To "See" the Lord

The other day I saw one of those verses I had not really paid attention to before. I could say I hadn't "seen" it. Hebrews 12:14 says, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." I have even preached/taught on the "Pursue peace...." part, but had not noticed the result of a lack of holiness.

Of course Jesus says in Matthew 5:8, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." One comment says about "pure," "The word describes physical cleanliness; ceremonial purity; and ethical purity. Sin pollutes and defiles, but the blood of Jesus washes the stains away." Holiness is of the spirit, soul and body, and is a result of the grace of God.

This is required to "see" God. This word "see" is more than a casual glance, it is an extended gazing at something remarkable (Strong's). Read further in Hebrews 12 and we see some of the things that keep us from holiness because we fall short of the grace of God.

"Lord, I want to see you today. Thank you for cleansing me and then giving me the ability to stay clean by walking in the Spirit today. As I see You, I will know what to say and do in the situations I face today. Let me be like Jesus who said the things He did were what He saw You do."

Dead Wood

Yesterday I mentioned the word to Ezekiel about the uselessness of a vine, which is contrasted by the life giving vine of Jesus. As I meditated on these passages, I thought of the ways that mankind takes useless things and uses them. For instance, it was a thorny vine that was used for Jesus' crown. I noticed a wreath made out of vines being used as a decoration. The other day I saw a vine carved into a walking stick......a crutch.

While on one hand it is resourceful to make a wreath and a walking stick, the words of Jesus in Matthew 23: 27-28 keep ringing in my ears: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like white-washed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

There are so many things and people we put time, energy and money into trying to redeem or make useful, when we need to let them go and focus on things of real value. So much of life is wasted on the external trappings while the Lord is left waiting to receive only our leftover time, energy and money, and our personal destiny goes unfulfilled because of our focus on dead wood and dead works.

Wood of the Vine

The Lord has had me reading in Ezekiel. Today I was reading chapter 15, which talks about the wood of the vine. This chapter says it is not good for anything other than firewood. Interestingly, it is the 15th chapter of John in which Jesus also talks about the vine. He declares that He is "the true vine" and says we are the branches attached to the vine. The vine gives life to the branches from which fruit comes. If we are not connected, we will not have life. Even if we are connected and do not bear fruit, we will be cut off and burned like the vine of Ezekiel. Jesus declares, "He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

In Ezekiel God says He will give up to fire the inhabitants of His beloved Jerusalem "because they have persisted in unfaithfulness." (15:8) The result is desolation of the land, economic destruction. It is not unlike what we see happening in the USA where every day's headline is about another financial bailout that is unproductive. In the 16th chapter of Ezekiel God says, "...cause Jerusalem to know her abominations," and I pray that the desolation we are seeing in our world will cause us to see our abominations represented in greed, racism, murder, violence, hedonism, and on and on and on.

"Ministry of the Saints"

As I prayed today for the people I pastor, I found myself praying 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. Many times we quote verse 6 about sowing and reaping or verse 7 about being a cheerful giver. Perhaps we go to verse 8 about abundance or verse 10 about the supply of seed.

But do we read the parts about increasing our righteousness (v. 10) or thanksgiving in verse 11? How about the purpose of God being glorified (v. 13) by those who observe the ministry of the saints?

My prayer is that we will do all things with integrity and excellence in our dealings with each other and the world around us. So often God is anything but glorified because a "Christian" lies, cheats, does poor work, is slothful, gossips, or some other way misrepresents God.

I pray for myself that all I do today will represent my Heavenly Father well and cause others to glorify Him!!!

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 7

As I looked downstream, I also looked up. What had been a bright, perfectly clear and cloudless autumn sky was now full of thick clouds that covered the sun and said to me that the rain was coming! Change is coming!

It was time for me to go, and it did not rain on me that day. But I'm excited to be like the patient farmer of James 5:7 waiting patiently for the rain that will come in God's time. I don't particularly like being stuck in a stagnant pool, but the Lord has purpose even in that, and I pray, "Send Your Rain, O, Lord!" and "Thank you for 'The lesson of The River!'"

