Tuesday, June 17, 2014

nothing lacking

Here we are, in the final days of Spring, and the weather has been wonderful!  Many happy hours have been spent in the wilderness garden out back, on the front porch, and on the swing in the back yard.  I've seen beautiful pink sunrises, and soft orange-gold sunsets.  The birds and butterflies have accompanied me, as the squirrels entertained me with their acrobatic presentations in the tops of the  80-year-old pecan trees in our yard.

Peace has flowed like a quiet river, and sometimes it is hard to believe that I am right in the middle of a fairly large city.

We have had abundant rain showers, as well, and everything is lush and green.  During the heavy downpours, I have retreated indoors to one of my three favorite spots...the hobby/playroom, my Study upstairs, or the living room...curled up with a good book or watching a favorite movie.

Anyone who knows me at all understands that I am a "home-body."  I like h-o-m-e, HOME!  I am not a "shopper," and therefore it is not on my list of things-to-do today to stop by the mall and just...walk around.  I don't particularly enjoy going to the theater to see a movie...I much prefer to watch one at home.  I don't even enjoy going out to eat, unless it is for a special occasion with special people.  I like to cook, and I've been told that the product of my culinary efforts is not hard to wash down, so that makes it even more enjoyable.  I like my job at the office, but I LOVE my home.

I am married to my best friend, and we enjoy each others company to the point that we can still hold long conversations about the things that we are passionate about, or we can snuggle on the couch next to each other, and never say a word...it is still bliss.

I have learned to be contented with all the blessings that God has so graciously provided in my life.  There is nothing that I lack.  It is well with my soul.  I have lived long enough to correct some of the mistakes that I have made, and accept and give forgiveness, so that others might have the same freedom that I do.

All in all, though not always easy by any means, I have lived a good life.  I have been blessed with wonderful children who were raised to love and honor and respect their parents, both of us...at the same time, and they do.  They show honor and respect at all times, their love knows no bounds.  They each, in turn, come and visit as often as they can, and no matter who is present or who is absent, we always have a good time.

I'm pretty sure that's the way it's supposed to be!  Yes sir, God has been good to me.

And now, along comes Summer!  I can hardly imagine all the joys that have been appointed to me and my family.  I am thankful to my dear Lord, for the outrageous love and favor He has bestowed upon me & mine.
And, I am looking forward to a grand Summer at the old home-place!  Let the good times roll, in the summertime....

Friday, June 13, 2014

a righteous expectation

The body of Christ is in need of repair.  It's been "banged around and scarred," kicked about and scraped raw, and by whom?  The very members of the body, that's who!  The fingers claw at the eyes, and the teeth grab the flesh of the arm.  Yes, the most precious presence on this planet is in danger of self-destruction.  The enemy doesn't even have to lift a finger against us.  In fact, he parades unabashedly in front of the throne of grace, claiming, "Not me, God....nope, not this time...I didn't do it."

Sadly the Father turns away, tears stinging His eyes, because He knows it's true.  His hope for the world---Christ living in us---has become a joke in the spiritual realms.  "How long?!" He cries, "How long must I strive with man?  When will he ever listen to my Words and heed my voice?"

We glide in and out of our days as if there were no direction from God necessary.  We seldom spend any time with the Father in joyful communion until we want Him to do something for us.  And still, like the perfect parent He is, He continually responds to our cries, knowing all the while that as soon as we get what we want, we'll turn aside again...until we need Him.  It's a very convenient relationship.

But, I wonder...when will He get what He wants from us?  In His Word, He has outlined His expectations for us, individually and as a collective Body...the Body of Christ, His beloved.

Micah 6: 8  "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  Nothing hard to understand about that.

Here's a cut-and-dried list of what He doesn't want to see in us:
Proverbs 6: 16-19  "There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man that stirs up dissension among brothers (in Christ)."

When Jesus was asked which of the "rules" was the necessary one to live by, a man answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, AND Love your neighbor as yourself."  Jesus responded, "You have answered correctly."

I wonder, at what point in the history of mankind, these words were disavowed.  I wonder when it happened...when did we decide that God didn't really mean anything He said to us or about us.  I wonder when we decided that it would be okay with Him if we just did whatever we wanted to without even consulting Him or asking what His will was in a situation.  I wonder when it was that we convinced ourselves that as long as we got whatever we wanted, it didn't matter if it was what He wanted for us.

If I am reading His Word correctly, it is my understanding that everyone in the Body of Christ should be working together to make good things happen for each other.  When someone steps up-to-the-plate of responsibility and tries to make things better, when did it ever become okay to try to destroy them?  How can that attitude or behavior ever reflect God's Spirit of Love, perfect Love?

There is mischief afoot in the Spirit these days. And the enemy of our souls is not the perpetrator.  We have drifted so far from God's Word that we are making up our own rules as we go along.  We claim that what we do is right, but we are not being truthful with God or ourselves when we have not even asked God what He thinks!  We just say, "God, this is what I want you to do!"

Well, my Book says that is not the kind of prayer that God can or will answer.  In fact, James said it this way:  (James 4: 15-17)
"You ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast and brag.  All such boasting is evil.  Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins."

How far we have fallen.  How disappointed the Father must be. Perhaps He will give us another opportunity to become humble before Him, seeking His will and not our own, and listening to His voice, and obeying...being kind and helpful to one another and always walking in love with all the members in the body.
I hope so.  God deserves that kind of love, respect and loyalty from us...that we would always do His will and make it first and foremost in our lives.

And now, dear ones, I leave you with this reminder:
"The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."  (James 3: 17-18)   And that is what God is most concerned with: our righteousness in Him!

Live righteous!