It seems as though a lot of people I know are having "plumbing problems." I've heard it said that the Holy Spirit lives in our gut--like when we get a gut feeling about something, it's the Holy Spirit talking to us. Our gut is our core and our core is in the middle area of our bodies. If the enemy can attack us there--with gastric problems, crohn's, colitis, endometriosis, constipation, intimacy issues, whatever--then perhaps we'll stop focusing on what the Holy Spirit has to say and redirect our thoughts to our every day, busy to-do lists. Listen, when you're in some kind of physical pain, it's hard to focus. What's worse is when you have a lot of things going on that demand your focus, you must choose which thing or things you will focus on. The devil knows this and that is why he sets out to attack us. He's determined to get our focus off of God and onto other things.
But God has an answer for us. He says we are to praise Him with our mouths and carry the double-edged sword--which is His Word--in our hearts and lives, (Psalm 149:6). You may ask, "What good does singing and scripture-reading do?" Let me tell you, our God is not a dead God. He's alive! His Word is alive! It speaks to His kids; it guides their paths; it directs their steps.
If you're in a place or in a time and you are having "plumbing problems," don't turn to the yellow pages; call the One who can help you. Stand to your feet and dance for your King. Kneel before His Throne and praise His Name. Get going and get God! He is the only one who has the "tools" to help you.
Lord, thank you that you are the Ultimate Plumber and Fixer of our problem areas. Thank you for removing the clogs, branches, and build-ups in our lives. Lord, we love you and we praise you and we thank you. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Into Practice
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ~ Matthew 7:24
How often do we go to church, or sit through a Bible study or small group, and think to ourselves, "Wow! This is a great message. I really need to take this in and study it." During the meeting, you may even take notes furiously, but then later, you never make or take the time to go back to your notes, go back and meditate on what you heard. That's what Jesus wants--He wants us to "mull it over," to "chew on it a bit." If you went to Sunday School or Children's Church, growing up, you may have memorized a scripture or two. That's great, for the Bible says that His Word will never return to God empty-handed--without producing God's intended purpose, (Isaiah 55:11). But, wouldn't it be even better if, instead of just memorizing scripture for the sake of memorizing, we actually thought about it, took it in, studied it?
I remember when I took my Psych class in college. The professor said that after every test, we were not allowed to do a "brain flush," because we'd need all the information we'd learned for the final. I'm pretty certain after the class was over, I "flushed" most of it. That professor was telling us what Jesus is telling us: don't forget what you've learned as soon as you've gained a short-term prize for it, or as soon as you hear it.
We need to drink in the Word of God as if it were life to us--because it is. When you go to church, when you hear a message, when you're in a group study, take notes and then take the time later to dive into what God is really saying about any topic. That's how we get to know Him better, by understanding what He's truly saying to us.
Lord, I thank you, that Your Word is alive and teaches us something new every day. Lord, I pray that as people read your Word that something would stick to them, or stick out to them and they'd desire to dig deeper until they grasped the fullness of Your glory, Lord. I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.
How often do we go to church, or sit through a Bible study or small group, and think to ourselves, "Wow! This is a great message. I really need to take this in and study it." During the meeting, you may even take notes furiously, but then later, you never make or take the time to go back to your notes, go back and meditate on what you heard. That's what Jesus wants--He wants us to "mull it over," to "chew on it a bit." If you went to Sunday School or Children's Church, growing up, you may have memorized a scripture or two. That's great, for the Bible says that His Word will never return to God empty-handed--without producing God's intended purpose, (Isaiah 55:11). But, wouldn't it be even better if, instead of just memorizing scripture for the sake of memorizing, we actually thought about it, took it in, studied it?
I remember when I took my Psych class in college. The professor said that after every test, we were not allowed to do a "brain flush," because we'd need all the information we'd learned for the final. I'm pretty certain after the class was over, I "flushed" most of it. That professor was telling us what Jesus is telling us: don't forget what you've learned as soon as you've gained a short-term prize for it, or as soon as you hear it.
