Everyday

Being a Christian means that you have dedicated your life to following Jesus Christ. In order to do this, you must first believe in Him, what He's done for you, and why it was necessary. Today I want to emphasize something that is crucial: If you have dedicated your life to Him you need to know what He is saying to you. What if I said I had dedicated my life to the homeless, but only visited or thought about them once a week for an hour. Or say I had dedicated my life to playing the violin but picked it up to practice for 30 seconds a day? Is that dedication?

Then why do we as Christians - disciples and followers of Jesus Christ - think we can get away with throwing Him a token prayer once or twice a day and participating in a worship service every week where the only preparation we put into it was ironing our clothing to look acceptable? This is not dedication. It is putting on an appearance or a facade.

God's words to us were made flesh in Jesus Christ, but they were also penned for us to study through the work of the Holy Spirit in men who were dedicated to Him. These Words are our guidance, correction, comfort, and hope: The Bible. It is of utmost importance that we read them.

This doesn't mean you have to spend an hour or two reading everyday - though you sure would learn a lot! Just get into more than someone else's interpretation and same chosen passages. You need to read all of the Bible, not just the sections everyone likes to discuss.

So as this new year begins, dedicate yourself to reading the whole Bible. If you have a very busy schedule or the task seems too daunting, there are plenty of two years plans available as well. I would challenge you though to pick a one year plan and split it in half each day that you don't have time and try to read the full portion when possible. There is nothing to say that it has to be one or two years. You can do it in 1 1/2, 1 1/4, or even in only 9 months! However you choose, dedicate yourself to it in order to listen and learn from the One you have declared your Master, Savior, and Lord.

I've given you a few links to web pages that have different plans to follow. Some are printable so that you can keep it in your Bible and others will email you a section everyday. Enjoy, and may you see God EVERYDAY!

E-Word Today 5 Plans in over 50 Translations
Bible Gateway
ArcaMax Publishing Great Printable Version
Zondervan Bible Reading Plans This one is great with so many options!
Chronological 1 or 2 Year Reading Plan

Sabbath 2010

At the end of the week, God created a Sabbath day of rest. He - in all His great wisdom and love for our well being - knew we needed a day of rest. We need to fellowship, renew, and relax. Our brains and physical bodies even function better when we have taken this rest.

It's the end of the year and my body, spirit, and mind need that Sabbath. My "everyday" with God is going to be nothing more than praise and thanks for the rest He gives me. I am going to finish my read-through-the-Bible tomorrow, and plan on going back and looking at the verses that spoke to me until January 1st. I have to admit, I'm really looking forward to this!

I plan on posting only whenever the Spirit presses me to do so. This means I may not "see" you till next year! If that is the case, I'd love to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year :)

I'd also like to leave you with the new goodbye I plan on using this next year. Instead of ending my letters/emails with "God Bless" I plan on saying something different. I've learned that while God is always willing and wanting to bless us, we often are not ready for it to give Him the proper glory for it, or it just may not be His will the "bless" us in a way we would consider qualifying as a blessing. So from now on - to both Christian and non-Christian alike - I plan on saying, "May you see God today". I want everyone to have no explanation other than God for the things that happen in life. I want us all to see just how much He cares for us and is involved in every aspect of our daily life.

So, until I write again-
May you see God today.

What's the Difference?

Is this you?

Good deeds, kindness, charity, and love for our fellow man is admirable- but anyone can do that. As we go - and do these things - we are to teach them about the real and eternal difference: Jesus Christ.

Without Him, this life is the only "heaven" they, even in this state, will ever know...

Make Disciples

Most anyone who has grown up in the church knows The Great Commission: Matthew 28:19-20...

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the 

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. 

And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

   

We have rallied behind these verses as the battle cry of spreading the Gospel for centuries. And for good reason- We are suppose to spread the life saving good news of Jesus Christ to all the world. My whole life as I thought of mission work in all the nations, it has been that of the old V.B.S. song my grandma had every year on picturesque cardboard: Tell the Good News that Christ has come! Being a missionary meant telling people that Jesus Christ existed.