It is interesting to me that the timing of the end of "The lesson of The River" comes on the day after the presidential election. As I read my Bible this morning, I was in Ezekiel 7, a prophecy of destruction. I believe the rain that is coming is a storm of massive proportions and the American election is just part of a world-wide catastrophe with the elements of Ezekiel 7 and much more. The storm will be like that of Jesus' parable with the houses built on either the rock of His word of the sand of the world (Matt. 7:24-27).

The economies and governments of the world are built on sand that make them look like the "Tower of Babel" with the leaders saying what was said in Genesis 11:4, "Let us make a name for ourselves." There is not thought of serving people so that they can fulfill God's commandment to "be fruitful and multiply...and have dominion" under godly direction. There is only thought of personal gain and humanistic idolatry.

This is not a time to mourn, but a time for the Body of Christ to be like the house that was left standing on Galveston Island earlier this year when Hurricane Ike leveled all the houses around it. If we are truly built on the "Rock of His Word," His light will shine through us and God will be glorified no matter what happens. It will ultimately be a latter rain of harvest.

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 6

As I looked downstream, I realized that I was seeing only a very small portion of the river. The lessons I was learning were being repeated over and over with numerous variations, and there were more lessons in the river. The running water was fresh and "alive." Sometimes it was obvious because of shallow rapids, but other times it was deep and appeared calm while it moved. Rocks helped divert the water so that it covered more area. While they looked like a hindrance to the flow of the river, they actually served the great purpose of spreading out the life-giving effects of the river. They were also a part of God's plan that created stagnant pools like mine. There are purposes and times to be in what seem like worthless stagnant pools. The pools provide a resting place, holding area until it is time to re-enter the flow, place for the creation to get water ("still waters"), and reflecting pools of God's glory.

The rocks remind me of "The Rock" of the words of Jesus on which He said the wise man built his house that could stand against a raging storm. While they may seem inconvenient, create a place for slippery moss to gather (on which one can stumble and be "crushed"), and impede the flow of the river, they not only fulfill the purposes above but also provide stepping stones across the river. Without rocks there would be no rapids for beauty, thrills and oxygenation, places for smaller fish to have shelter, or stone to be ground into soil.

Every single element of the river provided lessons, but the best was yet to come!

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 5

I asked the Lord whatI should do about my stagnant condition. He said that the only thing that changes the condition of things I was seeing was "rain." Just like the river had reminded me of Jesus and the leaves of people, the rain reminded me of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that will increase the water flow and wash leaves like mine into the main flow of the river. Other leaves will be washed from the trees, banks and stagnant pools. The increased water flow will aksi break loose and break apart those leaves stuck in the main stream as well.

It is like the "latter rain" of James 5:7 for which the farmer patiently waits in order to produce the "precious fruit." It is a refreshing rain of encouragement and life giving water. I also thought of the rain in Noah's day that totally changed everything. God doesn't do things part way. It is all the way with Him. Even things that seem "small" are whole within themselves and a part of a greater plan.

As I write this today, I grieve the loss of a very good friend and brother, Jim Adams. I realize how often the Holy Spirit used him as "rain" to bring a refreshing laugh, word of encouragement, reminder of a true steadfast friend, or a challenging word. Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of having walked with Jimmy!

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 4

The river also reminded me of the river flowing out of the Temple in Ezekiel 47. That river had various depths, but more importantly it was flowing toward the east to the Dead Sea where it brought life both to the dessert and to the waters of the Sea. Again, those immersed in the water would have the impact of keeping the river flowing. This "immersion" comes from spending intimate time with the Lord.
But the slower, shallow water is what actually "touched" the dessert and brought life. The most important thing is to be a part of the river. There is a time to be in the "depths" and a time to be a partof the shallows. The emphasis is not on the parts of the river, but the river itself. The Body of Christ is made up of various parts, but it is the unity and sum of the parts that accomplish the tasks.
I asked the Lord where I was in the river and He directed me to a stagnant pool of water that was isolated on a large rock. Immediately I identified with the image. I was in the water, but going absolutely nowhere and motionless. I was wet, but not even close to being a part of the "living water" of the river. It was a result of circumstances and situations, not so much my doing, or lack of doing. It is just where I am right now, waiting.

