Jesus told this parable: Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood off by himself and prayed, "God, I thank You that I am not like other people........But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner!"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified. Luke 18:9-14
I can picture this in my mind so easily, because I have been both men. For 16 years I was too proud to admit I couldn't get to heaven of my own accord, but when I finally gave in and admitted my sinfulness and need of redemption, I was set free.
I see a man who has worked hard all his life to obey God's Law. As an adult he looks back and sees he has done a pretty good job of it. He feels blessed and honored to be able to go into the temple and tell God of all his achievements. What doesn't register with him is that his pride in his personal achievement is sin itself AND that he could never have done as well as he has if God wasn't involved.
I see a second man who has come to realize that his life achievement of making money has done nothing but alienate him from his own people and his God. So he cries out in embarrassment and
humility for God's forgiveness and receives it.
I feel badly for the Pharisees of today, as they have been blinded by their own pride. I also feel badly for Christians, who like the tax collector, have cried out for forgiveness and have been given it, but they are still standing in that temple crying out to God about how miserable a person they are. They have neglected to read on and see that the tax collector WENT HOME!! Not only that, he went home JUSTIFIED by almighty God!! He probably went home in tears of great joy, with the realization that he had been cleansed and released from the penalty of his past sins. In his rejoicing, he most likely went home to figure out how he could give back to God in acts of generosity to others! This would compound his joy and God's in him!! After all, God loves a cheerful giver!! II Corinthians 9:7.
My prayer for my brothers and sisters in Christ is that they all come to realize that God wants us to walk with Him and be happy. If we walk with anyone or anything else, our happiness will only be superficial. But if we walk with Jesus, our happiness will be made complete in Him!! When you sin, confess it by ALL means, but do not wallow in it!! Wallow instead in the joy of His forgiveness, then get up and get going!! There is much to do, and if we stay in the temple crying out for forgiveness already given, it is not going to get done!! Rejoice!! and again I say REJOICE!! (Phil 4:4) Paul thought we should too!!
Be blessed!!
Monday, December 12, 2016
Monday, November 21, 2016
Solar Power
Mirrors....reflectors of light. We are told to think of ourselves as mirrors that reflect the light of Jesus. But what happens to a mirror when it is placed in a dark corner? Absolutely nothing. You can no longer see that it even exists unless and until a light is shined on it.
I was thinking about this as I read Philippians 2:15. So many thoughts went through my mind, I had to stop, take a breath and do a minute of research to make sure the thoughts were coming from God and not my flesh.
Here is what the verse says, though I am going back a verse to make it more clear:
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world. {NASV}
Here's the thing. At the time of the Bible being written, a mirror was their best analogy in regards to reflecting God's light.
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. I Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)
Today we have a better one - solar powered lights. These amazing things are powered by a battery that absorbs the sun's rays and then converts it into energy for the light itself.
This is much better than the mirror analogy, because of what happens to a mirror when it is placed in a dark corner. It can no longer reflect light, so it remains dark. A solar powered light will absorb the light, then reflect it back out even in the darkest of places, because it is powered by the light it absorbed. It has transformed the light into power.
Many a Christian is like the mirror. As long as they remain in God's Son light, they are great reflectors. But the moment any darkness creeps upon them, they can no longer shine. They only know how to reflect. But the Christian who takes time to sit at Jesus' feet and absorb His words into their very being becomes empowered by His light. Our minds become transformers for His glory and when the darkness comes, we are ready to shine.
Do not conform 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. Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Another really great thing to think about is that when many Christians who choose to be transformers rather than simple reflectors band together, the Light they pour forth can eradicate the darkness. This is what we are called to do.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:23-25
( NIV)
Mirrors cannot absorb and so when the light is gone, not only is the reflection forgotten, but so is the mirror for a time, until it is needed again. Oh that we would all chose transformation over reflection!
I was thinking about this as I read Philippians 2:15. So many thoughts went through my mind, I had to stop, take a breath and do a minute of research to make sure the thoughts were coming from God and not my flesh.
Here is what the verse says, though I am going back a verse to make it more clear:
Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world. {NASV}
Here's the thing. At the time of the Bible being written, a mirror was their best analogy in regards to reflecting God's light.
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. I Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)
Today we have a better one - solar powered lights. These amazing things are powered by a battery that absorbs the sun's rays and then converts it into energy for the light itself.
This is much better than the mirror analogy, because of what happens to a mirror when it is placed in a dark corner. It can no longer reflect light, so it remains dark. A solar powered light will absorb the light, then reflect it back out even in the darkest of places, because it is powered by the light it absorbed. It has transformed the light into power.
Many a Christian is like the mirror. As long as they remain in God's Son light, they are great reflectors. But the moment any darkness creeps upon them, they can no longer shine. They only know how to reflect. But the Christian who takes time to sit at Jesus' feet and absorb His words into their very being becomes empowered by His light. Our minds become transformers for His glory and when the darkness comes, we are ready to shine.
