For those who read my blogs, I offer an apology for the recent lack of reading material. I have been given work to do toward my ministry that has taken precedence, thus, no word has been given to me for a blog. That is, until this very minute. . .
I have spent the last year and a half searching, seeking, petitioning God for my purpose. And just as God always does, He has answered. I go before Him each day, renewing my commitment to surrender my will and take up His so that His purpose in my life can be fulfilled. So, naturally, I have rejoiced in receiving directions for my ministry. I am excited to be used by God!
I have taken the last few weeks to focus on what He needs me to know, to learn, and to do to birth this endeavor. I have prayed, fasted and listened so that God would direct my paths and move me out of the way so that His glory will be all that is seen through my ministry. But I have been feeling like there is something I have left undone, and just a few moments ago God showed me what it is.
When Satan sees progress in your walk with God, when he sees that something is about to happen that will grow God's Kingdom, he has to try and stop it. I have shared before that when I first reconciled with God, He took away the desire and opportunity for companionship immediately in order for me to focus on Him. God knew that this was the one thing that hinders my walk - the biggest weakness that gets me off track. Now that I am stronger in Christ, the desire to share my life with someone has returned, but I have learned how to deal with it. Yet, recently, Satan has been sending opportunities my way, and although I have managed to stay focused on my task, he has still gained ground in stifling my progress.
See, seeking companionship isn't just a weakness that hinders my walk - it's also a weakness that strengthens my walk. God has put me in a season of singleness in order to birth my ministry. He has taken my struggle, my trials, my falls and my stumbles and turned them into bricks and cement to form my testimony on which my ministry will be built. Psalm 110.1 says that God will make your enemies your footstool. My enemies are Satan's lies. Lies that tell me I need to be with a man to feel complete; that I need a man to help me pay the bills and take care of my kids; that the only way I'll ever be able to get ahead financially is with the help of a man. As long as those lies live in the recesses of my mind, I am giving Satan a foothold.
Now, lately I had come to really believe that my faith lies in what God has for me and not in what want for myself. But God is so faithful that He allows us to be tested to show us where we are falling short. I have been in the midst of a test and I just came out a winner!
For the last few weeks, I had been in touch with an old guy friend with whom I'd only gone out with once. He is a nice guy: good job, funny, a gentleman, etc. I was tempted to pick up where we left off. I began preparing myself to be careful about staying prayed up so as not to compromise my faith and growth in Christ. Now, this all sounds good, the proper thing to do to avoid falling, but there is just one problem . . .
How quickly I have forgotten that this isn't what God wants for me! Didn't I just say a couple of paragraphs ago that "God has put me in a season of singleness in order to birth my ministry"? Our Father just used what Satan meant for bad to awaken me for my good.
God has revealed to me that I have to claim what He has for me. I have been hesitant about telling guys that proposition me the real reason I am single. I have avoided giving them my testimony and as a result I have avoided being obedient to God. Apart of my minsitry is sharing with others where God had brought be from, where is has me now and why His has me where I am. My first ministry is to be a witness, but I have been a coward. I haven't told those guys about the change God has made in me and that I am single because God wants me that way. I have avoided telling them that I am single by design (not by choice) because my Father has plans for me.
It is important that we stand in obedience to God. One of those guys could have been inspired by my witness and given his life to Christ. Even if everyone rejected me, laughed at me or talked about me, someone could have thought back on the conversation one day and decided they wanted to make a change. Everything that God has us do, puts us through and brings us out of is a testimony that could change someone's life.
So, at this moment, I have received a refreshing of my faith. God has renewed a right spirit in me. I am going forth with a new holy boldness so that I can be in obedience through witnessing with my testimony. I have decided to let that guy know REALLY why I am single. I am single by design and happy to be used by ABBA!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
There is therefore no condemnation . . .
We often debate what is right or wrong for a Christian to do. 1 Corinthians 6.12 says "Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial." Paul is simply saying, I am free to choose whatever I want to do because God made us free agents. In Deuteronomy 6.15 God says that he is giving us a choice, life or death. Eternal life with him, or eternal death without him.
The problem for me was trying to be on a certain "level" of Christianity. If I saw someone who was living their life a certain way, I tried to match that in my actions (or non-actions). I was at church for EVERY service, I threw away all of my secular CDs, I separated myself from anyone who wasn't practicing a Godly life. On the surface, this all sounds good, but dig deeper because changing myself was temporary and impossible.
A surgical procedure had me out of church for a couple of weeks. Since I was idle at home and not "doing" church, it was easy for the old habits to creep back in. My problem was that I was trying to "work" my way to God instead of simply surrendering myself to Him. I was doing as the Old Testament Jews: I "circumcised" myself in an effort to keep the law. I changed what I wore, where I went, who I talked to, what I listened to and what I said, but the most important part was left ignored. I never paid any attention to my heart.
Circumcision is broadly defined as "when one keeps the law." In Romans 2.28, Paul says "a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit." Simply changing the who, what and where in your life will not work. The only way to produce change and live "circumcised" is through the Holy Spirit of God.
In Romans 8, Paul makes it plain:
5.Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
6.If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.
7.For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will.
8.That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
9.But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.
In order for me to live a life pleasing to God, I must be led by His Spirit, asking him to dwell in me and surrendering my will and life to him. I can not measure my level of faith against someone else's because they are in a different place than I. What God has for them to do is different for what he has for me. What they struggle with, their weaknesses and strengths are different than mine. Therefore, I can not look at someone else's life and try to match what they are doing. If I do, I am focusing on my self - the sinful or carnal nature. I have to focus on God, letting his Spirit lead and guide me toward where I need to be when I need to be there. This doesn't mean that I can live as I want to live, but rather I live as God wants me to live. When the Spirit urges me to not do something or to start doing something else, I must be obedient. This is how I change. This is how I let my light shine, and shining my light encourages others to live a better life too.
The problem for me was trying to be on a certain "level" of Christianity. If I saw someone who was living their life a certain way, I tried to match that in my actions (or non-actions). I was at church for EVERY service, I threw away all of my secular CDs, I separated myself from anyone who wasn't practicing a Godly life. On the surface, this all sounds good, but dig deeper because changing myself was temporary and impossible.
A surgical procedure had me out of church for a couple of weeks. Since I was idle at home and not "doing" church, it was easy for the old habits to creep back in. My problem was that I was trying to "work" my way to God instead of simply surrendering myself to Him. I was doing as the Old Testament Jews: I "circumcised" myself in an effort to keep the law. I changed what I wore, where I went, who I talked to, what I listened to and what I said, but the most important part was left ignored. I never paid any attention to my heart.
Circumcision is broadly defined as "when one keeps the law." In Romans 2.28, Paul says "a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit." Simply changing the who, what and where in your life will not work. The only way to produce change and live "circumcised" is through the Holy Spirit of God.
In Romans 8, Paul makes it plain:
5.Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
6.If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.
7.For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will.
8.That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
9.But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.
In order for me to live a life pleasing to God, I must be led by His Spirit, asking him to dwell in me and surrendering my will and life to him. I can not measure my level of faith against someone else's because they are in a different place than I. What God has for them to do is different for what he has for me. What they struggle with, their weaknesses and strengths are different than mine. Therefore, I can not look at someone else's life and try to match what they are doing. If I do, I am focusing on my self - the sinful or carnal nature. I have to focus on God, letting his Spirit lead and guide me toward where I need to be when I need to be there. This doesn't mean that I can live as I want to live, but rather I live as God wants me to live. When the Spirit urges me to not do something or to start doing something else, I must be obedient. This is how I change. This is how I let my light shine, and shining my light encourages others to live a better life too.
Monday, July 13, 2009
The "Get Out of Hell Free" card is not accepted in Heaven . . .
Ephesians 4.22-24 (MSG)
22.Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything - and I do mean everything - connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life - a God-fashioned life,
23.a life renewed from the inside
24.and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
Hebrews 10.26 (GWD)
26.If we go on sinning after we have learned the truth, no sacrifice can take away our sins.
There is a belief among some Christians that "once saved, always saved". We think that Christ's death and Resurrection, being baptized and going to church automatically signs us for entry into Heaven. We pray empty prayers and quote scripture yet continue in sin like we have a "Get Out of Hell Free" card tucked safely in our wallet. This is a dangerous misconception. Yes, once Christ died for us, that act only needed to happen once to cover the totality of all sin to come. The problem is understanding the difference between committing a sin and living in sin.
We understand that we will falter, we were born into sin and direct our own wills, so God gives us mercy and grace to help us in that regard. However, once we sin, we are to repent (turn away) and avoid repeating that act. . .
If I become overwhelmed about a lack of money and commit an act that is dishonest, I am to confess, ask for forgiveness and choose to work on increasing my faith in God instead of relying on self in order to avoid repeating the sin. Mercy says that God will withhold the punishment I really deserve because of this fallacy. Grace says that he will continue to bless me in spite of the fact that I have sinned and do not deserve it. In this example, I have "committed a sin".
Now, suppose I meet Mr. Wonderful, the man I have prayed for forever. We plan to marry, but the timing just isn't right. Unfortunately, my desire for him physically is killing me and I give in. The next day, I confess, ask for forgiveness and choose to renew my commitment to waiting for sex until we are married. Then, the next time we are together it happens again. I repeat my confession, begging for forgiveness, etc. but can't seem to stick with my commitment to wait. In this example, I am "living in sin" - I have disregarded the truth of God's Word and submitted to fulfilling my own desires. Now, mercy can't help me because I have not repented (turned away from the act). Grace is of no use to me, because God will not "bless my mess". But this isn't to say that it's too late to repent, only that repentance isn't complete unless I turn away from the sin. Then, mercy will withhold the punishment I truly deserve for breaking God's law; and Grace will give me the blessing of making us able to marry to avoid the sin.
If you read all of the promises that God makes to us in the Scriptures, you will notice that each is attached to a condition:
"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37.4
"Bring ye all the tithes . . . and I will pour you out blessings . . ." Malachi 3.10
". . . if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear [their prayer] from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country." 2 Chron 7. 14
"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God - those whom he has called according to his plan." Romans 8.28
Please know that God has a plan for each of us that He has called into His family. He is shaping us to be like Him, so that we can be with Him in eternity. Unless we submit ourselves to His plan, we can not be transformed. We can not use Christ's sacrifice, our baptism or "doing church" as a "Get out of Hell Free" card. We must surrender ourselves to His Holy Spirit so that we can be taught, led and directed in the way that our lives should go in order to fulfill God's plan.
22.Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything - and I do mean everything - connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life - a God-fashioned life,
23.a life renewed from the inside
24.and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
Hebrews 10.26 (GWD)
26.If we go on sinning after we have learned the truth, no sacrifice can take away our sins.
There is a belief among some Christians that "once saved, always saved". We think that Christ's death and Resurrection, being baptized and going to church automatically signs us for entry into Heaven. We pray empty prayers and quote scripture yet continue in sin like we have a "Get Out of Hell Free" card tucked safely in our wallet. This is a dangerous misconception. Yes, once Christ died for us, that act only needed to happen once to cover the totality of all sin to come. The problem is understanding the difference between committing a sin and living in sin.