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 3

All sorts of Scritural images came to me, as I sought to learn "The Lesson of the River." I was reminded of the "Living Water" of Jesus in John 4 that is a fountain of life and thirst quenching. The people were like leaves not really a part until they were submerged (baptized) in the river.

As I moved out toward the main stream, I noticed some leaves that were stuck under water on the rocks. One was waving madly in the current. It reminded me of someone waving their arms in praise of the Lord, but going nowhere. They were submerged, but stuck. Only a change in the force of the water or their breaking a part would get them moving again. Some people are stuck and need to be "torn apart" ("pruned") in order to become part of the flow of the river. They are religious, but lack power. They are like Pharisees.

Some leaves were stuck motionless under the surface, but they too would have to be broken apart or somehow moved from where they were. They were not waving madly in the current putting on a religious show, but were flattened out, hopeless and seemed very sad. Like Sadducees, not believing in the resurrection of the dead.

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 2

As I walked up the riverbank toward an outcropping of rocks, I stopped and began to observe the river. Where I stood, the water was flowing upstream because it was not in the main current and was caught in a large eddy. I could tell the water was flowing that way because of leaves submerged in it. On the surface other leaves were also being carried along with the current. As the water circulated back toward the main stream, the submerged leaves were drawn into the main current, but those on the surface simply circulated back around in the reverse flow of the whirlpool. Only when the surface leaves were submerged in the flow did they truly become a part of the river, heading on downstream toward its purpose.

While I was standing there a gust of wind blew some leaves from the trees. They landed on the river at various places. Because they were on the surface, they got caught in the whirlpool effect. Most of the ones that landed in the mainstream were circulated around into the eddy. There were a very few that got caught in the rapids and were immediately submerged to become a part of the main flow of the river.

I began to see the river like "the river of life" and the leaves as people. Most of the leaves were on the surface, like most people who call themselves Christians. They want to be a part, but are not yet fully submerged into participation. People enter the process at various times and places, but it takes time to be immersed for most of them. They are floating on the surface going in circles and even against the main flow. They do not choose to be submerged, but are drawn into it by the river.

"The Lesson of the River" - Part 1

Over the next several days I would like to share with you an experience I had last week that greatly impacted me, especially as I seek to gain vision and direction for the very difficult and troubling times in which we live.

On Tue., Oct. 21, 2008, I was drawn "to the mountains" of Tellico Plains in order to spend quiet, uninterrupted time with the Lord. While there, I was drawn to the river. At first I parked beside it in a fairly busy pull-off, but sensed a leading of the Lord to another specific spot.

Again, I parked beside the road in a pull-off and opened the windows. I could hear the water of the river and enjoyed both the cool fall breeze and the bright sunshine that kept me warm. After reading the Bible for a while, I fell asleep. Upon awakening I heard the Lord say, "Go down to the river." I had been to this spot before and heard the Lord speak at that time. In my mind it was a little like Jacob going back to Bethel (Genesis chapters 28 & 35), so I went out on the rocks where He had spoken before. Very quickly I was led to go upstream to another set of rocks. On the way the Lord said,"Learn the lesson of the river."

I have found that usually when we need to hear clearly from the Lord, we also need to go to special places where we can be alone with Him. This whole experience related to the lesson of the river lasted only a couple of hours. When God is drawing, He is ready to speak. When we are seeking Him in our timing and ways, He is often silent. If you are needing to hear from the Lord, ask Him to draw you and then be ready to move quickly. Jacob was actually running both times He encountered God at Bethel. Until God is ready to speak, peacefully keep doing what He gave you to do last time He spoke direction, purpose, and/or vision into your life.

"Back to Bethel"

I remember a sermon entitled, "Back to Bethel." I don't remember who preached it, but I do remember that I have had several "Bethel experiences" in my life. The text was in Genesis 28:10-22 and told Jacob's experience at Bethel, where he had the dream about the ladder into heaven with angels ascending and descending. God spoke to him at Bethel.