Recently I realized that this view was way too narrow. 

First, let me say that we are all called to be missionaries of Jesus Christ. The definition of Missionary is, "a person who is sent on a mission", and if you truly follow Jesus Christ your mission is to bring Him glory. We do that by sharing Him with those around us in many different ways- one of which is telling others about Him.

Knowing this, I felt that was what "Missionaries" do, but read the first part of verse 19 again. Jesus said we are to ...make disciples of all nations. Making disciples takes a much longer time, for the one who helps to makes disciples has to invest in people's lives. They have to be there to guide, correct, and encourage. 

Paul was preacher of the Good News. Timothy was a disciple maker. He stayed in areas longer than Paul did and helped to mature the people that region. In fact, that's what the letter Paul wrote to Timothy (1 Timothy) was all about. He was encouraging Timothy in which ways to mature the people he was living with at that time. Many knew about Jesus Christ- Timothy was there to help them know Him personally.

I had been wondering how to explain the calling the Lord has placed on my family's life, and these verses have answered that. We have been called to focus on helping others to know Jesus Christ in a vibrant and personal way. Yes, there are millions around the world who have never hear about Him, and we certainly need more to go to those people groups and share. But there are also millions upon millions who have heard, yet have never been taught how to be His disciple. 

That is what we are called to do.

Mulling

Just as cider does this time of the year, I am mulling over a well known Scripture that I'm seeing in a different - perhaps deeper - light. I planned on bringing it to you today, but don't think it's ready yet. That is the beauty of God's Word. It means so much and is so rich, but yet there are still times we are pleasantly surprised by a new richness. What a Master artist and author He is!

What verses have you been mulling over recently? If you don't have one....find one! :)

Here To There

If I were to say I'm going on a trip to a distant land, what would you say must be done? Some people call a travel agent first while others research it on the internet or call friends who have been there before. Purchasing new luggage of the appropriate size might be a good idea, while using something old and beat up might be as well. Perhaps you think finding maps and tourist destinations is a must, but there are some who believe going with the flow works best. Which ever way you always do it and feel is best, in reality there is only on thing you must do: Get up and go.

Living a Spirit filled life for the glory of God the Father and Jesus Christ is much the same. Some say we are required to do specific things such as tithe 10%, worship in a certain way, or be accepting of some things while disapproving of others.

In reality there is very little that we must do:

He has told you men what is good 

and what it is the Lord requires of you: 

Only to act justly, 

to love faithfulness, 

and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

When we follow these principles of our Savior and Master, it allows Him room to use us in any way He deems best in order to glorify Him. That is how we get from here to There!

Speak Up

Speak up for those who have no voice, 

for the justice of all 

who are dispossessed.

Speak up, judge righteously,

and defend the cause 

of the oppressed and needy.

Proverbs 31:8-9

Take some time today to check out some of the organizations who are already at work. There are several diffferent venues listed that reach out to those around the world. Join one in their effort through support and/or prayer.

Voice of the Martyr
Bibles Unbound (This is one that is very dear to me)
Compassion International 
Soles 4 Souls
People Loving People - This one is a Nashville organization

*Please add a link to any you have a heart for in the comments!!

Joy!

Joy to the world- The Lord is come! Let earth receive her King...

This popular Christmas hymn is a prayer- And a Revelation song!

Just like so much of the Bible, what was and is, will be even more. Here's an example: King David in the Old Testament was the glorious King of Israel who ushered in the golden age of their earthly kingdom which then flourished under his son Solomon. King David was in fact a shadow of their greater King and kingdom to come: Jesus Christ. That kingdom was temporary. Christ's will be eternal. This is just one of many examples the Bible gives us of foreshadowing events.

In the same way, the old carol Joy to the World does the same thing. It sings joyfully of the birth of the Messiah, His triumph for us, and His reign. Yes, our hearts prepared room for Him, our Savior reigns in our lives, His blessings flow, and He rules with truth and grace.....but how much more so when He returns! Praise God for our Lord who IS come!!