We understand that we will falter, we were born into sin and direct our own wills, so God gives us mercy and grace to help us in that regard. However, once we sin, we are to repent (turn away) and avoid repeating that act. . .
If I become overwhelmed about a lack of money and commit an act that is dishonest, I am to confess, ask for forgiveness and choose to work on increasing my faith in God instead of relying on self in order to avoid repeating the sin. Mercy says that God will withhold the punishment I really deserve because of this fallacy. Grace says that he will continue to bless me in spite of the fact that I have sinned and do not deserve it. In this example, I have "committed a sin".
Now, suppose I meet Mr. Wonderful, the man I have prayed for forever. We plan to marry, but the timing just isn't right. Unfortunately, my desire for him physically is killing me and I give in. The next day, I confess, ask for forgiveness and choose to renew my commitment to waiting for sex until we are married. Then, the next time we are together it happens again. I repeat my confession, begging for forgiveness, etc. but can't seem to stick with my commitment to wait. In this example, I am "living in sin" - I have disregarded the truth of God's Word and submitted to fulfilling my own desires. Now, mercy can't help me because I have not repented (turned away from the act). Grace is of no use to me, because God will not "bless my mess". But this isn't to say that it's too late to repent, only that repentance isn't complete unless I turn away from the sin. Then, mercy will withhold the punishment I truly deserve for breaking God's law; and Grace will give me the blessing of making us able to marry to avoid the sin.
If you read all of the promises that God makes to us in the Scriptures, you will notice that each is attached to a condition:
"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37.4
"Bring ye all the tithes . . . and I will pour you out blessings . . ." Malachi 3.10
". . . if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear [their prayer] from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country." 2 Chron 7. 14
"We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God - those whom he has called according to his plan." Romans 8.28
Please know that God has a plan for each of us that He has called into His family. He is shaping us to be like Him, so that we can be with Him in eternity. Unless we submit ourselves to His plan, we can not be transformed. We can not use Christ's sacrifice, our baptism or "doing church" as a "Get out of Hell Free" card. We must surrender ourselves to His Holy Spirit so that we can be taught, led and directed in the way that our lives should go in order to fulfill God's plan.
Friday, July 10, 2009
How will I know? . . .
I was asked yesterday, how will you know if a man is right for you if you don't "try it out" first? Then, someone else told me that no man will want to marry me if he can't "see what he's getting first." They all assume that because I choose abstinence, I am a hurt, bitter and lonely woman.
It is hard to understand my choice from a purely natural state-of-mind. You have to look at my life in the spiritual, with the assistance of The Spirit. Just as a puppy doesn't understand what you say until she has been taught and trained into understanding, we can not understand the things of God without teaching and training through His Holy Spirit.
I will know that a man is right for me without "trying it out" because I have that much faith in God. I believe that He is all-knowing and all-powerful. I believe the Psalmist who said "delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37.4) And I believe that God gave us laws not to restrict us, but to protect us from dangers unseen. Consider how few divorces there would be if we all sought God's guidance in choosing a mate. My faith tells me that every good and perfect gift from God (James 1.17) also includes His choice of my husband.
Any man that does not want to wait for me until marraige isn't a man that God has ordained for me. We wouldn't be equally yoked (2 Cor 6.14). So, I am glad that my mention of abstinence runs some men away! This then begs the question of whether I will be able to find a man that IS on the same spiritual page as me. To that I answer: IS THERE ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD? (Jeremiah 32.27)
Finally, it was said that I must have been hurt by a man and now have renounced them all. My response was that in my old nature I would do the opposite of what I do now: when depressed, disappointed or hurt I sought out destructive behaviors. So, instead of abstinence, I practiced promiscuity. Instead of prayer, I self-medicated. Instead of reserving, I indulged. In fact, God healed my broken heart before I ever considered abstinence. My decision was born in my renewed mind. God initially took the desire away until after my renewal. Then, the desire returned, but with a changed mind I chose obedience over lust.
Everyone understands God's position on fornication, but we have chosen to ignore it, thinking that God must understand that He is asking too much of us to give this up. This is not true. God's Word hasn't changed. Again, God gave us these laws to protect us. Consider how many broken hearts, fatal attractions, unwanted babies, struggling single mothers, AIDS cases, etc. would be avoided if we followed this one single rule. How different the world would be! God saw all of the harm that fornication would cause and asked us to avoid it. Just think how different your life would be if you avoided it.
I never thought that I could live without it, but I'll be celebrating two years of abstinence next month. It amazes me what God has done in my life, simply because I say to Him each day, "I surrender all."
It is hard to understand my choice from a purely natural state-of-mind. You have to look at my life in the spiritual, with the assistance of The Spirit. Just as a puppy doesn't understand what you say until she has been taught and trained into understanding, we can not understand the things of God without teaching and training through His Holy Spirit.
I will know that a man is right for me without "trying it out" because I have that much faith in God. I believe that He is all-knowing and all-powerful. I believe the Psalmist who said "delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37.4) And I believe that God gave us laws not to restrict us, but to protect us from dangers unseen. Consider how few divorces there would be if we all sought God's guidance in choosing a mate. My faith tells me that every good and perfect gift from God (James 1.17) also includes His choice of my husband.
Any man that does not want to wait for me until marraige isn't a man that God has ordained for me. We wouldn't be equally yoked (2 Cor 6.14). So, I am glad that my mention of abstinence runs some men away! This then begs the question of whether I will be able to find a man that IS on the same spiritual page as me. To that I answer: IS THERE ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD? (Jeremiah 32.27)
Finally, it was said that I must have been hurt by a man and now have renounced them all. My response was that in my old nature I would do the opposite of what I do now: when depressed, disappointed or hurt I sought out destructive behaviors. So, instead of abstinence, I practiced promiscuity. Instead of prayer, I self-medicated. Instead of reserving, I indulged. In fact, God healed my broken heart before I ever considered abstinence. My decision was born in my renewed mind. God initially took the desire away until after my renewal. Then, the desire returned, but with a changed mind I chose obedience over lust.
Everyone understands God's position on fornication, but we have chosen to ignore it, thinking that God must understand that He is asking too much of us to give this up. This is not true. God's Word hasn't changed. Again, God gave us these laws to protect us. Consider how many broken hearts, fatal attractions, unwanted babies, struggling single mothers, AIDS cases, etc. would be avoided if we followed this one single rule. How different the world would be! God saw all of the harm that fornication would cause and asked us to avoid it. Just think how different your life would be if you avoided it.
I never thought that I could live without it, but I'll be celebrating two years of abstinence next month. It amazes me what God has done in my life, simply because I say to Him each day, "I surrender all."
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Taking off my casual clothes . . .
Sunday, my pastor preached about "Casual Christianity" meaning being morally indifferent, spiritually idle and lukewarm in faith. The Casual Christian has knowledge of God and believes in Him but is strongly tied to the world and afraid to let go - basically trying to serve two masters. Jesus instructs us in Matt 6.24 that this is not possible.
I remember trying to live out my Christian life without letting go of the world. I would show up at church and rush into the choir stand with the stenches of the club and some random guy clinging to my skin. I would teach a Sunday School lesson, maybe dip out of service early, and go smoke a blunt and lay up with my boyfriend. Eventually, my service in church was less and less because it was hard to wake up with a hangover and go to 9am service. It was rough trying to encourage someone with prayer when my mind was clouded with guilt. Listening to the pastor "step on my toes" every Sunday was more than my conscience could take. I knew I had to let one of my masters go. Unfortunately, it was easier to indulge in the world than sacrifice for God.
My problem was thinking that changing myself to live for God would make life too restrictive and boring. That trying to get rid of my vices, desires and indulgences was impossible and would never happen. Actually, I was right.
If I try to change myself, then yes, life will seem cut-off from all of the things I enjoy. I won't be able to have the fun that I'm used to having. And letting go of my vices, addictions, desires?? Impossible!! That is why God doesn't expect me to change myself. He doesn't ask me to clean up and then dedicate my life to Him. The only thing He asks of me is to love Him, with all of my heart, soul and strength (Deut. 6.5). Giving Him myself completely - in whatever state I am in - allows God to mold me and shape me (heart, soul and body) into what He needs me to be in order to serve Him best. ("The LORD your God will cleanse your heart . . . so that you will love him with all your heart and soul, and so you may live!" Deut. 30.6)
So now, my life isn't restricted and boring to me, because my mind has been changed and those things I used to desire to do, I don't desire anymore. Now, there are desires that remain, but my changed heart doesn't want to partake. Don't think that all desires or weaknesses will leave you. Just like there is no cure for addictions, there is no cure for sin. A drug addict must work daily against his addiction. In the same way, I have to work daily against the flesh. Becoming like God is a process that must grow and continue unto completion. God leaves us with certain struggles so that we will continue to lean on Him and seek Him daily - allowing the process to continue.
In Pastor's sermon, he discussed suffering for our faith. First Peter 4.1-5 tells us that we are to put on a mind of suffering as Jesus did. Verse 13 goes on to say we should be rejoicing over suffering because suffering is a spiritual refining process. It helps to wean us from a life of sin. Suffering also makes us stronger, e.g., "No Pain, No Gain." We have to go through the fire of suffering to come out changed. This is all apart of the process of becoming like God.
Now, to the unbeliever (and maybe some believers) this is not appealing. Why should I leave a life of doing what I want to enter a life of pain, discomfort and suffering? What I've realized is, life outside of God is full of pain, discomfort and suffering, as well. The difference is having God to ease the pain, take away the discomfort and heal the suffering. When I suffer for God, I am rewarded in a way that is unlike the rewards of the flesh. When I suffer for my faith, I don't have to turn to addictive drugs or destructive lifestyles to numb the pain or alleviate discomfort. God has promised never to put more on us than we can bear, because He makes everything bearable!
God has allowed Satan to be god of this world - for the time being - so he has some power over those who are not empowered by God. Thus, the choice is essentially whether to serve God or Satan. The more I understood this, the more I realized that I had to make a choice. I decided that if I kept living for Satan I would end up dead and possibly by my own hands (there were many close calls). That life was fun, but the fun came at a cost: my sanity, my joy, my peace. So, I made up my mind to give my life to God and "introduced my Sunday self to my Monday self." I took off the my Casual Christian uniform that I'd worn to fool the world and put on the true Armor of God that is my gift from Him. My mind is clear, joy has been restored and I live with abundant peace. The changes come one-by-one, slowly buy surely. But as long as I wake up and choose Christ, the change will continue.