Do not conform 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. Romans 12:2 (NIV)
Another really great thing to think about is that when many Christians who choose to be transformers rather than simple reflectors band together, the Light they pour forth can eradicate the darkness. This is what we are called to do.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:23-25
( NIV)
Mirrors cannot absorb and so when the light is gone, not only is the reflection forgotten, but so is the mirror for a time, until it is needed again. Oh that we would all chose transformation over reflection!
Saturday, November 5, 2016
On Running
....and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...Hebrews 12:1b NAS
...And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, NIV
...and let us run with patience this race that is set for us. ABPE
Yesterday I babysat for my neighbor's 3 month old daughter. She is a breastfed baby, which I personally think is awesome, but presents a problem when the child refuses to take a bottle and Mom must work. As I held her she was angry for two reasons; she was hungry and she didn't want that bottle!! At least she didn't think she did. She had to make a choice: eat what she was given or be hungry. I held her close, whispered to her that she could do this, kissed her forehead and prayed, the whole time holding that bottle securely in her mouth. Just before she latched on and started to drink these words floated gently through my mind: "You have to do what's best for them." I knew that voice so well!! The Father was speaking to my heart and I responded with repentance. I told Him that we, His children, are just like the baby. We want one thing, but He knows there is something we need more that is better. He holds on to us as we kick and scream, but out of his great love for us, he keeps the bottle in our mouth. We must choose. Do we keep on screaming and refuse to eat, or do we gratefully latch on and become filled? What does all this have to do with running the "race set before us?" Read on...
Everyone has their own personal race to be run before almighty God. As a parent and grandparent who adores children, I have difficulty watching others struggle in their race. I tend to want to jump in and run it for them. When one of my daughters-in-law was in labor for the first time (I was blessed to be able to be in the birthing room with all three of the grandchildren she bore us) she cried out, "I can't do this!" I took her hand and looked her in the eye and said, "If I could, I would do this for you, but I can't. You CAN do this and you will." I meant those words 100%. We hate to see those we love hurting! But if I could have and did take over for her, she would never have experienced that overwhelming joy of giving birth. I would have robbed her of that amazingly awesome experience and she may have not wanted to give us the other two!! It was best for her to do the birthing.
When we see our children struggling as they get older, it is hard not to step in and take over. We know what to do, because we have been there, done that. We have to stop and think about how we would NOT know what to do if we hadn't gone through it and then allow them to make their own mistakes. We can give advice, which may be accepted or rejected, but we must not run their race for them. In so doing, we may be screamed at, lied about and even told we are hated, but as long as we keep assuring them of our love and that they CAN make it through this whatever it may be, when they DO get through it, they will be grateful, stronger and more knowledgeable for it.
Being a parent and grandparent is wonderful, amazing and joy giving. It is also heartbreaking at times, because we see mistakes being made and want to "fix them" or prevent them if possible. We must remember that they have a race before God they must run, as do we. If we try to run their race for them, not only are we robbing them of completing their race, but we keep ourselves from running our own. "You have to do what's best for them." How God's heart must ache for us. He has EVERY answer. He has given us those answers in His word; His "advice" to us in the form of commands for living. He gave us promises to go with those words, yet we want to run our race our own way, so we get off track and end up taking the "long way round."
I have made many mistakes as a parent. We all do. I can either sit around bemoaning the fact, or learn from it. Learning from it makes me a better grandparent, but still not perfect. One day I may be a great grandparent. Perhaps by then I will be better. Actually, by then I will most likely be unable to even try to run someone else's race for them. And that will be a blessing.
...And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, NIV
...and let us run with patience this race that is set for us. ABPE
Yesterday I babysat for my neighbor's 3 month old daughter. She is a breastfed baby, which I personally think is awesome, but presents a problem when the child refuses to take a bottle and Mom must work. As I held her she was angry for two reasons; she was hungry and she didn't want that bottle!! At least she didn't think she did. She had to make a choice: eat what she was given or be hungry. I held her close, whispered to her that she could do this, kissed her forehead and prayed, the whole time holding that bottle securely in her mouth. Just before she latched on and started to drink these words floated gently through my mind: "You have to do what's best for them." I knew that voice so well!! The Father was speaking to my heart and I responded with repentance. I told Him that we, His children, are just like the baby. We want one thing, but He knows there is something we need more that is better. He holds on to us as we kick and scream, but out of his great love for us, he keeps the bottle in our mouth. We must choose. Do we keep on screaming and refuse to eat, or do we gratefully latch on and become filled? What does all this have to do with running the "race set before us?" Read on...
