In the Name of Purpose - Overview:
"It used to be that faithfulness to God
turned the world upside down.
Now faithfulness to the world
is turning Christianity upside down."
The above link is just an overview of the book which is available free online to read. A link to the book is contain in the overview (toward the bottom).
Very interesting stuff.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Apologetics Press - Does This Sound Like America?
Apologetics Press - Does This Sound Like America?
I blogged about this prior to the Presidential election. This author does a much better job quoting scripture and making the case for humble repentance as a nation to avoid dire consequences.
From my human nature view, I am afraid of the 'things' happening within our nation and the direction it is taking us. However, from my Christian view, I am confident in God's saving grace and presence in all matters for those who call Him Lord.
Pray with me for our country!
I blogged about this prior to the Presidential election. This author does a much better job quoting scripture and making the case for humble repentance as a nation to avoid dire consequences.
From my human nature view, I am afraid of the 'things' happening within our nation and the direction it is taking us. However, from my Christian view, I am confident in God's saving grace and presence in all matters for those who call Him Lord.
Pray with me for our country!
Precious Time
Last night when I crawled into bed, my husband asked me this question. "Do you think we will know each other in heaven?"
I said, "I guess, we like to think that we will. People say things like, 'Mom has gone to be with Dad in heaven.' But I really don't know if we will."
Then he read me the passage in Matthew that had prompted his question. Matthew 22:30 For in the Resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.
My husband looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I thought I would know you in heaven, but now I'm not so sure I will." When I asked him why that made him sad, he replied, as big tear drops gently rolled from the corner of his eyes onto his cheeks, "Because I want to know you in heaven!"
Women, you know this is like a hallmark moment to us! To be loved so completely that your spouse wants to carry that love into eternity! What more could a woman ask for? Thank you God for that precious, precious gift!
Of course, that was the end of the conversation for him as he had already moved on. Yes, but I wanted to hold onto that moment, to savor it, to remember it forever! The process really led me to see how precious our time is here on earth. We only have a brief moment in time to live, to love, to reach the world.
We don't know for sure what heaven will be like and if we will know each other there, but it sounds like it will be different than life here. We won't enter into marriage. Children won't be born. People won't die. We won't have to evangelize. Those things are for this time, for this world! We will have other focuses in heaven.
Knowing this, I never want to spend another minute mad at my husband, or be upset with my children, or fail to witness to someone when the opportunity presents itself. These are the moments for this world! Don't waste them!
I said, "I guess, we like to think that we will. People say things like, 'Mom has gone to be with Dad in heaven.' But I really don't know if we will."
Then he read me the passage in Matthew that had prompted his question. Matthew 22:30 For in the Resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.
My husband looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I thought I would know you in heaven, but now I'm not so sure I will." When I asked him why that made him sad, he replied, as big tear drops gently rolled from the corner of his eyes onto his cheeks, "Because I want to know you in heaven!"
Women, you know this is like a hallmark moment to us! To be loved so completely that your spouse wants to carry that love into eternity! What more could a woman ask for? Thank you God for that precious, precious gift!
Of course, that was the end of the conversation for him as he had already moved on. Yes, but I wanted to hold onto that moment, to savor it, to remember it forever! The process really led me to see how precious our time is here on earth. We only have a brief moment in time to live, to love, to reach the world.
We don't know for sure what heaven will be like and if we will know each other there, but it sounds like it will be different than life here. We won't enter into marriage. Children won't be born. People won't die. We won't have to evangelize. Those things are for this time, for this world! We will have other focuses in heaven.
Knowing this, I never want to spend another minute mad at my husband, or be upset with my children, or fail to witness to someone when the opportunity presents itself. These are the moments for this world! Don't waste them!
All I'm Saying Is . .
My husband and I were debating the 'birth control' topic last night because he is not sure he agrees with me. But I told him I haven't exactly chosen a side so I don't think he can agree or disagree with me yet.
What I am trying to do is open up the dialogue to really consider our options and choices from a biblical standpoint. Far too often we just take accepted practices at face value and blindly follow the culture. Birth control, along with many other topics, are just things we take as 'okay' because everyone else thinks it is.
Doesn't God call us to live in the world but not of the world? If that's the case, then we should be challenging the status quo and investigating for ourselves what God would want us to do.
Nothing in and of itself is wrong. It's how we use it or our motivation behind something that makes it wrong. I know I've heard our Pastor say money isn't bad - it's how we use it, or think about it, or our motivation with it that's wrong. The same principle applies here.
The question then needs to be asked. If Christian women, in a Christian marriages, use birth control for any of the following reasons, are we living God's plan for our lives or are we living of this world?
1. To control our circumstances
2. To be in charge of our own destiny
3. To make way to pursue our own career
4. To free up funds to pursue our own desires
5. To avoid undo responsibility of another human being
I just really wonder. I don't want to judge or be closed minded, but I do want us to really think about these things from a heavenly standpoint. I can really see and understand all of the arguments in the 'secular world' for the use of birth control. But we are not the secular world. We are God's chosen people! As God's chosen, we should be seeking our Creator's input in these matters. That's all I'm saying.
What I am trying to do is open up the dialogue to really consider our options and choices from a biblical standpoint. Far too often we just take accepted practices at face value and blindly follow the culture. Birth control, along with many other topics, are just things we take as 'okay' because everyone else thinks it is.
Doesn't God call us to live in the world but not of the world? If that's the case, then we should be challenging the status quo and investigating for ourselves what God would want us to do.
Nothing in and of itself is wrong. It's how we use it or our motivation behind something that makes it wrong. I know I've heard our Pastor say money isn't bad - it's how we use it, or think about it, or our motivation with it that's wrong. The same principle applies here.
The question then needs to be asked. If Christian women, in a Christian marriages, use birth control for any of the following reasons, are we living God's plan for our lives or are we living of this world?
1. To control our circumstances
2. To be in charge of our own destiny
3. To make way to pursue our own career
4. To free up funds to pursue our own desires
5. To avoid undo responsibility of another human being
I just really wonder. I don't want to judge or be closed minded, but I do want us to really think about these things from a heavenly standpoint. I can really see and understand all of the arguments in the 'secular world' for the use of birth control. But we are not the secular world. We are God's chosen people! As God's chosen, we should be seeking our Creator's input in these matters. That's all I'm saying.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Life's Work
SMIRNA
Our church has been involved in a church plant in Romania since 1999 (see attached link).
Pastor Ionut Corlan of Romania, brought his 85 year old mother on her first visit to the United States, and they worshiped with us in church yesterday.
Mrs. Corlan spoke to the congregation in her native language as she held her bible in her hand. She told us she was raised in the knowledge of God despite living behind the iron curtain of Communism and has been a Christian her entire life. She said, "God has blessed me for my faithfulness because all 15 of my children are also Christians!"
85 years brings lots of experiences, trials, and joys but her greatest joy, and the one she wanted to share with us, is that her children are all Christians. It sums up her life work! Yes, she raised 15 children into adulthood, but more importantly, she raised 15 children in the saving knowledge of the Savior, Lord Jesus Christ.
As a mom, I found those words to be so inspirational. Is there really anything more important in our duty as mothers to the next generation, than to teach our children about Jesus, and to help cultivate in them a loving relationship with Him?
I pray that at the end of my days, I can claim the same blessing, and that my life's work will have had eternal implications, too.
Our church has been involved in a church plant in Romania since 1999 (see attached link).
Pastor Ionut Corlan of Romania, brought his 85 year old mother on her first visit to the United States, and they worshiped with us in church yesterday.
Mrs. Corlan spoke to the congregation in her native language as she held her bible in her hand. She told us she was raised in the knowledge of God despite living behind the iron curtain of Communism and has been a Christian her entire life. She said, "God has blessed me for my faithfulness because all 15 of my children are also Christians!"
85 years brings lots of experiences, trials, and joys but her greatest joy, and the one she wanted to share with us, is that her children are all Christians. It sums up her life work! Yes, she raised 15 children into adulthood, but more importantly, she raised 15 children in the saving knowledge of the Savior, Lord Jesus Christ.
As a mom, I found those words to be so inspirational. Is there really anything more important in our duty as mothers to the next generation, than to teach our children about Jesus, and to help cultivate in them a loving relationship with Him?
I pray that at the end of my days, I can claim the same blessing, and that my life's work will have had eternal implications, too.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Case for Birth Control - Margaret Sanger
The Case for Birth Control - Margaret Sanger
Margaret Sanger is a nurse who promoted birth control as a means by which a woman could exercise control over her life and health. She is considered a birth control pioneer and a social reformer. She is affiliated with organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the Birth Control League.
I am certain that Margaret Sanger and I have very different viewpoints. She notes 9 reasons why and when birth control should be used and some of them are laughable. For instance, in her first reason she notes four 'inheritable' diseases, none of which I believe we consider inheritable today.
Can you see Satan's deceptiveness veiled behind her persuasiveness words? I can when she says, "When children are conceived in love and born into an atmosphere of happiness, then will parenthood be a glorious privilege, and the children will grow to resemble gods. This can only be obtained through the knowledge and practice of Birth Control."
If God created the ability to procreate and He intended it to be a blessing for us, then you can be certain that Satan will try to destroy the good in it any way he can. He's so slick with his words that come across as caring about us, that this is for our own good, that we can be in control. Isn't that the same lie he used with Eve in the garden? Why do we keep buying into that same old lie?
Another thing that strikes me is that proponents of birth control and abortion always talk about the freedom of women. In the 'case' Margaret Sanger lays out there seems to be a lot of rules listed. Where is the freedom in that?
Then there is her comments about who is 'fit' to have children and who isn't. Where is the freedom in that? This isn't freedom. It is one person's misguided perception of who is worthy based on health or economic conditions.
One final comment. Margaret Sanger comes from a large, poor family. Just think - if her mother would have heeded the advice Margaret later preached, she may never have been born. I wonder if she is glad she was able to live out a life in this world despite any hardships that may have presented themselves along the way. Food for thought!
Margaret Sanger is a nurse who promoted birth control as a means by which a woman could exercise control over her life and health. She is considered a birth control pioneer and a social reformer. She is affiliated with organizations such as Planned Parenthood and the Birth Control League.
I am certain that Margaret Sanger and I have very different viewpoints. She notes 9 reasons why and when birth control should be used and some of them are laughable. For instance, in her first reason she notes four 'inheritable' diseases, none of which I believe we consider inheritable today.
Can you see Satan's deceptiveness veiled behind her persuasiveness words? I can when she says, "When children are conceived in love and born into an atmosphere of happiness, then will parenthood be a glorious privilege, and the children will grow to resemble gods. This can only be obtained through the knowledge and practice of Birth Control."
If God created the ability to procreate and He intended it to be a blessing for us, then you can be certain that Satan will try to destroy the good in it any way he can. He's so slick with his words that come across as caring about us, that this is for our own good, that we can be in control. Isn't that the same lie he used with Eve in the garden? Why do we keep buying into that same old lie?
Another thing that strikes me is that proponents of birth control and abortion always talk about the freedom of women. In the 'case' Margaret Sanger lays out there seems to be a lot of rules listed. Where is the freedom in that?
Then there is her comments about who is 'fit' to have children and who isn't. Where is the freedom in that? This isn't freedom. It is one person's misguided perception of who is worthy based on health or economic conditions.
One final comment. Margaret Sanger comes from a large, poor family. Just think - if her mother would have heeded the advice Margaret later preached, she may never have been born. I wonder if she is glad she was able to live out a life in this world despite any hardships that may have presented themselves along the way. Food for thought!
Leah and Rachel
Jacob loved Rachel but was tricked into marrying her older sister, Leah, by their father. Jacob eventually married Rachel too, but there was always a rivalry between the two sisters over who had claim to Jacob's affection. This rivalry was especially seen played out between the two in the bearing of children by Jacob. They were in constant battle and prayer to God, each pleading their own case. You can read the story for yourself in Genesis 29 and 30.
Genesis 29:31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
Leah had bore four sons to Jacob and Rachel was envious.
Genesis 30:1-2 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die!" And Jacob's anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"
The two sisters fight over mandrakes (an aphrodisiac)and Leah sells her mandrakes to Rachel in exchange for a night with Jacob.
Genesis 30:17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.
Genesis 30:19 Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son.
Genesis 30:21 Afterward she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
Genesis 30:22-23a Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son.
Rachel was blessed with another son but died during childbirth.
Two things strike me as interesting in this story.
1. They had no form of birth control (if it was available it clearly is not being used here) and yet Rachel does not conceive until God deems it is time.
2. Jacob's words to Rachel clearly show he believes it is by God's own will that Leah has bore children and Rachel has not.
I can just hear the liberals thinking out loud that the people of the Old Testament were neanderthals and had no capacity to even conceive of birth control or that they didn't have the best of health conditions so that may have prevented them from being fertile. But I don't believe those responses are true because they knew what aphrodisiacs were and Jacob seemed to be very successful in his occupation.
So, what is the lesson in this story? Can we gleam anything from these words of recorded history that is useful to us today? I'm still in discovery, so I have no answers, only more questions.
Genesis 29:31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
Leah had bore four sons to Jacob and Rachel was envious.
Genesis 30:1-2 Now when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister and said to Jacob, "Give me children, or else I die!" And Jacob's anger was aroused against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"
The two sisters fight over mandrakes (an aphrodisiac)and Leah sells her mandrakes to Rachel in exchange for a night with Jacob.
Genesis 30:17 And God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.
Genesis 30:19 Then Leah conceived again and bore Jacob a sixth son.
Genesis 30:21 Afterward she bore a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
Genesis 30:22-23a Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son.
Rachel was blessed with another son but died during childbirth.
Two things strike me as interesting in this story.
1. They had no form of birth control (if it was available it clearly is not being used here) and yet Rachel does not conceive until God deems it is time.
2. Jacob's words to Rachel clearly show he believes it is by God's own will that Leah has bore children and Rachel has not.
I can just hear the liberals thinking out loud that the people of the Old Testament were neanderthals and had no capacity to even conceive of birth control or that they didn't have the best of health conditions so that may have prevented them from being fertile. But I don't believe those responses are true because they knew what aphrodisiacs were and Jacob seemed to be very successful in his occupation.
So, what is the lesson in this story? Can we gleam anything from these words of recorded history that is useful to us today? I'm still in discovery, so I have no answers, only more questions.
Inquiring Minds Want To Know
Today, I am going to bring up a topic that will definitely be controversial in the secular world, and quite possibly in the Christian world as well. Here's some questions to ponder.
1. Would God approve of Christians using birth control?
2. How has the world demographics been affected by birth control?
3. How has the Christian faith been helped/hurt by the use of birth control?
4. Why was birth control invented in the first place?
5. What purpose does birth control serve to humanity?
6. Why doesn't the natural world (animals/plants) need to practice reproductive control?
These are only some of the questions I have pondered in recent months. I feel God has been prompting me to explore this for a while now but I have been resisting. It's so ingrained in our culture, especially the western culture, that it almost seems taboo to bring up.
I know when I research Right To Life issues, the practice of birth control is pushed as a way to reduce the incidences of abortion. When I research world poverty, birth control is pushed as a way to reduce poverty. When teen pregnancy is discussed, the conversation always turns to birth control availability to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Is this really the right answer to all of these problems?
We were created to reproduce. God gave us the command in Genesis (twice), 'be fruitful and multiply'. The bible also contains many references to God deciding when to 'open' the womb and when He purposefully 'shut' the womb. The bible also tells us children are a blessing from God. I often wonder then why we try to control the timing of a blessing from God, and what this says about who our dependence really rest upon.
Lord, I ask for your wisdom and guidance as I explore these issues and share with my readers. If these thoughts are truly from you, then I trust you have something for us to discover. Let your will be done. Amen
1. Would God approve of Christians using birth control?
2. How has the world demographics been affected by birth control?
3. How has the Christian faith been helped/hurt by the use of birth control?
4. Why was birth control invented in the first place?
5. What purpose does birth control serve to humanity?
6. Why doesn't the natural world (animals/plants) need to practice reproductive control?
These are only some of the questions I have pondered in recent months. I feel God has been prompting me to explore this for a while now but I have been resisting. It's so ingrained in our culture, especially the western culture, that it almost seems taboo to bring up.