I remember trying to live out my Christian life without letting go of the world. I would show up at church and rush into the choir stand with the stenches of the club and some random guy clinging to my skin. I would teach a Sunday School lesson, maybe dip out of service early, and go smoke a blunt and lay up with my boyfriend. Eventually, my service in church was less and less because it was hard to wake up with a hangover and go to 9am service. It was rough trying to encourage someone with prayer when my mind was clouded with guilt. Listening to the pastor "step on my toes" every Sunday was more than my conscience could take. I knew I had to let one of my masters go. Unfortunately, it was easier to indulge in the world than sacrifice for God.
My problem was thinking that changing myself to live for God would make life too restrictive and boring. That trying to get rid of my vices, desires and indulgences was impossible and would never happen. Actually, I was right.
If I try to change myself, then yes, life will seem cut-off from all of the things I enjoy. I won't be able to have the fun that I'm used to having. And letting go of my vices, addictions, desires?? Impossible!! That is why God doesn't expect me to change myself. He doesn't ask me to clean up and then dedicate my life to Him. The only thing He asks of me is to love Him, with all of my heart, soul and strength (Deut. 6.5). Giving Him myself completely - in whatever state I am in - allows God to mold me and shape me (heart, soul and body) into what He needs me to be in order to serve Him best. ("The LORD your God will cleanse your heart . . . so that you will love him with all your heart and soul, and so you may live!" Deut. 30.6)
So now, my life isn't restricted and boring to me, because my mind has been changed and those things I used to desire to do, I don't desire anymore. Now, there are desires that remain, but my changed heart doesn't want to partake. Don't think that all desires or weaknesses will leave you. Just like there is no cure for addictions, there is no cure for sin. A drug addict must work daily against his addiction. In the same way, I have to work daily against the flesh. Becoming like God is a process that must grow and continue unto completion. God leaves us with certain struggles so that we will continue to lean on Him and seek Him daily - allowing the process to continue.
In Pastor's sermon, he discussed suffering for our faith. First Peter 4.1-5 tells us that we are to put on a mind of suffering as Jesus did. Verse 13 goes on to say we should be rejoicing over suffering because suffering is a spiritual refining process. It helps to wean us from a life of sin. Suffering also makes us stronger, e.g., "No Pain, No Gain." We have to go through the fire of suffering to come out changed. This is all apart of the process of becoming like God.
Now, to the unbeliever (and maybe some believers) this is not appealing. Why should I leave a life of doing what I want to enter a life of pain, discomfort and suffering? What I've realized is, life outside of God is full of pain, discomfort and suffering, as well. The difference is having God to ease the pain, take away the discomfort and heal the suffering. When I suffer for God, I am rewarded in a way that is unlike the rewards of the flesh. When I suffer for my faith, I don't have to turn to addictive drugs or destructive lifestyles to numb the pain or alleviate discomfort. God has promised never to put more on us than we can bear, because He makes everything bearable!
God has allowed Satan to be god of this world - for the time being - so he has some power over those who are not empowered by God. Thus, the choice is essentially whether to serve God or Satan. The more I understood this, the more I realized that I had to make a choice. I decided that if I kept living for Satan I would end up dead and possibly by my own hands (there were many close calls). That life was fun, but the fun came at a cost: my sanity, my joy, my peace. So, I made up my mind to give my life to God and "introduced my Sunday self to my Monday self." I took off the my Casual Christian uniform that I'd worn to fool the world and put on the true Armor of God that is my gift from Him. My mind is clear, joy has been restored and I live with abundant peace. The changes come one-by-one, slowly buy surely. But as long as I wake up and choose Christ, the change will continue.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Celebrate Independence Day everyday . . .
Over 230 years ago a small country of rebellious people were set free from their overbearing parent country and came to be known as Americans. Almost 2,000 years ago a world of rebellious people were set free from the overbearing hold of sin and came to be known as Christians.
When America was freed, it came on the backs of troops and brave men who fought for what they wanted. It was birthed in the minds of politicos who sought a better life for those they represented. When believers were freed, it wasn't on the backs of troops or through the work of politicians, but by the sacrifice of one man - Jesus Christ.
In both situations, blood was shed and a call for sacrifice was made. Both situations sought to bring a better life to those being freed. In both instances, that better life, whether freedom to "make my own rules" or freedom from "the bondage of sin", was acheived.
Imagine if Pres. Obama announced a plan for all Americans to revoke our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. A plan that would take away our freedoms of speach, worship, travel, assembly, etc. Riots, looting and impeachment would loom, for sure. So why is it that believers choose to go back to the bondage of sin and loose their freedoms of victory, salvation and eternal life?
Sin is powerful and its allure can be overwhelming. But it will soon make you a prisoner if you wallow in it for long. You will be held captive, and captivity is certainly not freedom. God, however, does not hold you captive but frees you from the bondage of guilt, error, deception, pain, ignorance and eternal damnation - all things that service to sin will produce.
We can not escape sin, we were born into it. However, we can escape living in sin. Focusing our lives on God, submitting to His will and surrendering to His Holy Spirit keeps us out of sin's grasp and let's us walk in the freedom of Christ.
Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4th with cookouts, parties, fireworks and family time. As believers, we should be celebrating independence everyday with prayer, praise,submission and time with God. Don't revoke your freedom; don't let Christ's death be in vain! Know Him as the Truth because the Truth shall make you free (John 8.32).
When America was freed, it came on the backs of troops and brave men who fought for what they wanted. It was birthed in the minds of politicos who sought a better life for those they represented. When believers were freed, it wasn't on the backs of troops or through the work of politicians, but by the sacrifice of one man - Jesus Christ.
In both situations, blood was shed and a call for sacrifice was made. Both situations sought to bring a better life to those being freed. In both instances, that better life, whether freedom to "make my own rules" or freedom from "the bondage of sin", was acheived.
Imagine if Pres. Obama announced a plan for all Americans to revoke our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. A plan that would take away our freedoms of speach, worship, travel, assembly, etc. Riots, looting and impeachment would loom, for sure. So why is it that believers choose to go back to the bondage of sin and loose their freedoms of victory, salvation and eternal life?
Sin is powerful and its allure can be overwhelming. But it will soon make you a prisoner if you wallow in it for long. You will be held captive, and captivity is certainly not freedom. God, however, does not hold you captive but frees you from the bondage of guilt, error, deception, pain, ignorance and eternal damnation - all things that service to sin will produce.
We can not escape sin, we were born into it. However, we can escape living in sin. Focusing our lives on God, submitting to His will and surrendering to His Holy Spirit keeps us out of sin's grasp and let's us walk in the freedom of Christ.
Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4th with cookouts, parties, fireworks and family time. As believers, we should be celebrating independence everyday with prayer, praise,submission and time with God. Don't revoke your freedom; don't let Christ's death be in vain! Know Him as the Truth because the Truth shall make you free (John 8.32).
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Let us pray . . .
I was enlightened recently by a handout in Bible study. It breaks down the Model Prayer given in Matt 6. 9-13, when Jesus taught the disciples how to pray. As expected, I found that the prayer is more than just a prayer, it's a lesson we all need to embrace. (I have added my personal thoughts on each part.)
From: ("If God Talked Out Loud..." by Clyde Lee Herring pg.13-21. 1977 Broadman Press Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 76-27479.)
I cannot pray "OUR," if my faith has no room for others and their need.
My pastor told us to pray for others in OUR time of need and watch God help us, too. I tried this and it took the focus off of self and I felt better instantly. I also became aware of how selfish my prayers were.
I cannot pray "FATHER," if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.
I never call strangers Dad. I refused to even call my step-father Dad. That moniker was reserved for the man who really got all my love as my father. So, how can I call God "Father" when I treat Him like a stranger and don't really know Him?
I cannot pray "WHO ART IN HEAVEN," if all of my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.
If the only focus I have is on "my world" I'll never stop to think about God's reign over everything. My goals will be aimed at earthly living when they should be aimed at eternal living.
I cannot pray "HALLOWED BE THY NAME," if I am not striving for God's help to be holy.
Hallowed means set apart, devote, treat as holy. My actions should be setting God apart by devoting time to Him, treating Him with reverence and mimicking Him through word and deed.
I cannot pray, "THY KINGDOM COME," if I am unwilling to accept God's rule in my life.
Kingdom is from the greek "basilea" meaning not the actual kingdom but the right to rule or authority. Come is from the greek "erchomai" meaning to establish or find place. I must give God the authority to rule over my ENTIRE life and ask Him daily to establish His kingdom in me.
I cannot pray "THY WILL BE DONE," if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.
My pastor told us that if we find that our prayers aren't being answered, start asking God to let His will be done and not ours. Watch and see how quickly He'll start to move . . .
I cannot pray "IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN," unless I am truly ready to give myself to God's service here and now.
I wouldn't try to have my way in Heaven, the place where I KNOW God is running things. So, in order to submit to Him I must let Him have His way in "my world", too.
I cannot pray "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD," without expending honest effort for it or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread I receive.
I can't worry about the light bill due on the 15th or the car note that was due last month. If I am aligned with God's will, and being a good steward over my money, then whether or not I lose my job God is never in a recession. I must praise Him for what He has given me TODAY. Also, I can't expect God to give to me if I am too stubborn or stingy to give and share with others.
I cannot pray "FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US," if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.
Forgiving means forgetting. In the greek it is "aphiemi" which means to let go, let alone, let be. I don't want God to hold a grudge against me, so I shouldn't hold a grudge against someone else.
I cannot pray "LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION," if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
Since I have become celibate, I know that it would be dangerous for me to be alone with a guy in an intimate setting. I'd be setting myself up for failure. I can't ask God to "lead me not" if I'm already headed there myself.
I cannot pray "DELIVER US FROM EVIL," if I am not prepared to fight with my life and my prayer.
A guy at church told me how hard it is for him to separate from his old lifestyle. I told him to pray and not stop until God provided him with a way of escape. God promised he would: 1 Corinthians 10.13.
I cannot pray "THINE IS THE KINGDOM," if I am unwilling to obey the King.
In order for me to tell God that everything belongs to Him, I must act as if He is the ruler over my life. Not just when I need help, but all of the time.
I cannot pray "THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY," if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.
Enough said.
I cannot pray 'FOREVER AND EVER," if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.
If God took care of me today, I must believe that He will take care of me "forever and ever".
I cannot pray "AMEN," unless I honestly say "Not MY will, but THY will be done, so let it be.
Thayer's Greek lexicon says that Amen was said by those listening to prayer as a way of taking the substance of what was said and making it their own. I need not say Amen if I don't agree with what came before it.
From: ("If God Talked Out Loud..." by Clyde Lee Herring pg.13-21. 1977 Broadman Press Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 76-27479.)
I cannot pray "OUR," if my faith has no room for others and their need.
My pastor told us to pray for others in OUR time of need and watch God help us, too. I tried this and it took the focus off of self and I felt better instantly. I also became aware of how selfish my prayers were.
I cannot pray "FATHER," if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.
I never call strangers Dad. I refused to even call my step-father Dad. That moniker was reserved for the man who really got all my love as my father. So, how can I call God "Father" when I treat Him like a stranger and don't really know Him?
I cannot pray "WHO ART IN HEAVEN," if all of my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.
