all have spiritual implications.
This morning, once again I am brought to this armor of God. He asks me which of these I have decided not to put on today. What part of the armor have I decided I don’t need?
Are the things that I complain about a result of not being properly protected? Am I intentionally putting on what He gives and USING it?
"God is strong, and he wants me strong. So I must take everything the Master has set out for me, well-made weapons of the best materials. And I must put them to use so I will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws my way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that I'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. I will be prepared, I’m up against far more than I can handle on my own. I will take all the help I can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting I'll still be on my feet." (Ephesians 6:10-13 The Message, personalized by me)
I purpose to inventory my armor, beginning as Paul did, with truth.
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” (v.14)
Do I have that belt buckled on me? Is it encompassing me? All the way, my entire life, all situations, all realms? Is it HIS truth? Or my version of it? All of it, or just part.
Whole?
Part of truth is not sufficient. I must accept all of God’s revealed truth. And I must put that truth to use.
And, I must recognize what is truth about myself. It is often not pretty, it is always difficult.
Yet it is always safe to do so, with my Savior, the Lord of my life.
We are instructed to put on the ‘whole armor’ of God. (Eph. 6:11ff)
‘Panoply’ in classical Greek, is the full armor of a heavy-armed soldier. It is the word that is used by Paul here in his letter to the Ephesian Christians, teaching them truths about spiritual battles.
You can be assured that you are in spiritual battles. If you aren’t aware of a struggle, perhaps you’ve just surrendered. ???
Every choice, every decision, every attitude, every action…all have spiritual implications.
This morning, once again I am brought to this armor of God. He asks me which of these I have decided not to put on today. What part of the armor have I decided I don’t need?
Are the things that I complain about a result of not being properly protected? Am I intentionally putting on what He gives and USING it?
"God is strong, and he wants me strong. So I must take everything the Master has set out for me, well-made weapons of the best materials. And I must put them to use so I will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws my way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that I'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. I will be prepared, I’m up against far more than I can handle on my own. I will take all the help I can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting I'll still be on my feet." (Ephesians 6:10-13 The Message, personalized by me)
I purpose to inventory my armor, beginning as Paul did, with truth.
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist” (v.14)
Do I have that belt buckled on me? Is it encompassing me? All the way, my entire life, all situations, all realms? Is it HIS truth? Or my version of it? All of it, or just part.
Whole?
Part of truth is not sufficient. I must accept all of God’s revealed truth. And I must put that truth to use.
And, I must recognize what is truth about myself. It is often not pretty, it is always difficult.
Yet it is always safe to do so, with my Savior, the Lord of my life.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Alarm...
Alarm.. We woke up one night in the wee hours to our smoke detector going off. When that sounds, take heed...your house may be on fire.
Relax...we didn't have a fire, just need new batteries. But we got up and checked the house.
I wonder what alarms I do ignore? And what do I suffer that might be avoided if I'd just heed the warning?
In scripture, Jesus has issued a 'take heed...' many times.
Luke 17:3 issues a 'take heed' about forgiveness. "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him. And if he repents, forgive him."
I am to recognize sin and confront it, but in Mark 4:24 He addresses how I measure..."Take heed...... With that measure which you measure, it shall be measured to you..."
He also reminds me of His advice about the mote in my brother's eye and the beam in mine. ("...why do you look on the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye?" Matt.7:3)
I could list dozens....dozen of 'take heed's and warnings. Alarms to be recognized.
Yet, even if we could hear all the alarms, even if we respond to every threat, we can never defeat sin and death.
We can not fix the problem of humanity. But we can live without feeling alarm.
"The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus."(Phil.4:7) Yes, I take that personally. My heart and mind feels no alarm.
I'm hearing the old hymn 'Living By Faith' in my head....
♫♪♪♫•*•♫♪...♪♫•*•♫♪♪♫I'm living by faith, feel no alarm...♪♫•*•♫♪♪♫•*•♫♪.♪♫•*•
Relax...we didn't have a fire, just need new batteries. But we got up and checked the house.
I wonder what alarms I do ignore? And what do I suffer that might be avoided if I'd just heed the warning?
In scripture, Jesus has issued a 'take heed...' many times.
Luke 17:3 issues a 'take heed' about forgiveness. "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him. And if he repents, forgive him."
I am to recognize sin and confront it, but in Mark 4:24 He addresses how I measure..."Take heed...... With that measure which you measure, it shall be measured to you..."
He also reminds me of His advice about the mote in my brother's eye and the beam in mine. ("...why do you look on the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye?" Matt.7:3)
I could list dozens....dozen of 'take heed's and warnings. Alarms to be recognized.
Yet, even if we could hear all the alarms, even if we respond to every threat, we can never defeat sin and death.
We can not fix the problem of humanity. But we can live without feeling alarm.
"The peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus."(Phil.4:7) Yes, I take that personally. My heart and mind feels no alarm.
I'm hearing the old hymn 'Living By Faith' in my head....
♫♪♪♫•*•♫♪...♪♫•*•♫♪♪♫I'm living by faith, feel no alarm...♪♫•*•♫♪♪♫•*•♫♪.♪♫•*•
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