We need to drink in the Word of God as if it were life to us--because it is. When you go to church, when you hear a message, when you're in a group study, take notes and then take the time later to dive into what God is really saying about any topic. That's how we get to know Him better, by understanding what He's truly saying to us.
Lord, I thank you, that Your Word is alive and teaches us something new every day. Lord, I pray that as people read your Word that something would stick to them, or stick out to them and they'd desire to dig deeper until they grasped the fullness of Your glory, Lord. I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
My Prayer
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ~ John 17:15-17
My prayer... Just as we pray, today, in Jesus' name, for our family and our friends, Jesus prayed to God, His Father, for His friends. Jesus did that for two reasons: 1) to be a model for us. A lot of psychological definitions use the phrase, "learned behavior." Our parents, grandparents, and the community with which we surround ourselves all become models to us. We watch and learn from them, whether subconsciously or on purpose. That is why it is vital that we spend daily time in God's Word and have our own personal relationship with Jesus. If we never spend time with Him--through reading of the Word and quiet time--we will never get to know Him and it will be hard to imitate what he has already modeled for us.
2) To demonstrate His love for us. Jesus asked that we'd be protected while we walk on this earth. He knew we had much to do and much to learn and nothing would get accomplished if we were whisked away straight to paradise. For though we may be happier there, it's not about us, but about the "lost sheep," (see Luke 15:1-7). Jesus' love was not just for those who loved Him. Jesus' love is for all and His greatest desire is that all would come to know Him in a personal way. That is why Jesus left "us" in this world--that is why we are still here now. He asks His Father to protect us and leaves us here until the Father's appointed time, that as many as possible of the ones He loves will come home to live with Him in eternity.
What we do with our time is our choice, but we are here for a purpose much larger than ourselves. Lord, I pray that you would continue to protect us, as we are still in this world. Lord, you have sanctified us and set us apart for your special purposes. Father, I pray that you would reveal our individual purposes to us--lay that burden on our hearts. Give us a love for the ones you love. And, Lord, thank you for always teaching us and showing us what to do. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.
My prayer... Just as we pray, today, in Jesus' name, for our family and our friends, Jesus prayed to God, His Father, for His friends. Jesus did that for two reasons: 1) to be a model for us. A lot of psychological definitions use the phrase, "learned behavior." Our parents, grandparents, and the community with which we surround ourselves all become models to us. We watch and learn from them, whether subconsciously or on purpose. That is why it is vital that we spend daily time in God's Word and have our own personal relationship with Jesus. If we never spend time with Him--through reading of the Word and quiet time--we will never get to know Him and it will be hard to imitate what he has already modeled for us.
2) To demonstrate His love for us. Jesus asked that we'd be protected while we walk on this earth. He knew we had much to do and much to learn and nothing would get accomplished if we were whisked away straight to paradise. For though we may be happier there, it's not about us, but about the "lost sheep," (see Luke 15:1-7). Jesus' love was not just for those who loved Him. Jesus' love is for all and His greatest desire is that all would come to know Him in a personal way. That is why Jesus left "us" in this world--that is why we are still here now. He asks His Father to protect us and leaves us here until the Father's appointed time, that as many as possible of the ones He loves will come home to live with Him in eternity.
What we do with our time is our choice, but we are here for a purpose much larger than ourselves. Lord, I pray that you would continue to protect us, as we are still in this world. Lord, you have sanctified us and set us apart for your special purposes. Father, I pray that you would reveal our individual purposes to us--lay that burden on our hearts. Give us a love for the ones you love. And, Lord, thank you for always teaching us and showing us what to do. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Fragrance
But thanks be to God who...through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. ~ 2 Corinthians 2:14
Have you ever walked past a bakery and smelled warm, baking bread or sweet cinnamon rolls? In fact, even right now, you can smell it and taste it, though not with your nose or your mouth, but with your mind. You might even be planning where you will go to get them after you've finished reading this. The Bible says that once we've accepted Christ into our hearts and lives, and we are covered by the blood of Jesus, we give off an aroma. This aroma is not smelled by other humans through their physical noses, but by their spirits. For it is not your flesh that is giving off the aroma, but the Spirit of Him who lives inside you.
