So shall I keep Your law continually, forever and ever, and I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.Psalm 119:44-45
The rule had been the same for his sisters; no dating in high school.There were many conversations and attempted rule breaking debates.His parents remained firm.Now, at eighteen, a high school graduate and freshman on a college campus, the rule no longer applied.Freedom to date!After looking over the field of single young ladies, a special one had been chosen.Thanksgiving break meant separation after only three weeks of dating.The mother of this young man chuckled as she told the story of her conversation with this young son before he returned to college.He admitted, after detailing the wonderful points of dating, he now had more rules and responsibilities and much less freedom.There was a new sense of understanding the responsibilities in a dating relationship, and the purpose of the rule really did reflected the heart of his parents.
It is human nature to be caught up in the bondage of following the letters of the law.When there are boundaries, it is easy to respond to the limitations and complain about the opportunities that are withheld.Satan is ready to accuse and shower feelings of guilt and unworthiness.The truth of the Word of God becomes a book of rules and restrictions.
David experienced the joys of obedience to God and the consequences of sin in his life.Through these experiences, he came to understand the heart of God.The rules and commandments David was exposed to were not there to inhibit or restrain, they were there to protect and provide a path of freedom to be what God created him to be.In Psalm 119:30 David says I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgements I have laid before me.He understood there are less consequences and regrets in life when one purposely chooses the way of truth.In verse 35 he says he delights in walking in God's commandments.
The dating rule was designed to allow a period of maturity before the young son entered into dating relationships.The commandments and principles in the Bible teach us freedom from sin and the resulting oppressive guilt that surely follows.By living God's way - following His precepts, we gain strength to reject sin and freedom to fulfill God's plan for our lives.We can delight and walk in liberty, just as David did.
Lord, continue to work in our hearts.May we desire to be obedient and long to delight in your law.Thank you for your commandments and your love, and the freedom we have in You.
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. Psalm 18:30 (NKJV)
I am glad that I paid so little attention to good advice; had I abided by it I might have been saved from some of my most valuable mistakes. -Edna St. Vincent Millay
Advice is never hard to find. After all, it is really asking for someone's opinion; something everyone is ready to give.
In Ruth chapter 1, Naomi is a widow and her two sons had recently died and left behind their wives. Naomi was in a foreign land and wished to return to Israel, her homeland. She encouraged her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, to remain in Moab, where they were born, and start their lives over again. Naomi thought it more likely they would find a husband if they remained in their homeland, even though it would add hardship to her life. She understood the culture and knew there were no other sons to marry them and provide for them. Her advice was very practical and she acted very selfless, only considering the needs of the daughters-in-law whom she loved.
Orpah chose to stay in Moab, but Ruth could not leave Naomi. She had learned of the one true God. Their bond was faith in God and they shared a mutual commitment. She spoke to Naomi the very familiar phrase, Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
The story ends in chapter four with Boaz marrying Ruth, ending the tragedy and misfortune of the two women. The events in Ruth's life were a part of God's preparations for the births of David and of Jesus, the promised Messiah.
If Ruth had taken the advice of her mother-in-law and remained in Moab, one could only imagine what the results would have been. However, Ruth followed what was in her heart and chose to stay with Naomi, demonstrating her faith in the God of Israel.
Naomi's advice was not bad advice, but it was not God's plan. When seeking good advice, look for trusted friends and family who demonstrate Godly character. It is wise to listen, but know and do what God is leading. God's way is perfect, as was demonstrated in Ruth's life. His word is proven; He is our shield when we trust in Him.
Lord, draw us so close to You that we fully trust what You are doing in our lives. We need to seek Your advice as we walk through each day. Thank You that You never leave us.
But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it.He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.Matthew 13:28 (NIV)
Spring always brings out the gardeners.The gardener pulls the old straggly weeds and plants from the soil and begins to work up the ground, hardened from winter. As the soil is turned it loosens, and the chunks of dirt turn into soft and fertile ground.A little mulch is added, the seeds are planted, and the beginning process for a healthy crop is completed.
Spring is the time of year when the parable of the four seeds may make a little more sense.Jesus spoke in parables to convey spiritual truth through a series of everyday objects and relationships.Matthew 13:3-9 tells us about the sower; the one who planted the crop.There are four varieties of soil depicted here as he sowed.The way-side is the trampled, hard-packed path through the field.There, the seed will not find root, and the birds are likely to snatch the seeds.The second category is called stony places, a shallow layer of soil on top of a rock ledge.Here, the thin crust would warm quickly and cause the seed to sprout instantly but without adequate roots or moisture.The sun will scorch this crop and it will wither away.The third group of seeds fell among the thorns which had not been removed, and the wild growth choked out the crop.The good ground represents well-plowed and prepared soil capable of producing a large crop.
These four types of soil represent different responses to God's message.Everyone is in a diverse state of readiness and understanding and each will respond differently.Some may be hardened, trampled by the world and hurt by ones who profess to believe the gospel.Others may be shallow in their faith.They may receive the message of the gospel outwardly with enthusiasm and excitement, but there is no spiritual root and their joy withers away when trials enter their life.The one who is among the thorns never really separated from his past of worldliness and materialism.The gospel is choked out in this life and it never bears the fruit of salvation.The one who received the seed in the good ground is the one who both heard and understood the word.This life bears fruit and there is evidence of true conversion.
Parables compel us to discover the truth, yet there may be those who are too hardened or apathetic to really see it.To those who are earnestly searching, the truth becomes clear.Jesus said in verse 23 that spiritual fruit will vary in size, but He left no one the option of being His follower and producing no fruit at all.
How has God's Word taken root in your life?What kind of soil are you?
Lord, We want to hear and understand Your word.We give You praise for the fruit You produce in our lives as a result of obedience to You.