When it was finally time for Jacob to return home and face his brother Esau, God told him to go to Bethel and dwell (Genesis 35:1-15). As instructed, he also built an altar. As he worshipped, God appeared to Jacob again, changed his name to Israel, renewed the command to mankind to "be fruitful and multiply" and gave him a promise.

"Bethel" means "house of God" and is a special place in one's life at which God speaks. The first time Jacob was there, God surprised Him by appearing and speaking. The second time, God instructed him to go "Back to Bethel." When Jacob obeyed the command to go back to Bethel, he was incredibly blessed.

Many times we are seeking a "word from the Lord" and will do all sorts of things trying to hear from Him. Unfortunately during these times of seeking, many plans and ideas are fabricated and have God's name attached to them, when God didn't have anything to do with them. While it is essential to listen to God at all times, life changing words from the Lord come at His time and direction, and don't come often. Jacob had spent at least 14 years with his uncle, Laban, in between his experiences at Bethel where God gave Him life changing experiences.

In my "Bethel Experiences" I have found that it is important to keep on doing what God gave me to do at the last encounter until He calls for the next meeting. He calls us "Back to Bethel" when He is ready, not just because we go there seeking Him in our timing.

"Praying 'The Word'"

A lot of people say they don't pray because they do not know how to pray. Of course, Jesus' response to the disciples' request for teaching on how to pray was the "Model Prayer" or "Lord's Prayer." That is a good place not only to pray but also to study this prayer for understanding of what Jesus was saying to pray.

Sometimes you hear people say, "Pray the word" by which they mean pray what the Bible is saying. A great example is in the "Apostolic Prayers" of Paul that can be found in his letters to the various churches and people.

This morning I was praying one of the "Apostolic Prayers" for the people of our church and others for whom I pray regularly. It is found in Ephesians 1:15-21 and is a prayer for spiritual wisdom and the knowledge of the power of the resurrection. When Paul said "you" or "your," I put the person's name in that place. Not only was I then "praying the word" but also was praying specifically for that person.

Morning Prayer

Last night I went to bed with the news of a deadly shooting in a Knoxville mall, another huge drop in the Dow Industrial Average, the political pandering of a presidential election, and other reports I've already forgotten in the mountain of "bad news."

I SLEPT LIKE A BABY WITHOUT A CARE IN THE WORLD!

I awoke with a prayer in my heart that pushed out of my mouth. It was a prayer of praise and joy because of the goodness of God who orders my footsteps and authors and finishes my life. I wrote a note of excitement to people for whom I pray. I prayed they would accomplish what was ahead of them in the next few days and gather on Sunday to celebrate because of what God had enabled them to do - and this in the face of all the bad news.

WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE ALIVE AND SERVING THE LIVING GOD!

Peace or Panic

Last night I was teaching a Bible study from the 27th chapter of Acts in which Paul is shipwrecked. As I read about the chaos on the ship, I was reminded of a favorite little ditty that describes most people: "When in danger, when in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout."

My sense was that Paul acted like Jesus who slept in the back of a storm tossed boat, while professional fishermen feared for their lives. Rather than being in a panic, he was at peace and even had a divine visitation from an angel.

We are living in very stormy times. National and international news can easily produce feelings of panic, danger, worry and doubt. For some, personal issues easily produce blindness to the world, but produce the same feelings.

But born again believers in Christ Jesus have a choice to the feelings of panic. We can choose to "walk according to the Spirit" by focusing on the Lord and His purposes for our day and lives. We can choose to worship Him in the midst of the storms and give thanks for His grace and mercy. We can choose to sing a song of praise to Him or read a psalm of praise instead of listening to our 14th commentary of the days news. We can choose to minister to the needs of others rather than seek ministry for our. Doing any or all of these or other means of walking according to the Spirit produces the fruit of peace because we are recognizing that God is in control and we can trust our lives and circumstances to Him.