I know when I research Right To Life issues, the practice of birth control is pushed as a way to reduce the incidences of abortion. When I research world poverty, birth control is pushed as a way to reduce poverty. When teen pregnancy is discussed, the conversation always turns to birth control availability to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Is this really the right answer to all of these problems?
We were created to reproduce. God gave us the command in Genesis (twice), 'be fruitful and multiply'. The bible also contains many references to God deciding when to 'open' the womb and when He purposefully 'shut' the womb. The bible also tells us children are a blessing from God. I often wonder then why we try to control the timing of a blessing from God, and what this says about who our dependence really rest upon.
Lord, I ask for your wisdom and guidance as I explore these issues and share with my readers. If these thoughts are truly from you, then I trust you have something for us to discover. Let your will be done. Amen
Monday, December 8, 2008
A Tragic and Increasing Trend: Disbelief in the Bible > The Good News : March/April 2000
A Tragic and Increasing Trend: Disbelief in the Bible > The Good News : March/April 2000
Those of you who know me, know I dedicate much of my blog to the discussion of false teaching and false teachers in the church, because I was confronted with this reality a few months ago in my own former church.
I would have liked to have considered it contained to just this one church or just this one pastor. However, this article dated in 2000 from The Good News Magazine shows it has been a trend in the making for some time now.
I am so thankful God opened the eyes of my husband and myself and led my family to safety. The beliefs and convictions of your church leadership and the christian family you choose to worship and grow with is so important for your own spiritual maturity. Hearing the Truth and surrounding yourself with others who will hold you accountable to the Truth compliments your own study of God's Word. It protects what you 'know' from being eroded away by the falsehoods and misrepresentations the worldly teachers would like to you to buy into as truth.
Lord, I am so thankful for my new Church family and for my new small group and the leadership in both.
Those of you who know me, know I dedicate much of my blog to the discussion of false teaching and false teachers in the church, because I was confronted with this reality a few months ago in my own former church.
I would have liked to have considered it contained to just this one church or just this one pastor. However, this article dated in 2000 from The Good News Magazine shows it has been a trend in the making for some time now.
I am so thankful God opened the eyes of my husband and myself and led my family to safety. The beliefs and convictions of your church leadership and the christian family you choose to worship and grow with is so important for your own spiritual maturity. Hearing the Truth and surrounding yourself with others who will hold you accountable to the Truth compliments your own study of God's Word. It protects what you 'know' from being eroded away by the falsehoods and misrepresentations the worldly teachers would like to you to buy into as truth.
Lord, I am so thankful for my new Church family and for my new small group and the leadership in both.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Observation
This weekend our family attended the christmas musical at our church. The entire front rows of church were packed and although we had arrived 30 minutes early we didn't get one of those front seats.
On the way home, my husband commented on how people's priorities are all out of order. They will flock to the front of church for a performance but are content to sit in the back for a worship service. They will arrive early to get a good seat for a musical but walk in late on Sunday mornings.
If only we gave God the same kind of enthusiasm we given human performances!
On the way home, my husband commented on how people's priorities are all out of order. They will flock to the front of church for a performance but are content to sit in the back for a worship service. They will arrive early to get a good seat for a musical but walk in late on Sunday mornings.
If only we gave God the same kind of enthusiasm we given human performances!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Is There A Judas In Each Of Us?
Matthew 26:14-16 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.
I've known since my youth that Judas was the one who betrayed Jesus and turned him over to the chief priests which led to His death. However, in looking at these verses today, I see this story in a new light.
Judas was one of the 12 disciples chosen by Jesus himself. He was the treasurer of the group so he must have been trustworthy and an integral, contributing member of the group. Just as all of the other disciples had done, Judas too, would have given up everything to follow Jesus. This would have included his family, his occupation, and his lifestyle. To do so would lead us to believe Judas thought highly of Jesus, someone worthy enough to give up all to follow Him.
During the time Judas spent as part of Jesus ministry team, he had to have seen the miracles Jesus performed, the compassion he showed the poor, witnessed the healing of the sick, and listened to Jesus teachings. They traveled together and ate and drank together. Jesus showed great love, dedication, and patience toward all but especially toward his disciples. He served them. Judas had to have had similar feelings toward Jesus.
And yet, in these few bible passages, we see a different outcome. Judas made a decision. A decision to deny Jesus. Not only did Judas decide to deny Jesus as Lord - his Lord, but he also sought to destroy Him. He sought to silence Jesus, to strip Jesus of His power, to humble Him, to remove Him from His place of authority, not only in his life but in the lives of others too.
Two extremes. One extreme of love and devotion, a willingness to lay down his life for the one he believes in. Another extreme of self-centeredness and betrayal, a willingness to receive a minor reward in exchange for the life of the one he no longer believes in. How does one go from one extreme to the next?
As I read these passages over, I could not help but feel the shame of guilt myself. It's so easy to point a finger at Judas in disbelief of his hearts' turn. However, if we are honest with ourselves, we too are guilty of these same sins against Jesus.
How often we choose another over Jesus whether it's money, fame, power, etc. How often we try to silence Jesus with our own interpretations of scripture. How often we try to strip Jesus of His power by making Him someone who should bend to our wants and desires. How often we remove Him from His place of authority in our life so we can do as we please. How often our actions contradict our beliefs and we confuse others about our loyalties and lead them away from the One that saves.
We all have a need to repent of the sinful actions our own Judas heart has led us into against our Lord and Savior. We crucified our Lord as much as Judas and those that put Him to the cross. We too carry that burden.
Forgive us Lord for our unbelief, our misplaced dependence, and our sins against you.
I've known since my youth that Judas was the one who betrayed Jesus and turned him over to the chief priests which led to His death. However, in looking at these verses today, I see this story in a new light.
Judas was one of the 12 disciples chosen by Jesus himself. He was the treasurer of the group so he must have been trustworthy and an integral, contributing member of the group. Just as all of the other disciples had done, Judas too, would have given up everything to follow Jesus. This would have included his family, his occupation, and his lifestyle. To do so would lead us to believe Judas thought highly of Jesus, someone worthy enough to give up all to follow Him.
During the time Judas spent as part of Jesus ministry team, he had to have seen the miracles Jesus performed, the compassion he showed the poor, witnessed the healing of the sick, and listened to Jesus teachings. They traveled together and ate and drank together. Jesus showed great love, dedication, and patience toward all but especially toward his disciples. He served them. Judas had to have had similar feelings toward Jesus.
And yet, in these few bible passages, we see a different outcome. Judas made a decision. A decision to deny Jesus. Not only did Judas decide to deny Jesus as Lord - his Lord, but he also sought to destroy Him. He sought to silence Jesus, to strip Jesus of His power, to humble Him, to remove Him from His place of authority, not only in his life but in the lives of others too.
Two extremes. One extreme of love and devotion, a willingness to lay down his life for the one he believes in. Another extreme of self-centeredness and betrayal, a willingness to receive a minor reward in exchange for the life of the one he no longer believes in. How does one go from one extreme to the next?
As I read these passages over, I could not help but feel the shame of guilt myself. It's so easy to point a finger at Judas in disbelief of his hearts' turn. However, if we are honest with ourselves, we too are guilty of these same sins against Jesus.
How often we choose another over Jesus whether it's money, fame, power, etc. How often we try to silence Jesus with our own interpretations of scripture. How often we try to strip Jesus of His power by making Him someone who should bend to our wants and desires. How often we remove Him from His place of authority in our life so we can do as we please. How often our actions contradict our beliefs and we confuse others about our loyalties and lead them away from the One that saves.
We all have a need to repent of the sinful actions our own Judas heart has led us into against our Lord and Savior. We crucified our Lord as much as Judas and those that put Him to the cross. We too carry that burden.
Forgive us Lord for our unbelief, our misplaced dependence, and our sins against you.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Angry Before Bed
Last night my husband asked me a question and then cut me off in the middle of my answer. I naturally got mad and snapped back at him. Turning away from him, I added,"Don't ask me again if you're not going to let me speak!" (I'm sure you can just see how this played out.)
We both went back to what we were doing, reading in bed at the end of the day. He was reading the Bible and I was reading Billy Graham's book, Storm Warning.
As I looked at the words of my page, to angry to actually read them,I couldn't help but wonder how two people in the middle of gaining a deeper understanding of God could end up in an arguement!
I was content to go to bed mad and let the problem work itself out in the morning but God was tugging at my heart. I tried to read my book. However, the words of the pages were being crowded out by God's whispers in my head. I could feel my heart begin to soften. I felt the tears, hot on my cheeks from the shame of my own actions, and the anger toward my husband for his actions began to subside. God said to me, you can carry this into the night or you can release it now.
I first told God I was sorry and He helped break down my pride (which takes quite a while). Then, God helped me remember how much I love and cherish my husband and prodded me to not let a wedge get in between us.
After a long, long silence between us, I finally turned to my husband and said I was sorry for how I reacted and explained that I was hurt by his actions and I didn't handle that hurt constructively. He said he too was sorry for cutting me off and not allowing me to finish my thoughts. We embraced and restored our relationship.
Only through God's grace and spirit are we able to live peacefully among one another. Our relationships only have a fighting chance of surviving if the Lord Jesus Christ lives in us.
May you live in peace because of the work Jesus has done in your heart!
We both went back to what we were doing, reading in bed at the end of the day. He was reading the Bible and I was reading Billy Graham's book, Storm Warning.
As I looked at the words of my page, to angry to actually read them,I couldn't help but wonder how two people in the middle of gaining a deeper understanding of God could end up in an arguement!
I was content to go to bed mad and let the problem work itself out in the morning but God was tugging at my heart. I tried to read my book. However, the words of the pages were being crowded out by God's whispers in my head. I could feel my heart begin to soften. I felt the tears, hot on my cheeks from the shame of my own actions, and the anger toward my husband for his actions began to subside. God said to me, you can carry this into the night or you can release it now.
I first told God I was sorry and He helped break down my pride (which takes quite a while). Then, God helped me remember how much I love and cherish my husband and prodded me to not let a wedge get in between us.
After a long, long silence between us, I finally turned to my husband and said I was sorry for how I reacted and explained that I was hurt by his actions and I didn't handle that hurt constructively. He said he too was sorry for cutting me off and not allowing me to finish my thoughts. We embraced and restored our relationship.
Only through God's grace and spirit are we able to live peacefully among one another. Our relationships only have a fighting chance of surviving if the Lord Jesus Christ lives in us.
May you live in peace because of the work Jesus has done in your heart!
Quote
"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
- Jim Elliot (missionary to the Aucas in Ecuador, deceased)
- Jim Elliot (missionary to the Aucas in Ecuador, deceased)
Public School Conversation
This morning I was giving my daughter a ride to school and she asked me a question.
“Mom, what are we? Are we Lutheran, Methodist, or what?”
(We just recently switched from a Methodist church to a non-denominational community church, so I understood her confusion.)
She shared with me a conversation she had in school recently that went like this.
Boy in Class: “Why did your family switch churches?”
My daughter: “Because of evolution.”
Another boy in class: “What’s evolution?”
My daughter: “That’s when you believe the world is millions of years old.”
Another girl in class: “It’s also where you think you came from a monkey.”
Boy in class: “That’s crazy, monkey’s came from us.”
My daughter: “No, I think God made monkeys.”
Just yesterday, I received another email poem talking about how ‘God’ has been taken out of the public school system. The school curriculum may be void of God inspired teaching, but this conversation showed me God has not been completely shut out.
Fifth graders do a lot of creative writing and journals for English classes. My daughter writes frequently of her faith and what she believes about God, and sometimes has to share her words with the class. Our family’s recent change in churches was a soul searching, prayerful decision that was discussed in our home openly. She writes about that journey, our step of faith, and our obedience to our follow God’s will for our lives because it has made an impact in her heart. She is living out her faith and she is witnessing to others in the process.
As long as God’s word is being taught and modeled in the home, God cannot be shut out of the public schools. So, instead of complaining about what we no longer have (God in public schools), maybe we should be thankful for what we do still have (freedom of religion in this country)! We still have the freedom to learn, teach, worship, and live out our faith in our homes, churches, and communities.
God commands us to teach our children about him! We live in a country where we are free to do so without persecution or restriction. If we exercise that freedom, God cannot be taken out of anything, for wherever we are, He is too! The one that lives in us works through us, to accomplish His will in all things to His glory!
Lord, we are thankful for the freedoms you have blessed us with in this country, especially the freedom to worship you! We also thank you for the wonderful ways you work through each of us to glorify your name! Amen
“Mom, what are we? Are we Lutheran, Methodist, or what?”
(We just recently switched from a Methodist church to a non-denominational community church, so I understood her confusion.)
She shared with me a conversation she had in school recently that went like this.
Boy in Class: “Why did your family switch churches?”
My daughter: “Because of evolution.”
Another boy in class: “What’s evolution?”
My daughter: “That’s when you believe the world is millions of years old.”
Another girl in class: “It’s also where you think you came from a monkey.”
Boy in class: “That’s crazy, monkey’s came from us.”
My daughter: “No, I think God made monkeys.”
Just yesterday, I received another email poem talking about how ‘God’ has been taken out of the public school system. The school curriculum may be void of God inspired teaching, but this conversation showed me God has not been completely shut out.
Fifth graders do a lot of creative writing and journals for English classes. My daughter writes frequently of her faith and what she believes about God, and sometimes has to share her words with the class. Our family’s recent change in churches was a soul searching, prayerful decision that was discussed in our home openly. She writes about that journey, our step of faith, and our obedience to our follow God’s will for our lives because it has made an impact in her heart. She is living out her faith and she is witnessing to others in the process.
As long as God’s word is being taught and modeled in the home, God cannot be shut out of the public schools. So, instead of complaining about what we no longer have (God in public schools), maybe we should be thankful for what we do still have (freedom of religion in this country)! We still have the freedom to learn, teach, worship, and live out our faith in our homes, churches, and communities.
God commands us to teach our children about him! We live in a country where we are free to do so without persecution or restriction. If we exercise that freedom, God cannot be taken out of anything, for wherever we are, He is too! The one that lives in us works through us, to accomplish His will in all things to His glory!
Lord, we are thankful for the freedoms you have blessed us with in this country, especially the freedom to worship you! We also thank you for the wonderful ways you work through each of us to glorify your name! Amen
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Top Five Things I am Thankful for this Thanksgiving Season
1. That God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
2. The description of the Proverbs 31 woman and the Titus 2 principle that has been my guide for the past three years.
3. A wise and thoughtful husband.
4. Five beautiful daughters.
5. Girlfriends who lead by example.
2. The description of the Proverbs 31 woman and the Titus 2 principle that has been my guide for the past three years.
3. A wise and thoughtful husband.
4. Five beautiful daughters.
5. Girlfriends who lead by example.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Excerpt from Storm Warning
Excerpt from Billy Graham's 1992 book titled, Storm Warning. . .
A part of the confusion of the world, however, is in the church itself. Whereas once the church offered a unified standard of values and beliefs to pull the world back from the precipice of self-destruction, too often that standard has been compromised by convenient social theories in place of the Bible's truth, and discredited by the moral failures of its leaders.
In numerous churches the Bible is treated as a collection of fairy tales and fables written by half-educated men of an ancient time. While it offers challenging spiritual myths and wholesome encouragement, some "modern" churches seem to feel that no one should go to the Bible expecting to find absolute truth.
Such teaching is an abomination before God. Nothing could be more destructive to true faith and peace on earth. In the face of such a growing storm, the world desperately needs moorings, and God has given us that anchor in His Word, the Bible.
I guess what I have been feeling these past few months is nothing new. Billy Graham saw the same things happening in the church and felt the same concerns 16 years ago.
I only have limited exposure to the worldwide church, but it has been so confusing to me to see so many who profess Christianity actually believe very different truths. However, Billy Graham preached to over 100 million people in eighty-four countries in his lifetime, and had vast knowledge and experience in the worldwide church. He saw this as a problem everywhere he went.
Our natural self wants to be in control and it's when we give over to that natural self that we fail to submit to God's authority, to make His Word the final word, and to put His reasoning above our reasoning. When our church leaders start to create their own truth and change God's original intent, they take the people with them, causing them to drift off course with them. The only way to get back on course is to return to God's Word as absolute truth.
May you be in God's Word daily, searching for understanding of His truth, and then be His truthful testimony to the world!