If the only focus I have is on "my world" I'll never stop to think about God's reign over everything. My goals will be aimed at earthly living when they should be aimed at eternal living.
I cannot pray "HALLOWED BE THY NAME," if I am not striving for God's help to be holy.
Hallowed means set apart, devote, treat as holy. My actions should be setting God apart by devoting time to Him, treating Him with reverence and mimicking Him through word and deed.
I cannot pray, "THY KINGDOM COME," if I am unwilling to accept God's rule in my life.
Kingdom is from the greek "basilea" meaning not the actual kingdom but the right to rule or authority. Come is from the greek "erchomai" meaning to establish or find place. I must give God the authority to rule over my ENTIRE life and ask Him daily to establish His kingdom in me.
I cannot pray "THY WILL BE DONE," if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.
My pastor told us that if we find that our prayers aren't being answered, start asking God to let His will be done and not ours. Watch and see how quickly He'll start to move . . .
I cannot pray "IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN," unless I am truly ready to give myself to God's service here and now.
I wouldn't try to have my way in Heaven, the place where I KNOW God is running things. So, in order to submit to Him I must let Him have His way in "my world", too.
I cannot pray "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD," without expending honest effort for it or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread I receive.
I can't worry about the light bill due on the 15th or the car note that was due last month. If I am aligned with God's will, and being a good steward over my money, then whether or not I lose my job God is never in a recession. I must praise Him for what He has given me TODAY. Also, I can't expect God to give to me if I am too stubborn or stingy to give and share with others.
I cannot pray "FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US," if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.
Forgiving means forgetting. In the greek it is "aphiemi" which means to let go, let alone, let be. I don't want God to hold a grudge against me, so I shouldn't hold a grudge against someone else.
I cannot pray "LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION," if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
Since I have become celibate, I know that it would be dangerous for me to be alone with a guy in an intimate setting. I'd be setting myself up for failure. I can't ask God to "lead me not" if I'm already headed there myself.
I cannot pray "DELIVER US FROM EVIL," if I am not prepared to fight with my life and my prayer.
A guy at church told me how hard it is for him to separate from his old lifestyle. I told him to pray and not stop until God provided him with a way of escape. God promised he would: 1 Corinthians 10.13.
I cannot pray "THINE IS THE KINGDOM," if I am unwilling to obey the King.
In order for me to tell God that everything belongs to Him, I must act as if He is the ruler over my life. Not just when I need help, but all of the time.
I cannot pray "THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY," if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.
Enough said.
I cannot pray 'FOREVER AND EVER," if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.
If God took care of me today, I must believe that He will take care of me "forever and ever".
I cannot pray "AMEN," unless I honestly say "Not MY will, but THY will be done, so let it be.
Thayer's Greek lexicon says that Amen was said by those listening to prayer as a way of taking the substance of what was said and making it their own. I need not say Amen if I don't agree with what came before it.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Life After Death . . .
The recent flurry of high-profile deaths has caused me to consider mortality and where these souls will spend eternity, but that actually is none of my business. It is, however, my business to spread the Truth of God's Word to those who are living to the best of my God-given ability.
"So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you." Matt 28.19-20a
So . . .
If you believe in God and believe that when you die there is eternal life for believers, please, please read the following. The time is NOW for us to "get right" with God!
The recent flurry of high-profile deaths has caused me to consider mortality and where these souls will spend eternity, but that actually is none of my business. It is, however, my business to spread the Truth of God's Word to those who are living to the best of my God-given ability.
"So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you." Matt 28.19-20a
So . . .
If you believe in God and believe that when you die there is eternal life for believers, please, please read the following. The time is NOW for us to "get right" with God!
Every time someone dies we say things that imply that a person is in heaven "looking down on us" or "singing with the angels," etc. I was conflicted about this because of things that I have read in the Scriptures, so I did some research and what I found contradicts these conceptions.
(This is kinda long, but please stay with me, it's too important to miss!)
MYTH: Everyone who hasn't done something really bad goes to Heaven.
If this was so, that would make God a liar. Consider the Scriptures:
Romans 2:7-9a says that eternal life is only promised to those who "persist in doing good . . . There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on sinning . . ."
1 Cor 6.9 says ". . . those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God. Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers, none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God."
Gal 6.7, "Don't be misled. Remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit."
More importantly, just believing in God is not enough! "You believe that there is one God. That's fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear. You fool! Do you have to be shown that faith which does nothing is useless?" (James 6.19-20)
So, if you believe in God and His Word, then you know that He can not lie and His Word does not change or become void. Therefore, those of us who go to church, who do more good than bad, who say that we believe and have never done anything really awful will still not be with God if we do not submit our lives to Him and serve Him in obedience.
MYTH: We go straight to Heaven after we die.
I do believe that upon death, everyone goes to "a better place." That place is sleep, in our graves . . .
Eccl 9.5-6, 10 ". . .but the dead know nothing. . . Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun. . . for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."
Daniel 12:2 "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
John 5.28-29 "A time is coming when all the dead will hear his voice, and they will come out of their tombs. Those who have done good will come back to life and live. But those who have done evil will come back to life and will be judged. "
Acts 2:29, 34 "Let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.. .. For David did not ascend into the heavens."
John 3:13 "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven."
Plus, Paul discusses in 1 Cor 15 (the Resurrection chapter) how our bodies will rise upon Christ's return. There can not be a resurrection if we are already in Heaven.
And now, a question . . .
DO WE GET A SECOND CHANCE TO REPENT AFTER DEATH?
The Scriptures discuss resurrection of the dead that occurs what seems to be three times. The first is when Christ returns to set up God's Kingdom
(1 Corinth. 15.23, Rev. 20.4, 5b-6a), the second after the millennial rule of Christ (Rev. 20.5, 11-12) and the third after Satan is destroyed (Rev. 20.13).
Now those who rise when Christ returns are the faithful who will join with those who are still alive and spend the 1,000 years with Christ (they won't need to repent). Those who rise next, are apparently those who never received the opportunity to accept or reject salvation, i.e. those who died before Christ, those who lived in places that didn't allow for this knowledge to reach them, babies and those without the faculties to understand. They will be given the chance to repent and learn about God and be offered salvation . Finally, the remaining dead will arise and then EVERYONE will be judged and those whose life actions did not make the grade will be tossed (Rev. 20.14-15). I haven't found anything that says they will get a second chance.
I say all of that to say this: if you have heard the truth of God and you choose to rebel against this knowlegde and refuse to submit to His will, don't believe that you have a second chance. So many of us are "lukewarm believers" just going through the motions of doing church and saying the right things when are hearts are hardened to God. I know when I was living this kind of life, I always thought that I would have time to change later, when I was older. Just looking at your local news shows us that it can all be over in the blink of an eye.
So, dear departed souls Rest In Peace. There is nothing else that I can do for them, but there is something that I can do for us who yet live. After the resurrection of us all, I want to be sure that you AND I are given eternal life, which should be our ultimate goal - not prosperity, not acceptance, but ETERNAL LIFE. If you believe in God and you believe the Bible, please believe the He is coming back to judge us whether we are living or dead. And please believe that unless you accept God, commit yourself to Him and serve Him for the rest of you days on Earth, you will NOT spend eternity with Him.
Peace and Blessings . . .
(If anyone reading this needs prayer or wants to accept salvation, PLEASE send me a message and I will be more than happy to help you.)
"So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you." Matt 28.19-20a
So . . .
If you believe in God and believe that when you die there is eternal life for believers, please, please read the following. The time is NOW for us to "get right" with God!
The recent flurry of high-profile deaths has caused me to consider mortality and where these souls will spend eternity, but that actually is none of my business. It is, however, my business to spread the Truth of God's Word to those who are living to the best of my God-given ability.
"So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you." Matt 28.19-20a
So . . .
If you believe in God and believe that when you die there is eternal life for believers, please, please read the following. The time is NOW for us to "get right" with God!
Every time someone dies we say things that imply that a person is in heaven "looking down on us" or "singing with the angels," etc. I was conflicted about this because of things that I have read in the Scriptures, so I did some research and what I found contradicts these conceptions.
(This is kinda long, but please stay with me, it's too important to miss!)
MYTH: Everyone who hasn't done something really bad goes to Heaven.
If this was so, that would make God a liar. Consider the Scriptures:
Romans 2:7-9a says that eternal life is only promised to those who "persist in doing good . . . There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on sinning . . ."
1 Cor 6.9 says ". . . those who do wrong will have no share in the Kingdom of God. Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, who are idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, abusers, and swindlers, none of these will have a share in the Kingdom of God."
Gal 6.7, "Don't be misled. Remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit."
More importantly, just believing in God is not enough! "You believe that there is one God. That's fine! The demons also believe that, and they tremble with fear. You fool! Do you have to be shown that faith which does nothing is useless?" (James 6.19-20)
So, if you believe in God and His Word, then you know that He can not lie and His Word does not change or become void. Therefore, those of us who go to church, who do more good than bad, who say that we believe and have never done anything really awful will still not be with God if we do not submit our lives to Him and serve Him in obedience.
MYTH: We go straight to Heaven after we die.
I do believe that upon death, everyone goes to "a better place." That place is sleep, in our graves . . .
Eccl 9.5-6, 10 ". . .but the dead know nothing. . . Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun. . . for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."
Daniel 12:2 "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
John 5.28-29 "A time is coming when all the dead will hear his voice, and they will come out of their tombs. Those who have done good will come back to life and live. But those who have done evil will come back to life and will be judged. "
Acts 2:29, 34 "Let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.. .. For David did not ascend into the heavens."
John 3:13 "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven."
Plus, Paul discusses in 1 Cor 15 (the Resurrection chapter) how our bodies will rise upon Christ's return. There can not be a resurrection if we are already in Heaven.
And now, a question . . .
DO WE GET A SECOND CHANCE TO REPENT AFTER DEATH?
The Scriptures discuss resurrection of the dead that occurs what seems to be three times. The first is when Christ returns to set up God's Kingdom
(1 Corinth. 15.23, Rev. 20.4, 5b-6a), the second after the millennial rule of Christ (Rev. 20.5, 11-12) and the third after Satan is destroyed (Rev. 20.13).
Now those who rise when Christ returns are the faithful who will join with those who are still alive and spend the 1,000 years with Christ (they won't need to repent). Those who rise next, are apparently those who never received the opportunity to accept or reject salvation, i.e. those who died before Christ, those who lived in places that didn't allow for this knowledge to reach them, babies and those without the faculties to understand. They will be given the chance to repent and learn about God and be offered salvation . Finally, the remaining dead will arise and then EVERYONE will be judged and those whose life actions did not make the grade will be tossed (Rev. 20.14-15). I haven't found anything that says they will get a second chance.
I say all of that to say this: if you have heard the truth of God and you choose to rebel against this knowlegde and refuse to submit to His will, don't believe that you have a second chance. So many of us are "lukewarm believers" just going through the motions of doing church and saying the right things when are hearts are hardened to God. I know when I was living this kind of life, I always thought that I would have time to change later, when I was older. Just looking at your local news shows us that it can all be over in the blink of an eye.