From that time, many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. John 6:66 (NKJV)
When I read this passage, I pictured Jesus walking the earth during my adolescent and young adult years, and wondered if I would have been one of the followers who left. I had seen God working many times in our family's life and in the lives of friends and other believers. But when faced with public scrutiny, would I believe and follow, or would I doubt and leave?
The disciples who followed Jesus knew he was the son of Joseph and Mary and was a carpenter. When Jesus began his ministry, many people were intrigued and joined the crowd who followed Him. I am sure, just like it would be in our culture, you were popular and people listened to you if you said you heard Jesus' teachings, saw the miracles, and were friends with Him.
As the Jewish leaders began to question who Jesus said He was, it became apparent that it may not be so comfortable for you if were associated with Jesus, and the disciples began to doubt who Jesus said He was. Earlier in the chapter, verse 53, Jesus told them, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. They knew how God fed their forefathers with manna, physical bread, but their flesh died. Jesus tried to tell them this true Bread will not let man die. He explains this bread as His flesh and that His death will provide life for the world. Then Jesus complicates the conversation more by saying they had to drink His blood; they were forbidden to drink blood. Maybe for a moment they forgot the teaching in Leviticus 17:11 that says, For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your soul; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. As food and drink are offered to meet physical needs, so the flesh and blood of Christ are offered to meet spiritual needs.
Faith enters here. These disciples, followers, were offended by the thought of eating Christ's flesh and drinking His blood because it was a hard saying. In order for them to have life beyond their physical existence they had to accept Jesus' words in verse 65, No one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father. Jesus was asking them to take their relationship with Him to the next level.
Easter is a season of reflection. We don't always know or understand what God is doing in our lives or why He allows trials, but in faith we can trust that He has given us His flesh and His blood to have an eternal relationship with Him. Do you feel Him drawing you to Himself? If you are struggling with doubt and disbelief, or thinking about turning your back on Jesus, remember Thomas. Jesus did not reject Thomas when he asked to touch the print of the nails on His hands and put his hand in Jesus' side. Jesus said in John 20:27, Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. Jesus understands our doubts. He knows if we are searching for answers to strengthen our faith, or if we are being stubborn and immovable. When you doubt, don't stop there. Let your doubt deepen your faith as you continue to search for the answer. Let your faith take you to the next level in your relationship with Christ.
Lord, when we have doubts, thank you for understanding and offering your love and forgiveness. Help us to search for Your answers in our lives and trust you with all our hearts.
Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax? Yes, he does, Peter replied. Matthew 17:24-25 (NIV)
1040 - W-2 - 1099 Do these numbers ring a bell? Along with spring comes another season - tax season. Typically, there is no eager tax payer. Thoughts of holiness and Godly obedience when tax forms are being prepared are not the first incentives to get them ready.
Among Jews, the requirement to pay taxes was one of the most controversial issues. Paying taxes to a pagan empire with money marked by the image of Caesar was considered an act of disobedience to God and a form of idolatry.
Matthew, a tax collector himself, recorded the story in Matthew 17:24-27.
After Jesus and is disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax? Yes, he does, Peter replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. What do you think, Simon (Peter), he asked. From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes - from their own sons or from others? From others, Peter answered. Then the sons are exempt, Jesus said to him. But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.
If anyone should have been exempt from paying this tax, a tax collected by the temple for its upkeep, it should have been Jesus. Peter put them in an awkward position by his answer. Just as kings pay no taxes and collect none from their family, Jesus was Lord and owner of the Temple; therefore it was not his obligation to pay the tax. Because this explanation would probably have been misunderstood, Jesus was not about to offend the lawmakers by exempting himself from the tax.
Peter obeyed, caught the fish, and it is presumed he paid the tax collectors with the coins he found in the fish's mouth. Why did Jesus use this miracle to pay his taxes and Peter's? Three things were accomplished. First, Jesus showed cooperation with the local authorities without hesitation. The second point he made was there has to be effort, in this case Peter's. Peter had to go get the coin. All that we have comes to us from God, but we have to be active in the process. Thirdly, we can trust that God will supernaturally supply us with what we need to pay our taxes. We don't need to cheat or fudge or complain!
Are you worried about tax season? Do you keep two books? Are indignation and anger against the tax institutions deep emotions when you are paying your taxes? We are God's ambassadors, His representation here on earth. We can use the lessons in this story to help us measure up to God's standard as another tax season approaches.
Lord, thank you for your great example of integrity and grace. Help us to be good ambassadors and trust you to provide us with whatever we need.
Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Psalm 127:1 (NKJV)
Jacques, a native of Ivory Coast, Africa, and pastor/evangelist to more than twenty village churches, had been praying and seeking God's direction on having a church building built right in his own village. That prayer of over two years is now a reality. The church site is only 1000 feet from his own home! The Chief of this village, an unbeliever, gave Jacques this piece of property some time ago for a church but kept telling him that he would never live to see a church built because no white man would ever come and do such a thing for his people. The only white men they had ever known had only come to murder, rape and steal from them. In fact, until this team actually arrived there had been NO white man even permitted in their village for almost fifty years because of what had happened to their people. Only God can make the way for something like this.
In February 2010, after a very long and bumpy ride in a stripped down van, the team, comprised of nine people from three states, arrived and were greeted by a host of National believers cheering, singing, clapping, smiling, jumping up and down, raising their hands high in the air rejoicing that their prayers were answered. All the unbelief of those who doubted was put to death as they saw with their eyes a team of white Americans walking in their village, greeting their Chief and coming to build them a Church of their own!
