Early this morning (maybe it's because it's Throwback-Thursday) a praise chorus popped into my head...and just stayed there. I haven't really thought about this particular one in years.
It's a scripture-praise that was taken from Isaiah 28:16.
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold
I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone
a tried stone,
a precious corner stone,
a sure foundation:
he that believeth shall not make haste."
Do you remember it? As I recall, the music was quite like a Jewish dance tune...upbeat and stirring. It made you want to get up on your feet and at least tap your toe! At any rate, you simply cannot sing this chorus while sitting down...it begs you to get on your feet, clap your hands for joy, and let your happy be LOUD!
So, round and round it goes, and now I'm humming happily along, singing in my heart and letting the words register in my brain.
I wanted to share what some scholars have to say about this passage.
The Ryrie Study Bible, Expanded Edition, NIV, includes this note...
"Messiah is a foundation stone in His atonement, a tested stone in His temptations, and a precious cornerstone in His relationship to His people."
Jesus is our foundation. He is the foundation of His Church. He is the
foundation of Israel, their promised and long-awaited Messiah! In short, Jesus is simply everything...everything that we will ever need in this life and the one to come, He has already provided. Isn't that wonderful?! There is nothing that we need that He is not aware of. There is nothing that we need that He would refuse us. (see Matt. 7: 7-11)
I am rejoicing in those precious promises today, as I hum along right through the cares and worries that are competing for my attention. And I am especially rejoicing in the last line of that little praise chorus...
"he that believeth shall not make haste." Now, when you extrapolate that phrase, it basically translates:
"he that trusts in God will not be dismayed/disappointed." And that little word "dismayed" means deprived of your POWER! Oh, yes, sweet friend, there is power in the name of Jesus! There is power to break every chain, in every area of our lives. There is power to elevate us up to where we belong...walking on sunshine once again!
So, there you have it. Put your trust in the foundation that holds you up, and never hurry to worry!
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
pawing the ground and snorting
Lately, I can't help but notice the level of intensity in which the enemy is operating against us. Simply put, he's on a rampage. Everybody is going through something, and there doesn't seem to be any end of it in sight. Spirits are low and faith is fading. But, I have an answer to all of that!
Times like these always remind me of Job and the terrible difficulties that he faced as he was sifted. God was proud of him; it was He who called attention of Job's fine character to Satan.
"One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord,
and Satan also came with them.
The Lord said to Satan, 'Where have you come from?'
Satan answered the Lord, 'From roaming through the earth
and going back and forth in it.'
Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant,
Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and
upright, a man who fears (respects the power of...) God
and shuns evil.'"
~Job 1: 6-11, NIV
Satan responded to that rather cleverly: He basically said, "Of course He fears and honors You. You have put a hedge of protection all about him and his possessions. In fact, You have blessed him mightily. But, I'll just bet that if You remove your protection from him, if You curse Him instead, he will not praise you then!"
Now is a good time to mention that God will not curse us (we often curse ourselves, but He doesn't do it), because we are in a blood covenant relationship with Him, He will never curse us. Satan knew this and he could not have been happier when God answered his challenge regarding Job:
"The Lord said to Satan, 'Very well, then, everything he has in in your hands,
BUT on the man himself, do not lay a finger."
~Job 1: 12, NIV
Isn't that marvelous?! No matter what, God always has the last word...we always win!
And so began Job's trials and great trials they were. Still, God never would forsake him, not for one minute.
At times, I'm sure that Job did not feel that he could go on...there had to have been many days when he just wanted to give-in and give up! And yet, God was there all the time.
Now, fast forward to the end of the story (don't forget to read all about it in Job 42: 10-16). Toward the end of his trials, God came and talked with him, no doubt to encourage him. This is the conversation I want you to see:
"Do you give the horse his strength or give his neck a flowing mane?
Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?
He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray.
He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; he does not shy away from the sword.
The quiver rattles against his side, along with the flashing spear and lance.