So, dear departed souls Rest In Peace. There is nothing else that I can do for them, but there is something that I can do for us who yet live. After the resurrection of us all, I want to be sure that you AND I are given eternal life, which should be our ultimate goal - not prosperity, not acceptance, but ETERNAL LIFE. If you believe in God and you believe the Bible, please believe the He is coming back to judge us whether we are living or dead. And please believe that unless you accept God, commit yourself to Him and serve Him for the rest of you days on Earth, you will NOT spend eternity with Him.
Peace and Blessings . . .
(If anyone reading this needs prayer or wants to accept salvation, PLEASE send me a message and I will be more than happy to help you.)
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Remember Lot's wife . . .
"But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." Gen 19.26
Imagine being a famous person. Your picture on magazines and all over TV. You are given royal treatment everywhere you go - never having to stand in line, wait on others or be overlooked. Everyone knows your name and calls you friend. Then God tells you to give it all up. The fame, fortune and prestige you had become so accustomed to; how eager would you be to leave it all behind and never look back? Lot and his wife probably enjoyed similar standing in Sodom and she may have struggled with leaving the "fabulous" life behind.
There is debate over exactly what made Lot's wife disobey the command not to look back, but I think it is left this way because there are several lessons to be taken from her transgression.
In the New Testament, Jesus warns of loving the world more than God:
"Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it." (Luke 17.32-33)
And John backs this up:
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world." (I John 2:15-16)
It is possible that Lot's wife was so enamored of the charmed life she led as the wife of a wealthy and important man that the seduction of it forced her to stop and take one last look at what she was giving up. I personally understand the allure of "stuff". It was strong enough to bankrupt me and send my life spiralling. I recall that on the day I was forced to leave my life and possessions behind, I stopped and looked back as well.
Maybe there were friendships formed in Sodom that she didn't want to leave. I also understand the difficulty of leaving behind friends, physically and figuratively. When you leave a job or school or neighborhood, it can be a sad to say goodbye to people who've become fixtures in your life. I recall times when I almost changed my mind because the feeling was so great. Likewise, having to let go of unbelieving friends and associates when you decide to follow Christ can be difficult and cause you to have second thoughts.
Yet, maybe it's not material things, friends or even status that God is asking you to leave behind. One thing we must consider is that Lot and his wife had more than the two daughters they left the city with. . ."So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, 'Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!' But his sons-in-law thought he was joking." (Gen 19.14)The angel also says "take your daughters who are here" suggesting that there were other daughters who were not there. What if God was commanding you to let go of your child or parent or significant other? How easy would it be to walk away?
There are parents whose children just won't act right of whom God is telling them to let go. There are parents that somehow lost their way and won't listen to children who beg them to return to God. And there are new believers who find themselves in relationships that are not ordained by, nor approving to God. How do you find the strength to walk away and never look back?
People will say to you, "but that's your mom" or "that's your son;" "how can you just turn your back on them?" And I'm sure we are all acquainted with Love's call! The carnal desire to cling to that woman who had your children or that man you've been with since high school. Even if you are a woman being supported by a man and don't know how you'll survive without his help. Maybe your gay friends are all you know. They were there for you when your family turned away. How do you reconcile in your mind doing what God is telling you in your heart?
Look at what the Scriptures say:
"If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me. If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me." (Matthew 10:37-39 The MSG)
Our human nature tells us that leaving behind flesh and blood is wrong. Our carnal nature tells us that the world has so much more to offer than God. Our lack of faith tells us that we can't live without wealth, status and power. But God tells us He is all we need. So, Jesus reminded us to remember Lot's wife. Remember the sacrifice that was asked of her and what happened when she disobeyed.
Yet God made us a promise if we do obey:
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place." (2Chronicles 7.14)
Imagine being a famous person. Your picture on magazines and all over TV. You are given royal treatment everywhere you go - never having to stand in line, wait on others or be overlooked. Everyone knows your name and calls you friend. Then God tells you to give it all up. The fame, fortune and prestige you had become so accustomed to; how eager would you be to leave it all behind and never look back? Lot and his wife probably enjoyed similar standing in Sodom and she may have struggled with leaving the "fabulous" life behind.
There is debate over exactly what made Lot's wife disobey the command not to look back, but I think it is left this way because there are several lessons to be taken from her transgression.
In the New Testament, Jesus warns of loving the world more than God:
"Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it." (Luke 17.32-33)
And John backs this up:
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world." (I John 2:15-16)
It is possible that Lot's wife was so enamored of the charmed life she led as the wife of a wealthy and important man that the seduction of it forced her to stop and take one last look at what she was giving up. I personally understand the allure of "stuff". It was strong enough to bankrupt me and send my life spiralling. I recall that on the day I was forced to leave my life and possessions behind, I stopped and looked back as well.
Maybe there were friendships formed in Sodom that she didn't want to leave. I also understand the difficulty of leaving behind friends, physically and figuratively. When you leave a job or school or neighborhood, it can be a sad to say goodbye to people who've become fixtures in your life. I recall times when I almost changed my mind because the feeling was so great. Likewise, having to let go of unbelieving friends and associates when you decide to follow Christ can be difficult and cause you to have second thoughts.
Yet, maybe it's not material things, friends or even status that God is asking you to leave behind. One thing we must consider is that Lot and his wife had more than the two daughters they left the city with. . ."So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, 'Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!' But his sons-in-law thought he was joking." (Gen 19.14)The angel also says "take your daughters who are here" suggesting that there were other daughters who were not there. What if God was commanding you to let go of your child or parent or significant other? How easy would it be to walk away?
There are parents whose children just won't act right of whom God is telling them to let go. There are parents that somehow lost their way and won't listen to children who beg them to return to God. And there are new believers who find themselves in relationships that are not ordained by, nor approving to God. How do you find the strength to walk away and never look back?
People will say to you, "but that's your mom" or "that's your son;" "how can you just turn your back on them?" And I'm sure we are all acquainted with Love's call! The carnal desire to cling to that woman who had your children or that man you've been with since high school. Even if you are a woman being supported by a man and don't know how you'll survive without his help. Maybe your gay friends are all you know. They were there for you when your family turned away. How do you reconcile in your mind doing what God is telling you in your heart?
Look at what the Scriptures say:
"If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me. If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me." (Matthew 10:37-39 The MSG)
Our human nature tells us that leaving behind flesh and blood is wrong. Our carnal nature tells us that the world has so much more to offer than God. Our lack of faith tells us that we can't live without wealth, status and power. But God tells us He is all we need. So, Jesus reminded us to remember Lot's wife. Remember the sacrifice that was asked of her and what happened when she disobeyed.
Yet God made us a promise if we do obey:
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place." (2Chronicles 7.14)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Don't hate - imitate . . .
Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12.14 (NKJV)
If I tell someone I am trying to be holy, it is sometimes (maybe most times) perceived that I am conceited, arrogant and lying. Holiness seems to be a taboo status in the church despite the fact that we are called to holiness:
"You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." Leviticus 19.2
"For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and shall be holy; for I am holy." Leviticus 11.44
As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."
1Peter 1.15-16 (The Message)
So what does it mean to be holy? Now, in it's highest sense, only God is holy. Therefore, understand that the Scriptures say "pursue", "strive to be" and "try to be" not "become". Thus, the first understanding we should get is that God is telling us to "pursue", "strive for", "try for" the continuous, gradual change that leads toward holiness.
Holiness is further defined as the state of sanctity or consecration to God, i.e. the state of being "set apart" for His use. If we believe that God created us and were are the only beings that He blew breathe (or spirit) into, then we must believe that He created and set us apart for His use.
How do I pursue holiness? Simply by obedience. Actually, if I am obedient to God, I can't help but become holy. See, holiness is not the objective; OBEDIENCE is. The way God initially set Israel apart from everyone else was by giving them a set of laws to obey:
"Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession . . . a holy nation." Exodus 19.5-6
We do not become holy then begin obeying, we obey and that obedience, by design, brings about sanctification (holiness) because the law was created to set God's people apart from the world (a nation unlike the rest . . . a holy nation.)
So, if obedience brings us closer to God, disobedience separates us. Wordliness is "the love of that which one finds attractive, appealing, or desirable without a corresponding love of righteousness" (Forerunners Commentary). And we know that disobedience is of the world, not God. Of course, being of free will, God knows that the allure of the world would on occassion suck us in - that's why He gave us grace and mercy and a Savior. But it is our responsibility to not use this as a crutch but as a ladder to climb closer to God. Again, we are only commandeded to PURSUE holiness not BECOME holy. Only God can make us holy and TRUE holiness will not be reached until we are face to face with God.
I am persuaded that holiness is where I wanna be. If I'm labeled a "holy roller," "holier than thou," or anything else that says I am set apart from the world, then I know that God's work is not in vain. The first thing I want people to see is the God in me and I hope that it inspires someone else to be in pursuit of being set apart to be used by God.
If I tell someone I am trying to be holy, it is sometimes (maybe most times) perceived that I am conceited, arrogant and lying. Holiness seems to be a taboo status in the church despite the fact that we are called to holiness:
"You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." Leviticus 19.2
"For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and shall be holy; for I am holy." Leviticus 11.44
As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, "I am holy; you be holy."
1Peter 1.15-16 (The Message)
So what does it mean to be holy? Now, in it's highest sense, only God is holy. Therefore, understand that the Scriptures say "pursue", "strive to be" and "try to be" not "become". Thus, the first understanding we should get is that God is telling us to "pursue", "strive for", "try for" the continuous, gradual change that leads toward holiness.
Holiness is further defined as the state of sanctity or consecration to God, i.e. the state of being "set apart" for His use. If we believe that God created us and were are the only beings that He blew breathe (or spirit) into, then we must believe that He created and set us apart for His use.
How do I pursue holiness? Simply by obedience. Actually, if I am obedient to God, I can't help but become holy. See, holiness is not the objective; OBEDIENCE is. The way God initially set Israel apart from everyone else was by giving them a set of laws to obey:
"Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession . . . a holy nation." Exodus 19.5-6
We do not become holy then begin obeying, we obey and that obedience, by design, brings about sanctification (holiness) because the law was created to set God's people apart from the world (a nation unlike the rest . . . a holy nation.)
So, if obedience brings us closer to God, disobedience separates us. Wordliness is "the love of that which one finds attractive, appealing, or desirable without a corresponding love of righteousness" (Forerunners Commentary). And we know that disobedience is of the world, not God. Of course, being of free will, God knows that the allure of the world would on occassion suck us in - that's why He gave us grace and mercy and a Savior. But it is our responsibility to not use this as a crutch but as a ladder to climb closer to God. Again, we are only commandeded to PURSUE holiness not BECOME holy. Only God can make us holy and TRUE holiness will not be reached until we are face to face with God.