After all the ceremonial greetings were completed, the team walked through the building site and all they saw was a cleared piece of ground, a few rows of cement blocks started (and a very large pile of ones to lay, with an African making each block by hand), some very large piles of steel rod, steel angle iron, sheets of metal and thousands of nuts and bolts. One of the member's comments was this would be overwhelming if I didn't know that God was in charge! After days and days of bending rod, and hours upon hours of welding, the first steel post were ready. Then came the steel trusses, and finally the day to begin erecting this building. There were no cranes to hoist trusses, no boom truck to help lift, only one extension ladder and the safe and secure hands of God to safely hold the guys as they welded each beam in place and drove each bolt to hold the next piece of steel. It was an amazing sight to behold and to realize the truth of Psalm 127:1. Each evening team members would sit around the table at night and reflect on the miracles of the day and praise the Lord for His provision and protection. Keep in mind that the heat was excruciating and they were at the mercy of the country power being provided each day that would allow two welders to operate. Like clockwork, the power would come on as they took their first few bites of breakfast and would go off each night as they prayed for their evening meal. The generator they had for back up only had to be used to provide lights at night, fans to move air, and for refrigeration to keep the food from spoiling. The Lord is awesome!
During the planning phase of this building, it had been estimated one thousand nuts and bolts would be adequate to secure the roof. When the final stages of the building came, it was discovered the nuts and bolts to secure the roof to the trusses had different threads. Jacques gathered the bolts and spent a day and a half round trip to return to the village with the new bolts. During the time Jacques was gone, they also discovered the estimate of nuts and bolts would not be sufficient. Because there was no way to contact Jacques, the team decided to place a bolt in every other hole of the lower section of the roof and allow the villagers to complete it when the remainder could be obtained. Jacques returned with the bolts and the work continued. The holes were drilled into the steel roof for each bolt. One by one, the bolts were inserted and secured. As the end was near and the last bolts were retrieved, every hole was filled. There was not one hole empty and not one extra bolt remaining!
None of this could have happened without God leading and directing each step. The team God assembled and the prayers and gifts of faithful people - God takes it all and accomplishes His plan! How Incredible - How Marvelous - How Awesome is He! When the team prepared to leave after almost four weeks of manual labor, the Chief of the Village told them he welcomed their return, and said he is not a believer.yet.
We have so many comforts and conveniences in America. It is so good to hear a story like this to be reminded of the love of God for His children everywhere, and His provision, right down to the nuts and bolts.
Lord, thank you for the provision and protection you generously offer us every day. Help us to count our blessings. Thank you for this miracle of nuts and bolts, and for Jacques and his ministry in Ivory Coast. We give You praise!
The Lord owns the world and everything in it the - heavens, even the highest heavens, are His. Deuteronomy 10:14 (NCV)
Recently, God used a Sunday morning class to help me re-focus and realize I needed to stop spinning my wheels. I have had some neat opportunities and experiences in the last few months, but they have required extra time, energy and emotion. It is almost embarrassing to admit to being so busy but not being able to say exactly what I have been doing.
When I read this verse, I kept reading it over and over again. I simply cannot fathom the words - everything in it. Everywhere I look, everything I see, anything I cannot see belongs to Him. Haggai 2:8 says the silver is His and the gold is His. Psalm 50:10-12 tells us every beast of the forest is His and the cattle on a thousand hills. He knows all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are His. These truths make me wonder why I become so consumed with the day to day events, with the cares of my family, the problems I cannot solve, and the feeling of never accomplishing the entire objective. At times, I feel insincere and think my activities are insignificant and pointless. When God is not Lord of all in my life, in our lives, it is because we have accumulated other things to blind our view of Him. Sin creeps into our lives so easily, and little by little we become distracted, dull in our walk and we find ourselves out of focus and spinning our wheels, never really accomplishing what we set out to do. Joy is gone, and monotony and misery take its place. God has us here for a reason. Everything we encounter daily is valid, and we have the opportunity to recognize the value of it. Do we see God in everything?
My new focus is this: As I meet the challenges and realities of each day, I will bring with me the realization and wonder of the truths in these verses. When I speak to my family, when I prepare a meal and do laundry, as I undertake the events of the day, I want to remember everything belongs to my Lord. I desire to keep Him in the forefront of my daily routine. When things go wrong I must remember God is not surprised by the circumstance.
Life has meaning when we see and do things through the eyes of God. Joy oozes out when our tasks are completed with Him as our ambition. It brings new excitement when we remember everything we say, touch, hear, feel, and smell belongs to Him. The marvel that He is Lord of all gives new energy and yearning for more of Him.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Psalm 51:10-12 ... Be Lord of all in my life!
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
Recently I heard a little saying - One ability God needs from us is our availability. My high school affection for vocabulary kicked in and within seconds two other words ending in ability came to my mind - capability and accountability. Recognizing a devotional application, I began thinking and looking for verses in the Bible to connect these words.
Availability - Being available requires the ability to prioritize. If we were to write down the itinerary for our day at the end of the day, how much of our day was spent on useful tasks? Availability means to be of use, of worth, to benefit. Romans 12:1 tells us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service. When we present ourselves to someone, we become available to them.
Capability - Having the qualities necessary to accomplish a task. We all have physical abilities as well as spiritual gifts. Can you identify yours? Are you using them for others? Ephesians 2:10 says, We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. God created us with capabilities for good work before we came to know Him, so that when we accepted Him, we could accomplish those good works.
Accountability - Subjecting ourselves to giving a report or reason. I do not know of one person who loves to answer to someone for their behavior. I do know people who have allowed themselves to be obedient and vulnerable in the area of accountability, and they have found blessing. In II Chronicles 19 Jehoshaphat appointed judges and told them to act in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and with a loyal heart. Verse 11 of that chapter ends with, Behave courageously, and the Lord will be with the good.
God can use our abilities! But, we must act. Make yourself available to do His work. Identify your capabilities and put them to good work. Allow yourself to be transparent with someone, be faithful and loyal. The Lord will be with the good! Where do we find the strength to accomplish these abilities? Through Christ who strengthens us!
