For we are His portion and He is our prize...Oh, how He loves us, oh. ~ David Crowder Band
God didn't create "super beings." There aren't little "Supermen" and "Wonderwomen" running around on Earth. God didn't create us to be robots, unable to think for ourselves or having no feelings or emotions on things. No, God created us just as we are. Now, originally, we were all without sin, but we all had souls--mind, will, and emotion. And even though we now have sin, God loves us just the same, even when we fall. It breaks His heart so much when we do fall, because He loves us so. That's why He sent His Son. "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life," John 3:16.
Jesus came, not to punish us, but to love us. We are His portion--we are all He needs or wants. We are everything to Him. He is God, so He could have left us and created something else, if He wanted. But He loves us so much that He promised to never leave or forsake us, (see Deuteronomy 31:6).
When I was little, my mom taught me how much Jesus loves me. She would ask, "How much does Jesus love you?" Then she would stretch out my arms as far as they would reach and say, "He loves you <---THIS---> much and even more!" Years later, I heard a preacher say that Jesus loved us so much that He stretched out His arms and died for us, nailing our sins, and everything that separated us from God, to the cross. My mom was right! Jesus loves me <---THIS---> much and even more! Thanks Mom, for always trying to show me how much Jesus loves me.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Lord's Mighty Power
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ~ Ephesians 6:10
We've heard it said before, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood." But how do we deal with that when we see another human in our face about some matter? How do we see beyond the "ugliness" and into the pain? There are two things we must do. 1) Ask the Lord for discernment and enlightenment of our eyes. "Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance," (Ecclesiastes 8:1). The Book of James tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him," (1:5). When God opens our eyes to see things as He sees them, we are less likely to judge some one's actions because we can see straight to the pain that's in their heart.
2) Be dressed for success. "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes," (Ephesians 6:10-11). This passage tells us not to worry about fighting anything or anyone on our own, because the Lord is already strong and we can rest in the power that He has. But to "dress for success," we must prepare our attire. For example, when you see news clips about soldiers in foreign lands, you never see them dressed as if they are going to a pool party. That's because they're dressed for success; they're dressed for war. And that's exactly how we need to dress.
Our enemy is not the person who is in our face all the time. Our enemy is the devil and he will use as many tricks and schemes as he can muster to get people to hurt you. He does this because that is who he is, as the Bible tells us, "The thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy," (John 10:10). He doesn't want you to have the joy and the peace and the rest the God has promised you. He wants to win and he will use whatever or whomever he can to make that happen. But we have something better. We have Jesus who said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full," (John 10:10). He also promised us that while the devil will be up to his schemes and tricks, we can take comfort in Jesus, who said, "I have overcome the world," (John 16:33). Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
We've heard it said before, "our struggle is not against flesh and blood." But how do we deal with that when we see another human in our face about some matter? How do we see beyond the "ugliness" and into the pain? There are two things we must do. 1) Ask the Lord for discernment and enlightenment of our eyes. "Wisdom brightens a man's face and changes its hard appearance," (Ecclesiastes 8:1). The Book of James tells us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him," (1:5). When God opens our eyes to see things as He sees them, we are less likely to judge some one's actions because we can see straight to the pain that's in their heart.
2) Be dressed for success. "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes," (Ephesians 6:10-11). This passage tells us not to worry about fighting anything or anyone on our own, because the Lord is already strong and we can rest in the power that He has. But to "dress for success," we must prepare our attire. For example, when you see news clips about soldiers in foreign lands, you never see them dressed as if they are going to a pool party. That's because they're dressed for success; they're dressed for war. And that's exactly how we need to dress.