Everyone has their own personal race to be run before almighty God. As a parent and grandparent who adores children, I have difficulty watching others struggle in their race. I tend to want to jump in and run it for them. When one of my daughters-in-law was in labor for the first time (I was blessed to be able to be in the birthing room with all three of the grandchildren she bore us) she cried out, "I can't do this!" I took her hand and looked her in the eye and said, "If I could, I would do this for you, but I can't. You CAN do this and you will." I meant those words 100%. We hate to see those we love hurting! But if I could have and did take over for her, she would never have experienced that overwhelming joy of giving birth. I would have robbed her of that amazingly awesome experience and she may have not wanted to give us the other two!! It was best for her to do the birthing.
When we see our children struggling as they get older, it is hard not to step in and take over. We know what to do, because we have been there, done that. We have to stop and think about how we would NOT know what to do if we hadn't gone through it and then allow them to make their own mistakes. We can give advice, which may be accepted or rejected, but we must not run their race for them. In so doing, we may be screamed at, lied about and even told we are hated, but as long as we keep assuring them of our love and that they CAN make it through this whatever it may be, when they DO get through it, they will be grateful, stronger and more knowledgeable for it.
Being a parent and grandparent is wonderful, amazing and joy giving. It is also heartbreaking at times, because we see mistakes being made and want to "fix them" or prevent them if possible. We must remember that they have a race before God they must run, as do we. If we try to run their race for them, not only are we robbing them of completing their race, but we keep ourselves from running our own. "You have to do what's best for them." How God's heart must ache for us. He has EVERY answer. He has given us those answers in His word; His "advice" to us in the form of commands for living. He gave us promises to go with those words, yet we want to run our race our own way, so we get off track and end up taking the "long way round."
I have made many mistakes as a parent. We all do. I can either sit around bemoaning the fact, or learn from it. Learning from it makes me a better grandparent, but still not perfect. One day I may be a great grandparent. Perhaps by then I will be better. Actually, by then I will most likely be unable to even try to run someone else's race for them. And that will be a blessing.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Being Dead (an oxymoron)
I am dead.
I have to keep reminding myself of that. If I don't, I begin to feel sorry for myself.
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NLT
Living in Christ is the only way that leads to true happiness.
A few days ago it hit me that in complaining about how tired I am and how I have so many things to do I am making an accusation against God. So I reminded myself - I am dead. Then I told God I was sorry for being selfish and told Him, "Thank You for giving me a body that at 58 can still do the work You have assigned. Thank You that my mind is still alert and thinks clearly. Thank You for work to do, because otherwise You would be finished with me and I would be useless."
Today I read this: Whatsoever is good for God's children they shall have it; for all is theirs to help them towards heaven; therefore if poverty be good they shall have it; if disgrace or crosses be good they shall have them; for all is ours to promote our greatest prosperity. - Richard Sibbes. Afterwards, those three short words "I am dead" came to mind again and I was refreshed. Being dead allows me to forgive those who would misconstrue my words or actions and turn them into a lie. Being dead allows me the freedom to become a new creature in Christ Jesus. Being dead allows me to love with unconditional love, because my personal feelings no longer matter. In other words, being dead allows Christ to live in me. When others wish me dead, I can smile, because their wish has been granted.
Being dead in Christ is what we are. Our flesh hungers for regeneration and tries to achieve it on its own through works. We must continue to remind ourselves that we are dead and unable to resurrect ourselves, but Christ in us will do it for us at His return. God is love and love is patient. Let us live in Him and remain patient for His work to be completed in us on that great and glorious day when heaven and earth will become new and become one and we are given back our bodies in perfect form to live in perfect unity with each other and with God.
I have to keep reminding myself of that. If I don't, I begin to feel sorry for myself.
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NLT
Living in Christ is the only way that leads to true happiness.
A few days ago it hit me that in complaining about how tired I am and how I have so many things to do I am making an accusation against God. So I reminded myself - I am dead. Then I told God I was sorry for being selfish and told Him, "Thank You for giving me a body that at 58 can still do the work You have assigned. Thank You that my mind is still alert and thinks clearly. Thank You for work to do, because otherwise You would be finished with me and I would be useless."
Today I read this: Whatsoever is good for God's children they shall have it; for all is theirs to help them towards heaven; therefore if poverty be good they shall have it; if disgrace or crosses be good they shall have them; for all is ours to promote our greatest prosperity. - Richard Sibbes. Afterwards, those three short words "I am dead" came to mind again and I was refreshed. Being dead allows me to forgive those who would misconstrue my words or actions and turn them into a lie. Being dead allows me the freedom to become a new creature in Christ Jesus. Being dead allows me to love with unconditional love, because my personal feelings no longer matter. In other words, being dead allows Christ to live in me. When others wish me dead, I can smile, because their wish has been granted.