I am persuaded that holiness is where I wanna be. If I'm labeled a "holy roller," "holier than thou," or anything else that says I am set apart from the world, then I know that God's work is not in vain. The first thing I want people to see is the God in me and I hope that it inspires someone else to be in pursuit of being set apart to be used by God.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
I get so weak . . .
For me, it wasn't hard to begin a life of sexual abstinence. I wasn't in a relationship or involved with anyone and God had already begun dealing with me to get me back on track. I like to believe that He said to Himself, "sex is the FIRST thing that's got to go in order for this girl to gain focus." God knew my struggles and in the midst of tearing me down helped me out by taking away my sexual urges completely during that time. See, He understood that when I was crying out for reconciliation with Him, I needed to be relieved of some struggles until I was strong enough to handle them.
Growing up in church, I was baptized as a child and reared on Scriptural teachings. As I grew older, I did what most of us did: I strayed, then returned when I was in my twenties with marraige and children on my mind. I submerged myself in church (yes, church not God) and was soon tripped up when someone stepped on my achilles heel: men and sex. [And I must clarify: the real weakness was the desire for a man in my life. The sex came as a means to this end - but this is the topic for another blog (coming soon)].
So I strayed. After the first few times of giving in to transgression, the guilt was a distant memory and I waded on out into the deep end of it. Then before I knew it, I was knocked down on my back and begging for God's unchanging hand. So He accepted me back into the fold and I dove back into doing church (yes, again, church not God) just to have my old friend show up and step on my heel once more.
But this time, I decided that I would no longer play with God. I'd keep trying to change and working overtime to be the person He wants me to be with no results. I was wasting His time. I began to think that maybe there are just some of us who can't be saved. Some of us that aren't going to make it to eternal life status. But it seemed as if God kept bothering me. Putting stuff on my mind, guilt eating away at me. And the more I felt guilty, the further I extended myself into sin, especially my favorite sin: sex.
I decided to "use what I got to get what I want," that I "don't need no man" and began treating men like conquests just to get the next fix and cover up the real desire burning inside of me. My life played out like a Trina rap lyric.
But God . . .
The Father has a plan for me. He wants my love and he has work for me to do. Now, He could get anyone to do His bidding, but He picked out something just for me, if I am willing. So, He sent someone to my house who spoke some things into my spirit that literally saved my life. And when I prayed through tears that I didn't want to go back to that old life like I've done many times before, He gave me access to books that explained why I kept falling and what I needed to do differently. He showed me that I can't change my heart, only He can. He showed me that I can't change overnight, rather, salvation is a process filled with trials and error. He helped me see that all I have to do is commit to Him, each day when I rise and each night before I go to sleep and He will do the changing for me. After all, if I could change myself why would I need Him?
The desire for sex returned shortly after I got myself on track but it doesn't make me feel discouraged. Because I indulged in fornication, I kept myself from having the one He prepared for me. So, now I must wait for Him to prepare us to meet again and if I'm ready this time, it will happen. During the waiting period, I suffer from the residue of sins past but God doesn't leave me hanging. He uses my weakness to make me stronger. I now surrender, daily, all of my shortcomings, struggles and strifes to my Elder Brother who promised to bear my cross as His own. Yes, I have encountered some opportunities that left me weak, but because I stay "prayed up" I am able to fight off failure until the weak moment passes.
I've said all of this to say, sexual abstinence may be the hardest struggle that Christian singles face. It has been drilled in us for years that it's okay, by our friends, our family and even our churches. But, God forbade it and He never set the law aside. So we must now stand firm on His Word, with His power, and be who He made us to be: "not conformed to this world, but transformed" (Rom 12.2)
Growing up in church, I was baptized as a child and reared on Scriptural teachings. As I grew older, I did what most of us did: I strayed, then returned when I was in my twenties with marraige and children on my mind. I submerged myself in church (yes, church not God) and was soon tripped up when someone stepped on my achilles heel: men and sex. [And I must clarify: the real weakness was the desire for a man in my life. The sex came as a means to this end - but this is the topic for another blog (coming soon)].
So I strayed. After the first few times of giving in to transgression, the guilt was a distant memory and I waded on out into the deep end of it. Then before I knew it, I was knocked down on my back and begging for God's unchanging hand. So He accepted me back into the fold and I dove back into doing church (yes, again, church not God) just to have my old friend show up and step on my heel once more.
But this time, I decided that I would no longer play with God. I'd keep trying to change and working overtime to be the person He wants me to be with no results. I was wasting His time. I began to think that maybe there are just some of us who can't be saved. Some of us that aren't going to make it to eternal life status. But it seemed as if God kept bothering me. Putting stuff on my mind, guilt eating away at me. And the more I felt guilty, the further I extended myself into sin, especially my favorite sin: sex.
I decided to "use what I got to get what I want," that I "don't need no man" and began treating men like conquests just to get the next fix and cover up the real desire burning inside of me. My life played out like a Trina rap lyric.
But God . . .
The Father has a plan for me. He wants my love and he has work for me to do. Now, He could get anyone to do His bidding, but He picked out something just for me, if I am willing. So, He sent someone to my house who spoke some things into my spirit that literally saved my life. And when I prayed through tears that I didn't want to go back to that old life like I've done many times before, He gave me access to books that explained why I kept falling and what I needed to do differently. He showed me that I can't change my heart, only He can. He showed me that I can't change overnight, rather, salvation is a process filled with trials and error. He helped me see that all I have to do is commit to Him, each day when I rise and each night before I go to sleep and He will do the changing for me. After all, if I could change myself why would I need Him?
The desire for sex returned shortly after I got myself on track but it doesn't make me feel discouraged. Because I indulged in fornication, I kept myself from having the one He prepared for me. So, now I must wait for Him to prepare us to meet again and if I'm ready this time, it will happen. During the waiting period, I suffer from the residue of sins past but God doesn't leave me hanging. He uses my weakness to make me stronger. I now surrender, daily, all of my shortcomings, struggles and strifes to my Elder Brother who promised to bear my cross as His own. Yes, I have encountered some opportunities that left me weak, but because I stay "prayed up" I am able to fight off failure until the weak moment passes.
I've said all of this to say, sexual abstinence may be the hardest struggle that Christian singles face. It has been drilled in us for years that it's okay, by our friends, our family and even our churches. But, God forbade it and He never set the law aside. So we must now stand firm on His Word, with His power, and be who He made us to be: "not conformed to this world, but transformed" (Rom 12.2)
Friday, June 19, 2009
I got two mouths to feed. . .
There lives inside of each believer two "men" - the carnal (or natural) and the spiritual. The carnal man is who we are born with, i.e. the flesh that is referred to in the Scriptures as "the old" (2Cor 5.17). The carnal man is steeped in sin. The spiritual man is the "new creation" spoken of in 2Cor 5.17 that is given upon conversion to a life with Christ. Since good and evil can not dwell together, as light and dark can not exist at the same time, these two are at constant war with each other for a place in our heart. Furthermore, just as our physical bodies need nourishment to grow, so do these two men.
I am reminded of two fish I bought my daughter. Every time we fed them, one would quickly eat up all of the food before the other could get any. Soon, the slow fish died from the lack of nourishment and the quick one grew quite large and had the aquarium all to himself. This is exactly what occurs with the two warring men inside of us.
When I fed myself with music, TV, books and people full of cursing, negativity, sex, drugs and greediness, my carnal man grew big and strong. So, it is no surprise that I was living a life of cursing, negativity, sex, drugs and greediness. And because of this life I was depressed, broke, hopeless and alone. When I ran to God for help and began to feed myself with music, TV, books and people talking about Scriptures, hope, purity, cleanliness and giving, my spiritual man grew big and strong. During these times I experienced joy, peace, hope and comfort. But, somehow the carnal man always showed back up.
This is the place I found myself several times during my walk with God. I would start out on fire and soon the flame would fizzle. I figured out that just as skipping meals will starve the body, skipping spiritual meals will starve the spiritual man. Growth is a process that continues until we die. Each day I must make a conscious decision to grow a little more. The Scriptures tell us so: 2Pet 3.18 "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord . . ." Grow is defined as a process meaning something that takes place over time. So even if I am the pastor or the oldest member, I must continue on in the process until the end.
So, when I find myself repeating the same prayers to God or feeling frustrated and unhappy, I take a look at what I'm feeding my spiritual man. Maybe I'm sick and tired because I'm still snacking on the Word when I should be feasting on it. Maybe I'm still in the same economic situation because I'm nickle-and-diming God instead of trusting him to give till it hurts. And maybe I haven't started that venture God placed in my heart because I'm still asking someone else to pray for me instead of praying for others.
I am reminded of two fish I bought my daughter. Every time we fed them, one would quickly eat up all of the food before the other could get any. Soon, the slow fish died from the lack of nourishment and the quick one grew quite large and had the aquarium all to himself. This is exactly what occurs with the two warring men inside of us.
When I fed myself with music, TV, books and people full of cursing, negativity, sex, drugs and greediness, my carnal man grew big and strong. So, it is no surprise that I was living a life of cursing, negativity, sex, drugs and greediness. And because of this life I was depressed, broke, hopeless and alone. When I ran to God for help and began to feed myself with music, TV, books and people talking about Scriptures, hope, purity, cleanliness and giving, my spiritual man grew big and strong. During these times I experienced joy, peace, hope and comfort. But, somehow the carnal man always showed back up.
This is the place I found myself several times during my walk with God. I would start out on fire and soon the flame would fizzle. I figured out that just as skipping meals will starve the body, skipping spiritual meals will starve the spiritual man. Growth is a process that continues until we die. Each day I must make a conscious decision to grow a little more. The Scriptures tell us so: 2Pet 3.18 "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord . . ." Grow is defined as a process meaning something that takes place over time. So even if I am the pastor or the oldest member, I must continue on in the process until the end.
So, when I find myself repeating the same prayers to God or feeling frustrated and unhappy, I take a look at what I'm feeding my spiritual man. Maybe I'm sick and tired because I'm still snacking on the Word when I should be feasting on it. Maybe I'm still in the same economic situation because I'm nickle-and-diming God instead of trusting him to give till it hurts. And maybe I haven't started that venture God placed in my heart because I'm still asking someone else to pray for me instead of praying for others.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Seek me and live . . .
Now this is what the Lord says . . . Seek me and live. -Amos 5.4
My pastor gave us homework for Bible Study: write out a personal plan of action for spiritual growth. He wants us to consider our spiritual lives and discover the areas that need strengthening. As I contemplated my plan I knew the first place I needed to go was The Scriptures. God has given us a complete instruction manual for our lives in Christ and I would be remiss if I didn't use it.
Now, as we discussed our relationship with God during Bible Study, I recalled the one thing that kept me from growing spiritually: a lack of understanding. Although I was baptized at age 9 and grew up in the Church, just a couple of years ago I was prepared to walk away from God for good. I thought that He was wasting His time with me. Every time I got close to Him, something would change and I wound up back in the world, totally immersed and loving it. I knew verses and passages and church etiquette but I didn't know the only thing that mattered: "No it's not I, but the Christ that lives in me."