A part of the confusion of the world, however, is in the church itself. Whereas once the church offered a unified standard of values and beliefs to pull the world back from the precipice of self-destruction, too often that standard has been compromised by convenient social theories in place of the Bible's truth, and discredited by the moral failures of its leaders.
In numerous churches the Bible is treated as a collection of fairy tales and fables written by half-educated men of an ancient time. While it offers challenging spiritual myths and wholesome encouragement, some "modern" churches seem to feel that no one should go to the Bible expecting to find absolute truth.
Such teaching is an abomination before God. Nothing could be more destructive to true faith and peace on earth. In the face of such a growing storm, the world desperately needs moorings, and God has given us that anchor in His Word, the Bible.
I guess what I have been feeling these past few months is nothing new. Billy Graham saw the same things happening in the church and felt the same concerns 16 years ago.
I only have limited exposure to the worldwide church, but it has been so confusing to me to see so many who profess Christianity actually believe very different truths. However, Billy Graham preached to over 100 million people in eighty-four countries in his lifetime, and had vast knowledge and experience in the worldwide church. He saw this as a problem everywhere he went.
Our natural self wants to be in control and it's when we give over to that natural self that we fail to submit to God's authority, to make His Word the final word, and to put His reasoning above our reasoning. When our church leaders start to create their own truth and change God's original intent, they take the people with them, causing them to drift off course with them. The only way to get back on course is to return to God's Word as absolute truth.
May you be in God's Word daily, searching for understanding of His truth, and then be His truthful testimony to the world!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Crossroad
Crossroad
I found this wonderful website and wanted to share it with you. Here's why it's so important to me.
In the last few months, God has really opened my eyes to the onslaught of worldly views into the church. Little by little, Satan's lies have infiltrated the hearts of some of our Christian leaders and have taken them captive. A captive leader does not teach God's truth but rather Satan's lies. A people who blindly follow a captive leader will also be taken captive by buying into the lies themselves. These churches will lose their lamp stands and become ineffective for God's work, but quite effective for Satan's.
I never dreamed I'd find spiritual warfare within the church itself. I guess I was naive, but I was really shocked when I began to see, through God's grace, the lies being taught in the church. We have been fortunate enough to find a new church home, a biblically sound church, teaching God's truth. Thanks be to God!
Nonetheless, I have been so grieved by what I have seen, I can only imagine how God grieves to see His people so willingly go down the wrong path. I also sense a forthcoming rise in Christian persecution in this country. God's Truth is being attacked and soon God's witnesses, us, will be attacked too.
Last night in our family bible study, we really stressed to our kids how important it is to know what the bible says for yourself because the world will preach a different message. Your defense is knowing God's uncompromising, unchanging Truth for yourself. This has always been a Christians charge but maybe one that needs to be repeated and modeled in our homes.
I found this website while researching a book called The Shack. I first became aware of this book, in our new church. One Sunday they opened the microphones up to the congregation to speak if they felt God had stirred something in their heart to say. One woman came up and spoke about how her Christian friends were encouraging her to read this book but she had a stern warning to everyone that this book was heresy. That was my first hearing of this book.
In the last few weeks, a Christian friend of mine highly recommended it saying, "A must read for any Christian" and our former Pastor included it as a must read in the holiday letter sent out to the congregation. I, now, had two conflicting points of view and I just had to check it out for myself which led me to the website mentioned above.
I believe this book is another way Satan is chipping away at the Christian faith. Captive unbelievers, captive Christian leaders, and captive Christians are all buying into the idea that God is something that can be changed to suit our needs and that we must redefine Christianity and our beliefs to fit who we are today as a people, instead of changing who we are as a people to fit who God wants us to be.
The timing of Focus on the Family's, The Truth Project couldn't be more precisely needed than now. I am so grateful to be going through this small group, DVD study. I am so thankful for our new church family, our new small group family, and the resources I am finding by God-inspired servants, such as this website, to counter the culture we are in today.
May God break the chains of Satan's grip on our heart and restore us fully unto Himself so that we may persevere until the end and be claimed as one of God's own children!
I found this wonderful website and wanted to share it with you. Here's why it's so important to me.
In the last few months, God has really opened my eyes to the onslaught of worldly views into the church. Little by little, Satan's lies have infiltrated the hearts of some of our Christian leaders and have taken them captive. A captive leader does not teach God's truth but rather Satan's lies. A people who blindly follow a captive leader will also be taken captive by buying into the lies themselves. These churches will lose their lamp stands and become ineffective for God's work, but quite effective for Satan's.
I never dreamed I'd find spiritual warfare within the church itself. I guess I was naive, but I was really shocked when I began to see, through God's grace, the lies being taught in the church. We have been fortunate enough to find a new church home, a biblically sound church, teaching God's truth. Thanks be to God!
Nonetheless, I have been so grieved by what I have seen, I can only imagine how God grieves to see His people so willingly go down the wrong path. I also sense a forthcoming rise in Christian persecution in this country. God's Truth is being attacked and soon God's witnesses, us, will be attacked too.
Last night in our family bible study, we really stressed to our kids how important it is to know what the bible says for yourself because the world will preach a different message. Your defense is knowing God's uncompromising, unchanging Truth for yourself. This has always been a Christians charge but maybe one that needs to be repeated and modeled in our homes.
I found this website while researching a book called The Shack. I first became aware of this book, in our new church. One Sunday they opened the microphones up to the congregation to speak if they felt God had stirred something in their heart to say. One woman came up and spoke about how her Christian friends were encouraging her to read this book but she had a stern warning to everyone that this book was heresy. That was my first hearing of this book.
In the last few weeks, a Christian friend of mine highly recommended it saying, "A must read for any Christian" and our former Pastor included it as a must read in the holiday letter sent out to the congregation. I, now, had two conflicting points of view and I just had to check it out for myself which led me to the website mentioned above.
I believe this book is another way Satan is chipping away at the Christian faith. Captive unbelievers, captive Christian leaders, and captive Christians are all buying into the idea that God is something that can be changed to suit our needs and that we must redefine Christianity and our beliefs to fit who we are today as a people, instead of changing who we are as a people to fit who God wants us to be.
The timing of Focus on the Family's, The Truth Project couldn't be more precisely needed than now. I am so grateful to be going through this small group, DVD study. I am so thankful for our new church family, our new small group family, and the resources I am finding by God-inspired servants, such as this website, to counter the culture we are in today.
May God break the chains of Satan's grip on our heart and restore us fully unto Himself so that we may persevere until the end and be claimed as one of God's own children!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Back to the Bible
Back to the Bible - Today on Back to the Bible
This edition of Back to the Bible touched on false teachers in the church and since I've been writing about that a lot, I thought I'd shared this with you all.
This edition of Back to the Bible touched on false teachers in the church and since I've been writing about that a lot, I thought I'd shared this with you all.
Teach to be Good Friends
Just a quick note to parents today.
Teach your kids how to be good friends to each other.
My 15 year old daughter is heartbroken this year because her friends don't seem to "be" there for her.
She lost her Grandpa to cancer this September and none of her friends even asked how she was doing, much less send a card, or attend the wake. She makes plans with other kids and they don't show up. They don't call and cancel. They just ditch her.
She is such a loyal friend who would give the shirt off her back to anyone and it just breaks my heart to see her self esteem drop because other parents haven't taught their own kids how to be compassionate and aware of others, how to keep their comittments, and how to be honest.
Too often parents neglect to instill these values in thier children because they are too busy with their own lives, but they also don't seem to lead by example either. We have become too much of a "me" society that we can't see others' needs.
What will the next generation look like if these children continue with this "me" attitude?
Whatever happened to the 'best friends forever, through thick and thin, no matter what, no one will break us apart' mentality? Have our little girls lost this very important bonding skill? I pray not.
Teach your kids how to be good friends to each other.
My 15 year old daughter is heartbroken this year because her friends don't seem to "be" there for her.
She lost her Grandpa to cancer this September and none of her friends even asked how she was doing, much less send a card, or attend the wake. She makes plans with other kids and they don't show up. They don't call and cancel. They just ditch her.
She is such a loyal friend who would give the shirt off her back to anyone and it just breaks my heart to see her self esteem drop because other parents haven't taught their own kids how to be compassionate and aware of others, how to keep their comittments, and how to be honest.
Too often parents neglect to instill these values in thier children because they are too busy with their own lives, but they also don't seem to lead by example either. We have become too much of a "me" society that we can't see others' needs.
What will the next generation look like if these children continue with this "me" attitude?
Whatever happened to the 'best friends forever, through thick and thin, no matter what, no one will break us apart' mentality? Have our little girls lost this very important bonding skill? I pray not.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
'Woe to You' - Part Three
I found chapter 23 of Matthew to be so interesting because of the recent struggles I have had with religious leaders, and because of the struggles, my friends, and family continue to have with specific teachings of the church.
I saw through this scripture that even in Jesus day, the church struggled with discerning Truth, and had leaders that appeared to be knowledgeable and trustworthy but were not. I guess that is why Jesus instructs us to ‘test everything.’ He knows our inclination to make things all about us, to have our judgment clouded by power and prestige, and to be led astray so easily.
If we held up the six ‘Woe to You’ statements against the religious leaders of our day what would we find?
#1 -Are false doctrines being preached today? Are we given and are we accepting a false sense of security regarding our salvation? Do we know for ourselves what the scriptures say?
#2 -Are our leaders leading by example in all areas of their life? Are we holding them accountable?
#3- Are the rules we govern by within our churches, biblical and ethical versus moral? Remember, morality is the measure of what is acceptable by the majority at any given time and thus changes with societies, but being ethical is what we ‘should’ be doing, and that doesn’t change. Are we living up to God’s standards as a church body?
#4- Are we encompassing and embracing all of God’s Truths within our church beliefs and creeds? Or, are we picking and choosing only the Truths we want to abide by? Are we expecting righteousness in all areas of our church body and its’ people? Are we loving others and reaching out to them? Are we placing full authority and trust in God? Are transformations taking place within the people because of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ?
#5- Is there abuse of power within the church? Are the leaders admitting their sins and asking for forgiveness from God? From the people? Are relationships expected to be restored? Are leaders seeking to do God’s will? Are they waiting on the Lord for their needs?
#6- Are the leaders practicing what they preach? Do they walk the talk? Are they honest with what they believe and authenticate that in their teaching? Or, do they hide behind the scripture, veiling their true beliefs? Do our leaders lead secret lives?
We can ask these questions of our church but we should also ask them of ourselves. We are all accountable to what we believe and what we teach through our words or our examples.
May the Son of God always be our head and heart, and may the Holy Spirit protect us from ourselves, and the world, that we may journey into eternity with our Father!
I saw through this scripture that even in Jesus day, the church struggled with discerning Truth, and had leaders that appeared to be knowledgeable and trustworthy but were not. I guess that is why Jesus instructs us to ‘test everything.’ He knows our inclination to make things all about us, to have our judgment clouded by power and prestige, and to be led astray so easily.
If we held up the six ‘Woe to You’ statements against the religious leaders of our day what would we find?
#1 -Are false doctrines being preached today? Are we given and are we accepting a false sense of security regarding our salvation? Do we know for ourselves what the scriptures say?
#2 -Are our leaders leading by example in all areas of their life? Are we holding them accountable?
#3- Are the rules we govern by within our churches, biblical and ethical versus moral? Remember, morality is the measure of what is acceptable by the majority at any given time and thus changes with societies, but being ethical is what we ‘should’ be doing, and that doesn’t change. Are we living up to God’s standards as a church body?
#4- Are we encompassing and embracing all of God’s Truths within our church beliefs and creeds? Or, are we picking and choosing only the Truths we want to abide by? Are we expecting righteousness in all areas of our church body and its’ people? Are we loving others and reaching out to them? Are we placing full authority and trust in God? Are transformations taking place within the people because of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ?
#5- Is there abuse of power within the church? Are the leaders admitting their sins and asking for forgiveness from God? From the people? Are relationships expected to be restored? Are leaders seeking to do God’s will? Are they waiting on the Lord for their needs?
#6- Are the leaders practicing what they preach? Do they walk the talk? Are they honest with what they believe and authenticate that in their teaching? Or, do they hide behind the scripture, veiling their true beliefs? Do our leaders lead secret lives?
We can ask these questions of our church but we should also ask them of ourselves. We are all accountable to what we believe and what we teach through our words or our examples.
May the Son of God always be our head and heart, and may the Holy Spirit protect us from ourselves, and the world, that we may journey into eternity with our Father!
'Woe to You' - Part Two
#4 Woe to You – “For you pay tithe of mint, and anise, and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” Matt. 23:23
As executers and protectors of the law, Jesus acknowledges an area they performed correctly, tithing. However, He immediately points out what they neglected to uphold – justice, mercy, and faith.
Justice: 1. The quality of being just; conformity to the principles of righteousness and rectitude in all things; strict performance of moral obligations; practical conformity to human or divine law; integrity in the dealings of men with each other; rectitude; equity; uprightness. 2. Conformity to truth and reality in expressing opinions and in conduct; fair representation of facts respecting merit or demerit; honesty; fidelity; impartiality; as, the justice of a description or of a judgment; historical justice.
Mercy: 1. Forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it; compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary; clemency. 2. Compassionate treatment of the unfortunate and helpless; sometimes, favor, beneficence.
Faith: 1. Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting solely and implicitly on his authority and veracity; reliance on testimony. 2. The assent of the mind to the statement or proposition of another, on the ground of the manifest truth of what he utters; firm and earnest belief, on probable evidence of any kind, especially in regard to important moral truth. 3. (Theol.) (a) The belief in the historic truthfulness of the Scripture narrative, and the supernatural origin of its teachings, sometimes called historical and speculative faith. (b) The belief in the facts and truth of the Scriptures, with a practical love of them; especially, that confiding and affectionate belief in the person and work of Christ, which affects the character and life, and makes a man a true Christian, -- called a practical, evangelical, or saving faith.
Source: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
#5 Woe to You – “For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind, Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.” Matt. 23:25-26
The Jewish leaders appeared to all to be holy. They wore the clothes of religious scholars steeped in symbolism to remind them and others of the importance of remembering the scriptures. They wore the phylacteries (little leather boxes with scripture inside) around their foreheads. They prayed and taught in public. By all accounts, the effort they put into looking holy led others to believe they were holy. However, Jesus told them what He saw in their heart- extortion, self-indulgence, and uncleanness.
Extortion: 1. The act of extorting; the act or practice of wresting anything from a person by force, by threats, or by any undue exercise of power; undue exaction; overcharge. 2. (Law) The offense committed by an officer who corruptly claims and takes, as his fee, money, or other thing of value, that is not due, or more than is due, or before it is due.
Self-Indulgence: Indulgence of one's appetites, desires, or inclinations;
Uncleanness: 1. Not clean; foul; dirty; filthy. 2. Ceremonially impure; needing ritual cleansing. 3. Morally impure.
Source: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
# 6 Woe to You – “Foy you are like whitewashed 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.” Matt. 23:27-28
Again, Jesus tells them their outward appearance seems to suggest righteousness to men but again Jesus saw the inside full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Hypocrisy: The act or practice of a hypocrite; a feigning to be what one is not, or to feel what one does not feel; a dissimulation, or a concealment of one's real character, disposition, or motives; especially, the assuming of false appearance of virtue or religion; a simulation of goodness.
Lawlessness: 1. Contrary to, or unauthorized by, law; illegal; as, a lawless 2. Not subject to, or restrained by, the law of morality or of society; 3. Not subject to the laws of nature; uncontrolled.
Source: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
#7 Woe to You – “ Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakes with them in the blood of the prophets’.” Therefore, you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Matt. 23:29-32
Jesus tells them how they have and will continue to torture, persecute, and kill prophets who come in the name of Jesus because of their unbelief. If they had believed the scriptures and the Old Testament prophets, they would see that the present day prophets were fulfilled prophecy. They would see that Jesus was indeed the Savior and embrace Him as their King. Instead, they will put Him to death within the week.
As executers and protectors of the law, Jesus acknowledges an area they performed correctly, tithing. However, He immediately points out what they neglected to uphold – justice, mercy, and faith.
Justice: 1. The quality of being just; conformity to the principles of righteousness and rectitude in all things; strict performance of moral obligations; practical conformity to human or divine law; integrity in the dealings of men with each other; rectitude; equity; uprightness. 2. Conformity to truth and reality in expressing opinions and in conduct; fair representation of facts respecting merit or demerit; honesty; fidelity; impartiality; as, the justice of a description or of a judgment; historical justice.