Being dead in Christ is what we are. Our flesh hungers for regeneration and tries to achieve it on its own through works. We must continue to remind ourselves that we are dead and unable to resurrect ourselves, but Christ in us will do it for us at His return. God is love and love is patient. Let us live in Him and remain patient for His work to be completed in us on that great and glorious day when heaven and earth will become new and become one and we are given back our bodies in perfect form to live in perfect unity with each other and with God.
Friday, August 26, 2016
Security Squeals
Life, in general, seems scary. As we walk along our path, we come to sharp turns and forks and become fearful that if we turn the corner we will be met by a tiger, or if we take the wrong road at the fork, we may be decimated. We need to remember to be like little children.
And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 NIV
The first time I played hide and seek with any of my children and now grandchildren they would tiptoe around looking for me in fear that a boogeyman would jump out and get them unless they found me first. Once they realized it would always be me at the end of the seeking and that if they couldn't find me then I would find them, they quit being fearful and joined in the hunt with glee.
This was brought to my mind as I studied this morning.
I haven't written in quite a while, not because God was being silent, nor because I wasn't seeking more of Him, but because sometimes life becomes so entangled that God lays it on my heart to take time off and just be quiet with Him. I need those times, as we all do, to simply be still, be held and know that He alone is God. Today He laid it in my heart to take up computer and write again.
The people who know their God will display strength and take action. Daniel 11:32 NASV
I have been dealing with physical pain in my hands, feet, outside left leg, lower back and shoulders for a while now, ever since my son-in-law, whom I have loved as a birth son for almost twenty years now, decided he wants a divorce. This was quite a shock to my system and allowed fibromyalgia to find a weak spot to manifest itself. I am not blaming him. It is weakness in myself that allowed it. I let fear take hold of my heart; fear of other loved ones reactions, fear for my daughter and their 4 children and the grief of loss. I am now returning to that childlike faith that reminds me it will be Father God I find waiting just around the corner and in the fork of the road regardless which path I take. He always goes before me and encompasses me to protect me when I let Him.
Yesterday I was playing with our youngest grandson, who is twenty months old now. All at once I ran off and hid. We have played this game many a time now, so he no longer has any fear of it at all. I called out for him to come find me. He squealed and took off running to do so. When he found me, even though I yelled "boo!" he simply grinned and ran to hug me, then asked, "More?" So we did it again...and again....and again. He knows that I will be there and will keep him from harm.
This morning, as I contemplated how divorce is indeed worse than the death of a loved one, because the scab of healing keeps getting pulled off over and over again to refresh the wound, and how I would possibly never again hear "Hi, Mom," and gain a hug from this one I hold dear, God reminded me of this simple game of hide and seek yesterday. He whispered to me that I needed to trust Him. He will be around every corner as well as walking with me everywhere I go. I need to remember that squeal of delight as my little grandson runs to find me and do the same as I seek His will in my life.
I will rise up and take action and hopefully do so with glee. Then perhaps I will get to hear God speak to my heart the words Daniel heard in Daniel 12:13
"But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age."
And he said: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3 NIV
The first time I played hide and seek with any of my children and now grandchildren they would tiptoe around looking for me in fear that a boogeyman would jump out and get them unless they found me first. Once they realized it would always be me at the end of the seeking and that if they couldn't find me then I would find them, they quit being fearful and joined in the hunt with glee.
This was brought to my mind as I studied this morning.
I haven't written in quite a while, not because God was being silent, nor because I wasn't seeking more of Him, but because sometimes life becomes so entangled that God lays it on my heart to take time off and just be quiet with Him. I need those times, as we all do, to simply be still, be held and know that He alone is God. Today He laid it in my heart to take up computer and write again.
The people who know their God will display strength and take action. Daniel 11:32 NASV
I have been dealing with physical pain in my hands, feet, outside left leg, lower back and shoulders for a while now, ever since my son-in-law, whom I have loved as a birth son for almost twenty years now, decided he wants a divorce. This was quite a shock to my system and allowed fibromyalgia to find a weak spot to manifest itself. I am not blaming him. It is weakness in myself that allowed it. I let fear take hold of my heart; fear of other loved ones reactions, fear for my daughter and their 4 children and the grief of loss. I am now returning to that childlike faith that reminds me it will be Father God I find waiting just around the corner and in the fork of the road regardless which path I take. He always goes before me and encompasses me to protect me when I let Him.
Yesterday I was playing with our youngest grandson, who is twenty months old now. All at once I ran off and hid. We have played this game many a time now, so he no longer has any fear of it at all. I called out for him to come find me. He squealed and took off running to do so. When he found me, even though I yelled "boo!" he simply grinned and ran to hug me, then asked, "More?" So we did it again...and again....and again. He knows that I will be there and will keep him from harm.
This morning, as I contemplated how divorce is indeed worse than the death of a loved one, because the scab of healing keeps getting pulled off over and over again to refresh the wound, and how I would possibly never again hear "Hi, Mom," and gain a hug from this one I hold dear, God reminded me of this simple game of hide and seek yesterday. He whispered to me that I needed to trust Him. He will be around every corner as well as walking with me everywhere I go. I need to remember that squeal of delight as my little grandson runs to find me and do the same as I seek His will in my life.