The first step to spiritual growth is understanding that a changed heart, a changed mind and changed behavior do NOT come from within yourself. God did not say change the way you act and come to me. All He requires us to do is love Him (Matt 22.37), believe in Him (Acts 16.30-31) and He will do the rest. Gal 2. 19 - 21 explains it perfectly . . .
What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily. (The Message Translation)
But how do you let go and let God? Seek Him daily:
Seek the Lord and live . . . Amos 5.6
Seek good and not evil . . . Amos 5.14
Seek first His Kingdom . . .Matt 6.33
Ask . . . Seek . . . Knock . . . Matt 7.7
Seek is defined as strive after, go to, aim at. The Message translation says "Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions . . . Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now. . ." So in order to let God be in control we must immerse ourselves in God: what He's doing, what He's done, what He says and who He is.
When we finally dive into God's presence and let it envelop every aspect of our living, we will then see the Holy Spirit in action, urging us, guiding us, comforting us, calling things to our remembrance, bracing us, calming us and completely leading us down a different path. Our will and desires will begin to align with God's purpose for our lives. Soon we will stop serving God just for the next blessing and start living for God so that we can spend eternity in His presence.
My Spiritual Growth Action Plan
Get in God's presence upon awaking each morning through devotion and prayer
Practice tithing my time in addition to my money
Journal my thoughts, observations and knowledge gained from devotions and study
Pray for others when I feel down or stand in need
Practice being silent before God
(Please feel free to add suggestions or share your plan with me.)
My pastor gave us homework for Bible Study: write out a personal plan of action for spiritual growth. He wants us to consider our spiritual lives and discover the areas that need strengthening. As I contemplated my plan I knew the first place I needed to go was The Scriptures. God has given us a complete instruction manual for our lives in Christ and I would be remiss if I didn't use it.
Now, as we discussed our relationship with God during Bible Study, I recalled the one thing that kept me from growing spiritually: a lack of understanding. Although I was baptized at age 9 and grew up in the Church, just a couple of years ago I was prepared to walk away from God for good. I thought that He was wasting His time with me. Every time I got close to Him, something would change and I wound up back in the world, totally immersed and loving it. I knew verses and passages and church etiquette but I didn't know the only thing that mattered: "No it's not I, but the Christ that lives in me."
The first step to spiritual growth is understanding that a changed heart, a changed mind and changed behavior do NOT come from within yourself. God did not say change the way you act and come to me. All He requires us to do is love Him (Matt 22.37), believe in Him (Acts 16.30-31) and He will do the rest. Gal 2. 19 - 21 explains it perfectly . . .
What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man. Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily. (The Message Translation)
But how do you let go and let God? Seek Him daily:
Seek the Lord and live . . . Amos 5.6
Seek good and not evil . . . Amos 5.14
Seek first His Kingdom . . .Matt 6.33
Ask . . . Seek . . . Knock . . . Matt 7.7
Seek is defined as strive after, go to, aim at. The Message translation says "Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions . . . Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now. . ." So in order to let God be in control we must immerse ourselves in God: what He's doing, what He's done, what He says and who He is.
When we finally dive into God's presence and let it envelop every aspect of our living, we will then see the Holy Spirit in action, urging us, guiding us, comforting us, calling things to our remembrance, bracing us, calming us and completely leading us down a different path. Our will and desires will begin to align with God's purpose for our lives. Soon we will stop serving God just for the next blessing and start living for God so that we can spend eternity in His presence.
My Spiritual Growth Action Plan
Get in God's presence upon awaking each morning through devotion and prayer
Practice tithing my time in addition to my money
Journal my thoughts, observations and knowledge gained from devotions and study
Pray for others when I feel down or stand in need
Practice being silent before God
(Please feel free to add suggestions or share your plan with me.)
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
No, really, it's not okay . . .
It's funny how people react to my declaration of abstinence: slacked mouths, bucked eyes and (yes)shaking heads. I've become the brunt of jokes, the receiver of rejection and (I'm sure) the topic of many discussions. To most of us, sex is essential to life - like air, food and water - and even the thought of going without can make the strongest among us tremble. But there is one thing opposers say that I agree with: not having sex is "unnatural." Wellll, yeah . . .
Not fulfilling my flesh's desire is VERY UNnatural, because the desire itself is carnal, i.e. of the flesh . . .NATURAL. In Galatians 5's listing of the manifestations of the flesh, sexual immorality is dealt with first (adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness) and I am commanded not to give in to the desires of the flesh but to be clothed in Christ (Rom 13.14). Yet - even in the church - fornication is seen as okay, just a minor infraction. Something that God understands and has to forgive.
Yet, when a girl or woman gets pregnant outside of marriage, or two men decide they want to be together, or you see the preacher gambling away the offering, or the Sunday school teacher cusses somebody out . . . we grab our chests in disbelief. We talk about the person who hasn't been to church since Easter and roll our eyes at the dope smokers and club hoppers, but we sit next to our live-in mates every Sunday on the third pew and never even flinch. All because somewhere along the way the world's view of sexuality replaced what the Word says about it in the hearts of believers.
The Word says that none of us who practice unrighteousness will join in His Kingdom
(1Cor 6.9-10). And this passage lists more than just homosexuals, thieves and liars - the sexually immoral are included, too. Rev 21.8 says that not only will the unbelieving have a place in hell, but so shall the whore mongers. So, if the Bible tells us sex outside of marriage is wrong, why do believers think it's okay? Did I miss the memo God sent overriding His Word? NO! God doesn't change (Mal 3.6a) and neither do His principles for our lives.
So, I take a stand for God and His Word. I choose to honor Him with my body by abstaining from sex while I am single. I will be tempted and my fleshly desires will rise up, but I will "stay awake and pray for strength against temptation" (Matt 26.41) and God has promised me a way of escape (1Cor 10.13). Yes, even after two babies and years of indulgence, I embrace redemption and change. And, yes, even if He never allows me to be married, I will live out my life for Christ. Do you really think He won't give me the power to do it?
Not fulfilling my flesh's desire is VERY UNnatural, because the desire itself is carnal, i.e. of the flesh . . .NATURAL. In Galatians 5's listing of the manifestations of the flesh, sexual immorality is dealt with first (adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness) and I am commanded not to give in to the desires of the flesh but to be clothed in Christ (Rom 13.14). Yet - even in the church - fornication is seen as okay, just a minor infraction. Something that God understands and has to forgive.
Yet, when a girl or woman gets pregnant outside of marriage, or two men decide they want to be together, or you see the preacher gambling away the offering, or the Sunday school teacher cusses somebody out . . . we grab our chests in disbelief. We talk about the person who hasn't been to church since Easter and roll our eyes at the dope smokers and club hoppers, but we sit next to our live-in mates every Sunday on the third pew and never even flinch. All because somewhere along the way the world's view of sexuality replaced what the Word says about it in the hearts of believers.
The Word says that none of us who practice unrighteousness will join in His Kingdom
(1Cor 6.9-10). And this passage lists more than just homosexuals, thieves and liars - the sexually immoral are included, too. Rev 21.8 says that not only will the unbelieving have a place in hell, but so shall the whore mongers. So, if the Bible tells us sex outside of marriage is wrong, why do believers think it's okay? Did I miss the memo God sent overriding His Word? NO! God doesn't change (Mal 3.6a) and neither do His principles for our lives.
So, I take a stand for God and His Word. I choose to honor Him with my body by abstaining from sex while I am single. I will be tempted and my fleshly desires will rise up, but I will "stay awake and pray for strength against temptation" (Matt 26.41) and God has promised me a way of escape (1Cor 10.13). Yes, even after two babies and years of indulgence, I embrace redemption and change. And, yes, even if He never allows me to be married, I will live out my life for Christ. Do you really think He won't give me the power to do it?
Friday, May 8, 2009
Lord, Help My Unbelief . . .
In my last blog, I introduced my new struggle: unbelief. The most important thing that God has taught me is that I can not change myself nor will the change occur immediately. I never understood this ideal before and so, in the past when I would stumble and fall, I never even bothered getting up. Now, I am redeemed and have a good understanding of how the Christian walk will go. When I pray for God to search me and remove what hinders my walk with Him (Psalm 139:23-34), He shows me a fault and guides me on how to correct it. Each new "search and rescue mission" is ordered to prune the most pressing issue that separates me from Him. Once that dead limb is gone, I am one step closer and the way is a little clearer. His devine design for shaping me is ordered in a way that ensures growth and prepares me for the next phase of my Christian life. So, now it's time for me to deal with true belief. Even though believing is the first step of salvation (Acts 16: 30 - 31), continued belief and a deep understanding of belief is needed to make it to the finish. Merriam-Webster defines belief as a state or habit of the mind. This definition makes it plain: state and habit both denote that belief is constant and continued. Belief and its synonym faith both imply an assent, or a moving toward something usually after careful thought and consideration. In essence, belief is the eventual forming of a habit of having confidence in someone or something. So, belief in God is the eventual forming of a habit of having confidence in Him after careful thought and consideration. This can only occur with meditation on His Word (careful thought) and acts of obedience to God in return for His acts of kindness toward me (the definition of consideration). In summation, belief is a spiritual muscle that must be exercised in order to be strengthened. Without a strong belief a Christian is doomed to fall. With this, it's no surprise to me that my belief is weak and I now know that this is how God wants it to be so that I will continue to meditate on His word and pray. So, being an unbelieving believer is not an oxymoron. Rather, it's a state I need to be in order to reach my devinely purposed place in His Kingdom. God has plans for me and until I am in place, He can't move. Therefore, I revel in my unbelief so that God can grow me out of it and closer to Him.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
An Unbelieving Believer . . .
How can I believe but be unbelieving? My eyes have seen, my ears have heard, my mind knows . . . but my heart isn't convinced. This occurred to me when I thought about the question my pastor has commissioned us to ask others: If you died today, do you know where your soul will spend eternity? This is supposed to make unbelievers really consider the risk of not having a relationship with Christ. Fortunately, it made me (a believer) consider the same. A couple of years ago, I avoided this line of thinking with the elusiveness prey gives the predator. I was at the point then that I just didn't believe in myself and didn't understand the power of God. I knew I wasn't going to heaven but yet continued in sin. Even at my darkest hours, I knew God was chasing me and I refused to entertain His invite. I begged Him off, literally screaming "Please just leave me alone!" Looking back, and considering my present, the fact that He never relented makes me shout! Yet, that question Pastor wants us to ask others to consider frightens me. I am ashamed to admit it, but I don't completely believe Heaven is where I'll spend eternity. I would like to think that I'll go to Heaven, but in my heart I simply don't believe. So, the Spirit has placed this in my heart, not to trip me up, not to make me doubt God, but to help me learn how to believe. In Mark 9.14 - 27, a man brings his son to Jesus asking for the demons that live in the boy to be removed. The man asked for Jesus' help, but showed his doubt when he said, " . . . if you can . . ." Jesus looked at the man, considering his audacious question, and replied, "What do you mean 'If you can?'" Jesus questioned the father to illuminate the fact that he came to Him for help, but with a doubting spirit. How many times is this happenining between Jesus and me? I seek Him daily, follow the indwelling Spirit, but still wonder where my soul will spend eternity? I go on and on about God and how he has changed me but I still can't believe that I will spend my eternal life with Him. How dangerous it is for me to continue in pseudo-belief! James 1.6-8 says I must believe and not doubt, because doubting makes me double-minded and unstable and unable to receive anything from the Lord. So, I welcome this new chaos that has errupted in my soul so that I can study God's Word for help to remove my lingering foot from Egypt and fully - finally - take my entire self into the Promised Land.