In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground; he cannot stand still when the
trumpet sounds. At the blast of the trumpet he snorts, "Aha!"
(note: in the KJV, it actually says, "Ha, Ha!" Isn't that great?!!!)
He catches the scent of battle from afar, the shout
of commanders and the battle cry."
~Job 39: 19-25, NIV
God was reminding Job that even the horse is His in battle. He is unafraid to pursue the enemy because he (the horse) knows who his commander is!
It's true...sometimes life down here is incredibly hard; it often seems unfair. But, never give up on the Commander. He owns the battle. He has the victory, and we win...we surely win.
As you face the obstacles that are flung across your path while you are being sifted, just remember that your steed is pawing the ground...ready to fight...snorting at the enemy, and bellowing, "HA! HA!" We may be riding into the fray, but we are not alone. We will never be alone. God's eternal love for us will not allow Him to leave us or forsake us.
Now, get back up in that saddle, and give the horse of victory his head. He will take you to the other side of the battle...let him run, wild and free, escaping the enemy at every turn, pawing and snorting, "HA! HA!"
Times like these always remind me of Job and the terrible difficulties that he faced as he was sifted. God was proud of him; it was He who called attention of Job's fine character to Satan.
"One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord,
and Satan also came with them.
The Lord said to Satan, 'Where have you come from?'
Satan answered the Lord, 'From roaming through the earth
and going back and forth in it.'
Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant,
Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and
upright, a man who fears (respects the power of...) God
and shuns evil.'"
~Job 1: 6-11, NIV
Satan responded to that rather cleverly: He basically said, "Of course He fears and honors You. You have put a hedge of protection all about him and his possessions. In fact, You have blessed him mightily. But, I'll just bet that if You remove your protection from him, if You curse Him instead, he will not praise you then!"
Now is a good time to mention that God will not curse us (we often curse ourselves, but He doesn't do it), because we are in a blood covenant relationship with Him, He will never curse us. Satan knew this and he could not have been happier when God answered his challenge regarding Job:
"The Lord said to Satan, 'Very well, then, everything he has in in your hands,
BUT on the man himself, do not lay a finger."
~Job 1: 12, NIV
Isn't that marvelous?! No matter what, God always has the last word...we always win!
And so began Job's trials and great trials they were. Still, God never would forsake him, not for one minute.
At times, I'm sure that Job did not feel that he could go on...there had to have been many days when he just wanted to give-in and give up! And yet, God was there all the time.
Now, fast forward to the end of the story (don't forget to read all about it in Job 42: 10-16). Toward the end of his trials, God came and talked with him, no doubt to encourage him. This is the conversation I want you to see:
"Do you give the horse his strength or give his neck a flowing mane?
Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?
He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray.
He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; he does not shy away from the sword.
The quiver rattles against his side, along with the flashing spear and lance.
In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground; he cannot stand still when the
trumpet sounds. At the blast of the trumpet he snorts, "Aha!"
(note: in the KJV, it actually says, "Ha, Ha!" Isn't that great?!!!)
He catches the scent of battle from afar, the shout
of commanders and the battle cry."
~Job 39: 19-25, NIV
God was reminding Job that even the horse is His in battle. He is unafraid to pursue the enemy because he (the horse) knows who his commander is!
It's true...sometimes life down here is incredibly hard; it often seems unfair. But, never give up on the Commander. He owns the battle. He has the victory, and we win...we surely win.
As you face the obstacles that are flung across your path while you are being sifted, just remember that your steed is pawing the ground...ready to fight...snorting at the enemy, and bellowing, "HA! HA!" We may be riding into the fray, but we are not alone. We will never be alone. God's eternal love for us will not allow Him to leave us or forsake us.
Now, get back up in that saddle, and give the horse of victory his head. He will take you to the other side of the battle...let him run, wild and free, escaping the enemy at every turn, pawing and snorting, "HA! HA!"