"Preacher"

Recently I've had several contacts from people in my High School class from a long, long, long time ago. It's been interesting and fun to catch up. One was very complimentary about the fact that I had been a decent guy and knew I would be in ministry. While that was gratifying, it was sad when they said they had not even known about the Lord until their adult years even though they had attended church during those years. Maybe they weren't open, but obviously I was satisfied to be "a decent guy" and didn't share about the Lord.

"Life-style evangelism" is a "decent" concept, but usually indicates an unwillingness to talk about the Lord. I'm reminded that the Bible says people will NOT know about Him (believe)unless they hear, and they will not hear without a preacher. Of course a "preacher" is not simply one who has a pulpit in a church or on a street corner. A preacher is a proclaimer who speaks the Gospel, which is the power to salvation. Moreover, a "preacher" is not someone who hounds or pounds with the Gospel, but proclaims the whole truth about both the goodness of the Gospel and the requirements of living according to the Gospel.

Whistle While You Work

I've been re- reading John Piper's Let The Nations Be Glad and was reminded of a song that goes back to my childhood when TV shows were black and white and the afternoon included "Leave It To Beaver" and the "Mickey Mouse Club." I think it was a Mickey Mouse (probably in more ways than one) cartoon that had the song, "Whistle While You Work." My parents used it to teach me to display happiness by whistling while I worked. I must have learned well the whistling lesson about displaying happiness because I also remembered another experience from my childhood.

I had told my parents I didn't feel well and probably should stay home from school, which was rare for me. Apparently, I was sitting in bed whistling. On his way out the door to work my father stuck his head in my room and said, "Sick children don't whistle." Ooops!!

Anyway, Piper says about worship that it "is not a gathering. It is not essentially a song service or sitting under preaching. Worship is not essentially any form of outward act. Worship is essentially an inner stirring of the heart to treasure God above all the treasures of the world." (page 206) He includes three stages of worship as "right affections in the heart toward God, rooted in right thoughts in the head about God, becoming visible in right actions of the body reflecting God." (page 207)

If we could grasp this, we would worship (and whistle) while we work, play, relate, rest, or anything in life. We would find true happiness and fulfillment as we walk through life.

The "More Accurate" Way of the Gospel

In preparation for a weekly Bible study in which we are working our way through the book of Acts, I was reminded of something that can get lost in the shuffle of growing and maintaining churches.

As the 18th chapter moves into the 19th, we encounter Apollos. He is described as being an "eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures." Moreover, "being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John."

This description of him reminds me of many people who grew up like I did with an emphasis on the primacy of the Bible, accepting Jesus to have your sins forgiven, being baptized for repentance (John's baptism), and then doing the best you can in your own strength to limp to the gates of heaven to present your permanent ticket for entrance. Acts 18:25 had said Apollos has a "fervent spirit," but that was merely a human zeal. Obviously, when Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and shared with him "the way of God more accurately" (18:26), they taught him about the Holy Spirit, which is then the emphasis at the beginning of chapter 19.

When Paul referred to Apollos in 1 Cor. 12, it is clear that he had become well known to the Corinthian church and carried a similar status to that of Paul himself. While we do not know much more about Apollos, he must have had the same emphasis on Holy Spirit that Paul did. If we come short of this emphasis, we keep people in the humanistic effort to do the best they can and miss the reasons Jesus said it was better for Him to go to the Father and send to us the Holy Spirit (John 14-16).

The Gospel is neither complete nor accurate without daily input and empowerment by Holy Spirit.

"Unbelievable"

Yesterday we had a wonderful gift from the Lord. Our grandson, Nicolas (Joseph and Heather's 9 month old) was born with a blocked artery last November. At age 5 days he had to have by-pass surgery with the understanding that they would have to go back periodically to do a balloon procedure in order to clear out scar tissue and allow for growth.
Over the past month tests have indicated it was time for this procedure. So, yesterday they began the procedure, BUT the Doctor stopped because there was no scar tissue where he had seen it during the tests. He said he couldn't believe it. Of course, it is exactly what we had prayed for.
As we shared this great news with people, almost everyone said, "Unbelievable.......no, wait a minute. It's not unbelievable, it's what we asked for from God." It was interesting that most of us responded with "unbelievable." It was the people of faith who quickly realized what they had said and corrected it.
These people know the truth of what Jesus said in Matthew 12:33-37 about the power and importance of our words. It is so important that we listen to what comes out of our mouth because if it is not of the Lord, we need to work on our heart.