Friday, April 17, 2009
You're up to something bigger than me . . .
My pastor asked us to make a list of things that we do, say, think, etc. that hinder our relationship with God. We are to take these things to Him, surrendering them to God and giving Him complete control over them. It was easy for me to create the list. I am just amazed at how hard it is to surrender them. I have been wrestling with God about the things I want to stop doing and things I want to start doing. Now, many people would say that I need to get some willpower. I don't think that's it at all. What I need is to break my will's power. Doing something over and over that I know I shouldn't is me choosing over and over again to do it - my will's power to make me do it. So, willpower isn't what I need; power over my will is. Paul tells us in Romans 7 that it is our sinful nature that causes us to sin, i.e. our will. We were born into sin, are slaves to sin and this sin yet lives in us. 20. But if I am doing what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it. 25. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin (NLT). Sounds rather bleak and hopeless. At first thought, this is a no-win situation. 23. But there is [sin's] law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me (NLT). God knew sin's power over us and decided the only way for us to conquer it was through our Saviour. And this is the reason Christ died for us. 7. ...for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to [sin's] power. Now we can really serve God ... by the Spirit (NLT). If Christ hadn't died, He couldn't have sent His Spirit, The Comforter, to dwell within us. And without the Spirit, I can not break sin's alluring hold on me. So, once I have identified my hindrances, I must immediately surrender them to God. How? By continually asking God for help in "dying daily" to my sinful nature. By consistently seeking the Spirit and inviting Him to dwell in me. By patiently enduring the chaos created by sin's struggle for control over me, understanding that the chaos I feel is meant to strengthen and prepare me for what God has next. And by continuing to wrestle with God until He blesses me.
Whatever you're doing inside of me
it feels like chaos, but I believe
You're up to someting bigger than me,
larger than life - something Heavenly!
-Sanctus Real
Whatever you're doing inside of me
it feels like chaos, but I believe
You're up to someting bigger than me,
larger than life - something Heavenly!
-Sanctus Real
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Haunted By My Past . . .
I've been wrestling with my past. Crying out to God, "How long will I have to suffer for what I have been forgiven for?" I prayed on this, and God gave me a name: Paul. Paul dealt with past sin, yet he was arguably the most prolific preacher ever. As I delved into his past I realized, who am I to complain? Before Paul was a preacher he was Saul - a murderer, a blasphemer, the chief of sinners, who lived without a conscience. After God lifted him up, he sacrificed and suffered until the end. He left his home, lost his friends, his country and the life that he had planned. What have I lost? He suffered greatly through beatings, stoning, and through perils at sea, in the wilderness and coming up against people who purely hated him for what he had done in persecuting Christians before his conversion. He was a crippled little man whose appearance was less than desireable and he suffered all of his life with a "thorn" in his flesh that God refused to remove. How can my sacrifices and sufferings compare? Then I think of Jesus. He made the ultimate sacrifice! How can I kvetch and moan about the little things I go through, the troubles in my life that I caused, when Jesus suffered and sacrificed for me, and was totally blameless. God has put me where he needs me. He removed my past from his thoughts and is building the woman he needs me to be. Each and every sacrifice, suffering and past mistake is being used by God to further HIS purpose for my life. A purpose that is not aimed at making my life richer or easier or grander, but a purpose that is aimed at making the Kingdom better. Because the ultimate goal is not to have a great life on earth, but to have a holy eternal life with God! Thank you, God, for correcting me. As I celebrate the rising of my Redeemer, help me to be thankful for what he did for me. And if I suffer for what I did in the past, let me count it all as joy. For the day is coming when I shall suffer no more! Bless the Lamb of God!!!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Create in me a clean heart . . .
and keep me from repeating the same mistakes. For many of us, its hard to change. There are things we know we need to do differently, or stop doing completely. I have struggled with habits that I know need breaking. I've wondered why I can't let go of something that I want no part of anymore. Why is an overwhelming desire to stop not enough? I discovered that even though my mind says stop, it's what's in my heart that keeps it going. Realizing that the desire comes from the heart not the mind is what will make the difference. Mark 7:20 - 22 tells us that from the heart comes evil. Pharoah's heart became hard and it was his downfall. The Bible also talks about praying in your heart, knowing in your heart, having a wise and discerning heart and even turning your heart. In essence, all things start with the heart. Asking for wisdom will not propel us to a higher plane. We must start with our heart. Ask God, as did David, to create in us a clean heart (Psalm 51:10). Ask God to search our hearts (Psalm 139:23) to reveal what is there that hinders our walk with Him. Only then can wisdom truly be obtained because just knowing better isn't wisdom; wisdom is the application of God-given knowlege, and before we can apply God's Word to our lives we must first place His Word in our hearts. Surrender your heart as Jesus surrendered His life. Repent and turn away, pray and let God do it (1 Thessalonians 5: 22-24)
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
I just wanna be loved by You . . .
“To abide in Jesus is never to quit Him for another love, or another object, but remain in living, loving, conscious, willing union with Him. The heart must remain in love, the mind must be rooted in faith, the hope must be cemented to the Word, the whole man must be joined unto the Lord. The carte blanche can be given to one whose very life is, “Not I, but Christ liveth in me.” - Charles Spurgeon
I spent most of my life looking for love. I looked high and I looked low. I looked when I was high, usually under the influence of a mind-altering drug such as alcohol and I looked when I was low, usually on the heels of a sudden heartbreak or disappointment. The search stunted my growth and caused even more heartache. I would go out of my way to be wanted, forgetting my future and sacrificing what was best for me. As I look back now, all of the seconds, minutes, hours and days I devoted to the ever-elusive L-O-V-E were wasted time I gave to someone else - something else - that was never meant to be mine. I did as a lot of us do, grabbed a self-help book, went to empowerment conferences, thumped my chest and declared to anyone within earshot that I was changed. I filled the aching silence with homemade CDs singing me into becoming "Stronger" and being a "Survivor", promising myself that I would never again be a "Fool For Love". Meanwhile, I continued to fall into the same hole, stumbling backward two steps, after having just gone forward one. Oh, but God. He gave me wisdom that has changed my life forever, the knowlegde of a personal relationship with Him. Now, I never say never. Yes, I would like to think I won't let it happen again, that I am waiting on my "King" that God has for me. But I know that I am still vulnerable. The first place I'd look when I saw a man was his left ring finger. I'd see every single, decent-looking guy as a potential mate and try to figure out how I can deal with his obvious flaws. So, now, instead of self-help books and listening to pop stars belting out how they love being single, I pick up my Bible and read about an unconditional love that renews each day. A love that meets me where I am and doesn't ask me to compromise. Now, day-by-day, little-by-little, I have grown. Because I give my mind to God, He gives His mind to me. Because I give my heart to Him, He gives His heart to me. And, now my focus is different; what's important has changed. Yes, change is a process and I still check guys out, looking for potential, but I'm not looking for the same things. I'm seeing a man's spirit, his heart - whether he seeks God or self. Has he embraced salvation? Does God want me to minister to him? See, my daily goals are different, I don't just live to survive another day. Rather, I live to be a day closer to God. I have been set free from the bondage of needing a mate and can now focus more on what God has for me to do. In my singleness, God needs me to be working for I am freer to do more for Him without the distractions of dating or the responsibility of a husband. And during the lonely times, the rainy Friday nights or the cold Christmas Eves, God is there to comfort me and remind me of my NOW purpose. I do hope that God will grant me the desire of my heart to marry again but I won't force the issue or manipulate my situation to make it happen on my timetable. I will revel in this season of singleness and honor God with my body in obedience to His word. And even if I never know a man again, it's okay, because at the moment I rise and meet my Savior, that will be the last thing on my mind!
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." - Romans 8.28 (NAS)
I spent most of my life looking for love. I looked high and I looked low. I looked when I was high, usually under the influence of a mind-altering drug such as alcohol and I looked when I was low, usually on the heels of a sudden heartbreak or disappointment. The search stunted my growth and caused even more heartache. I would go out of my way to be wanted, forgetting my future and sacrificing what was best for me. As I look back now, all of the seconds, minutes, hours and days I devoted to the ever-elusive L-O-V-E were wasted time I gave to someone else - something else - that was never meant to be mine. I did as a lot of us do, grabbed a self-help book, went to empowerment conferences, thumped my chest and declared to anyone within earshot that I was changed. I filled the aching silence with homemade CDs singing me into becoming "Stronger" and being a "Survivor", promising myself that I would never again be a "Fool For Love". Meanwhile, I continued to fall into the same hole, stumbling backward two steps, after having just gone forward one. Oh, but God. He gave me wisdom that has changed my life forever, the knowlegde of a personal relationship with Him. Now, I never say never. Yes, I would like to think I won't let it happen again, that I am waiting on my "King" that God has for me. But I know that I am still vulnerable. The first place I'd look when I saw a man was his left ring finger. I'd see every single, decent-looking guy as a potential mate and try to figure out how I can deal with his obvious flaws. So, now, instead of self-help books and listening to pop stars belting out how they love being single, I pick up my Bible and read about an unconditional love that renews each day. A love that meets me where I am and doesn't ask me to compromise. Now, day-by-day, little-by-little, I have grown. Because I give my mind to God, He gives His mind to me. Because I give my heart to Him, He gives His heart to me. And, now my focus is different; what's important has changed. Yes, change is a process and I still check guys out, looking for potential, but I'm not looking for the same things. I'm seeing a man's spirit, his heart - whether he seeks God or self. Has he embraced salvation? Does God want me to minister to him? See, my daily goals are different, I don't just live to survive another day. Rather, I live to be a day closer to God. I have been set free from the bondage of needing a mate and can now focus more on what God has for me to do. In my singleness, God needs me to be working for I am freer to do more for Him without the distractions of dating or the responsibility of a husband. And during the lonely times, the rainy Friday nights or the cold Christmas Eves, God is there to comfort me and remind me of my NOW purpose. I do hope that God will grant me the desire of my heart to marry again but I won't force the issue or manipulate my situation to make it happen on my timetable. I will revel in this season of singleness and honor God with my body in obedience to His word. And even if I never know a man again, it's okay, because at the moment I rise and meet my Savior, that will be the last thing on my mind!
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." - Romans 8.28 (NAS)
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