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
caution: reduce speed ahead
Here in central Oklahoma, we've had a much 'cooler' summer than usual, but the weather forecasters are calling for a return of the hot days of summer next week. Even so, with the absence of the normal heat pattern, it makes it hard to believe that the kiddos are already heading back to school.
The newscasters are reminding us to be alert in the school zones, always watching for the children. It's rather ridiculous that we need to be reminded that the flashing lights indicate the possibility of small pedestrians walking to and from home, or simply standing...waiting for their ride. But, it's the same every year. We seem to be growing more and more oblivious to the school zones that may be on our normal route. Drivers are already distracted with the interaction of their mobile devices, and they get annoyed if they have to slow down. Rarely do I see a driver who maintains the more cautious speed until completely out of the posted zone. Why is that? Why are we in such a hurry all of the time? Where are we going?
Pondering on these thoughts, brought something else to mind:
You've heard me say this a thousand times, so one more time won't annoy you that much, right?
EVERYBODY IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING. Normally, we don't even have a clue as to what the folks around us are going through at any given time. Unless they tell us themselves, or someone else tells us, or we overhear a conversation that clues us in, we "drive right on through" their caution zone. Lights are flashing, the Holy Spirit is urging, but we just keep right on going. Why is that?
Are we afraid that if we offer to do something, someone might actually take us up on it?! Okay, suppose that's the truth, and having limited resources ourselves, we may not be able to do as much as we had promised or hoped. It's a good rule to not make promises that you cannot keep. But, what about the One who has unlimited resources? Have we forgotten that He is always ready to "be the answer," supplying every need (spiritual, financial, emotional, physical) to us in His own way and time? How much of our precious schedule is altered when we stop and whisper a heartfelt plea: "God, please help my friend today."
Why can't we spare that few seconds worth of time? Why are we in such a hurry?
I have noticed that several times a day, the Lord brings someone to my mind...it's often just a fleeting thought, or a flash of memory that was triggered by some seemingly unrelated event. I have learned that the Father is sharing with us the grand opportunity to be part of their solution. If we will learn to stop, for a few seconds, and really listen and pay attention to the prompting, we may be entrusted with the treasure of heaven...the answer to someone's prayer or cry for help.
The prophet (Isaiah 6:8, NIV) answered the call.
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?'
And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"
So, I ask again...where are we going? Where are we going with our lives? How will we account for our time here? In the end, will we even be worth the air that we had to breathe? There's one way to determine our own destinies...be available, always be ready to be part of the solution. It's true that we can't do everything, but there is a lot more that we could be doing. Stay 'prayed-up,' and always ready to whisper someone's name.
We need to make a conscious effort to slow-down when mentally racing through someone's caution zone...be alert for the weary traveler who just needs you to whisper their name. The Lord will always let you know if there is something more tangible that you need to do to complete the task of bringing comfort to the forgotten soul along the way.
Yes, Isaiah said, "Here I am; send me!" And Hollywood's Doc Holliday said, "I'm your huckleberry!"
Whichever one you can identify with...just do it! Be the one driver who slows down all the way through the zone. And then...check your rear-view mirror just to make sure that everyone made it through!
The newscasters are reminding us to be alert in the school zones, always watching for the children. It's rather ridiculous that we need to be reminded that the flashing lights indicate the possibility of small pedestrians walking to and from home, or simply standing...waiting for their ride. But, it's the same every year. We seem to be growing more and more oblivious to the school zones that may be on our normal route. Drivers are already distracted with the interaction of their mobile devices, and they get annoyed if they have to slow down. Rarely do I see a driver who maintains the more cautious speed until completely out of the posted zone. Why is that? Why are we in such a hurry all of the time? Where are we going?
Pondering on these thoughts, brought something else to mind:
You've heard me say this a thousand times, so one more time won't annoy you that much, right?
EVERYBODY IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING. Normally, we don't even have a clue as to what the folks around us are going through at any given time. Unless they tell us themselves, or someone else tells us, or we overhear a conversation that clues us in, we "drive right on through" their caution zone. Lights are flashing, the Holy Spirit is urging, but we just keep right on going. Why is that?