The Bible tells us that everything that is done here on earth, in the physical realm, is done in heaven, in the spiritual realm, (see Matthew 6:10, 16:19). It is other spirits who smell the aroma of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us. In 2 Corinthians, Paul goes on to say that to those who are being saved, we smell of the death in Christ that we share. And to those not of Christ, we smell of life, (2:15-16). Spirits that are not of Christ are drawn to us but at the same time hate us because they hate Christ who is in us. As Paul says in Galatians, "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other," (5:17).
The Bible says that there is nothing new under the sun. All of this is happening today and all of this has happened before, (Ecclesiastes 1:9). 2 Chronicles tells the story of Solomon and his "aroma." Once night, God appeared to Solomon and said, "As for you, if you walk before me as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man to rule over Israel,'" (7:17-18). Solomon did as the Lord said and the Lord blessed him greatly. Because of all the blessings being poured out on Solomon and the Israelites, people in lands near and far began talking about this people being blessed by their God. And, as still happens, as people continued to spread the word, others started to disbelieve what they'd heard and still others doubted and said it was a lie. That pattern continued until someone decided they must "check it out."
That's exactly what the Queen of Sheba did. She packed up her caravan and, drawn by the rumor of an "aroma," she traveled far to see for herself King Solomon & his kingdom. She went to discredit him; she went to "expose" him. The Bible says, "She came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions," and upon her arrival, she "talked with him about all she had on her mind," (2 Chronicles 9:1). But the Spirit of the Lord is more powerful than any other spirits. The Spirit of the Lord is not fake, it's not false, and it does not lie. Therefore, at the end of their discussion, the queen of Sheba "was overwhelmed," (2 Chronicles 9:4). She told Solomon, "'The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half of the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have exceeded the report I heard...Praise be to the Lord your God who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne to rule for the Lord your God," (2 Chronicles 9:5-6,8).
Because Solomon had followed all the Lord called him to do, when someone came to prove the Lord false, she was drawn in and fell in love with the Lord.
"But thanks be to God who...through us spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him."
Have you ever walked past a bakery and smelled warm, baking bread or sweet cinnamon rolls? In fact, even right now, you can smell it and taste it, though not with your nose or your mouth, but with your mind. You might even be planning where you will go to get them after you've finished reading this. The Bible says that once we've accepted Christ into our hearts and lives, and we are covered by the blood of Jesus, we give off an aroma. This aroma is not smelled by other humans through their physical noses, but by their spirits. For it is not your flesh that is giving off the aroma, but the Spirit of Him who lives inside you.
The Bible tells us that everything that is done here on earth, in the physical realm, is done in heaven, in the spiritual realm, (see Matthew 6:10, 16:19). It is other spirits who smell the aroma of the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us. In 2 Corinthians, Paul goes on to say that to those who are being saved, we smell of the death in Christ that we share. And to those not of Christ, we smell of life, (2:15-16). Spirits that are not of Christ are drawn to us but at the same time hate us because they hate Christ who is in us. As Paul says in Galatians, "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other," (5:17).
The Bible says that there is nothing new under the sun. All of this is happening today and all of this has happened before, (Ecclesiastes 1:9). 2 Chronicles tells the story of Solomon and his "aroma." Once night, God appeared to Solomon and said, "As for you, if you walk before me as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne as I covenanted with David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man to rule over Israel,'" (7:17-18). Solomon did as the Lord said and the Lord blessed him greatly. Because of all the blessings being poured out on Solomon and the Israelites, people in lands near and far began talking about this people being blessed by their God. And, as still happens, as people continued to spread the word, others started to disbelieve what they'd heard and still others doubted and said it was a lie. That pattern continued until someone decided they must "check it out."