Mercy: 1. Forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it; compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary; clemency. 2. Compassionate treatment of the unfortunate and helpless; sometimes, favor, beneficence.
Faith: 1. Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting solely and implicitly on his authority and veracity; reliance on testimony. 2. The assent of the mind to the statement or proposition of another, on the ground of the manifest truth of what he utters; firm and earnest belief, on probable evidence of any kind, especially in regard to important moral truth. 3. (Theol.) (a) The belief in the historic truthfulness of the Scripture narrative, and the supernatural origin of its teachings, sometimes called historical and speculative faith. (b) The belief in the facts and truth of the Scriptures, with a practical love of them; especially, that confiding and affectionate belief in the person and work of Christ, which affects the character and life, and makes a man a true Christian, -- called a practical, evangelical, or saving faith.
Source: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
#5 Woe to You – “For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind, Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.” Matt. 23:25-26
The Jewish leaders appeared to all to be holy. They wore the clothes of religious scholars steeped in symbolism to remind them and others of the importance of remembering the scriptures. They wore the phylacteries (little leather boxes with scripture inside) around their foreheads. They prayed and taught in public. By all accounts, the effort they put into looking holy led others to believe they were holy. However, Jesus told them what He saw in their heart- extortion, self-indulgence, and uncleanness.
Extortion: 1. The act of extorting; the act or practice of wresting anything from a person by force, by threats, or by any undue exercise of power; undue exaction; overcharge. 2. (Law) The offense committed by an officer who corruptly claims and takes, as his fee, money, or other thing of value, that is not due, or more than is due, or before it is due.
Self-Indulgence: Indulgence of one's appetites, desires, or inclinations;
Uncleanness: 1. Not clean; foul; dirty; filthy. 2. Ceremonially impure; needing ritual cleansing. 3. Morally impure.
Source: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
# 6 Woe to You – “Foy you are like whitewashed 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.” Matt. 23:27-28
Again, Jesus tells them their outward appearance seems to suggest righteousness to men but again Jesus saw the inside full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Hypocrisy: The act or practice of a hypocrite; a feigning to be what one is not, or to feel what one does not feel; a dissimulation, or a concealment of one's real character, disposition, or motives; especially, the assuming of false appearance of virtue or religion; a simulation of goodness.
Lawlessness: 1. Contrary to, or unauthorized by, law; illegal; as, a lawless 2. Not subject to, or restrained by, the law of morality or of society; 3. Not subject to the laws of nature; uncontrolled.
Source: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
#7 Woe to You – “ Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakes with them in the blood of the prophets’.” Therefore, you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Matt. 23:29-32
Jesus tells them how they have and will continue to torture, persecute, and kill prophets who come in the name of Jesus because of their unbelief. If they had believed the scriptures and the Old Testament prophets, they would see that the present day prophets were fulfilled prophecy. They would see that Jesus was indeed the Savior and embrace Him as their King. Instead, they will put Him to death within the week.
'Woe to You' - Part One
The religious leaders of Jesus day, wanted to trick Jesus into doing or saying something that they could hold against Him because they wanted to kill Him. In the last week of Jesus life, Jesus tells them and the people exactly what He knows of the religious leaders, and how the people should respond to them in the future.
To the people Jesus acknowledges the Jewish leaders place of authority and from whom it was given. He tells the people they must obey them as they have been given authority to uphold the law. However, the people are cautioned not to follow the example of the Jewish leaders because they do not practice what they preach. Jesus points out that the Jewish leaders have exalted themselves above all, are in it for the status and prestige the job brings to them, and they do not have a loving, servants’ heart.
Then He specifically addresses the Jewish leaders in front of the people with six ‘woe to you’ statements (Matthew 23).
#1 Woe to You – “For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. For you devour widow’s houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation.” Matt. 23:13-14
Jesus is telling the Jewish leaders they have not interpreted scripture correctly. In fact, they are doing the exact thing they are trying to pin on Jesus, teaching false doctrine. As a result, of their misinterpretation, they have not led the people to salvation but rather have given them a false sense of security. They do not have a saving faith themselves and they are not leading the people to one either.
#2 Woe to You – “For you travel the land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” Matt. 23:15
There is a leadership principle that says, ‘What leaders allow in moderation, those under them practice in excess.’
#3 Woe to You – “Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies it?” Therefore, he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.” Matt. 23:16-19
The Jewish leaders had all kinds of secular rules mostly to suit their own needs. In this case they had created a way to avoid accountability for an oath if it was made by swearing on specific things. It was a way to lie, to be less than truthful, but without looking like they were lying.
Part 2 to follow
To the people Jesus acknowledges the Jewish leaders place of authority and from whom it was given. He tells the people they must obey them as they have been given authority to uphold the law. However, the people are cautioned not to follow the example of the Jewish leaders because they do not practice what they preach. Jesus points out that the Jewish leaders have exalted themselves above all, are in it for the status and prestige the job brings to them, and they do not have a loving, servants’ heart.
Then He specifically addresses the Jewish leaders in front of the people with six ‘woe to you’ statements (Matthew 23).
#1 Woe to You – “For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men, for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. For you devour widow’s houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation.” Matt. 23:13-14
Jesus is telling the Jewish leaders they have not interpreted scripture correctly. In fact, they are doing the exact thing they are trying to pin on Jesus, teaching false doctrine. As a result, of their misinterpretation, they have not led the people to salvation but rather have given them a false sense of security. They do not have a saving faith themselves and they are not leading the people to one either.
#2 Woe to You – “For you travel the land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” Matt. 23:15
There is a leadership principle that says, ‘What leaders allow in moderation, those under them practice in excess.’
#3 Woe to You – “Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it. Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies it?” Therefore, he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.” Matt. 23:16-19
The Jewish leaders had all kinds of secular rules mostly to suit their own needs. In this case they had created a way to avoid accountability for an oath if it was made by swearing on specific things. It was a way to lie, to be less than truthful, but without looking like they were lying.
Part 2 to follow
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Quote on Abortion
"If we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill each other? ... Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want."
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Monday, November 17, 2008
Heart Appraisals
In a previous entry, we took a look at God's appraisal of the seven churches in Revelation, but did you know the church isn't just a local body of believers. The church lives and exist in you, also? If the church lives in you, then the appraisal given the seven churches can also be used to measure the health of your hearts. Let's take a look.
The Loveless Heart
Do we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and body? Do we long to be in His presence, try to please Him, or follow His example to love and serve others? Or, has our love over time waned, and our heart filled up with other things? Do we think of ourselves and our needs more than others? Do we think about what Jesus would do or just forge ahead with our selfish desires?
The Persecuted Heart
A mature Christian once told me that 'persecution in Jesus name is considered a badge of honor.' It shows that you are boldly proclaiming Jesus to the world and obedient to his word. Spiritual warfare increases as your commitment to the Lord increases. If Satan isn't trying to harm you or turn you away from God, it is because he is not threatened by your faith. A weak, complacent faith doesn't scare Satan because you won't be doing anything to hinder his influence in the world, and you won't be doing anything to further God's Kingdom.
The Compromising Heart
Are you trying to have your cake and eat it too? Sometimes, we want to have the benefits of our faith without having to give up all of our worldly desires. We hang onto sinful practices or worldly desires, thinking we only have to turn over so much to God. But, God wants all of our heart, soul, and mind. You cannot leave some back for yourself to do with how you please.
The Corrupt Heart
Are you allowing the Father of Lies into your heart with his false teaching and worldly worship? Do you know what is right and wrong in God's eyes, but choose to do wrong anyway? Has your heart tasted the desire of the world and wants more of it, even if it cost you your salvation? Will the sin you are trying to hide from God crowd out His Truth, leaving your heart dark and corrupt?
The Dead Heart
Are you like the Scribes and Pharisee's of Jesus day? They knew God's word, his law, and from all accounts looked to be righteous. They studied and taught others about God, but they didn't follow their own teaching because their hearts were dead inside. They looked for glory in man's eyes not in God's eyes, and as a result they put their own Savior to death. Is your heart in need of being resuscitated?
The Faithful Heart
The faithful heart is focused on God for all it's needs, in all situations. It relies on God for strength in obeying His word and in proclaiming to others the Good News. It's a heart with a desire to serve God and love others as it lives out the two greatest commandments.
The Lukewarm Heart
This is a heart that doesn't take the time to test everything against God's word and as a result allows false doctrine to permeate into their existence. Do you avoid conflict and allow others to think what they want rather than pointing back to God's Truth? Do you just want to be comfortable, left alone doing as little as possible, and not taking a stand either way? If so, you have a lukewarm heart for God.
Where are you in the heart assessment? If you are like me, there is more than one area that needs to be worked on. Just as we hold our local church body up to God's evaluation, we must also hold our own heart up to His standards. Ask God today to show you where you need to improve your own heart's condition, so that you will be found righteous and acceptable in God's eyes.
The Loveless Heart
Do we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and body? Do we long to be in His presence, try to please Him, or follow His example to love and serve others? Or, has our love over time waned, and our heart filled up with other things? Do we think of ourselves and our needs more than others? Do we think about what Jesus would do or just forge ahead with our selfish desires?
The Persecuted Heart
A mature Christian once told me that 'persecution in Jesus name is considered a badge of honor.' It shows that you are boldly proclaiming Jesus to the world and obedient to his word. Spiritual warfare increases as your commitment to the Lord increases. If Satan isn't trying to harm you or turn you away from God, it is because he is not threatened by your faith. A weak, complacent faith doesn't scare Satan because you won't be doing anything to hinder his influence in the world, and you won't be doing anything to further God's Kingdom.
The Compromising Heart
Are you trying to have your cake and eat it too? Sometimes, we want to have the benefits of our faith without having to give up all of our worldly desires. We hang onto sinful practices or worldly desires, thinking we only have to turn over so much to God. But, God wants all of our heart, soul, and mind. You cannot leave some back for yourself to do with how you please.
The Corrupt Heart
Are you allowing the Father of Lies into your heart with his false teaching and worldly worship? Do you know what is right and wrong in God's eyes, but choose to do wrong anyway? Has your heart tasted the desire of the world and wants more of it, even if it cost you your salvation? Will the sin you are trying to hide from God crowd out His Truth, leaving your heart dark and corrupt?
The Dead Heart
Are you like the Scribes and Pharisee's of Jesus day? They knew God's word, his law, and from all accounts looked to be righteous. They studied and taught others about God, but they didn't follow their own teaching because their hearts were dead inside. They looked for glory in man's eyes not in God's eyes, and as a result they put their own Savior to death. Is your heart in need of being resuscitated?
The Faithful Heart
The faithful heart is focused on God for all it's needs, in all situations. It relies on God for strength in obeying His word and in proclaiming to others the Good News. It's a heart with a desire to serve God and love others as it lives out the two greatest commandments.
The Lukewarm Heart
This is a heart that doesn't take the time to test everything against God's word and as a result allows false doctrine to permeate into their existence. Do you avoid conflict and allow others to think what they want rather than pointing back to God's Truth? Do you just want to be comfortable, left alone doing as little as possible, and not taking a stand either way? If so, you have a lukewarm heart for God.
Where are you in the heart assessment? If you are like me, there is more than one area that needs to be worked on. Just as we hold our local church body up to God's evaluation, we must also hold our own heart up to His standards. Ask God today to show you where you need to improve your own heart's condition, so that you will be found righteous and acceptable in God's eyes.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The Seven Churches of Revelation
A healthy, thriving church is a church that is living God’s Truth and extending God’s Light out into the world. One way to know if the church you attend is a healthy church is by comparing it to the seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation in the bible. God gave each of these churches an appraisal of what they were doing right and wrong. Can you see your church in any of the descriptions of these seven churches?
The church of Ephesus – The Loveless Church (Revelation 2:1-7)
Good: Good deeds; hard working; perseverance; did not tolerate wicked men; tested everything; endured hardships in Jesus name and did not grow weary.
Bad: Lost their first love (passion for Jesus and gratitude for what He did for them and as a result stopped showing love to others by putting their needs first)
The Church of Smyrna – The Persecuted Church (Revelation 2:8-11)
Good: Poor yet Rich (persecuted and martyred in Jesus name but encouraged to endure to the end because through salvation they would not die a second death)
The Church of Pergamum- The Compromising Church (Revelation 2:12-16)
Good: remained true to Jesus; did not denounce their faith in Jesus;
Bad: Sinful practices was allowed to go on in the church through the endorsement of or tolerance by the church leaders (sin was allowed to go unchecked in the people)
The church of Thyatira – The Corrupt Church (Revelation 2:18-29)
Good: good deeds; love and faith; service and perseverance; progression and growth
Bad: tolerate of Jezebel (false prophet who promoted worldly ideology and seduced the people into sin or idol worship)
The Church of Sardis- The Dead Church (Revelation 3:1-6)
Bad: reputation of being alive, but are dead (looked like a church on the outside but it was spiritually dead inside, more like a business or country club motive than a spiritual motive)
The Church of Philadelphia – The Faithful Church (Revelations 3:7-13)
Good: mission minded; relying on God for strength; obedient; did not deny Jesus
The Church of Laodicea – The Lukewarm Church (Revelation 3:14-22)
Bad: Compromised important doctrine or Truth (a comfortable, pleasant, complacent church led by the people to suit their needs instead of teaching God’s law, His judgment, and gift of grace).
If you held your church up through the microscope lens of the seven churches of Revelation, would you find a good or poor assessment of the health of your church?
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” Rev. 3:19
The church of Ephesus – The Loveless Church (Revelation 2:1-7)
Good: Good deeds; hard working; perseverance; did not tolerate wicked men; tested everything; endured hardships in Jesus name and did not grow weary.
Bad: Lost their first love (passion for Jesus and gratitude for what He did for them and as a result stopped showing love to others by putting their needs first)
The Church of Smyrna – The Persecuted Church (Revelation 2:8-11)
Good: Poor yet Rich (persecuted and martyred in Jesus name but encouraged to endure to the end because through salvation they would not die a second death)
The Church of Pergamum- The Compromising Church (Revelation 2:12-16)
Good: remained true to Jesus; did not denounce their faith in Jesus;
Bad: Sinful practices was allowed to go on in the church through the endorsement of or tolerance by the church leaders (sin was allowed to go unchecked in the people)
The church of Thyatira – The Corrupt Church (Revelation 2:18-29)
Good: good deeds; love and faith; service and perseverance; progression and growth
Bad: tolerate of Jezebel (false prophet who promoted worldly ideology and seduced the people into sin or idol worship)
The Church of Sardis- The Dead Church (Revelation 3:1-6)
Bad: reputation of being alive, but are dead (looked like a church on the outside but it was spiritually dead inside, more like a business or country club motive than a spiritual motive)
The Church of Philadelphia – The Faithful Church (Revelations 3:7-13)
Good: mission minded; relying on God for strength; obedient; did not deny Jesus
The Church of Laodicea – The Lukewarm Church (Revelation 3:14-22)
Bad: Compromised important doctrine or Truth (a comfortable, pleasant, complacent church led by the people to suit their needs instead of teaching God’s law, His judgment, and gift of grace).
If you held your church up through the microscope lens of the seven churches of Revelation, would you find a good or poor assessment of the health of your church?
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” Rev. 3:19
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Genesis Truth
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
Most Christians agree that God created the earth in which we live. It is the ‘how’ and ‘when’ that is often disputed. It is why we have sides for Creationism, Evolution, or Created Evolution. Which do you believe?
I was brought up to believe that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. I was taught that God breathed the words and it was so and it was very good. I believe the history timeline of the bible to be accurate, true, and complete.
I have read books and watched videos that support what the bible says and I have read books that oppose it. I have learned through my search that it can be quite exhausting trying to support or oppose the Truth with theories or human reasoning. I think many others feel the same way, thus the reason why many Christians have adopted the ‘created evolution’ argument. It may for some just be easier to agree with both sides than to try to prove or disprove one or the other.
When I discovered in a former church that the Pastor there actually believed the world was millions of years old, I felt myself come unglued in the sense that both schools of thought could not possibly exist together. One had to be wrong and one had to be right. Convinced I was on the right side, I did some research on my own in hopes of disputing the opposite side.