The Lord's Sabbath

When I was a boy, my sister (9 years older than I) made most of what she wore. Often she sewed on Sundays to which an aunt would say, "You're going to have to undo all of those stiches someday in heaven for going against the Sabbath."

Recently, I was reading Brennan Manning's Abba's Child and was interested in his chapter on
"The Pharisee and the Child," which had a focus on the Sabbath. He pointed out that the intent of the Sabbath was not so much about a lack of work (rest) as it was to remember the sovereignity of God with His rulership and stewardship; to memorialize the covenant relationship God has with His people; and, to join Isaiah in making it "a day of delight."

Reflecting on this reminded me of a study and practical application we did on the Sabbath that was a real turn around and foundation setting time in our family. The study involved seeing what God did on His sabbath in Genesis 2:2-3. He rested from His work, not all work, just His. He reflected on what He had done and blessed (sanctified) what He had before Him. In our family we put this into practice by taking an evening every week in which we asked everyone to reflect back on the previous week (particularly as it related to their walk with the Lord) and share it with the family. Then they shared what lay ahead for the coming week. It is amazing how this stimulated each of us to listen to what was going on in other people's lives and make sure we were able to report how we were allowing the Lord to be a part of our own lives. By looking forward we knew what each person's schedule looked like and how to be praying for one another.

Finally, the most important thing we took from the Lord's first Sabbath was the need to bless. After everyone had shared, I would speak a blessing over Betty and she would do the same for me. Together we blessed each of the children for the week ahead. The married couples spoke blessings over each other, since they had already established their own household.

Imagine what it would have been like to grow up hearing your parents speak a blessing over each other and you every week. Practicing "The Lord's Sabbath" of reflection and blessing turned our family around and the Sabbath became a highly anticipated time rather than a dreaded, dull, legalistic experience full of condemnation and guilt.

Just Jesus

I have a good friend who is an aerospace engineer. Obviously, he if very intelligent and very technical. When it comes to life and the Lord, he has a statement that keeps ringing in my ears: "When it is all over, we will realize how simple things really are."
So often we complicate what the Lord has made so easy. I know that, as a teacher, I am always trying to help people walk through the steps of solving a problem, understanding a doctrine, or communicating their thoughts and feelings. Unfortunately, it seems as though that often complicates things for them because of the tendency to become legalistic about what we learn. Instead of seeking the Lord's simple situation for every situation, we try to force new things into old solutions - in the words of Jesus, putting "new wine into old wineskins."
The other day I was reading the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8. Like so many other instances in Acts, Philip simply "preached Jesus to him," and he became a believer looking to be baptized. I don't know exactly what Philip preached to him, but I have a hunch it was very simple and only involved the birth, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. He probably didn't teach any theology, harp on any doctrines, or give any "steps" to be taken. He just "preached Jesus" and Holy Spirit did the rest. It's not unlike Paul saying that all he wanted to know was Jesus and Him crucified.
I find myself praying, "Lord, help me just preach the simple message of Jesus and leave the rest to You." Before I can do that I must say, "Lord, help me just truly know Jesus, not all the explanations about Him, just Him."

Don't Just Do Something

Today I am reminded of a truth I need to practice more regularly.

We've all been told, "Don't just sit there, do something!" Unfortunately, some of us make that a theme for life and spend an awful lot of time doing "dead works," doing something to appear busy or at least avoid being idle. By contrast I like the saying, "Don't just do something, sit there!" This is valuable when sitting there involves waiting on the Lord or entering His peaceful rest. It's painful to think of the times I've been busy doing something and missed what the Lord really wanted me to do, even though the thing I was doing was a good thing.