I will rise up and take action and hopefully do so with glee. Then perhaps I will get to hear God speak to my heart the words Daniel heard in Daniel 12:13
"But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age."
Friday, April 15, 2016
In Jesus' Name
Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall
be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall
be loosed in heaven. Matthew 18:18 ASV
I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free. Matthew 18:18 GWT
These are words spoken by Jesus Himself. That means they are of utmost importance and we need to truly understand just what He is saying. I don't think we really do, however. I'm certain there are some who have come to understand more fully than others, but I am just as certain that more have NOT than have.
Jesus also spoke the words, "Whatever you ask in my name, that I will do..." John 14:13a NASB] What did we do with that? We made it a ceremony where we actually speak the words, "I ask this in Jesus' name...." We don't even stop to think about it anymore. We can actually be offering a prayer of thanksgiving and still end it this way, when in actuality we have asked nothing. The truth of the matter is, if we are praying according to the Word of God and walking in His Spirit, then we ARE praying in His name. We in Him and Him in us, just as He asked of the Father in John 17.
In the same manner, we have made it a ceremony that we must actually say the words, "I bind," or "We bind," before anything is bound here on earth and "I loose," or "We loose," in order for anything be loosed. However, I have come to recently understand that I bind and loose things on a daily basis without even thinking about it.
Children are especially susceptible to binding and loosing. When we tell a child they are pretty are handsome we are loosing them to believe themselves as such. If we tell them too often, they can become conceited and we have turned what should have been loosing into a binding. The same with negative words. When we tell a child they are lazy or worthless, they come to believe it and we have bound them to this type of lifestyle.
Adults are not invincible to this. We call neighbors worthless or thieves, and while it may seem to be true, when we speak it, we are binding them in our mind's eye in such a way as to keep us from seeing their worth. Odds are, they heard the same things from someone as a child and so are now living that lifestyle. We must begin to see people as Father God does....infants. When we look at an infant we see nothing but innocence. And that is my AHA moment of thought. Does that mean we trust everyone? Not at all. It simply means we love them. True love not only casts out fear, it accepts people where they are and desires to see good happen in their lives. In order for that to take place, we must stop binding them with words of hatred and disdain and begin praying for them....in Jesus' name!!
I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free. Matthew 18:18 GWT
These are words spoken by Jesus Himself. That means they are of utmost importance and we need to truly understand just what He is saying. I don't think we really do, however. I'm certain there are some who have come to understand more fully than others, but I am just as certain that more have NOT than have.
Jesus also spoke the words, "Whatever you ask in my name, that I will do..." John 14:13a NASB] What did we do with that? We made it a ceremony where we actually speak the words, "I ask this in Jesus' name...." We don't even stop to think about it anymore. We can actually be offering a prayer of thanksgiving and still end it this way, when in actuality we have asked nothing. The truth of the matter is, if we are praying according to the Word of God and walking in His Spirit, then we ARE praying in His name. We in Him and Him in us, just as He asked of the Father in John 17.
In the same manner, we have made it a ceremony that we must actually say the words, "I bind," or "We bind," before anything is bound here on earth and "I loose," or "We loose," in order for anything be loosed. However, I have come to recently understand that I bind and loose things on a daily basis without even thinking about it.
Children are especially susceptible to binding and loosing. When we tell a child they are pretty are handsome we are loosing them to believe themselves as such. If we tell them too often, they can become conceited and we have turned what should have been loosing into a binding. The same with negative words. When we tell a child they are lazy or worthless, they come to believe it and we have bound them to this type of lifestyle.
Adults are not invincible to this. We call neighbors worthless or thieves, and while it may seem to be true, when we speak it, we are binding them in our mind's eye in such a way as to keep us from seeing their worth. Odds are, they heard the same things from someone as a child and so are now living that lifestyle. We must begin to see people as Father God does....infants. When we look at an infant we see nothing but innocence. And that is my AHA moment of thought. Does that mean we trust everyone? Not at all. It simply means we love them. True love not only casts out fear, it accepts people where they are and desires to see good happen in their lives. In order for that to take place, we must stop binding them with words of hatred and disdain and begin praying for them....in Jesus' name!!
Monday, March 28, 2016
Whatever Forever
On March 19th
our church family had our Easter Eggstravaganza. We went to our four
satellite churches and the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home and had
a giant celebration with them. These are considered underprivileged
families and children, so we enjoy sharing with them food, fun and
fellowship.
We have done this
for two years and are already planning for next year. This verse is
what helped me get out of bed on a very chilly 34 degree morning
during what was still considered winter to go play outside for five
hours. It warmed into the forties by the time we closed shop, but
the wind was still nippy. However, I was privileged to teach the
Bible lesson to the little children up through second grade, so
needless to say, I was ecstatic.