According to the World Almanac and Statistical Abstract of the United States, 101.77 million US Christians do not believe in the complete inerrancy of the Genesis account and some actually embrace evolution as a Truth, as compared to 41.52 million professing inerrancy. I found my belief to be in the minority, which shocked me.
I really struggled with the fact that everything I was taught and believed about creation was not fully embraced by every other Christian as Truth. How could we all profess a belief in the same God, have a saving faith in Jesus Christ, and read the same bible but not believe the same Truths?
If I cannot trust the very first book of the bible to be true, accurate, and straightforward how can I possibly put any faith or trust in the remaining books of the bible? If I am led to believe that God slowly ‘evolved’ me into who I am today by chance, how can I believe that I was created in God’s image and for a specific purpose? If I am led to believe the Old Testament is a book of fables and stories made up to get a point across, how can I believe in a New Testament virgin birth and rising from the dead?
To believe anything other than what I had always believed, for me, would have led me away from the God I knew, not able to embrace Him as some might suggest. As I read supporting and opposing information, I realized I should not have to be a scientific scholar, botanist, astronomer, a zoologist, or literary professor to figure out the bible. God intended the bible to be Truth for all people, in all ages, in all stages of life. If I had to be all these things to understand the bible, I never would be ready to read it.
For me, I take the stance that the bible is true and without error just as it is written. I would not presume to be arrogant and speak to which I am not an authority on, and since none of us can know all the things of God this side of heaven, I prefer to take God at His word. When I reach heaven, He can fill me in on all the details. Until then, the important lesson may be in the faithful trust of God and not in us for understanding.
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31
Most Christians agree that God created the earth in which we live. It is the ‘how’ and ‘when’ that is often disputed. It is why we have sides for Creationism, Evolution, or Created Evolution. Which do you believe?
I was brought up to believe that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. I was taught that God breathed the words and it was so and it was very good. I believe the history timeline of the bible to be accurate, true, and complete.
I have read books and watched videos that support what the bible says and I have read books that oppose it. I have learned through my search that it can be quite exhausting trying to support or oppose the Truth with theories or human reasoning. I think many others feel the same way, thus the reason why many Christians have adopted the ‘created evolution’ argument. It may for some just be easier to agree with both sides than to try to prove or disprove one or the other.
When I discovered in a former church that the Pastor there actually believed the world was millions of years old, I felt myself come unglued in the sense that both schools of thought could not possibly exist together. One had to be wrong and one had to be right. Convinced I was on the right side, I did some research on my own in hopes of disputing the opposite side.
According to the World Almanac and Statistical Abstract of the United States, 101.77 million US Christians do not believe in the complete inerrancy of the Genesis account and some actually embrace evolution as a Truth, as compared to 41.52 million professing inerrancy. I found my belief to be in the minority, which shocked me.
I really struggled with the fact that everything I was taught and believed about creation was not fully embraced by every other Christian as Truth. How could we all profess a belief in the same God, have a saving faith in Jesus Christ, and read the same bible but not believe the same Truths?
If I cannot trust the very first book of the bible to be true, accurate, and straightforward how can I possibly put any faith or trust in the remaining books of the bible? If I am led to believe that God slowly ‘evolved’ me into who I am today by chance, how can I believe that I was created in God’s image and for a specific purpose? If I am led to believe the Old Testament is a book of fables and stories made up to get a point across, how can I believe in a New Testament virgin birth and rising from the dead?
To believe anything other than what I had always believed, for me, would have led me away from the God I knew, not able to embrace Him as some might suggest. As I read supporting and opposing information, I realized I should not have to be a scientific scholar, botanist, astronomer, a zoologist, or literary professor to figure out the bible. God intended the bible to be Truth for all people, in all ages, in all stages of life. If I had to be all these things to understand the bible, I never would be ready to read it.
For me, I take the stance that the bible is true and without error just as it is written. I would not presume to be arrogant and speak to which I am not an authority on, and since none of us can know all the things of God this side of heaven, I prefer to take God at His word. When I reach heaven, He can fill me in on all the details. Until then, the important lesson may be in the faithful trust of God and not in us for understanding.
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Genesis 1:31
Friday, November 7, 2008
My Attempt At Being A Paul
A few months ago, I was in a bible study class through a church from which we have since parted ways. Over the course of the studies, I began to see insurmountable differences between what our family believed and what was being taught. At the same time, my husband began to see the sermons containing personal beliefs being passed off as biblical truths. We felt deceived that the church that we had wholeheartedly supported had misrepresented their doctrine and beliefs to us. We made a decision to leave out of fear, fear that continued association would lead our family, especially our children, down the wrong path and jeopardize our own salvation.
I do not know if this church really misrepresented itself at the beginning. Maybe something had changed since we first arrived. Maybe our eyes and ears were not open to the truth ourselves at the beginning, and we accepted what they had to offer as truth. Whatever the case, we did see things differently now, and as painful as it was to leave we felt it was the right thing to do.
I struggled with our decision, wondering if we should have stayed and tried to be God’s voice in the church. However, when I was involved in the bible classes that shed light on the untruths, not a single other member would acknowledge the issues. Their stance was that God does not want us to argue about such things, that it did not matter. God wants us to just all get along and love each other. I was told debate and disagreement had no place in the church because their stance was your truth may be different from my truth, but that is ok. In fact, when we told the Pastor we were leaving the response to us was “it sounds like you found a group of people who share your truth.”
I wept, because a whole group of people who proclaim to be Christians had bought into Satan’s lies that we can all create our own truth. God’s voice, His reality, was being drowned out by the culture and by humanistic views. The bible was no longer the authority, the last word; it was being distorted to fit the beliefs of the people. The “whatever feels good to you” attitude had sprung up and taken root, and I am confident Satan is quite pleased with himself and God is quite grieved.
I had told my brother-in-law that although we were relieved to have removed ourselves from the situation, we were still so grieved for the friends we left behind that did not know, were willing to put up with, or had wholeheartedly bought into the deception. His advice to us was that we then needed to be a Paul and go speak the truth to them. Influence little by little, person by person, bit by bit in the hope God would use us to open their eyes.
Some of what I write in this blog has to do with countering the culture and disproving lies. Some of the content is directly from conversations I have had with church leaders who do not speak the truth and has served as my attempt to influence. I have not been made popular through my words, but no other purpose would serve me now then to be a voice of God’s truth.
Last night our small group from our new church began the study from Focus on the Family called The Truth Project. We discussed the difference between God’s reality (truth) and Satan’s lies (illusion). It was incredibly timely material, considering what we are facing right now. I became aware of this series last spring and had asked our old church to become involved which they ignored (go figure) but I had remained very interested in somehow going through the series. Now, months later sitting through the first session, I was amazed at how God provides. God knew in the spring what our family was going to experience in the summer, and he put an interest in this tool (The Truth Project) into my heart long before I even knew how important and affirming this would be for us at this particular time. He reinforced me. He reenergized me. He is teaching me how to be a Paul.
Lord, I am so thankful for your provision and for opening my eyes to your truth. May you use me and my voice to speak to your people. Bless me and others with courage, boldness, and perseverance. May your name be glorified! Amen
I do not know if this church really misrepresented itself at the beginning. Maybe something had changed since we first arrived. Maybe our eyes and ears were not open to the truth ourselves at the beginning, and we accepted what they had to offer as truth. Whatever the case, we did see things differently now, and as painful as it was to leave we felt it was the right thing to do.
I struggled with our decision, wondering if we should have stayed and tried to be God’s voice in the church. However, when I was involved in the bible classes that shed light on the untruths, not a single other member would acknowledge the issues. Their stance was that God does not want us to argue about such things, that it did not matter. God wants us to just all get along and love each other. I was told debate and disagreement had no place in the church because their stance was your truth may be different from my truth, but that is ok. In fact, when we told the Pastor we were leaving the response to us was “it sounds like you found a group of people who share your truth.”
I wept, because a whole group of people who proclaim to be Christians had bought into Satan’s lies that we can all create our own truth. God’s voice, His reality, was being drowned out by the culture and by humanistic views. The bible was no longer the authority, the last word; it was being distorted to fit the beliefs of the people. The “whatever feels good to you” attitude had sprung up and taken root, and I am confident Satan is quite pleased with himself and God is quite grieved.
I had told my brother-in-law that although we were relieved to have removed ourselves from the situation, we were still so grieved for the friends we left behind that did not know, were willing to put up with, or had wholeheartedly bought into the deception. His advice to us was that we then needed to be a Paul and go speak the truth to them. Influence little by little, person by person, bit by bit in the hope God would use us to open their eyes.
Some of what I write in this blog has to do with countering the culture and disproving lies. Some of the content is directly from conversations I have had with church leaders who do not speak the truth and has served as my attempt to influence. I have not been made popular through my words, but no other purpose would serve me now then to be a voice of God’s truth.
Last night our small group from our new church began the study from Focus on the Family called The Truth Project. We discussed the difference between God’s reality (truth) and Satan’s lies (illusion). It was incredibly timely material, considering what we are facing right now. I became aware of this series last spring and had asked our old church to become involved which they ignored (go figure) but I had remained very interested in somehow going through the series. Now, months later sitting through the first session, I was amazed at how God provides. God knew in the spring what our family was going to experience in the summer, and he put an interest in this tool (The Truth Project) into my heart long before I even knew how important and affirming this would be for us at this particular time. He reinforced me. He reenergized me. He is teaching me how to be a Paul.
Lord, I am so thankful for your provision and for opening my eyes to your truth. May you use me and my voice to speak to your people. Bless me and others with courage, boldness, and perseverance. May your name be glorified! Amen
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Easy or Right?
Yesterday I decided to undertake a mini fast in preparation for the general election. I had heard Dr. Dobson say that Christians should be fasting and in prayer prior to voting, our Pastor discussed it in church this past Sunday as a spiritual discipline often times overlooked, and my sister had just informed me a few days ago of her success in a 10 day cleansing fast. All of this talk of fasting motivated me I guess to check it out for myself.
I researched biblical fasting and found there were variations of fasting from which to choose. I did not have to do a full-blown fast as my sister did (thank God) to be effective in denying my flesh. I decided to start out a little easier. My fast consisted of denying myself of all of the things I normally eat and replacing them with all of the things I normally do not eat. Therefore, chocolate, snack food, and meat were out. Fruit and veggies were in.
When my daughters arrived home from school, my ten year old was quite interested in the liquid concoction she discovered in our refrigerator. I explained to her that it was water, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and maple syrup (I learned of this from my sister), and that I was drinking it as part of my fast in preparation for the general election. Now, she is my co-political junkie in the house as well as very passionate about God, and wanting to follow my lead boldly announced she was going to fast too, starting tomorrow! I chuckled at her tempered exuberance.
However, when she learned we were having meatloaf for supper (which she hates), she became more interested in the specifics of the fast, and after learning I wasn’t eating meat declared she was starting today. My husband I had a meeting to attend prior to supper so she had to set the table while we were away. When we arrived home, there were only two plates on the table. When my husband asked why there were only two, she responded, “Mom and I are fasting!” I had to remind her that we could eat fruit and veggies, and I was starving, so we needed plates. She added two saucer size plates to the table setting.
Now, I know my daughter hates meatloaf but I also know she hates cooked carrots, but she willing filled her plate. She even commented to all of us how many carrots she put on her plate and had eaten so far, as if we should be proud of her. I have to say I was quite impressed with her effort, when suddenly she blurted out, quite loudly by the way, “Wait a minute, don't carrots come from pigs?”
I knew it was too good to be true. We garden and she knows darn well that carrots do not come from pigs, but she was looking for an out. She did not want to disappoint anyone by not being able to follow through on her commitment so she tried to find a loophole to get her off the hook.
Isn’t that what we all do occasionally in our faith? We eagerly declare to God that we want to serve him and follow His will for our lives. We will do anything for him, but then we find out obedience isn’t so easy, and we look for a loophole. You didn’t really mean it that way. Did you Lord? That was true in bible times, but it’s not relevant for today, right?
A rich, young man once inquired of Jesus what he must do to get into heaven. Jesus told him to sell everything he had, donate it to the poor, and come, follow me. The rich young man left saddened, because he was quite wealthy. He was not willing to give up all he had for Jesus. His wealth had too much of a hold on him. He wanted another option, one that did not involve giving up what he loved.
We want to do things for God on our terms because we don’t always want to give something up or do something new. We want easy, but does easy make it right? God’s way is always the right way! He will help us learn how to obey and serve him even when it’s hard. We just have to trust in Him.
May you passionately pursue Jesus and trust in His deliverance wholeheartedly even when it is hard and uncomfortable. The reward far outweighs the momentary struggle with your flesh.
I researched biblical fasting and found there were variations of fasting from which to choose. I did not have to do a full-blown fast as my sister did (thank God) to be effective in denying my flesh. I decided to start out a little easier. My fast consisted of denying myself of all of the things I normally eat and replacing them with all of the things I normally do not eat. Therefore, chocolate, snack food, and meat were out. Fruit and veggies were in.
When my daughters arrived home from school, my ten year old was quite interested in the liquid concoction she discovered in our refrigerator. I explained to her that it was water, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and maple syrup (I learned of this from my sister), and that I was drinking it as part of my fast in preparation for the general election. Now, she is my co-political junkie in the house as well as very passionate about God, and wanting to follow my lead boldly announced she was going to fast too, starting tomorrow! I chuckled at her tempered exuberance.
However, when she learned we were having meatloaf for supper (which she hates), she became more interested in the specifics of the fast, and after learning I wasn’t eating meat declared she was starting today. My husband I had a meeting to attend prior to supper so she had to set the table while we were away. When we arrived home, there were only two plates on the table. When my husband asked why there were only two, she responded, “Mom and I are fasting!” I had to remind her that we could eat fruit and veggies, and I was starving, so we needed plates. She added two saucer size plates to the table setting.
Now, I know my daughter hates meatloaf but I also know she hates cooked carrots, but she willing filled her plate. She even commented to all of us how many carrots she put on her plate and had eaten so far, as if we should be proud of her. I have to say I was quite impressed with her effort, when suddenly she blurted out, quite loudly by the way, “Wait a minute, don't carrots come from pigs?”
I knew it was too good to be true. We garden and she knows darn well that carrots do not come from pigs, but she was looking for an out. She did not want to disappoint anyone by not being able to follow through on her commitment so she tried to find a loophole to get her off the hook.
Isn’t that what we all do occasionally in our faith? We eagerly declare to God that we want to serve him and follow His will for our lives. We will do anything for him, but then we find out obedience isn’t so easy, and we look for a loophole. You didn’t really mean it that way. Did you Lord? That was true in bible times, but it’s not relevant for today, right?
A rich, young man once inquired of Jesus what he must do to get into heaven. Jesus told him to sell everything he had, donate it to the poor, and come, follow me. The rich young man left saddened, because he was quite wealthy. He was not willing to give up all he had for Jesus. His wealth had too much of a hold on him. He wanted another option, one that did not involve giving up what he loved.
We want to do things for God on our terms because we don’t always want to give something up or do something new. We want easy, but does easy make it right? God’s way is always the right way! He will help us learn how to obey and serve him even when it’s hard. We just have to trust in Him.
May you passionately pursue Jesus and trust in His deliverance wholeheartedly even when it is hard and uncomfortable. The reward far outweighs the momentary struggle with your flesh.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Prayerfully Vote on Tuesday!
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2:1-2
Please prayerfully consider and vote tomorrow, exercising your freedom in choosing our next President, Congressmen, and Senators at both the federal and state levels, according to God's will.
Also, continue to pray for our leaders after the election for wisdom and courage and the yielding of hearts to God's will in leading our country.
May we continue to be a nation blessed by God because of our obedience and allegiance to Him!
Please prayerfully consider and vote tomorrow, exercising your freedom in choosing our next President, Congressmen, and Senators at both the federal and state levels, according to God's will.
Also, continue to pray for our leaders after the election for wisdom and courage and the yielding of hearts to God's will in leading our country.
May we continue to be a nation blessed by God because of our obedience and allegiance to Him!
Substitutes Don't Provide the Same Feeling
This past weekend, our one-year old daughter injured one of her fingers, when sitting on her little rocking chair incorrectly and tipping it over. Her cut was not too serious, but needed to be protected nonetheless. The real problem was that this finger was one of two fingers she sucks on to soothe and to fall asleep.