Are we afraid that if we offer to do something, someone might actually take us up on it?! Okay, suppose that's the truth, and having limited resources ourselves, we may not be able to do as much as we had promised or hoped. It's a good rule to not make promises that you cannot keep. But, what about the One who has unlimited resources? Have we forgotten that He is always ready to "be the answer," supplying every need (spiritual, financial, emotional, physical) to us in His own way and time? How much of our precious schedule is altered when we stop and whisper a heartfelt plea: "God, please help my friend today."
Why can't we spare that few seconds worth of time? Why are we in such a hurry?
I have noticed that several times a day, the Lord brings someone to my mind...it's often just a fleeting thought, or a flash of memory that was triggered by some seemingly unrelated event. I have learned that the Father is sharing with us the grand opportunity to be part of their solution. If we will learn to stop, for a few seconds, and really listen and pay attention to the prompting, we may be entrusted with the treasure of heaven...the answer to someone's prayer or cry for help.
The prophet (Isaiah 6:8, NIV) answered the call.
"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?'
And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"
So, I ask again...where are we going? Where are we going with our lives? How will we account for our time here? In the end, will we even be worth the air that we had to breathe? There's one way to determine our own destinies...be available, always be ready to be part of the solution. It's true that we can't do everything, but there is a lot more that we could be doing. Stay 'prayed-up,' and always ready to whisper someone's name.
We need to make a conscious effort to slow-down when mentally racing through someone's caution zone...be alert for the weary traveler who just needs you to whisper their name. The Lord will always let you know if there is something more tangible that you need to do to complete the task of bringing comfort to the forgotten soul along the way.
Yes, Isaiah said, "Here I am; send me!" And Hollywood's Doc Holliday said, "I'm your huckleberry!"
Whichever one you can identify with...just do it! Be the one driver who slows down all the way through the zone. And then...check your rear-view mirror just to make sure that everyone made it through!
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
raining in your heart
Here we are in the middle of July, in central Oklahoma, and it's raining and the temperature is below 70! I've got to say that this is very unusual. In fact, the weatherman has assured us, for the past several days, that we will break some records this week. It may be strange weather, but I have not heard anyone complaining.
Too bad that our lives, in general, can't be this uncomplicated. You know...just go-with-the-flow. Think about it...if we could wake up in the middle of circumstances that we were not expecting at all, and just say, "Wow! What a great day this is going to be." But instead, sadly, we usually throw a fit. We complain bitterly about how unfair everything is and that this is not what we bargained for. Wait a minute! Hold that thought!
"...What we bargained for..." that's an interesting phrase, isn't it? So, just exactly, what did we bargain for in this life? Let's take just a few minutes and really think about this. You go ahead and get comfortable, and I'll get a cup of coffee, and we'll just sit a spell and visit on this cool and rainy morning.
Clearly, I can't speak for anyone other than myself, so that's what I'll do, I'll speak for myself! I am reminded of the country song from the seventies that Lynn Anderson crooned, "I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden..."
Well, that's certainly true: God never once promised that everything would be just perfect all the time just because we loved Him and agreed to serve Him with our lives. And what about that? Have we ever, truly, offered up our entire lives to Him? Well, that's a subject for another day.
Going further with this thought (what we bargained for), let's remember what James taught us,
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (James 1:2-3 - NIV) That's a perplexing thought: How are we supposed to be joyful over a circumstance that is making us uncomfortable? Well, I have learned that "when the going gets tough," as it often does, then I must be doing something right, or there would not be so much opposition from the enemy. Right?! And when I am doing something, anything, right, that's reason enough to be joyful.
Now let's get another point of view:
"Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." (John 15:20 - NIV, Jesus speaking)
There are many other passages that remind us that the chosen life is not an easy one; sometimes it's downright HARD, oh! but the retirement fund is awesome...in fact, you might say, "It's out of this world."