Lord, what a blessing it is to know we have your strength to use our abilities and accomplish good work for You. Keep us aware of the work You have for us to do.
As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.I Peter 1:15 (NKJV)
Holy, according to Webster is defined as: 1. dedicated to religious use; sacred 2. spiritually pure; sinless
Be holy in all your conduct. In all my conduct means 24/7. Is it a little overwhelming when you begin to consider the magnitude of that statement based on the definition of the word?
After salvation, our old nature wants to pull us back into our sinful past. But in Christ, we need to be holy in everything we do. We must establish a standard; a model for living. A standard gives us a focus point or goal, making us less likely to stumble, and allows us to have something good to return to when we fall. Our priorities should be like Christ's, and the Holy Spirit is our power for living holy lives.
Because Christ is holy, He sets the standard for holiness. He is our example. Where do we begin? Read His Word. Every book in the Bible directs us to holy living.
As I studied this verse, a coin became my visual application. One of the verses that came to my mind is Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. A coin has two sides; heads and tails. The two sides to holiness are dying and living. In order to live a life that is spiritually pure, we must die to our flesh, our sinful desires, and live holy lives in the power of Christ. Dying and living.
Don't blend in with the world. Be different because God's qualities are what make us different. Don't be influenced by sin, run away from it. God calls us to holiness. He expects us to imitate Him by following His standards.
Each day, as we deal with circumstances and uncertainties, we can touch a coin and be reminded of our standard; our choice to live holy lives and die to sin. Because Christ lives in us, we posses His power for living and we can live holy lives!
Heavenly Father, we are grateful for your love and mercy. You care about us and call us to holiness. You have given us your example for holy living. Help us to live Your standard of holiness.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. I Corinthians 13:7-8 (NIV)
Everything in life seems to have limits. Take two pills four times a day. When you speed you pay a fine, and after too many tickets you lose your license. Food has expiration dates. Even when we do our best, we will never achieve perfection. Every pursuit in life will fade away at some time. Our Christian walk is limited by our sin. We will never fully understand God's Word or His ways. However, there is one thing that endures forever; love.
There is no maximum capacity for love. Love will never expire. Love exists on such a higher level than any other achievement. Love is never a vain pursuit. Love will never be out of fashion or unnecessary. In eternity we will never cease to love. Love is the greatest!
Today, our society probably confuses love and lust. Unlike love, lust is based on selfish desires and unnatural inclinations. It requires something in return and leaves a vacuum of unfulfilled wishes. Love is directed toward others and allows us to set aside our own desires so that we can give without expecting anything in return. The only way to experience this kind of love is with God's help. The more we become like Christ, the more love we can show to others. There is no limit when we love.
When we examine our ways in our homes, our workplace, and our churches, the most important characteristic of our service should be how we love. Does our love protect? Do we believe well of others unless convinced otherwise? Are we positive and hopeful, or negative and critical? When under assault do we persevere in righteousness and love? Love is the ingredient that is not bound by time and it is never outdated. Love never fails; God is love.
We have never been unloved. This truth is larger than life, yet it is ours when we put our faith in Christ. And, because of His love, we can love. We can never give too much love or grow weary of loving.
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us perfect love. Help us to pursue love and remember that love never fails.
"I ask Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord. And, I ask you, my faithful friend to help these women." Philippians 4:2-3a (NCV)
What a blessing it is to have faithful and Godly friends and family. It is encouraging to take the hand of a struggling friend and understand together how God can use tough times to grow us in our faith. There is joy when we share in ministry together. We find strength in the example of others who walk steadfast in the Lord.
Euodia and Syntyche are two woman who must have been close friends. Paul states that they had labored with him in the gospel. It is likely they were faithful and capable leaders in the church and, as women, they probably had a special ministry reaching women and children for Christ. But like us, they were human. At some point there must have been a quarrel. They stopped pulling together and were equally at fault. Their example in leadership was damaged.
Unfortunately, this is still a problem in our churches today. Ministry demands working with people. In our human flesh, we are incapable of constant peace and unity. Therein lays the opportunity for discord and broken relationships. Godly people can lose perspective and become involved in a personal dispute. Also, it is important to remember the rest of the church is threatened when there is unresolved conflict between members.
Euodia and Syntyche had a disagreement, and Paul heard about it while he was in prison. He did not get involved in the dilemma or take sides with either one of the women. He simply asked them to agree in the Lord. Conflict between believers is not consistent with God's Word. Usually it is a product of stubborn pride and selfish ambition. By asking others to help the women, he obstructed gossip and encouraged forgiveness and unity. Christians should be able to resolve differences and preserve peace and unity in a natural way. It should be uncomplicated when we are willing to give up our self-interest and personal recognition.
Paul has a simple remedy for us in his letter to the Philippians. Joy. He tells us in verse 4 to be full of joy always. When things are going badly, when we feel like complaining, when we think we are alone, we have to remember Christ still reigns. When we know him, we can rejoice. Joy does not come from outward conditions, it comes from inward strength. Our joy can be so deep within us no person or circumstance can reach that far to grasp it from us.
Joy in the Lord can be our foundation for agreement and unity. Our dispute should never be with fellow believers but only against the enemy, Satan. When we are unified in love, the strength of Christ is abundant. Teamwork, consideration of others, and unselfishness should be our goals and the outcome will be joy, love, and kindness.
Are you in a dispute with a friend or Christian co-worker? Are you seeking forgiveness and reconciliation, or are you allowing Satan to feed the quarrel? Are you contributing to a conflict between others, or are you helping them to reconcile?
Give up your right-to-be-right and agree with each other in the Lord.
Lord, forgive us when we give in to self and demand our own way. Help us to remember it brings conflict and we dishonor You. Thank you for forgiveness and joy, and may we have a heart to serve with others in agreement.
Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:1 (NKJV)
Blogs. I was introduced to them over three years ago When it was still new to me, I found a thought provoking article, printed it out on a pink paper, and on occasion I read it. I want to share it because until now, it didn't meet a purpose or need for me personally; it just had a great message.
Recently, someone dear to my extended family has chosen to leave the Christian faith to pursue the path of evolution and atheism. I have seen many walk away from God and not one has found joy or happiness in their decision, only heartache and separation. There are moments of tears, anger, frustration and sadness as I realize how this will have an effect on their families and friendships. Many thoughts flood my mind as to what I want to say to this loved one. I want everything to go back to the way it was, but I know there will be a struggle before that happens.
What can I do to change this swayed mind? What should I say?
The blog reads:
Last week I had a dialog with a fellow Christ-follower about sharing the Christian faith with those who don't believe. The dialog came about because she e-mailed me about praying for someone to come to know her Savior. Sometimes believers, because of the life-changing experience that resulted from their faith, can forget what it's like to be on the outside, looking in. We can forget that not everyone is receptive to the Gospel and some just aren't interested in hearing it. And if we forget those things, or worse, are insensitive to those things, and we try to pursue someone and convince them without regard to their receptiveness we can do more damage than good.
Our purpose is to point people to Christ, by our words, sure; but more importantly by our lives. It's the impact of seeing someone filled with joy and hope and stamina through life more than our theological arguments that is most effective in breaking the ice. Let them see Jesus being lived out in you.
Our purpose is to dialog, not to argue and slam them for their equally strong held beliefs, whether they be in another religion or no religion at all. When we don't respect them, (and respect doesn't equate agreement) and that lack of respect comes through in our words, we're not pointing. We're shooting. Shooting them in the heart with our perceived disrespect and shooting ourselves in our evangelistic feet. And trust me; shooting is always easier than pointing. I know. I've been a Gospel gunslinger.
Mohandas Gandhi is reputed to have said, I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. Apparently he had seen enough of Christians shooting and not pointing.
I am so glad I hung on to that blog article, because God is using it to remind me how walk in the presence of this conflict. In any situation, we are to be imitators of God, walk in love (Christ as our example) and give ourselves as an offering and sacrifice to God, for a sweet-smelling aroma. He will do the work in the hearts of unbelievers!
Lord, thank you for this opportunity to draw wisdom and understanding, love and grace from the God who created us for His glory. I pray that my dear friend will return to you and rejoice in your creation once again.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life... Psalm 23:6 (NKJV)
When I was a preschooler, we attended a small church in my parent's hometown. My mom had a good friend there named Janet. A favorite memory I the have of that friend, with whom I share the same name, is listening to her and my mom sing together. Janet had a very strong soprano voice, and my mom sang alto and played the piano. There were many songs, but the only one I distinctly remember them singing is Surely Goodness and Mercy. When I read this verse I remembered sitting on the old hard pews at that church and I could still hear their voices.
The beginning of this Psalm starts with the familiar verse The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. David was s shepherd so it would be natural for him to write from his own experiences. Sheep are completely dependent on their shepherd for guidance, protection and provisions. They are prone to wander and are helpless on their own. As the Lord is our shepherd, we too are in need of His guidance and care for us. When we submit to follow Him, we can trust that He is leading us in the right places and right ways. We will not have to worry - we can be content.
David goes on to describe his walk through lush pastures, sorrowful valleys, fears of evil, and the presence of enemies. He then ends this Psalm with our verse. What a huge statement. Goodness and mercy follow the child of God each and every day! As thoughts of past and present flood your mind, what do you see? Are you hanging on to anger or bitterness from the past? God is waiting for you to let go of that and fill you with joy. Are you at home with toddlers, or caring for a sick or elderly family member? God is at your side. Do you have a difficult work environment? He will walk you through. Are you lonely? Your heavenly Father will take your hand. Are you rejoicing? He rejoices with you!
Do you trust the Good Shepherd? As you journey through life, remember God is the perfect shepherd and he promises to guide and protect you through every facet of your life.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me - not some, not most - but all the days of my life. The twin graces will pursue us - actively seek us when we follow the Good Shepherd.
Heavenly Father, help us to recognize your goodness and mercy in our lives. Thank you for Your promises and the graces you so freely give us.
And now Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. Psalms 39:7 (NKJV)
A short time ago, my friend and I spoke of what the new year holds for us. As we compared and compiled the upcoming events, we suddenly found ourselves in the month of August. As I drove home I panicked when I asked myself what I was going to do when something unexpected presented itself. My first thoughts drifted to my 93-year old grandmother. She is so frail and her last breath could be at any moment. A trip to Wisconsin to bury her, a memorial service in Ohio. "Any time after August, Lord," I prayed. The entire trip home I played the mind game of what-ifs.
Once I was home, the reality of my life drowned out my thoughts and I busied myself with laundry, cleaning, cooking and conversation with my family. I didn't think of my new year events until I sat behind my friend at her mother's funeral service a couple days later. Psalms 39:6 was read. Surely every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain.
My busy-ness is in vain, meaningless, and empty. A shadow.I walk about as a shadow. A shadow has no face or color. It is a distorted figure of an object that is blocking light rays. There is no heart or soul in a shadow, nor is there laughter or hope. It is mindless and lacks judgment. Backing up two verses in this chapter we read, Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but a vapor.
Physically, in my best state I am but a vapor. Handbreadths.hold up your hand, fold in your thumb and close the four fingers. Basically, we are not anything significant in our human existence. We are all so frail, yet we wrap ourselves in accomplishing worldly tasks that make no difference in eternity. We all should say with David, "And now Lord, what do I wait for?" What am I doing, and why am I doing it?