That's exactly what the Queen of Sheba did. She packed up her caravan and, drawn by the rumor of an "aroma," she traveled far to see for herself King Solomon & his kingdom. She went to discredit him; she went to "expose" him. The Bible says, "She came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions," and upon her arrival, she "talked with him about all she had on her mind," (2 Chronicles 9:1). But the Spirit of the Lord is more powerful than any other spirits. The Spirit of the Lord is not fake, it's not false, and it does not lie. Therefore, at the end of their discussion, the queen of Sheba "was overwhelmed," (2 Chronicles 9:4). She told Solomon, "'The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half of the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have exceeded the report I heard...Praise be to the Lord your God who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne to rule for the Lord your God," (2 Chronicles 9:5-6,8).
Because Solomon had followed all the Lord called him to do, when someone came to prove the Lord false, she was drawn in and fell in love with the Lord.
"But thanks be to God who...through us spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him."
Monday, July 19, 2010
Go Back to the Word
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. ~ 1 John 2:27
The Bible tells us that when Jesus was hungry and thirsty and weak, the devil came to tempt Him. To every enticement that the devil offered, Jesus answered, "For it is written..." (see Matthew 4). God knew that we were weak and would need help and a constant reminder. He remembered that He made us from dust and rib and that we would need help, so He sent us a helper: "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit...will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you," (John 14:26). He is our Counselor, our Teacher, our reminder of the Word. He teaches us what to say in our time of trouble, (see Mark 13:11). He gives us peace and comfort by reminding us of all the things that God has said to us.
If you do not know what to say or what to do, ask God and, through the Holy Spirit, He will teach you and show you. Sermons are still needed, pastors are extremely important, books and group studies are excellent tools to help you and point you in the right direction. But, with everything you hear and learn--and the best teachings and teachers have said this--always take it back to the Word to make sure that their words line up with God's Word.
I love books that teach and give tools. I think it's important that when God imparts a word to us, that we share it with others. But more important than any best-seller, is for each and every person to be in The Word. Everyone needs to know what it says for himself--relying solely on someone else's teaching may not hold up in your day of trouble. Do not worry about having the whole Bible--chapter and verse--memorized, or having read it cover to cover several times. Those aren't the important things. What is important? Spending daily, quality time with God and in His word; that's how you'll get to know Him better.
The Bible tells us that when Jesus was hungry and thirsty and weak, the devil came to tempt Him. To every enticement that the devil offered, Jesus answered, "For it is written..." (see Matthew 4). God knew that we were weak and would need help and a constant reminder. He remembered that He made us from dust and rib and that we would need help, so He sent us a helper: "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit...will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you," (John 14:26). He is our Counselor, our Teacher, our reminder of the Word. He teaches us what to say in our time of trouble, (see Mark 13:11). He gives us peace and comfort by reminding us of all the things that God has said to us.
If you do not know what to say or what to do, ask God and, through the Holy Spirit, He will teach you and show you. Sermons are still needed, pastors are extremely important, books and group studies are excellent tools to help you and point you in the right direction. But, with everything you hear and learn--and the best teachings and teachers have said this--always take it back to the Word to make sure that their words line up with God's Word.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
More Precious than Gold
Now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold...may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Christ Jesus ~ 1 Peter 1:6-7
When I was getting ready to start college, my parents came to me and said they didn't have enough money to pay for my schooling. But my mom taught me the ins & outs of financial aid and where and how to apply. They had been preparing me for this, so I didn't fret or ask, "why me," I just did what was necessary. I remember my grandpa telling me that I shouldn't take out any student loans if I didn't have to, so I worked hard and my sophomore year, I didn't need any loans. When I moved to Florida to continue my schooling, I needed to take out loans the first year. After that, God told me that I wasn't allowed to take out any more loans for school.
For the next couple semesters, it was fine, the money seemed always readily available. But, in my last couple semesters, money was tight and there weren't enough scholarships to cover all the costs. But God never let me down. I never had to withdraw from a semester due to lack of funds or supplies. Instead of rolling in money, things became creative. We cashed in savings bonds, borrowed books from friends, checked out books from the library. One semester, I had to go to school full time (while working full time) just to qualify for enough financial aid to pay for the classes I needed. Even though the answers were fleeting, the way was unsure, and the work was hard, God got me through it all.