So, let's also think about what Peter taught us about our response to the tough times that we encounter.
(I Peter 3 : 8,9 - NIV)
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."
So there we have it, no rose gardens other than the ones your own heart perceives! You were called to be a blessing to others, so that God might BLESS YOU!!!!
Raining and cool or hot and dry, like the uncertain weather, circumstances should not cause us to waver. We must continually bless each other, and live with blissful hearts that are filled to the brim with all of the Father's goodness toward us. Don't worry...be happy, and be a blessing!
Too bad that our lives, in general, can't be this uncomplicated. You know...just go-with-the-flow. Think about it...if we could wake up in the middle of circumstances that we were not expecting at all, and just say, "Wow! What a great day this is going to be." But instead, sadly, we usually throw a fit. We complain bitterly about how unfair everything is and that this is not what we bargained for. Wait a minute! Hold that thought!
"...What we bargained for..." that's an interesting phrase, isn't it? So, just exactly, what did we bargain for in this life? Let's take just a few minutes and really think about this. You go ahead and get comfortable, and I'll get a cup of coffee, and we'll just sit a spell and visit on this cool and rainy morning.
Clearly, I can't speak for anyone other than myself, so that's what I'll do, I'll speak for myself! I am reminded of the country song from the seventies that Lynn Anderson crooned, "I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden..."
Well, that's certainly true: God never once promised that everything would be just perfect all the time just because we loved Him and agreed to serve Him with our lives. And what about that? Have we ever, truly, offered up our entire lives to Him? Well, that's a subject for another day.
Going further with this thought (what we bargained for), let's remember what James taught us,
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (James 1:2-3 - NIV) That's a perplexing thought: How are we supposed to be joyful over a circumstance that is making us uncomfortable? Well, I have learned that "when the going gets tough," as it often does, then I must be doing something right, or there would not be so much opposition from the enemy. Right?! And when I am doing something, anything, right, that's reason enough to be joyful.
Now let's get another point of view:
"Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." (John 15:20 - NIV, Jesus speaking)
There are many other passages that remind us that the chosen life is not an easy one; sometimes it's downright HARD, oh! but the retirement fund is awesome...in fact, you might say, "It's out of this world."
So, let's also think about what Peter taught us about our response to the tough times that we encounter.
(I Peter 3 : 8,9 - NIV)
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."
So there we have it, no rose gardens other than the ones your own heart perceives! You were called to be a blessing to others, so that God might BLESS YOU!!!!
Raining and cool or hot and dry, like the uncertain weather, circumstances should not cause us to waver. We must continually bless each other, and live with blissful hearts that are filled to the brim with all of the Father's goodness toward us. Don't worry...be happy, and be a blessing!
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....
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!
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!
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
here come the sheep
Back in the day, while teaching remedial classes in summer school, I thought it was important to make it as fun and memorable as possible. After all, who wants to be stuck in the classroom during the summer while everyone else was at the park or the pool!
Since it was necessary to accomplish a great deal of work in a limited span of time, being creative was a major challenge. Since my task included getting the students a step closer to grade-level (especially with reading/comprehension) skills, I was determined to make learning more fun and less stressful.
I found that the best tactic was to go back, all the way back, to a level that they were comfortable in. Often, that placed us at very low levels. Thank goodness, there is no shortage of particularly wonderful children's literature to glean from.
One of my favorite author/illustrator teams was Nancy E. Shaw and Margot Apple. Their "Sheep" books were so valuable for beginning readers. And once the children were engaged, the sky was the limit! Oh! What great memories! But, I digress.
There were several titles in the series, but my favorite will always be "Sheep in a Jeep."
"Beep! Beep! Sheep in a jeep on a hill that's steep."
Can you predict what might happen next?
"Sheep in a Shop" / "Sheep on a Ship" / "Sheep Out to Eat" ... well, you get the picture.