Sing through this hymn today. Praise Him for what He has done and will one day do in perfect completion. Joy! Joy! Joy to the world!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Christmas Wish

Christmas is the celebration of the impossible becoming real: God took on flesh and was born a helpless baby for us.  If you think about it, that is ridiculous! Why would He do that? Because He desired a relationship with and loved us just that much.

So instead of thinking about Christmas lists, parties, and eggnog, I'm going to dream of the impossible. With God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26) and Jesus said that if I have faith and do not doubt, amazing things can happen! (Matthew 21:21-22). The key is His will: Now this is the confidence we have before Him: whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for. 1 John 5:14-15

So I want you to dream big in this "impossible to reality" season. Leave an anonymous post with your impossible wish....and let's see what happens. You just might see God this Christmas!

Tearing

We don't make a practice of tearing our clothing when we ask God for forgiveness any more. Though I bet that if we did, we'd take it a little more seriously- or put on something that was worn out. 

The Israelites  use to come before the Lord when asking God's forgiveness and rip their outer tunic as a symbol of mourning what they had done. Though it started out as being done during a time of strong emotion (Gen 37:29, Ezra 9:3, Isaiah 37:1), it is mostly done today only at funerals for Jews and has been reduced to a small portion of cloth or a black ribbon they wear. 

But, why? Why did they do that at all? To show brokenness of self and the need for God to intervene. It was a practice in faith- in essence. Tearing your clothes shows coming to the end of one's self and the need for a greater power - God - to intervene and take care of them: Even to take care of the basic need of covering one's self.  It was a great physical reminder of their spiritual state. But man, as we well know, can take anything and forget the true point....

Tear your hearts,
    not just your clothes,
    and return to the LORD your God.
    For He is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger, rich in faithful love,
    and He relents from sending disaster.

Joel 2:13

We must never forget the point of why we do what we do: Be it saying the Lord's Prayer, reading our daily devotional, giving to the poor, or taking the Lord's Supper. It is our hearts He wants. Not our routine. 

Think about what you are doing with/for the Lord today... and make sure your heart is in it.

When I "Choose To" Think About the Lord

Following Jesus Christ is a choice.

Everyday you choose to pray to Him....or not.

    You choose to read His Word....or not.

    You choose to obey Him....or not.

    You choose to listen to the Spirit....or not.

    You choose to think of Him most....or yourself.

    You choose to give Him....or give in.

Today, I felt horrible.....until I chose to think about the Lord.

Eggs

Do you really believe God works in miraculous ways? I mean to the point you look for it expectantly? 

I've found it's rather like a 365 day Easter egg hunt. I'm always looking for Him to do miracles, but have also learned not to be disappointed when I don't find one. At the same time, I've been taught to not just blow off an "egg" I find by saying it just happened to be there. Seriously, how many Easter eggs would you find lying around naturally? None. They are put there on purpose for just the right moment. 

God works that way too.

Expect to find an egg soon, placed there for just the right moment by a creative and loving God. Then acknowledge it and thank Him.

Coffee Talk

OK...it will actually be tea, and I'll mostly be just listening.

Today I get to meet with a friend I have put off way too long in having a good conversation. I'm so excited! We actually keep in touch fairly well, but unfortunately it's usually in the form of a quick message or chat. I've known him since I was a kid, and though I didn't really talk to him much for a few years, we've always been close. He's so amazing that - to be quite honest - he intimidates me quite often. In reality it's a good thing though because I learn so much from him as my mentor.

I had to admit this to him...He's been trying to get together with me for a while now, but it's just been so busy I kept putting him off. Especially with the holiday season approaching. There is just so much to do! I'm so grateful he doesn't just blow me off completely. Friends like that are special.

We love to talk about Spiritual matters, current and past events, and he has the best sense of humor! Why, I wonder, do I keep putting off a good long talk with him?? Who knows.