The upcoming events in my life are important, and ones I have very little control over. The walnut and rice analogy my friend Beth talks about will be applicable as I approach each new day. Daily I need to remind myself that my hope is in God. He is the reason I have life, and He is the reason I renew my faith as I walk this journey, albeit short. As each week passes this year and I look back, I want to know that each event in my life was planned by God and I want to use each moment as an opportunity to prove my hope is in Him. My significance in life is found in my spiritual walk with God.
God has placed us here for a reason; to give Him worship and glory. Use the events in your life as an opportunity to represent God, and live each day as if it is your last. Tell someone that you love them, deal with areas of sin, and definitely, tell someone about Jesus.
Lord, instead of feeling overwhelmed with our circumstances, may we feel overwhelmed with your presence in our circumstances. We want to bring you worship and glory - our hope is in You.
Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God Luke 2:28 (CEV)
Simeon was an old man. Verse 25 says he was righteous and devout. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. Most Jews knew the Old Testament prophecies that spoke of the Messiah's blessings to their nation. Simeon believed Isaiah (9:6-7) about a child being born - The Prince of Peace. He also had a very intimate relationship with God. Verse 26 says that God's Spirit came to Simeon and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord. Wow!
If we were to place ourselves in the life and times of Simeon, we wouldn't be too surprised because time has only changed our culture. Just like us, Simeon had been younger. There would have been moments in his life where he would have to choose the way of the world or God's way. Good decisions and bad have a way of teaching us lessons, and he would have been no different. Devout does not happen overnight. It takes time and experience and dedication to the cause. Right decisions become a way of life. As he grew older, the pattern was set and he found himself at a place in life where he really understood the message of the Savior and believed He would come as a child.
When Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple to do what the Law required of them for their newborn baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple. It was then Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God. He knew who the baby was! He went on to say in verse 29-30 "Lord, I am your servant, and now I can die in peace, because you have kept your promise to me. With my own eyes I have seen what you have done to save your people."
There are so many lessons we can learn from this passage and Simeon is such a great example to us. We too have a promise that Jesus will return again. As we grow older are we becoming righteous and devout in our faith? Do we know the Word? Are we longing for the day we see Jesus and stand in His presence? Is our relationship so intimate with God that we hear Him speak and He grants us the special desires in our lives?
Simeon's faith was old and genuine. And, as promised, God blessed him with His presence.
I Just Want To Be Where You Are
I just want to be where You are, dwelling daily in Your presence.
I don't want to worship from afar, draw me near to where You are.
I just want to be where You are, in Your dwelling place forever.
Take me to the place where You are, I just want to be with You.
I want to be where You are, dwelling in Your presence.
Feasting at Your table, surrounded by Your glory;
In Your presence, that's where I always want to be.
I just want to be, I just want to be with You. Author Unverified
Heavenly Father, we need your presence in our lives every moment. We long to see you - fill us with your Spirit as we desire to become devout in our faith.
Mary said, "I am the servant of the Lord. Let this happen to me as you say!" Then the angel went away. Luke 1:38 (NCV)
This Christmas season has brought a certain depth of thought to my mind on the subject of Mary, the mother of Jesus. I wonder what her personality was like. Was she shy or outgoing? What was special about her that God would choose her to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, over the other young women? How awesome it would have been to know her; to be a part of her life!
Let's take a walk back in time and visit the life of Mary. She was a young woman, engaged to be married, and like us, she would be dreaming about her wedding day. The day the angel greeted her and told her the news about her miracle conception, her life changed drastically. She faced some cultural risks we would not. A young unmarried girl who became pregnant would face consequences such as being rejected by her fianc� and probably remain unmarried for life. If her father rejected her she could be forced into begging or prostitution in order to earn a living. Add to that the likelihood of being called a crazy woman when she tried to tell the story about being made pregnant by the Holy Spirit! Yet, in spite of it all, her immediate response was "let it happen!"
At that moment, she would not have recalled the prophesies, or understood the tremendous opportunity and privilege of being the mother of Jesus. She was unpretentious. She simply trusted the words of the angel and willingly offered herself to serve God. In the eyes of the world, her life was ruined. But she believed the words the angel spoke in verse 37; with God, nothing will be impossible.
I want to be like Mary. She was chosen to serve God; just an ordinary gal who made herself available to God. Her character was revealed by her response to the unexpected. She did not seek status or fame in the eyes of the world. She humbly offered her life and trusted God to use her to do the impossible.
We lift our voices, we lift our hands We lift our lives up to You We are an offering
Lord use our voices, Lord use our hands Lord use our lives they are Yours We are an offering
All that we have, all that we are All that we hope to be we give to You We give to You
We lift our voices, we lift our hands We lift our lives up to You We are an offering, we are an offering.Dwight Liles
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
Have you ever seen any ugly bride? Most people would answer no. From the day the bride begins to plan her wedding to the moment she walks down the aisle, there have been hours and hours of thought and preparation. Magazines full of pictures and instructions as well as conversations with friends and family have been a part of everyday life for the bride-to-be. When the day arrives, the guests enter the decorated church. The bridal party is dressed to perfection and the music begins. Then she appears. The bride takes our breath away and everyone smiles as she passes. All are in awe at the transformation and beauty of the moment.
In our final part of the CLOSET acrostic is the letter T - Transformed into the new you. From the moment the decision was made to make a change in a cluttered closet, there have been hours of thoughts and choices. Each item has been evaluated; it either fit or it didn't, and it was a keeper or it wasn't. Some of the favorites, ones with memories attached, and the pieces that made us laugh at the thought of why it was purchased have remained or been removed. We are no longer wearing the old clothes or the ones that didn't fit quite right. Suddenly, there is realization that the items removed, the ones that were being held on to, were what caused the closet to be cluttered. Why were they held on to so long when they were not of great value or being worn?