Our enemy is not the person who is in our face all the time. Our enemy is the devil and he will use as many tricks and schemes as he can muster to get people to hurt you. He does this because that is who he is, as the Bible tells us, "The thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy," (John 10:10). He doesn't want you to have the joy and the peace and the rest the God has promised you. He wants to win and he will use whatever or whomever he can to make that happen. But we have something better. We have Jesus who said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full," (John 10:10). He also promised us that while the devil will be up to his schemes and tricks, we can take comfort in Jesus, who said, "I have overcome the world," (John 16:33). Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Qualified
I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. ~ Ephesians 3:8 (Message)
Have you ever come upon a situation that you needed to speak to: a girlfriend thinking of leaving her spouse, a buddy fallen into drugs, a friend thinking of quitting on life...? But what qualifies us? What gives us the right to speak into people's lives--people we know, people we care about, people we love? If I've gone through something you and you haven't, am I more qualified or are you? If I've done things in my past and you haven't, am I less qualified than you? No!
Neither is less and neither is more qualified than the other. Because it's not about us--it's never been about us and it will never be about us. Look at what Paul says in Ephesians 3:7-8: This is my life: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure it had nothing to do with any natural abilities, (Message). Paul is credited with authoring most of the New Testament, and yet he writes, "I was the least qualified..."
If Paul was the "least" qualified, then what makes one qualified? Is it years of study? Time spent on Earth (age)? Is it the number of degrees you've got hanging up on your wall? None of that matters, really. Look at what Paul says makes us qualified, "God saw to it that I was equipped..." It's not "us," there's nothing carnal or physical or emotional or mental that qualifies us. It is God alone and, moreover, it is Christ in us. This is what Jesus says in John 15, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit...You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last," (vv 5, 16; NIV). Long, long before our great grandparents were born, God chose us and appointed us; which automatically qualifies us. Now, we have a choice to make in this. If you read more of John 15, you'll see that anyone who does not remain in Christ will be "disqualfied," because we can do nothing apart from Christ, (v 5-6).
If it is Christ alone who qualfies, and you remain in Christ, then you are qualfied. I am qualified. And I don't have to worry about "messing up," for just as Paul said: God handles all the details, and He sees to it that I am equipped. He equips us through the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us and tells us what we are to say--we need only listen and obey. You are equipped; you are qualified; God will take care of all the details. As you remain in Christ and He remains in you, that qualifies you. You are qualified.
Have you ever come upon a situation that you needed to speak to: a girlfriend thinking of leaving her spouse, a buddy fallen into drugs, a friend thinking of quitting on life...? But what qualifies us? What gives us the right to speak into people's lives--people we know, people we care about, people we love? If I've gone through something you and you haven't, am I more qualified or are you? If I've done things in my past and you haven't, am I less qualified than you? No!
Neither is less and neither is more qualified than the other. Because it's not about us--it's never been about us and it will never be about us. Look at what Paul says in Ephesians 3:7-8: This is my life: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure it had nothing to do with any natural abilities, (Message). Paul is credited with authoring most of the New Testament, and yet he writes, "I was the least qualified..."
If Paul was the "least" qualified, then what makes one qualified? Is it years of study? Time spent on Earth (age)? Is it the number of degrees you've got hanging up on your wall? None of that matters, really. Look at what Paul says makes us qualified, "God saw to it that I was equipped..." It's not "us," there's nothing carnal or physical or emotional or mental that qualifies us. It is God alone and, moreover, it is Christ in us. This is what Jesus says in John 15, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit...You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last," (vv 5, 16; NIV). Long, long before our great grandparents were born, God chose us and appointed us; which automatically qualifies us. Now, we have a choice to make in this. If you read more of John 15, you'll see that anyone who does not remain in Christ will be "disqualfied," because we can do nothing apart from Christ, (v 5-6).
If it is Christ alone who qualfies, and you remain in Christ, then you are qualfied. I am qualified. And I don't have to worry about "messing up," for just as Paul said: God handles all the details, and He sees to it that I am equipped. He equips us through the Holy Spirit who lives inside of us and tells us what we are to say--we need only listen and obey. You are equipped; you are qualified; God will take care of all the details. As you remain in Christ and He remains in you, that qualifies you. You are qualified.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Call the Plumber
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.
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.
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."
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