I love doing these
kinds of events. I enjoy playing and speaking with the children
mostly, as that is where God has called and placed me, but this year
something happened. I was in the middle of reading a fictitious book
called Quaker Summer.
I had only read a couple of chapters by the time “EGG” came
around, so had yet to see what God was in the process of teaching me
in those moments. After all was said and done, I delved into the
book to finish before I had to return it to the library.
The story is about a
middle aged woman who is in a spiritual crisis and doesn’t
understand what it is God is trying to tell her. She comes upon a
mission for the homeless and/or drug addicts, etc. quite by accident
and fears for her and her husband’s lives, yet somehow feels drawn
to return. A nun is running the mission and she is quite the
personality, to say the least, but you can’t help but fall in love
with the woman’s character. Our heroine returns one day and has a
talk with the sister running it and is told (to make a fairly long
story short) that she needs to look at people as being Jesus.
(Matthew 25:40)
My spiritual eyes
did a double take at this point. My thoughts: Okay God, You are
getting ready to lay something on my heart. I need to be prepared.
What is it?
After a couple more
chapters I knew where I had gone wrong in the past. I tend to only
see the positive side of things, so it was quite an eye opener for
me. When I do good things for people, like “EGG,” I am doing
them to Jesus, BUT (and this to me was a REALLY huge but) when I do
something like gossip about someone, say something in anger to
someone, call someone stupid or lazy, and all the other negative
things a person might do to others, I am doing them to Jesus as well.
This is something I knew, but hadn’t taken to heart. Now I have
and pray it pops into my head every time I start to become angry out
of having my feelings hurt.
Whatever is a very
strong word, much like forever. Our actions and words have eternal
effects either for the positive or the negative. Lord, make mine for
the positive!!
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Servant or SERVANT?
"Absorb this", my soul says. "God
says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant ... I will
also make You a light of the nations, so that My salvation may reach to
the ends of the earth.'" Isaiah 49:6
As I read this, I
realize that God is speaking to Jesus before His incarnation, yet Jesus
asked the Father to make us one with Himself and the Father through His
Spirit. (John 17) He also calls us the light of the world. (Matthew
5:14), so He is in effect speaking to all His children and says "too
small a thing!!!"Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Our Daddy's Hands
When I was a little girl, I marveled at my daddy's hands. He had really large hands and that is not simply from a little girl's perspective. When they were to be married, my momma bought the largest ring and had it sized up for him. Yes, he had really large hands, especially for a six foot tall man. Those hands made every one of his five children feel safe for the majority of the time. There were, however, times when we knew we deserved discipline and those same hands would be what gave it. I am not certain how my siblings felt, but they probably felt pretty much as I, that I would rather have five or more swats from Momma than one from Daddy's hand.
I remember a time when I was five or six years old. I had done something that greatly displeased Daddy and he called me to himself. My bottom ached just at the thought. He was changing a tire, I believe, so was sitting on the ground. He pulled me over his lap and swatted me once. That's all it took too! The tears welled up and I walked away vowing I would never do "that" (I can't remember what it was) ever again. My Daddy didn't like to spank though. Many times he would tell me that I was going to receive a spanking when I got home, but when he looked into my tear filled eyes, he would forgive me instead and cry with me. Funny thing is, those times made me just as, if not more, determined to never do whatever I had done again than an actual spanking. I couldn't stand it that I had made my daddy cry!!
Then we all "grew up." As teenagers we were no longer quite so intimidated by those hands. They didn't seem as big as before. This is a necessary part of becoming an adult in the physical world. Once we are, we must come to the place where our earthly father's hands are let go and we take hold of the hand of our spouse instead. We are still his child, we just depend on our spouse to be our helper in life. What we don't stop to think about until and unless we become parents and are blessed with watching our own children grow and mature into their own families, is that our daddy will always be there until the day he goes home. If we have a problem, he is there for advice, or to help financially, or even to fix a broken something - even to the point of holding us when our heart is broken for whatever reason.
As a Christian, I have come to realize that God's hands are not smaller than I originally thought, but larger......MUCH larger. As a matter of fact, it is almost impossible for me to begin to visualize in my mind's eye how large they must be: "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have ordained..." (Psalm 8:3 NKJV)
"The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land." (Psalm 95:5 NKJV)
"Surely My hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand together." (Isaiah 48:13 NKJV)
And these are but a few of the verses that describe all He holds in His hands, our life being just one of them. If God can hold all of creation in the palms of His hands, then why in the world should I fear going anywhere He lays on my heart to go, or stay anywhere He bids me stay? Should I fear the condemnation of man, simply because I am called to do something other than he fills he would call me to do? Should I fear nature and what it might do, or even the evil one and his plots against me? More and more I begin to understand "But Yeshua said to them, 'Let the children come to me and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.'" (Aramaic Translation)
Not only are His hands more than big enough to protect me from any weapon formed against me, they are big enough to discipline me, hold and comfort me and fight for me. He even made us a promise time after time to remind us of this fact. Joshua 1:5-6, Isaiah 41:10, Phil. 4:6-7, John 14:27, I John 4:18 and many, many more verses tell us time and again that we don't need to fear anything. God will lead us, protect us and get us to the other side safely. All we need do is believe and trust Him. The rest is in His hands.