I look back and know that the day God told me I wasn't allowed to take out any more loans was just another way He was grooming me, drawing me closer to Him, stretching my faith, and purifying my life. God is grooming me for greatness. He started in something small and provided large. He drew back a little to see if I would continue to be faithful to what He had commanded me. When I was, the reward was great! I have since graduated and am in a lot less debt than I could have been. And because I trusted Him in those things, He is blessing me with others.
How is God growing and stretching and purifying you and your faith? God's never let me down and He's never let me go. Though the way isn't always sure, we can be certain that He's always got us in His full view.
When I was getting ready to start college, my parents came to me and said they didn't have enough money to pay for my schooling. But my mom taught me the ins & outs of financial aid and where and how to apply. They had been preparing me for this, so I didn't fret or ask, "why me," I just did what was necessary. I remember my grandpa telling me that I shouldn't take out any student loans if I didn't have to, so I worked hard and my sophomore year, I didn't need any loans. When I moved to Florida to continue my schooling, I needed to take out loans the first year. After that, God told me that I wasn't allowed to take out any more loans for school.
For the next couple semesters, it was fine, the money seemed always readily available. But, in my last couple semesters, money was tight and there weren't enough scholarships to cover all the costs. But God never let me down. I never had to withdraw from a semester due to lack of funds or supplies. Instead of rolling in money, things became creative. We cashed in savings bonds, borrowed books from friends, checked out books from the library. One semester, I had to go to school full time (while working full time) just to qualify for enough financial aid to pay for the classes I needed. Even though the answers were fleeting, the way was unsure, and the work was hard, God got me through it all.
I look back and know that the day God told me I wasn't allowed to take out any more loans was just another way He was grooming me, drawing me closer to Him, stretching my faith, and purifying my life. God is grooming me for greatness. He started in something small and provided large. He drew back a little to see if I would continue to be faithful to what He had commanded me. When I was, the reward was great! I have since graduated and am in a lot less debt than I could have been. And because I trusted Him in those things, He is blessing me with others.
How is God growing and stretching and purifying you and your faith? God's never let me down and He's never let me go. Though the way isn't always sure, we can be certain that He's always got us in His full view.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Security
In Genesis 12, when God told Abram to leave everything he knew to go to a place that the Lord would show him, God was asking Abram to "leave his security," (Word for You Today 10 July 2010). I wonder if it was a little bit more than that. What if God wasn't asking Abram to "leave" his security, but to "rethink" or "re-examine" what or whom he made his security? In the Psalms, David was talking about security when he said, "Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, (40:4). The phrase "his trust" is from the Hebrew word "mibatch," meaning "object of confidence, security," (blueletterbible.org).
If we have our security, our confidence, our trust in earthly things, we're certain to be disappointed, for all earthly things will eventually fail us. Only God, who is eternal, will never let us down, because He is never changing and will always love us. And sometimes, when we put all our confidence or trust or security in things that are not Him, God will ask us to make a change, take a new job, go away from what is familiar so that we will have no other sense of security, but that which we have in Him.
"Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust." Making the Lord my trust should be so easy, because He's never failed me, never left me, never betrayed me. Why, then, do I keep putting my trust, my security in things I see with my human eyes? Lord, forgive me for continually putting my trust into things that are perishing, for taking my eyes off of You, Jesus. Help me to remember, to know, to believe that you are the only One I need.
If God is for us, who can be against us? ...For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:31, 38-39
If we have our security, our confidence, our trust in earthly things, we're certain to be disappointed, for all earthly things will eventually fail us. Only God, who is eternal, will never let us down, because He is never changing and will always love us. And sometimes, when we put all our confidence or trust or security in things that are not Him, God will ask us to make a change, take a new job, go away from what is familiar so that we will have no other sense of security, but that which we have in Him.
"Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust." Making the Lord my trust should be so easy, because He's never failed me, never left me, never betrayed me. Why, then, do I keep putting my trust, my security in things I see with my human eyes? Lord, forgive me for continually putting my trust into things that are perishing, for taking my eyes off of You, Jesus. Help me to remember, to know, to believe that you are the only One I need.
If God is for us, who can be against us? ...For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:31, 38-39
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)