The problem was that I was doing what seemed good or right, but never took the time to seek the Holy Spirit and hear my assignment for the time. Jesus said it is better for us that He left and sent the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). He goes on to say that the Holy Spirit will speak to us what He hears (verse 13).

As a I child, I was taught to "stop, look and listen" before stepping into a street. That's not a bad idea before stepping into the new "streets of life" of life we face throughout the day, as we walk out our lives. That will enable us to "walk according to the Spirit" the way Paul entreats us (Galatians 5:16, 25).

A Child of God

I remember the first time John 1:12-13 really dawned on me. It says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

Several things hit me: 1) I had rights. All of my life, even as an adult, I had felt as though I did not really have a right to speak up or act without someone's permission. Needless to say, I was pretty weak and sick. When it dawned on me that I had become a child of God, I realized that I had the right to exist and fulfill all of those hopes and dreams stirring on the inside of me. I realized that they were not just a source of conflict, but a calling by God to fulfill purpose and destiny that He had place in me. 2) I realized that I had truly been born again, no longer limited by my human genes and experiences. I was "a new creation" in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). I was not bound to repeat the things my family had done and taught because now I was part of a new family. I had taken on a new DNA.....the DNA of Christ. 3) All of a sudden the times Jesus spoke positively about being childlike made it alright to play, have a simple faith in Him without complicated explanations of unexplanable things, have my needs met, and not have to carry everyone else's problems. I didn't have to be tough because my Big Brother Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to do that. 4) Being "saved" meant more than avoiding hell and going to heaven by believing in Jesus. Believing in His name meant becoming like Him by being "born again." Believing was more than a mental exercise, it was a new existence.

WOW!! I'm so thankful to be born of God just like Jesus was. My life is different not by my strong, stubborn will and hard work, but by the new life I have in Him. It makes me have to ask the question, "Have you been born again, or are you just a believer?" Jesus' intent if for you to become a child of God with new rights, new spiritual "genes," new freedom to be childlike, and move toward your personal purpose and destiny by the power of His Spirit working in you.

Avoiding Good Things

As I read 1 Peter 2:8 the other day about Jesus being "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense," which He said would even crush some, I was reminded how often we are guilty of AVOIDING GOOD THINGS.
In church we work hard not to offend people, which can be good unless they are offended because we simply speak the truth of God's Word with an attitude of genuine love. In fact, people often "rebuke the spirit of offense," when in reality Jesus has said He will be offensive to many. His offensive truth is a good thing that will set someone free and help them overcome, if they will submit to the truth. We are guilty of avoiding this good thing, when we are overly concerned about offending someone or even rebuke a spirit that is of the Lord. Of course, we are instructed not to offend, but that is about us not being offensive in our attitude and actions. The truth is that the word of the Lord may be an offense and should not be avoided.
I also was reminded that we often avoid "splitting up," when it may be something God can use. For instance, Paul and Barnabas split over John Mark and were even contentious about it (Acts 15:36-39). The result was that there were two mission teams that went out rather than just one. That was a good thing. It would have been nice for Paul and Barnabas not to be contentious, but a good thing came out of it.
These kinds of thoughts make me stop and think about what kinds of "Good Things" I might be avoiding. It is like the purpose of pain, which we often avoid or mask. Pain serves the purpose of warning us, but if we avoid or mask it, we put ourselves in danger of injury.

First Blog

As I write my first blog, I sense a recovery of something lost a long time ago. God put within me an ability and a desire to communicate with people in a "KISS" fashion. Keeping it simple enough for anyone to understand keeps it simple enough for me to understand. For years I wrote and then produced a daily radio "thought for the day" that kept me fresh and received positive feed back from a number of people. Of course, experiences like the one with the lady who said rather loudly in a store, "Oh, I get up with you every day," also kept things humorous.

So, on this first Monday, I'm excited about a "restart" in my life. I pray anyone reading this will take a minute to evaluate anything they might need to "restart/recover" in their lives. I kind of feel like the "prodigal son" Jesus talked about. He had wandered pretty far away, but his father (God) was ready and waiting for him to come home and pick up where he left off. Today is just a day to come home and clean up so we can begin in earnest tomorrow.