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)
Thursday, January 19, 2012
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?
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