We can probably say that about our spiritual closet as well. The things we hold on to - are they valuable? Are they keeping us lost and discouraged? As we remove the clutter of sin in our life, we begin to realize the consequences of hanging on to those.
There is one special advantage we now have as we gaze into our clean, and organized closets. There is room for the new! Little by little, item by item, we now have a clearer vision when we shop. We know what is in our closet and we know what will compliment what is in there. It is also more clear what will not be a proper fit. As we plan what to wear, we have that "look good, feel good" attitude. The new physical changes have created a new kick in our step and a smile on our face. We have a new sense of joy and contentment and confidence grows in other areas of our life.
Guess what? The same will happen in our spiritual life as well. A new relationship with God will change us and others will notice! When we accept God's gift of salvation and overcome sin in our life, we become set apart for God and we are made pure. As believers, we are the bride of Christ. He will never reject us because we belong to Him. We no longer are lost in sin. God has given us clear guidelines for a new life, given us instruction in His Word, and joy and peace preside. Others will see the transformation - the new you. Just as our verse says, the old is gone and the new has come.
Revelation 3:5 says, "He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life."
What is the condition of your closet today? Is it transformed? Are you allowing God to search your heart? Does he find a willing spirit? There will be bad days and good days, but as we trust God and daily obey His instruction, we can expect blessing. The Bible is packed full of truth for living. Read it, love it and live it!
What's in your closet?
Lord, thank you for your love for us and for the gift of salvation. As we allow you to search our hearts, our spiritual closets, help us to be free from the clutter of sin and maintain a life full of blessing from obedience.
But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him. I John 2:5-6 (NKJV)
Evaluation is a powerful tool. My children were told they could not leave the house to play with the neighbor kids until their room was clean. The evaluation was based on my definition of clean. After reviewing a game tape with the basketball team, the coaching staff commented on my husband's cocky attitude after he was charged with a foul. I knew him by his nick-name (Cocky) before I knew his given name. Employees are hired and fired based on someone's evaluation.
E - Evaluate your progress. We've been candid, cleaned out the clutter to escape our lost condition, chosen to obey important guidelines, and focused on the details by sweating the small stuff. Now it is time to step back and evaluate our progress. It is not safe to assume we will never go back to the old habits, nor can we feel comfortable with the perfect little world we've created inside our closet. It is going to continue to be a process. There will be obstacles along the way. Even if we maintain a great attitude, the closet will not automatically stay clean. There will be days of neglect due to rushed schedules, backload in the laundry room, and unexpected circumstances. Another guideline to remember: If there is not enough time to get your closet in order, try to do one or two things each time you enter. It won't be long before the weakness and cause of the unwanted clutter is identified when we are evaluating our progress.
The same conditions are present in our spiritual closets. We have good days in the Word and in prayer, and some days of neglect. Life is full of busy-ness and we cannot control each obstacle that comes our way. Our heart's desire is to maintain a close relationship with our Lord but Satan has a basket full of clutter ready to throw at us. Take the time to evaluate weaknesses and strengths. When time is too short to read an entire passage, find a verse to meditate on for the day. As you pass a house of a friend or someone you know is struggling, pray for them as you go by. Plan ahead to spend time with the Lord when a busy week is ahead. Failure can be avoided through evaluation. How would God evaluate your progress?
Obey is an action word. Day by day, moment by moment, we can experience God's love complete in our lives. Do you see blessing in your life? It is always a great feeling when we conquer a cluttered closet and it is no longer a place of dread. Our obedience to God is a great thing as well. We can know we are in Him when we obey Him! Is there a better place to be?
When we stop evaluating, we no longer have a tool to motivate. The clutter will return and we will find ourselves hopeless and in a lost condition again. Be willing to allow God to evaluate your progress.
Our prayer.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24 (NKJV)
Finally, brothers, 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. Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV)
Ahhh.don't sweat the small stuff. Can you imagine if God would not have created all the different colors of hair, eyes and skin? Think of the beautiful colors of fall; the little black dots on a ladybug. Just pause to consider anatomy - the mysteries and incredible functions of our bodies. Everywhere we look there are details that separate, magnify, and literally give us life.
Our fourth letter in the acrostic CLOSET is S - Sweating the small stuff. After renovating our cluttered closets and obeying some simple rules, we are able to work on the details. Putting shoes in a clear box, hanging scarves together in the same area, organizing your clothes by color, or deciding today what you will wear tomorrow. These details; this principle of sweating the small stuff, is not so hard when we have our closets free of clutter. Do you add a necklace and earrings to your outfit or keep a tube of lipstick in your purse? Did you know wearing a pair of heels instead of flats can increase your height and decrease the appearance of your weight by five pounds? When we pay attention to the details we look good. And, when we look good we feel good.
The spiritual application of this principle - sweating the small stuff - does the same for us in our walk with God. All throughout the Bible there are examples of how details added to the message. The creation story, the life of Noah and the intricate planning of the ark, Proverbs - the book of wisdom packed with truth for living are a few examples. How many of us would not be able to put a sinful past at the feet of Jesus without reading the story of the thief Jesus forgave while both were dying on the cross? What if God did not place blessing and joy in our lives when we obey? It is impossible to imagine how different our lives would be without the many details. God chose to sweat the small stuff in order for us to live more abundant lives!
Once our closets are clean, we are ready to take it to another level and add some extra details. Our verse tells us to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable; excellent or praiseworthy. After we have taken care of sin in our lives and choose to obey these simple thoughts, we can take our walk with God to a new level. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. What is the reward? The God of peace will be with you. There is no greater feeling than the peace of God!
Heavenly Father, help us to maintain a life free from sin and give us wisdom in order for our lives to be praiseworthy. We desire to learn from you and practice what you have taught us.