Needless to say, she found out quickly that band-aids do not taste very good, so she tried to bite it off to have access to just her finger again. Afraid she might swallow the band-aid, we took measures to protect against that by taping a sock on her hand for the rest of the day.
At bedtime, we took the sock off. She tried to suck on her fingers normally, but the band-aid was in the way, so she tried just the one finger. That did not work, so she tried another finger, then another, and then another. She tried different combinations of fingers, but nothing gave her the same feeling. My heart went out to her as I watched her trying so desperately to find something that would work for her. It was amazing how persistent she was at trying to fill this need and how distressed she was at not being able too.
Watching her through this whole experience reminded of how no substitute can take the place of God in our life.
Our hearts were designed to be filled up by the things of God and His love and to be in relationship with him. When we reject God and his love that spot in our heart is empty, and we try to fill it with lots of other things, trying desperately to get the same result. We try to fill it with love from others, or with the pursuit of material possessions, or with perceived power and control, or with drugs and alcohol.
However, none of those options alone, or in combination, can fill that void in the same way. We are still left wanting and distressed. The sad thing is the very things we use to try to fill that void actually prevent us from experiencing the real thing, just as my daughter’s band-aid kept her from her finger.
Let’s take the time today to look within our own hearts and see the things we are trying to substitute for the “real thing,” and ask God to help us replace those things with His love. However, let us not stop there. Be on the look- out for others who are desperately trying to fill the void with the things of this world, and boldly reach out to them, sharing with them the “real thing,” Jesus’ love and redemption.
My prayer for each of you today is that you feel that complete sense of calm contentment that is a heart filled with the love and peace of God and that you aid someone else in accepting that love as well.
Needless to say, she found out quickly that band-aids do not taste very good, so she tried to bite it off to have access to just her finger again. Afraid she might swallow the band-aid, we took measures to protect against that by taping a sock on her hand for the rest of the day.
At bedtime, we took the sock off. She tried to suck on her fingers normally, but the band-aid was in the way, so she tried just the one finger. That did not work, so she tried another finger, then another, and then another. She tried different combinations of fingers, but nothing gave her the same feeling. My heart went out to her as I watched her trying so desperately to find something that would work for her. It was amazing how persistent she was at trying to fill this need and how distressed she was at not being able too.
Watching her through this whole experience reminded of how no substitute can take the place of God in our life.
Our hearts were designed to be filled up by the things of God and His love and to be in relationship with him. When we reject God and his love that spot in our heart is empty, and we try to fill it with lots of other things, trying desperately to get the same result. We try to fill it with love from others, or with the pursuit of material possessions, or with perceived power and control, or with drugs and alcohol.
However, none of those options alone, or in combination, can fill that void in the same way. We are still left wanting and distressed. The sad thing is the very things we use to try to fill that void actually prevent us from experiencing the real thing, just as my daughter’s band-aid kept her from her finger.
Let’s take the time today to look within our own hearts and see the things we are trying to substitute for the “real thing,” and ask God to help us replace those things with His love. However, let us not stop there. Be on the look- out for others who are desperately trying to fill the void with the things of this world, and boldly reach out to them, sharing with them the “real thing,” Jesus’ love and redemption.
My prayer for each of you today is that you feel that complete sense of calm contentment that is a heart filled with the love and peace of God and that you aid someone else in accepting that love as well.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
It's The Truth
I found this devotion on another blog I follow, The Christian Woman.
It's The Truth
About The Master's Business Ministry
"And God said...." Genesis 3:1a
I'm sure you have seen the bumper sticker that says, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." (I know I have talked about this before -but I feel impressed to talk about it again.) It should read, "God said it, that settles it." God's word is settled; it is the truth whether you believe it or not. The fact that you believe it doesn't make it true, neither does the fact that you don't believe it make it untrue. God doesn't need anyone to believe His word in order to make it the truth. As a matter of fact, at the beginning of creation when God said - He spoke and everything was created- there wasn't one soul around to believe what God said.... but it was still the truth.
Believing God's word doesn't make it true... it is true already... it's the truth. But what it does do is cause it to "work" in your life. When you believe it, you appropriate the blessings that are connected to it. In other words, you reap the benefits that come from putting faith in what God says. So, having established (and settled) the issue of the truth of God's word regardless of whether anyone believes it or not, the question would be, "Are you going to believe it?" Are you going to take God at His word, trust what He says, put your faith, confidence, and assurance in it? If you don't it won't make it any less the truth, you just won't enjoy the blessings and rewards that come from believing it.
My grandmother told me she learned the Bible in both German and English and assured me it says the same thing in either language. Her point was that society, culture, or scientific theories may change from generation to generation, but Biblical truth does not change.
It's The Truth
About The Master's Business Ministry
"And God said...." Genesis 3:1a
I'm sure you have seen the bumper sticker that says, "God said it, I believe it, that settles it." (I know I have talked about this before -but I feel impressed to talk about it again.) It should read, "God said it, that settles it." God's word is settled; it is the truth whether you believe it or not. The fact that you believe it doesn't make it true, neither does the fact that you don't believe it make it untrue. God doesn't need anyone to believe His word in order to make it the truth. As a matter of fact, at the beginning of creation when God said - He spoke and everything was created- there wasn't one soul around to believe what God said.... but it was still the truth.
Believing God's word doesn't make it true... it is true already... it's the truth. But what it does do is cause it to "work" in your life. When you believe it, you appropriate the blessings that are connected to it. In other words, you reap the benefits that come from putting faith in what God says. So, having established (and settled) the issue of the truth of God's word regardless of whether anyone believes it or not, the question would be, "Are you going to believe it?" Are you going to take God at His word, trust what He says, put your faith, confidence, and assurance in it? If you don't it won't make it any less the truth, you just won't enjoy the blessings and rewards that come from believing it.
My grandmother told me she learned the Bible in both German and English and assured me it says the same thing in either language. Her point was that society, culture, or scientific theories may change from generation to generation, but Biblical truth does not change.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
$168 Billion dollars for God's work needed!
Primetime America’s radio broadcast aired a segment on Christian giving in a down economy on yesterday’s program. The guest speaker presented numerous survey results and trends on giving, both within the church and to other charitable organizations. One item really stood out for me and I would like to share with you.
The average Christian gives 2.5% of their income to the church, but if every Christian gave 10% of their income as mentioned in the Bible, it translates to an additional $168 billion dollars to do God’s work around the world.
What could we do with $168 billion dollars to help God’s people or to bring the gospel to the unbelieving?
Our church recently shared these statistics with us about the 10/40 Mission field.
3.9 Billion People (Two-thirds of the world’s population) lives in the 10/40 window and 95% have never heard the good news
870 million Muslims
550 million Hindus
275 million Buddhists
85% are among the poorest people in the world – income less than $500/year
Let me do a calculation for you of what $168 billion dollars can do. $168 billion dollars divided by 3.9 billion people = $43/person in aid, equal to a months’ salary or more to most of these people.
How thankful would you be at receiving a gift equivalent to a month’s salary to help you through a difficult time? Would you want to know what made someone so generous to give so much to you? Would you see Jesus in that person and want to know this Savior for yourself? That is how missions work, a great need is met, a relationship built, and joy is discovered all through the love of Christ.
Instead of humanitarian aid, that $168 billion dollars could help bring bibles to every person in their own native language, so that they could have access to God’s word on a daily basis. I have seven Bibles in my home, but most of the people of the world do not have access to even one. According to Southern Nazarene University’s Christian Missions website, scripture has been translated into only 2,212 of the world’s 6500 languages. What we tend to take for granted some consider a cherished possession.
What will you do in the upcoming year to affect the world for Christ? How has God shown you love and compassion that you might use what He has given you to help others? How much do you trust in God to be your provider and to meet your needs? How willing are you to be obedient to His call to love your neighbor and to spread the gospel?
Giving is a process of faith and trust. The more you step out in faith, the more you become reliant on God to meet your needs. As God meets those needs, and increases your blessings because of faithful stewardship, the more you learn to trust Him. The more you trust, the more you give. The more you give, the more the world benefits.
May God work in your life so abundantly that you will be a cheerful giver and a faithful steward, overflowing with faith, trust, and love!
The average Christian gives 2.5% of their income to the church, but if every Christian gave 10% of their income as mentioned in the Bible, it translates to an additional $168 billion dollars to do God’s work around the world.
What could we do with $168 billion dollars to help God’s people or to bring the gospel to the unbelieving?
Our church recently shared these statistics with us about the 10/40 Mission field.
3.9 Billion People (Two-thirds of the world’s population) lives in the 10/40 window and 95% have never heard the good news
870 million Muslims
550 million Hindus
275 million Buddhists
85% are among the poorest people in the world – income less than $500/year
Let me do a calculation for you of what $168 billion dollars can do. $168 billion dollars divided by 3.9 billion people = $43/person in aid, equal to a months’ salary or more to most of these people.
How thankful would you be at receiving a gift equivalent to a month’s salary to help you through a difficult time? Would you want to know what made someone so generous to give so much to you? Would you see Jesus in that person and want to know this Savior for yourself? That is how missions work, a great need is met, a relationship built, and joy is discovered all through the love of Christ.
Instead of humanitarian aid, that $168 billion dollars could help bring bibles to every person in their own native language, so that they could have access to God’s word on a daily basis. I have seven Bibles in my home, but most of the people of the world do not have access to even one. According to Southern Nazarene University’s Christian Missions website, scripture has been translated into only 2,212 of the world’s 6500 languages. What we tend to take for granted some consider a cherished possession.
What will you do in the upcoming year to affect the world for Christ? How has God shown you love and compassion that you might use what He has given you to help others? How much do you trust in God to be your provider and to meet your needs? How willing are you to be obedient to His call to love your neighbor and to spread the gospel?
Giving is a process of faith and trust. The more you step out in faith, the more you become reliant on God to meet your needs. As God meets those needs, and increases your blessings because of faithful stewardship, the more you learn to trust Him. The more you trust, the more you give. The more you give, the more the world benefits.
May God work in your life so abundantly that you will be a cheerful giver and a faithful steward, overflowing with faith, trust, and love!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Effigy of Palin Hanging by Noose is Halloween Fun, Owner Says - FOXNews.com Elections
Effigy of Palin Hanging by Noose is Halloween Fun, Owner Says - FOXNews.com Elections
What is this world coming to? When did we turn the corner back to indimidation and scare tatics as being acceptable? This news report sickens me and I am sadden that my children live in these times.
I am very fearful for where our country is headed. I am afraid we have forgotten from whom our wealth, prosperity, and security as a nation have come from. Our country was blessed with a situation unlike any other in the world by a God whom the people served. Our forefathers knew our blessing or destruction would be in God's hands and they intended to run it under God's authority. However, once the wealth and ease came, did we forget who was responsible for it? Have we become so full of ourselves that we actually believe we are responsible for the freedoms we have enjoyed?
I would recommend reading Deuteronomy 8:1-20 in the Bible, now before the election, and give serious thought to what kind of nation we want to be. A nation that serves God or a nation that wants to exclude him? I am afraid the populus of the people may want the latter, and that God just may deliver that exact situation to them.
When I hear stories like the one attached or tv stations be excluded from futher interviews because they didn't like a line of questioning, or newspapers refusing to release video footage of Sen. Obama associating with a terrorist and a PLO associate; I am absolutely amazed that the people of the United States cannot see this as a foreshadowing of what the landscape will look like in the future under a leadership of a nation outside of God's will.
The polls say Obama is a shoe-in for the presidency but I believe the people of God still have time to continue to pray for God's will to be done. I'm not saying John McCain is the answer either but if these are our two choices, I belive John McCain's direction is closer to the way God would want our country to head.
God has shown His willingness in the past to halt a punishment when His people have repented and turned from their evils ways. His people need to step up now! Pray for our country's repentance and that we may turn from the evil of relying on our own standards and abilities so that we once again turn to God as a nation.
What is this world coming to? When did we turn the corner back to indimidation and scare tatics as being acceptable? This news report sickens me and I am sadden that my children live in these times.
I am very fearful for where our country is headed. I am afraid we have forgotten from whom our wealth, prosperity, and security as a nation have come from. Our country was blessed with a situation unlike any other in the world by a God whom the people served. Our forefathers knew our blessing or destruction would be in God's hands and they intended to run it under God's authority. However, once the wealth and ease came, did we forget who was responsible for it? Have we become so full of ourselves that we actually believe we are responsible for the freedoms we have enjoyed?
I would recommend reading Deuteronomy 8:1-20 in the Bible, now before the election, and give serious thought to what kind of nation we want to be. A nation that serves God or a nation that wants to exclude him? I am afraid the populus of the people may want the latter, and that God just may deliver that exact situation to them.
When I hear stories like the one attached or tv stations be excluded from futher interviews because they didn't like a line of questioning, or newspapers refusing to release video footage of Sen. Obama associating with a terrorist and a PLO associate; I am absolutely amazed that the people of the United States cannot see this as a foreshadowing of what the landscape will look like in the future under a leadership of a nation outside of God's will.
The polls say Obama is a shoe-in for the presidency but I believe the people of God still have time to continue to pray for God's will to be done. I'm not saying John McCain is the answer either but if these are our two choices, I belive John McCain's direction is closer to the way God would want our country to head.
God has shown His willingness in the past to halt a punishment when His people have repented and turned from their evils ways. His people need to step up now! Pray for our country's repentance and that we may turn from the evil of relying on our own standards and abilities so that we once again turn to God as a nation.
Early Morning Confessions
This is an early morning entry. It is 4 AM to be exact. My daughter woke up crying and although she fell back to sleep within minutes, I did not. My brain began flooding with to do list and all those things that moms think about during the day. Once it starts, it is hard to stop it.
Then, my blog entry from yesterday popped into my head, the one about failure, repenting, and trying again. I suddenly feared that in the way I presented the story of Jacob, I might have led someone to think I trivialized the murderous acts of Jacob’s sons, and I felt a great responsibility to tell you all that was not my intention. I, in no way meant to convey, that they got away with something or that we as Christians will get away with things either just because we believe in God. Those acts, along with every other failure (sin) in their lives, are things, which they will stand before God on and have to answer for. Jacob, himself, severely chastised them at the end of his life when addressing each of his sons on his deathbed.
My intent was not to trivialize and to make it sound so easy to move on, because it’s not. One of the reasons I wrote that particular story yesterday was because of the work that was taking place in my own heart. God’s word is like a sword, piercing into your soul, opening you up, and revealing all that is within. This past week that sword was slowly exposing sin from my past, laying me wide open and vulnerable before God; and forcing me to make a choice about how to move on. You know, God knew everything that was there already. I needed to acknowledge it. It was within my heart that the sin needed to be exposed, not for God’s sake, but for mine.
I recently read a line in the book Nothing But the Truth, by John F. MacArthur, that said, “Ezekiel notes that sin’s defilement is so great that when the repentant sinner sees his sin he will hate himself."
“There you will remember your ways and all your deeds, with which you have defiled yourselves; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all the evil things that you have done. Ezekiel 20:43
That describes perfectly how I was feeling. I was wallowing in my own self-hatred and wishing I could just start over instead of going on with all that baggage hanging around my neck. Satan was right there, the great deceiver, trying to inform me that God couldn’t love me because of that sin. Telling me God wouldn’t use me and wouldn’t want me to represent Him.
When I read the story of Jacob for myself, I saw very clearly how even the Patriarchs of the bible fell short, just like me. The redeeming themes show God did not turn away from them. He initiated the contact with them despite their sin, and when they failed, as we all do, God was still there reaching out to them. He not only convicts us but because of Christ work on the cross, we are restored to Him, presented as brand new and righteous, without blemish. In God’s eyes, it was like I had started over because He no longer sees what was prior to the moment of repentance. Christ presented me to God as blameless because He took the punishment for my sin.
I had a choice to make and God was waiting for my answer. Would I let the shame of my past prevent me from embracing the work God has for me to do today, or would I declare God as the head of my life, repent, and let myself be open to being used and bless by Him? Whom I serve and in whom I put my trust and thankfulness in is reflected in my answer. If I had let the shame hold me down then, I, in essence reject the love of my Heavenly Father and He cannot use someone who rejects him. Instead, I choose to accept His gift of forgiveness and love, opening myself up for His will to be done through my life. This blog would not be possible without that grace.