I remember a time when I was five or six years old. I had done something that greatly displeased Daddy and he called me to himself. My bottom ached just at the thought. He was changing a tire, I believe, so was sitting on the ground. He pulled me over his lap and swatted me once. That's all it took too! The tears welled up and I walked away vowing I would never do "that" (I can't remember what it was) ever again. My Daddy didn't like to spank though. Many times he would tell me that I was going to receive a spanking when I got home, but when he looked into my tear filled eyes, he would forgive me instead and cry with me. Funny thing is, those times made me just as, if not more, determined to never do whatever I had done again than an actual spanking. I couldn't stand it that I had made my daddy cry!!
Then we all "grew up." As teenagers we were no longer quite so intimidated by those hands. They didn't seem as big as before. This is a necessary part of becoming an adult in the physical world. Once we are, we must come to the place where our earthly father's hands are let go and we take hold of the hand of our spouse instead. We are still his child, we just depend on our spouse to be our helper in life. What we don't stop to think about until and unless we become parents and are blessed with watching our own children grow and mature into their own families, is that our daddy will always be there until the day he goes home. If we have a problem, he is there for advice, or to help financially, or even to fix a broken something - even to the point of holding us when our heart is broken for whatever reason.
As a Christian, I have come to realize that God's hands are not smaller than I originally thought, but larger......MUCH larger. As a matter of fact, it is almost impossible for me to begin to visualize in my mind's eye how large they must be: "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have ordained..." (Psalm 8:3 NKJV)
"The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land." (Psalm 95:5 NKJV)
"Surely My hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand together." (Isaiah 48:13 NKJV)
And these are but a few of the verses that describe all He holds in His hands, our life being just one of them. If God can hold all of creation in the palms of His hands, then why in the world should I fear going anywhere He lays on my heart to go, or stay anywhere He bids me stay? Should I fear the condemnation of man, simply because I am called to do something other than he fills he would call me to do? Should I fear nature and what it might do, or even the evil one and his plots against me? More and more I begin to understand "But Yeshua said to them, 'Let the children come to me and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.'" (Aramaic Translation)
Not only are His hands more than big enough to protect me from any weapon formed against me, they are big enough to discipline me, hold and comfort me and fight for me. He even made us a promise time after time to remind us of this fact. Joshua 1:5-6, Isaiah 41:10, Phil. 4:6-7, John 14:27, I John 4:18 and many, many more verses tell us time and again that we don't need to fear anything. God will lead us, protect us and get us to the other side safely. All we need do is believe and trust Him. The rest is in His hands.
Friday, January 1, 2016
The Art of Communication
Yes, but...... One of our favorite phrases when we disagree with something said. What I am personally guilty of in these situations, generally speaking, is not paying attention to what is behind the words being spoken. Because of this, I have already taken the words and twisted them to what I believe or what I want to believe, is being said. I take them out of the context of the speakers life and place them into the context of my own and they become distorted, because they don't fit with my life. I haven't lived their life nor they mine, so we disagree, partially because we simply don't understand from where the other person is coming.
God, on the other hand, has witnessed our lives past, present and even future and therefore knows exactly what we are going through. Not only that but, because he created us in the first place, He knows our heart and how we are going to react in any given circumstance. If anyone truly understands us, it is He. For instance, when the words, "I hate you," are spewed forth from one of His children's mouths, He hears the heart say, "I hate the way you are treating me right now." We being human, however, simply hear the "I hate YOU," and become defensive rather than communicating what our true intentions were, which could bring peace to a strained situation. Our fear is that what we say will be misinterpreted and make things even more volatile. So, instead, we tend to say what we think the other person would want to hear or we become defensive and turn the tables, so to speak, bringing up things from the past that they have done that hurt us and a raging battle ensues. We have lost the art of communication.