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:9-11 (NKJV)
Recently I attended a class where we learned how to clean out our closets. There are certain guidelines to follow as you clean, and even more on how to keep your closet clean after the renovation. The one principle that remains in my mind is that everything has a home - a place where it belongs - so put it there! That means every day I have to make an effort to hang up the clean clothes and put the dirty ones in a laundry basket. If I haven't worn it, I need to get rid of it (a re-sale store is great so someone else can enjoy it). And, no pile of shoes in the middle of the closet! If I want my closet to stay clean, I must follow these easy guidelines.
Part three of our CLOSET acrostic is the letter O - Obey the guidelines. In our spiritual lives, we can be successful at cleaning out the sin in our lives by obeying guidelines God has written for us in His Word. Our verse asks, "How does a young man keep his way pure?" The answer is that he must live according to God's Word. It takes effort on our part. Instruction does not just come our way, neither does knowledge. We have to seek out information and solutions and continually be learning from our experiences. The most important and reliable instructions can be found in the Bible. Are we reading it? Are we tucking away the things we are learning so when we find some clutter building up in our lives we can quickly clean it up and maintain a clean closet - a pure and holy life before God?
How would you describe your feelings as you procrastinate cleaning the closet? I feel lazy, annoyed, defeated, with a gray cloud looming above. Those same feelings of doom are present when we allow sin to clutter our lives and we do nothing to remove it. How do you feel after you have accomplished cleaning out a closet? Delighted, free, a burden lifted? Those same feelings can be ours when we repent of the present sin in our lives and replace it with holy living.
Deuteronomy 11:26- 27 shows us a clear choice God has allowed us. "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse - the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you."
Isn't it amazing that God gives us a choice between blessing and curses, obedience and disobedience? Knowing there is blessing for obedience, why do we so often choose to disobey? It is our sinful nature that draws us to disobedience. That little bit of clutter that slowly grows into something larger and keeps us lost in our sin.
Today, every day, let's choose obedience. Obey the simple guidelines God has and find blessing!
Lord, thank you for clear instructions for us to live pure lives. Help us to obey and not stray from your commands.
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)
In part one, the topic of being candid was the C of our acrostic of the word CLOSET. If I were to be candid about the condition of my closet, some days I would be embarrassed. You see, there have been times I have lost items because of the clutter formed over a period of time. I have slightly rolled my ankle on a shoe hidden under a pile of worn clothes. When I get to the point of total frustration, I dive into the mess and sort and organize and clean. The pile of clutter disappears and I feel like I have a new beginning.
L- Lost in the clutter. Sin has a way of entering into our spiritual closets and forming piles of clutter in our lives. All sin creates a barrier between us and God. Our sin makes it so hard for us to approach God. As in any relationship, a broken trust creates tension and a feeling of separation and unworthiness. Suddenly sin becomes a mountain of clutter in our spiritual life and leaves us feeling defeated and hopeless. We are in spiritual darkness and cannot see God anymore, and miss out on the abundant living Christ desires for us. No longer do we have that peace that passes all understanding. We are lost in the clutter of our sin.
How do we conquer the mountain of clutter? How do we find the way back from our lost condition? It says in Psalms 51:1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Because of God's unfailing love for us, He alone can cleanse us. He will find us when we call out to Him. It is our choice to ask Him - to open the door of our closet - to reveal the real me and allow God to change the lost condition of our hearts.
How does He do that? He is light! Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Just as a light reveals the condition of our closets, God is able to shine His light in our lives, revealing the sin. He has provided a light and a path - a way out! Just as it takes time for the clutter to accumulate, it will take time for God to work in us and change us; to sort through the mess. We are no longer lost in sin, or unclean, and our righteous acts become glorifying to God.
Lord, thank you for seeking us and for providing a light for our lost condition. Help us to keep from accumulating sin in our lives and may we live holy lives for your glory.
As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man. Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)
I love acrostics. As I get older, I have noticed more and more I have to play games with myself to learn something new or remember something specific. Using the word CLOSET I found there are some simple but important lessons to be learned by looking at each letter of the word.
C Candid - revealing the real me. How many times do we look into the mirror and have that deep question lurking; the one that causes us to ask who that person is I am staring at? If you were to pretend your life is like your personal closet, what or who would people see? Are there things in your life you would rather nobody ever knows about? Is there anger, selfishness, pride, laziness, or self-gratitude? Take a moment to look into your heart, into that personal closet of yours and be candid. What do you see? Is there so much clutter there that nobody can see the real you?
When was the last time you cleaned out your closet? Is there a pile on the floor and are there years of clothes; mismatched or too small or too big, cluttering it up? Why are you hanging on to some of the items? What is missing in all that clutter? Why don't you clean it up? Our closets reveal the real person to whom the items belong. We can come out of our closets looking pretty good, but when the door closes, the clutter remains inside. Nobody is allowed in. In our hearts, we know we hate being in there.
Mark 7:21-23 gives us a list of some pretty disgusting sins that come from within a man's heart. It goes on to say that all these evils come from inside and make a man unclean.
We all love looking at a picture with a lake reflecting the beauty of the surrounding nature. If we were to hang our head over the end of a dock and look into the water, we would see a reflection of our face. Our verse says, "so a man's heart reflects the man." The heart reveals the real me; the real you.
If you were to be candid - honest, is your personal closet holy, pleasing to God? Are the things of the world important to you; more important than God? It is hard to see and know God's will when our vision is cluttered. Just as we lose sight of things in a cluttered closet, we can lose sight of God when we allow sin to clutter our hearts. Sin is anything that does not please God. Allowing our minds to dwell on evil, and having wrong thoughts and desires will lead to sin.
God's desire for us is this. Romans 12:1-2 says "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
So, let's be candid. What does your heart reflect about you?
Heavenly Father, may it be our desire to be honest with You and honest with ourselves. Reveal to us the sin and clutter, and help us to live lives that are holy and pleasing to You.