I will have to stand before God someday and answer for all that I have failed Him on in life, but I hope that as time goes on those failures become less and less as I work out my salvation with the Lord.
May the Word of God convict you and may God lead you to repentance and restoration so that you may be blessed by God!
Then, my blog entry from yesterday popped into my head, the one about failure, repenting, and trying again. I suddenly feared that in the way I presented the story of Jacob, I might have led someone to think I trivialized the murderous acts of Jacob’s sons, and I felt a great responsibility to tell you all that was not my intention. I, in no way meant to convey, that they got away with something or that we as Christians will get away with things either just because we believe in God. Those acts, along with every other failure (sin) in their lives, are things, which they will stand before God on and have to answer for. Jacob, himself, severely chastised them at the end of his life when addressing each of his sons on his deathbed.
My intent was not to trivialize and to make it sound so easy to move on, because it’s not. One of the reasons I wrote that particular story yesterday was because of the work that was taking place in my own heart. God’s word is like a sword, piercing into your soul, opening you up, and revealing all that is within. This past week that sword was slowly exposing sin from my past, laying me wide open and vulnerable before God; and forcing me to make a choice about how to move on. You know, God knew everything that was there already. I needed to acknowledge it. It was within my heart that the sin needed to be exposed, not for God’s sake, but for mine.
I recently read a line in the book Nothing But the Truth, by John F. MacArthur, that said, “Ezekiel notes that sin’s defilement is so great that when the repentant sinner sees his sin he will hate himself."
“There you will remember your ways and all your deeds, with which you have defiled yourselves; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all the evil things that you have done. Ezekiel 20:43
That describes perfectly how I was feeling. I was wallowing in my own self-hatred and wishing I could just start over instead of going on with all that baggage hanging around my neck. Satan was right there, the great deceiver, trying to inform me that God couldn’t love me because of that sin. Telling me God wouldn’t use me and wouldn’t want me to represent Him.
When I read the story of Jacob for myself, I saw very clearly how even the Patriarchs of the bible fell short, just like me. The redeeming themes show God did not turn away from them. He initiated the contact with them despite their sin, and when they failed, as we all do, God was still there reaching out to them. He not only convicts us but because of Christ work on the cross, we are restored to Him, presented as brand new and righteous, without blemish. In God’s eyes, it was like I had started over because He no longer sees what was prior to the moment of repentance. Christ presented me to God as blameless because He took the punishment for my sin.
I had a choice to make and God was waiting for my answer. Would I let the shame of my past prevent me from embracing the work God has for me to do today, or would I declare God as the head of my life, repent, and let myself be open to being used and bless by Him? Whom I serve and in whom I put my trust and thankfulness in is reflected in my answer. If I had let the shame hold me down then, I, in essence reject the love of my Heavenly Father and He cannot use someone who rejects him. Instead, I choose to accept His gift of forgiveness and love, opening myself up for His will to be done through my life. This blog would not be possible without that grace.
I will have to stand before God someday and answer for all that I have failed Him on in life, but I hope that as time goes on those failures become less and less as I work out my salvation with the Lord.
May the Word of God convict you and may God lead you to repentance and restoration so that you may be blessed by God!
Monday, October 27, 2008
How Do You Handle Failure?
How do you handle failure? Do you pick yourself back up and try again or do you let the failure hold you down? Failure is a part of life. When we look at failure from a heavenly perspective, we can see that we all “fall short of the glory of God.” Therefore, the question becomes despite my failure, am I still someone through whom God can use to accomplish his plan?
The story of Jacob in Genesis, chapter 34 and 35, illustrates great defeat and failure on behalf of Jacob and his family. Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, is raped by the son of the area ruler in the foreign land God has called Jacob to live in (defeat). Jacob’s sons are enraged at the act, and when the ruler and his son have the gall to come courting the daughter, the sons make it worse by trying to handle the situation on their own. Well, the ruler, his son, and the city call their bluff, and they have to hand Dinah over to the son to be his wife. Three days later, two of the sons take matters further into their own hands by using their swords to murder every one of the men in the city. The other brothers join in looting the entire city (failure).
Jacob was a man who was always trying to better his lot in life by deceiving other people to get what he wanted. His wives spent the majority of their lives competing over the affection of Jacob and committed many sins in the process. His sons had exercised poor judgment in the conversation with the ruler over Dinah and then allowed their rage at the situation to lead them to mass murder. As the head of the family, Jacob took full responsibility for the acts that were now threatening their existence. Jacob feared for his family’s safety knowing that when the surrounding towns heard about what these foreigners had done no one would allow them to live among them and they would be destroyed.
If you remember, Jacob is the grandson of Abraham, whom God promised to give this land to and to bless and make his descendents more numerous than the stars in the sky. Jacob was to be the line that through which this covenant would be fulfilled. Jacob’s family had just screwed up and it looked like their destruction was eminent. How would God accomplish His plan through these people now?
Well, God came to Jacob and instructed him to move his family to Bethel, the place where he first came to believe in God for himself. When Jacob was in Bethel over 20 years earlier, God had told him “I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” I believe God was trying to remind Jacob of two things. First, I loved you and called you while you were still a sinner and an unbeliever. Secondly, I have remained faithful to you despite all of your faults. Jacob faced a choice-let the failure keep him down or get back up and try again.
Jacob chose to try again and how he chose to try again is important too. He reminded his family to put God first again by instructing them to get rid of all the foreign gods they had in their possession. Secondly, he told them all to repent! Then, he asked them all to obey God’s instruction to leave for Bethel. During their journey, God had supernaturally made it impossible for the cities to harm Jacob’s family. When they arrived safely at Bethel, Jacob made an altar and gave thanks to God.
God knows we are going to fail but He calls us anyway. He can still work through us to accomplish His plan despite our sin as long as we keep getting back up and trying again. If Jacob would have let this hold him down and turned away from God in shame instead of repenting and restoring the relationship, the blessing of Israel may have ended there. However, he allowed himself to be restored to God so that God could continue to use him and bless him.
When we fail, Satan likes to swoop in and lie to you about how God couldn’t possibly want you now so that you will feel defeated and stay away from God in shame. Satan knows if you choose this route, he can temporarily thwart God’s plans. Don’t listen to the liar! Instead, go to God in repentance, put him back as the priority in your life, and let him continue to use you and bless you. Get up and try again. God is very powerful and will help you to overcome!
May God’s grace sustain and keep you!
The story of Jacob in Genesis, chapter 34 and 35, illustrates great defeat and failure on behalf of Jacob and his family. Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, is raped by the son of the area ruler in the foreign land God has called Jacob to live in (defeat). Jacob’s sons are enraged at the act, and when the ruler and his son have the gall to come courting the daughter, the sons make it worse by trying to handle the situation on their own. Well, the ruler, his son, and the city call their bluff, and they have to hand Dinah over to the son to be his wife. Three days later, two of the sons take matters further into their own hands by using their swords to murder every one of the men in the city. The other brothers join in looting the entire city (failure).
Jacob was a man who was always trying to better his lot in life by deceiving other people to get what he wanted. His wives spent the majority of their lives competing over the affection of Jacob and committed many sins in the process. His sons had exercised poor judgment in the conversation with the ruler over Dinah and then allowed their rage at the situation to lead them to mass murder. As the head of the family, Jacob took full responsibility for the acts that were now threatening their existence. Jacob feared for his family’s safety knowing that when the surrounding towns heard about what these foreigners had done no one would allow them to live among them and they would be destroyed.
If you remember, Jacob is the grandson of Abraham, whom God promised to give this land to and to bless and make his descendents more numerous than the stars in the sky. Jacob was to be the line that through which this covenant would be fulfilled. Jacob’s family had just screwed up and it looked like their destruction was eminent. How would God accomplish His plan through these people now?
Well, God came to Jacob and instructed him to move his family to Bethel, the place where he first came to believe in God for himself. When Jacob was in Bethel over 20 years earlier, God had told him “I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” I believe God was trying to remind Jacob of two things. First, I loved you and called you while you were still a sinner and an unbeliever. Secondly, I have remained faithful to you despite all of your faults. Jacob faced a choice-let the failure keep him down or get back up and try again.
Jacob chose to try again and how he chose to try again is important too. He reminded his family to put God first again by instructing them to get rid of all the foreign gods they had in their possession. Secondly, he told them all to repent! Then, he asked them all to obey God’s instruction to leave for Bethel. During their journey, God had supernaturally made it impossible for the cities to harm Jacob’s family. When they arrived safely at Bethel, Jacob made an altar and gave thanks to God.
God knows we are going to fail but He calls us anyway. He can still work through us to accomplish His plan despite our sin as long as we keep getting back up and trying again. If Jacob would have let this hold him down and turned away from God in shame instead of repenting and restoring the relationship, the blessing of Israel may have ended there. However, he allowed himself to be restored to God so that God could continue to use him and bless him.
When we fail, Satan likes to swoop in and lie to you about how God couldn’t possibly want you now so that you will feel defeated and stay away from God in shame. Satan knows if you choose this route, he can temporarily thwart God’s plans. Don’t listen to the liar! Instead, go to God in repentance, put him back as the priority in your life, and let him continue to use you and bless you. Get up and try again. God is very powerful and will help you to overcome!
May God’s grace sustain and keep you!
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Who are your major influences?
Influence: the power to affect others
In these last days of an election year, it seems that every commercial, newscast, talk show, blog, or conversation is geared toward trying to influence someone toward a specific topic, agenda, or candidate. The ability to influence or to shape someone’s opinion, belief system, or action is powerful but also comes with great responsibility.
Therefore, my thought provoking questions for today is:
1. Who are your major influences?
Take a minute to think about this before moving on. Your influences are people you give credence. Who do you seek advice from when struggling with an issue? Whom do you trust to give an honest or accurate answer to your questions? When hearing something new, who do you want to run it by first before deciding for yourself how you feel about something? Whom do you love to read? Whom do you watch on TV or listen to on the radio? Who do you quote when trying to explain your position on something? Seeking answers to these questions will help you identify who influences you.
Your influences might be different depending on the topic. Some of you might discover that Oprah is your influence when it comes to social issues. Others might discover that Ronald Reagan is their influence in the political world. Some may identify with Dr. Spock when it comes to child rearing. You may find yourself going to your Pastor, an elder, or another trusted Christian when it comes to spiritual matters.
But, have you ever stopped to consider that God may have intended the Bible and his Son, Jesus Christ, to be our greatest and only influence? Do we realize that the Bible contains information to encompass all areas of our life? The Bible talks about scientific principles, social principles, governing principles, child rearing principles, financial principles, spiritual principles, etc. In fact, all of these principles were created and sanctioned by God. With that said, would that make God the authority in all of these areas and the source of the most trusted information?
If this is the case, why do we go to others for information and direction when it is all available to us in our bibles?
I know some people who will never go to their Bible for direction but instead will go to someone they think has read the Bible and understands it accurately and ask them for advice and direction. Alternatively, they go to someone who has studied the Bible academically and adopt their opinions as their own without ever checking them out for themselves. Too often, we use our own reasoning skills to figure something out and then seek a philosopher or a teacher who supports our view after the fact, and use them as a means of providing credibility to our thought.
God has warned us throughout scripture to be careful in what we believe and in whom we place our trust. Jude, the half brother of Jesus, wrote about this in a letter to the believers in Jesus Christ. He was warning believers that godless men bearing false doctrines about Jesus and the Christian walk are polluting the churches. Jude 1:17-19 says, But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
Do the people we draw influence from reflect a godly life? Can you detect God’s spirit in them? Do their acts and their words reflect biblical principles and align with the example of Jesus? We must be able to answer these questions before deeming them trustworthy of influencing us. If you take the list of whom you identified earlier as your influences and filtered it against these questions, would they measure up, as someone God would want to use to influence you? If not, you need to rethink the power you have given them in your life.
However, remember God’s word is trustworthy all of the time. It is as true today as it was in biblical times. It does not change. It does not lie. It is always good for learning and teaching. You can find answers to all of life’s questions or problems in the Bible and in Jesus. Let us make them our authority, our great influence. Let us align our thinking with God’s word instead of trying to get God’s word to align with our thinking.
In these last days of an election year, it seems that every commercial, newscast, talk show, blog, or conversation is geared toward trying to influence someone toward a specific topic, agenda, or candidate. The ability to influence or to shape someone’s opinion, belief system, or action is powerful but also comes with great responsibility.
Therefore, my thought provoking questions for today is:
1. Who are your major influences?
Take a minute to think about this before moving on. Your influences are people you give credence. Who do you seek advice from when struggling with an issue? Whom do you trust to give an honest or accurate answer to your questions? When hearing something new, who do you want to run it by first before deciding for yourself how you feel about something? Whom do you love to read? Whom do you watch on TV or listen to on the radio? Who do you quote when trying to explain your position on something? Seeking answers to these questions will help you identify who influences you.
Your influences might be different depending on the topic. Some of you might discover that Oprah is your influence when it comes to social issues. Others might discover that Ronald Reagan is their influence in the political world. Some may identify with Dr. Spock when it comes to child rearing. You may find yourself going to your Pastor, an elder, or another trusted Christian when it comes to spiritual matters.
But, have you ever stopped to consider that God may have intended the Bible and his Son, Jesus Christ, to be our greatest and only influence? Do we realize that the Bible contains information to encompass all areas of our life? The Bible talks about scientific principles, social principles, governing principles, child rearing principles, financial principles, spiritual principles, etc. In fact, all of these principles were created and sanctioned by God. With that said, would that make God the authority in all of these areas and the source of the most trusted information?
If this is the case, why do we go to others for information and direction when it is all available to us in our bibles?
I know some people who will never go to their Bible for direction but instead will go to someone they think has read the Bible and understands it accurately and ask them for advice and direction. Alternatively, they go to someone who has studied the Bible academically and adopt their opinions as their own without ever checking them out for themselves. Too often, we use our own reasoning skills to figure something out and then seek a philosopher or a teacher who supports our view after the fact, and use them as a means of providing credibility to our thought.
God has warned us throughout scripture to be careful in what we believe and in whom we place our trust. Jude, the half brother of Jesus, wrote about this in a letter to the believers in Jesus Christ. He was warning believers that godless men bearing false doctrines about Jesus and the Christian walk are polluting the churches. Jude 1:17-19 says, But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
Do the people we draw influence from reflect a godly life? Can you detect God’s spirit in them? Do their acts and their words reflect biblical principles and align with the example of Jesus? We must be able to answer these questions before deeming them trustworthy of influencing us. If you take the list of whom you identified earlier as your influences and filtered it against these questions, would they measure up, as someone God would want to use to influence you? If not, you need to rethink the power you have given them in your life.
However, remember God’s word is trustworthy all of the time. It is as true today as it was in biblical times. It does not change. It does not lie. It is always good for learning and teaching. You can find answers to all of life’s questions or problems in the Bible and in Jesus. Let us make them our authority, our great influence. Let us align our thinking with God’s word instead of trying to get God’s word to align with our thinking.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Learning From History
“The Israelites are so stupid!” my husband said, as he closed his Bible earlier this week and laid it on his nightstand. “They just don’t learn.“
My husband had just finished reading 1 and 2 Kings, which he had been chipping away at for a few weeks now. When I asked him to elaborate, he explained to me that when Israel had a King that served the one true God, the country served the one true God too, and was blessed. However, when they had a King that served false gods, the country would also serve the false gods and God would punish them. The Israelites seemed to cycle through periods of worshipping and obedience to the one true God, which in turn secured their freedom, and then would enter periods of worshipping various false gods, which led to their captivity. My husband found it difficult to believe they did not learn from their past.
He also mentioned King Hezekiah and King Josiah were the only two righteous Kings who both served God and tore down the high places. Other Kings had served God but did not tear down the high places. High places in biblical times were hilltops dedicated to the worship of pagan gods. Sometimes these high spots were artificially created mountains called ziggurats. These high places were off limits to the Israelites. However, if a righteous King banned the worship of pagan gods, but did not remove the high places, the Israelites would use them to worship God. Later, the phrase ‘high place’ became a general term for a pagan shrine. A pagan shrine is anything we put before God in importance.
This conversation made me think. Do we live in a country led by a righteous ruler who uses his influence and authority to ensure we obey the one true God? Do we live in a country where the high places are being brought down? In fact, do we even know what our high places are today?