I was thinking of these wonderful stories, when a profound thought hit me. According to the Word, we are the sheep of the Lord's pasture. That's significant...to be His sheep. Because, one day there will be a reckoning, a division will take place. The "sheep" (those who will spend eternity with Him) and the "goats" (those who will not) will be separated for eternity. What a thought. In the meantime, we are here, and life here is not always rosy. It's downright hard to always walk-the talk.
Oh, we're okay with being the sheep, but sometimes we get a little distracted, and our adventures take us away from the long-term plan. Like the sheep in the stories, we do what sounds like fun, but then we realize there are consequences to our choices...and it seems that the more reckless or foolish the choices, then all the more dire, are the consequences..
To complicate things, someone is always 'watching' us, as if waiting for us to mess up. Theses days there is a very real chance that whatever we are doing could be 'captured' and transferred to social media without our knowledge or permission. I'm not saying that we are to go off and hide in a cave somewhere, I'm saying that the choice will always be yours...that's the way our God rolls...so when you think you need a diversion from the straight-and-narrow, take a good hard look at the consequences, there is a reason the "jeep (is) on a hill that's steep." The road we travel is not easy, it's hard. Traveling carefully will cause you to arrive at your destination, safe and sound. Ramrodding your way along the path, on the other hand, will most certainly lead to consequences that you might not be prepared for. Life is a garden of delight, it's supposed to be, so have fun, enjoy all that God is doing for you, and whenever you have a choice to make...choose wisely, my friends.
Beep! Beep! Here come the sheep!
Since it was necessary to accomplish a great deal of work in a limited span of time, being creative was a major challenge. Since my task included getting the students a step closer to grade-level (especially with reading/comprehension) skills, I was determined to make learning more fun and less stressful.
I found that the best tactic was to go back, all the way back, to a level that they were comfortable in. Often, that placed us at very low levels. Thank goodness, there is no shortage of particularly wonderful children's literature to glean from.
One of my favorite author/illustrator teams was Nancy E. Shaw and Margot Apple. Their "Sheep" books were so valuable for beginning readers. And once the children were engaged, the sky was the limit! Oh! What great memories! But, I digress.
There were several titles in the series, but my favorite will always be "Sheep in a Jeep."
"Beep! Beep! Sheep in a jeep on a hill that's steep."
Can you predict what might happen next?
"Sheep in a Shop" / "Sheep on a Ship" / "Sheep Out to Eat" ... well, you get the picture.
I was thinking of these wonderful stories, when a profound thought hit me. According to the Word, we are the sheep of the Lord's pasture. That's significant...to be His sheep. Because, one day there will be a reckoning, a division will take place. The "sheep" (those who will spend eternity with Him) and the "goats" (those who will not) will be separated for eternity. What a thought. In the meantime, we are here, and life here is not always rosy. It's downright hard to always walk-the talk.
Oh, we're okay with being the sheep, but sometimes we get a little distracted, and our adventures take us away from the long-term plan. Like the sheep in the stories, we do what sounds like fun, but then we realize there are consequences to our choices...and it seems that the more reckless or foolish the choices, then all the more dire, are the consequences..
To complicate things, someone is always 'watching' us, as if waiting for us to mess up. Theses days there is a very real chance that whatever we are doing could be 'captured' and transferred to social media without our knowledge or permission. I'm not saying that we are to go off and hide in a cave somewhere, I'm saying that the choice will always be yours...that's the way our God rolls...so when you think you need a diversion from the straight-and-narrow, take a good hard look at the consequences, there is a reason the "jeep (is) on a hill that's steep." The road we travel is not easy, it's hard. Traveling carefully will cause you to arrive at your destination, safe and sound. Ramrodding your way along the path, on the other hand, will most certainly lead to consequences that you might not be prepared for. Life is a garden of delight, it's supposed to be, so have fun, enjoy all that God is doing for you, and whenever you have a choice to make...choose wisely, my friends.
Beep! Beep! Here come the sheep!
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