The funny thing is, we have actually dissected and removed a portion of the meaning of the word "communication." It comes from the Latin word communicare which means to share. We have changed it simply to "the imparting or exchanging of information or news." (Merriam Webster) So, what's the difference? Sharing means that both are partakers of the information. We instead tend to simply put information out there never bothering to check and make sure it was received properly so that it can be truly shared. For instance, if I bake some cookies, set them on the table and say, "I baked some cookies for my class," I have communicated according to our definition today, but I have not truly shared. I have only stated what I deemed necessary. If I truly want to share, I will make sure the message was received properly. First I will ask if I was heard. Then I will emphasize that I made them for my class, not anyone who happens to see, smell and desire one. If there are extras, I need to convey how many extras there are that can be eaten, possibly even set that number aside for the one(s) with which I am sharing. I use this example, because it comes from my personal life. More times than I can count I have made cookies, candy, cupcakes, etc. for my kids in Sunday school and, because I did not truly share but only gave the information of what I'd done, one or more would be eaten. When I confronted the person(s) involved, they would always say that I never said they couldn't have one. You would think that after one time of this happening I would learn to actually communicate, (and that they would learn to understand me) but no. We are all human, and we humans tend to need to learn things over and over again before we truly understand. Now when I bake for my class I either bake extra on purpose, or if there aren't enough ingredients to do so, I state the fact and say that "if" there are any left over, others can have them after class.
God is in the business of true communication. He doesn't just dump words on us, He works in our lives to make sure we understand. He gives us mentors to help us, His Word to guide us and Himself to turn to when we simply don't get what's happening. He truly shares. Our problem is that sometimes we don't like what He is sharing and so try to manipulate His Word to mean what we want it to or think He is trying to get across according to our personal life. If we don't want to give up a particular sin, we simply blame it on Him. "You created me this way," is one of our favorites.
There is a warning about this in II Timothy 4:3-4.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. (NKJV)
It is one thing to refuse to fully communicate properly with another human being, but to do so with God is downright dangerous. He does everything there is to do to get us to really share, which means listening, hearing, asking questions, waiting for answers, sharing personal thoughts and truly desiring to understand. Just talking doesn't do much good and can, in fact, make matters worse. May our hearts learn to desire true communication with Father God first and then we will be able to do so with each other.
God, on the other hand, has witnessed our lives past, present and even future and therefore knows exactly what we are going through. Not only that but, because he created us in the first place, He knows our heart and how we are going to react in any given circumstance. If anyone truly understands us, it is He. For instance, when the words, "I hate you," are spewed forth from one of His children's mouths, He hears the heart say, "I hate the way you are treating me right now." We being human, however, simply hear the "I hate YOU," and become defensive rather than communicating what our true intentions were, which could bring peace to a strained situation. Our fear is that what we say will be misinterpreted and make things even more volatile. So, instead, we tend to say what we think the other person would want to hear or we become defensive and turn the tables, so to speak, bringing up things from the past that they have done that hurt us and a raging battle ensues. We have lost the art of communication.
The funny thing is, we have actually dissected and removed a portion of the meaning of the word "communication." It comes from the Latin word communicare which means to share. We have changed it simply to "the imparting or exchanging of information or news." (Merriam Webster) So, what's the difference? Sharing means that both are partakers of the information. We instead tend to simply put information out there never bothering to check and make sure it was received properly so that it can be truly shared. For instance, if I bake some cookies, set them on the table and say, "I baked some cookies for my class," I have communicated according to our definition today, but I have not truly shared. I have only stated what I deemed necessary. If I truly want to share, I will make sure the message was received properly. First I will ask if I was heard. Then I will emphasize that I made them for my class, not anyone who happens to see, smell and desire one. If there are extras, I need to convey how many extras there are that can be eaten, possibly even set that number aside for the one(s) with which I am sharing. I use this example, because it comes from my personal life. More times than I can count I have made cookies, candy, cupcakes, etc. for my kids in Sunday school and, because I did not truly share but only gave the information of what I'd done, one or more would be eaten. When I confronted the person(s) involved, they would always say that I never said they couldn't have one. You would think that after one time of this happening I would learn to actually communicate, (and that they would learn to understand me) but no. We are all human, and we humans tend to need to learn things over and over again before we truly understand. Now when I bake for my class I either bake extra on purpose, or if there aren't enough ingredients to do so, I state the fact and say that "if" there are any left over, others can have them after class.
God is in the business of true communication. He doesn't just dump words on us, He works in our lives to make sure we understand. He gives us mentors to help us, His Word to guide us and Himself to turn to when we simply don't get what's happening. He truly shares. Our problem is that sometimes we don't like what He is sharing and so try to manipulate His Word to mean what we want it to or think He is trying to get across according to our personal life. If we don't want to give up a particular sin, we simply blame it on Him. "You created me this way," is one of our favorites.
There is a warning about this in II Timothy 4:3-4.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. (NKJV)
It is one thing to refuse to fully communicate properly with another human being, but to do so with God is downright dangerous. He does everything there is to do to get us to really share, which means listening, hearing, asking questions, waiting for answers, sharing personal thoughts and truly desiring to understand. Just talking doesn't do much good and can, in fact, make matters worse. May our hearts learn to desire true communication with Father God first and then we will be able to do so with each other.
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