In two weeks, we will have an opportunity to make an impact on these questions. Will the people we choose to become our next President, congressional representatives, senators, etc. be righteous men and women? Will they remove the high places (abortion, homosexuality, materialism to name a few), or will they allow them to remain?
If the Bible was being written today with America as the central nation, would someone reading our history 4000 years later close their book in utter disbelief and comment ‘The Americans are so stupid – they just don’t learn!’?
I pray we will all be in prayer prior to this election and vote in obedience and accordance to God‘s will. History points to the outcome we can expect either way. I hope we have learned from experience that it is best to do it God’s way.
My husband had just finished reading 1 and 2 Kings, which he had been chipping away at for a few weeks now. When I asked him to elaborate, he explained to me that when Israel had a King that served the one true God, the country served the one true God too, and was blessed. However, when they had a King that served false gods, the country would also serve the false gods and God would punish them. The Israelites seemed to cycle through periods of worshipping and obedience to the one true God, which in turn secured their freedom, and then would enter periods of worshipping various false gods, which led to their captivity. My husband found it difficult to believe they did not learn from their past.
He also mentioned King Hezekiah and King Josiah were the only two righteous Kings who both served God and tore down the high places. Other Kings had served God but did not tear down the high places. High places in biblical times were hilltops dedicated to the worship of pagan gods. Sometimes these high spots were artificially created mountains called ziggurats. These high places were off limits to the Israelites. However, if a righteous King banned the worship of pagan gods, but did not remove the high places, the Israelites would use them to worship God. Later, the phrase ‘high place’ became a general term for a pagan shrine. A pagan shrine is anything we put before God in importance.
This conversation made me think. Do we live in a country led by a righteous ruler who uses his influence and authority to ensure we obey the one true God? Do we live in a country where the high places are being brought down? In fact, do we even know what our high places are today?
In two weeks, we will have an opportunity to make an impact on these questions. Will the people we choose to become our next President, congressional representatives, senators, etc. be righteous men and women? Will they remove the high places (abortion, homosexuality, materialism to name a few), or will they allow them to remain?
If the Bible was being written today with America as the central nation, would someone reading our history 4000 years later close their book in utter disbelief and comment ‘The Americans are so stupid – they just don’t learn!’?
I pray we will all be in prayer prior to this election and vote in obedience and accordance to God‘s will. History points to the outcome we can expect either way. I hope we have learned from experience that it is best to do it God’s way.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A First Hand View of Fathers
Fathers, do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
___________________________________________________________________________________
Exasperate: to irritate, anger, vex
Sadly, today I saw two examples of how fathers have exasperated their children.
1. The absent Father
2. The verbally abusive Father
I was sitting in the very packed waiting room at the county health department waiting for my daughter to receive her immunizations. I encountered a single mom and her son who was around 10-12 years old. He had overhead the nurse mention to his mother that four shots were needed. The boy became angry and through gritted teeth told his mother that he would only receive two shots today and she would have bring him back another day for the other two. The mother did not reply. Again, the boy, more forceful now, repeated his demand. This time the mother said, "You will do what they tell you to do!" Now, the boy fighting back tears and no longer caring who else heard him, told his mother they would not hold him down and he was only getting two! If they tried to do four he would leave!
My heart cried out for this little boy. His anger was stemming from his great fear of getting the shots and it accelerated as his sense of control waned. I sense that his mother was growing weary of having to be both mother and father to her son and was torn between sympathy and discipline at the moment. I also sensed she was feeling like she was failing and who wouldn't in this situation.
A growing boy needs his father. This boy needed a strong, yet sensitive father to put his hand on his shoulder and say, "Son, I know you are afraid but I also know you are tough and can handle whatever life throws at you, including these shots today. And, I'll be right here by your side, I won't leave you." Instead, this boy was EXASPERATED by his father because he was absent in his life!
After I had my consultation with the desk attendant we were back in the waiting room waiting for our turn to see the nurse. Now, we had a mom, dad, and two early school aged daughters sitting next to us. The girls were being active as kids usually are and the mother was desperately trying to control them or redirect their energy. The father just sat there very loudly sighing, which I took as a sign of his displeasure in his wife's inability to control the situation but not knowing quite what to do himself.
This went on for a little bit when finally the dad spoke up, but then I wished he hadn't. When he spoke I wished my daughter wouldn't have heard his words. He said, "I'm going to back hand you across the face!" In the next five minutes, he said these same words three more times. He never once explained what behavior he wanted them to stop doing or what his expectations were of them. He simply threatened violence.
How can a child respond to that? I'm confident his wife was thinking, 'Thanks, but no thanks for the help!' I wonder if his wife still cries out inside at these types of outburst or was she long past thinking this was unacceptable. These poor little girls will grow up thinking they deserve to be spoken to or treated like this because of the example their father set. This father may have been present in their lives, but he EXASPERATED his children by not understanding correctly his role as father and poorly executing his authority and support of his family.
I prayed for both these familites as I encountered them and thanked the Lord that my own husband is a good and godly father to my daughters.
There were also two teenage boys in the waiting room each with their own fathers. I know that not every father can get out of work to take their sons to the doctor, but you could tell that these fathers had invested more than just today in their children. These boys were respectful and calm in demenor. They interacted with their fathers and the nurses tenderly. There was a lightheartedness about them, not a soul filled with rage, fear, or a sense of being out of control. I clearly saw today the difference between a present/absent father and a loving,confident/empty, incompetent father. I grieve for these families who struggle and pray God will be sought and healing will occur in their relationships.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Exasperate: to irritate, anger, vex
Sadly, today I saw two examples of how fathers have exasperated their children.
1. The absent Father
2. The verbally abusive Father
I was sitting in the very packed waiting room at the county health department waiting for my daughter to receive her immunizations. I encountered a single mom and her son who was around 10-12 years old. He had overhead the nurse mention to his mother that four shots were needed. The boy became angry and through gritted teeth told his mother that he would only receive two shots today and she would have bring him back another day for the other two. The mother did not reply. Again, the boy, more forceful now, repeated his demand. This time the mother said, "You will do what they tell you to do!" Now, the boy fighting back tears and no longer caring who else heard him, told his mother they would not hold him down and he was only getting two! If they tried to do four he would leave!
My heart cried out for this little boy. His anger was stemming from his great fear of getting the shots and it accelerated as his sense of control waned. I sense that his mother was growing weary of having to be both mother and father to her son and was torn between sympathy and discipline at the moment. I also sensed she was feeling like she was failing and who wouldn't in this situation.
A growing boy needs his father. This boy needed a strong, yet sensitive father to put his hand on his shoulder and say, "Son, I know you are afraid but I also know you are tough and can handle whatever life throws at you, including these shots today. And, I'll be right here by your side, I won't leave you." Instead, this boy was EXASPERATED by his father because he was absent in his life!
After I had my consultation with the desk attendant we were back in the waiting room waiting for our turn to see the nurse. Now, we had a mom, dad, and two early school aged daughters sitting next to us. The girls were being active as kids usually are and the mother was desperately trying to control them or redirect their energy. The father just sat there very loudly sighing, which I took as a sign of his displeasure in his wife's inability to control the situation but not knowing quite what to do himself.
This went on for a little bit when finally the dad spoke up, but then I wished he hadn't. When he spoke I wished my daughter wouldn't have heard his words. He said, "I'm going to back hand you across the face!" In the next five minutes, he said these same words three more times. He never once explained what behavior he wanted them to stop doing or what his expectations were of them. He simply threatened violence.
How can a child respond to that? I'm confident his wife was thinking, 'Thanks, but no thanks for the help!' I wonder if his wife still cries out inside at these types of outburst or was she long past thinking this was unacceptable. These poor little girls will grow up thinking they deserve to be spoken to or treated like this because of the example their father set. This father may have been present in their lives, but he EXASPERATED his children by not understanding correctly his role as father and poorly executing his authority and support of his family.
I prayed for both these familites as I encountered them and thanked the Lord that my own husband is a good and godly father to my daughters.
There were also two teenage boys in the waiting room each with their own fathers. I know that not every father can get out of work to take their sons to the doctor, but you could tell that these fathers had invested more than just today in their children. These boys were respectful and calm in demenor. They interacted with their fathers and the nurses tenderly. There was a lightheartedness about them, not a soul filled with rage, fear, or a sense of being out of control. I clearly saw today the difference between a present/absent father and a loving,confident/empty, incompetent father. I grieve for these families who struggle and pray God will be sought and healing will occur in their relationships.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Childlike Humility
Matthew 18:1-4
At the time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Jesus called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
My husband and I were very busy this past weekend outside of the home. This meant our littlest daughter was with Grandma or older sisters much of the weekend. This morning my daughter was so happy to see me and her top priority was just to sit on my lap and be with me. Any mother with a busy toddler knows how precious those times are when playtime takes a backseat to mommy time.
Is this what Jesus may have meant when He said to change and become like little children? When I pondered this thought this morning, I wondered how often do I just want to be in the presence of Jesus? How often do I take the time out of my busy day to just be with Jesus?
When I look at my children, especially the younger ones, I can clearly see how dependent they are on my husband and I for everything. They look to us to meet all of their needs for food, shelter, and clothing. They look to us for comfort, direction, discipline, knowledge, encouragement, approval, and love. They want to draw from our strength. They want to learn about the world and how to live in it and with others through our example. They want to be with us more than anyone and they miss us when we are away and wait to be with us again.
If we are to change and become like children ourselves does that mean we are to be totally dependent on Jesus for all of our needs to be met? Do we look to Him for food, shelter, and clothing? Do we look to Jesus for comfort, direction, discipline, knowledge, encouragement, approval, and love? Do we draw strength from Him? Do we go to Him for examples of how to live in this world and love others? Do we want to be with Him more than anyone else? Do we miss Him if we are away from Him? Do we seek His approval in our work and actions?
I know for myself, I fall so short in the area of dependence on Christ. My pride gets in the way. My need to be self-sufficient prevents me from depending on Him. My need for the world to approve of me takes precedence over His approval far too many times. Too often I follow the crowd instead of checking in with Him. I get too busy to just sit with Him.
So, today my intention is to pay closer attention to every detail of my life and be in discussion with Him on it. To be more aware of how I need Him in all things and to develop desires and habits to be more childlike in my dependence on and love for Jesus. I pray the same for you!
At the time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Jesus called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
My husband and I were very busy this past weekend outside of the home. This meant our littlest daughter was with Grandma or older sisters much of the weekend. This morning my daughter was so happy to see me and her top priority was just to sit on my lap and be with me. Any mother with a busy toddler knows how precious those times are when playtime takes a backseat to mommy time.
Is this what Jesus may have meant when He said to change and become like little children? When I pondered this thought this morning, I wondered how often do I just want to be in the presence of Jesus? How often do I take the time out of my busy day to just be with Jesus?
When I look at my children, especially the younger ones, I can clearly see how dependent they are on my husband and I for everything. They look to us to meet all of their needs for food, shelter, and clothing. They look to us for comfort, direction, discipline, knowledge, encouragement, approval, and love. They want to draw from our strength. They want to learn about the world and how to live in it and with others through our example. They want to be with us more than anyone and they miss us when we are away and wait to be with us again.
If we are to change and become like children ourselves does that mean we are to be totally dependent on Jesus for all of our needs to be met? Do we look to Him for food, shelter, and clothing? Do we look to Jesus for comfort, direction, discipline, knowledge, encouragement, approval, and love? Do we draw strength from Him? Do we go to Him for examples of how to live in this world and love others? Do we want to be with Him more than anyone else? Do we miss Him if we are away from Him? Do we seek His approval in our work and actions?
I know for myself, I fall so short in the area of dependence on Christ. My pride gets in the way. My need to be self-sufficient prevents me from depending on Him. My need for the world to approve of me takes precedence over His approval far too many times. Too often I follow the crowd instead of checking in with Him. I get too busy to just sit with Him.
So, today my intention is to pay closer attention to every detail of my life and be in discussion with Him on it. To be more aware of how I need Him in all things and to develop desires and habits to be more childlike in my dependence on and love for Jesus. I pray the same for you!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Yaweh Tsidkenu - The Lord of Righteousness
Today in church, our Pastor talked about some of the various names for God in the Bible. There are over 400 names in the Bible to describe God but we only talked about 17 of them today. At the end of his message, they dimmed the lights, and we were to choose one of those names that maybe spoke to us this morning and meditate on it and maybe even write a prayer.
I chose the name Yawah Tsidkenu which means The Lord our Righteousness. The Pastor further described this name as meaning justice, declared innocence; not anything we earn but done by God; we give our sin to God, He puts in on Jesus, and He give us righteousness in return .
I chose this name because I have been struggling lately with feeling good enough. I was comparing myself to other Christians, Christians much more mature than I, and deciding for myself that I wasn't measuring up. I thought I needed to do more, sooner, better because I was seeing all these extraordinary things others were doing for Christ and my little share didn't seem to be enough. I was afraid I was doing something wrong. Maybe I wasn't worshipping well enough. Maybe I wasn't praying the right things. Maybe I didn't love people the right way. Were all of these shortcomings keeping me from being called by God for something bigger?
So my prayer this morning was simply this.
Yaweh Tsidkenu, Teach me to trust more deeply instead of trying harder. Sanctify me. Amen
Then I closed my eyes and just listened to the music playing in the background when God gave me the most beautiful vision. I saw my body floating up into the vastness of the universe and a white robe being gently draped down over me. A hand reached down from above me and gently lifted my chin so my eyes came face to face with Jesus, Yaweh Tsidkenu! His light shown on my face and warmed my body.
Jesus had reached down from heaven and touched my soul. I knew I didn't have to try harder to get His attention. He showed me He loved me. He knew me. He was sanctifying me. He was working in me. He was making me new.
He gave me a visual that my perfection does not come from anything I do but it comes from Jesus and the work He did on the cross for me, for you. Righteousness is available to me because I believe. That's all I have to do. Believe and ask for Jesus to be Lord in my life. The more I trust in Him and lay down my life for Him the more I will be able to do for Him. It's a process, a journey.
I will not reach fulfillment or completeness in Him today or tomorrow but I am working toward that end. My little share is enough, for now. As I demonstrate faithfulness, God will call me to do more but it will not be for my glory but for His glory and purpose.
My lesson for today is trust more deeply in the work Yaweh Tsidkenu is doing in you!
I chose the name Yawah Tsidkenu which means The Lord our Righteousness. The Pastor further described this name as meaning justice, declared innocence; not anything we earn but done by God; we give our sin to God, He puts in on Jesus, and He give us righteousness in return .
I chose this name because I have been struggling lately with feeling good enough. I was comparing myself to other Christians, Christians much more mature than I, and deciding for myself that I wasn't measuring up. I thought I needed to do more, sooner, better because I was seeing all these extraordinary things others were doing for Christ and my little share didn't seem to be enough. I was afraid I was doing something wrong. Maybe I wasn't worshipping well enough. Maybe I wasn't praying the right things. Maybe I didn't love people the right way. Were all of these shortcomings keeping me from being called by God for something bigger?
So my prayer this morning was simply this.
Yaweh Tsidkenu, Teach me to trust more deeply instead of trying harder. Sanctify me. Amen
Then I closed my eyes and just listened to the music playing in the background when God gave me the most beautiful vision. I saw my body floating up into the vastness of the universe and a white robe being gently draped down over me. A hand reached down from above me and gently lifted my chin so my eyes came face to face with Jesus, Yaweh Tsidkenu! His light shown on my face and warmed my body.
Jesus had reached down from heaven and touched my soul. I knew I didn't have to try harder to get His attention. He showed me He loved me. He knew me. He was sanctifying me. He was working in me. He was making me new.
He gave me a visual that my perfection does not come from anything I do but it comes from Jesus and the work He did on the cross for me, for you. Righteousness is available to me because I believe. That's all I have to do. Believe and ask for Jesus to be Lord in my life. The more I trust in Him and lay down my life for Him the more I will be able to do for Him. It's a process, a journey.
I will not reach fulfillment or completeness in Him today or tomorrow but I am working toward that end. My little share is enough, for now. As I demonstrate faithfulness, God will call me to do more but it will not be for my glory but for His glory and purpose.
My lesson for today is trust more deeply in the work Yaweh Tsidkenu is doing in you!
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