Yea... Time to meet!!

Tea's ready, house is quiet, and Bible's open.....

Chewing On It

There is a difficult passage from the book of Luke that recently came up twice in one day. I have to admit I really don't know what to make of it either. I've checked out different commentaries and writings on this passage, but none of them have really satisfied me.

One of the things I have found as most important is to not just look at those few verses - or that single parable - alone, but to read a good section both before and after it. Context can give great clues as to hidden meanings. Next, I'm just going to wait for the Spirit to guide me to a deeper understanding. One possibility is that one way or another I'm just not ready for it, and I need to be ready to accept that. A second possibility is that it's something I need to work out in order to really appreciate or comprehend.

Any way I look at it, ignoring this passage is not an option. So, for the next few days at least, my mind and heart are just going to chew on it.

Want to join me?

The Parable of the Shrewd Servant
Luke 16:1-15 (Particularly verses 8-9)
...The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings... (v.8-9)

Divine Hamburger Helper

God is making hamburger of me today.

He has reached down through His Word and Spirit, taken the little bits of my heart and soul's brokenness, trimmed off the excess fat, and has proceeded to then stuff them into the MEat grinder of correction and discipline.

It's a good thing I know He can take that jumbled mess and make something good.


The LORD is my strength and my shield;
    my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.
    Therefore my heart rejoices,
    and I praise Him with my song.
Psalm 28:7

Just Be Careful

The Lord gave me a very interesting passage to read today considering it's Black Friday here in the USA. I have to be honest and say I really didn't want to put this passage up because I was afraid of sounding too judgmental. Then I realized that really I wasn't. These are God's words- not mine. Yes, He brought them to my attention today, but as a reminder and encouragement to me. I am merely sharing.

God bless you all have I hope you found some great deals. There's nothing wrong with being smart in your shopping!!

 ¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. Because everything that belongs to the world— ¹⁶ the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one's lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. ¹⁷ And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God's will remains forever. 
1 John 2:15-17

King David's Thanksgiving

Didn't know King David celebrated "Thanksgiving", did ya?

Psalm 136
 ¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good.

    His love is eternal.

    ² Give thanks to the God of gods.

    His love is eternal.

    ³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords.

    His love is eternal.

    ⁴ He alone does great wonders.

    His love is eternal.

    ⁵ He made the heavens skillfully.

    His love is eternal.

    ⁶ He spread the land on the waters.

    His love is eternal.

    ⁷ He made the great lights:

    His love is eternal.

    ⁸ the sun to rule by day,

    His love is eternal.

    ⁹ the moon and stars to rule by night.

    His love is eternal.

    ¹⁰ He struck the firstborn of the Egyptians

    His love is eternal.

    ¹¹ and brought Israel out from among them

    His love is eternal.

    ¹² with a strong hand and outstretched arm.

    His love is eternal.

    ¹³ He divided the Red Sea

    His love is eternal.

    ¹⁴ and led Israel through,

    His love is eternal.

    ¹⁵ but hurled Pharaoh and his army
    into the Red Sea.

    His love is eternal.

    ¹⁶ He led His people in the wilderness.

    His love is eternal.

    ¹⁷ He struck down great kings

    His love is eternal.

    ¹⁸ and slaughtered famous kings—

    His love is eternal.

    ¹⁹ Sihon king of the Amorites

    His love is eternal.

    ²⁰ and Og king of Bashan—

    His love is eternal.

    ²¹ and gave their land as an inheritance,

    His love is eternal.

    ²² an inheritance to Israel His servant.

    His love is eternal.

    ²³ He remembered us in our humiliation

    His love is eternal.

    ²⁴ and rescued us from our foes.

    His love is eternal.

    ²⁵ He gives food to every creature.

    His love is eternal.

    ²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven!

    His love is eternal.

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving as well!

Sacrificial:

What would you consider sacrificial giving?

A.  Tithing (10% of your income)
B.   Giving above and beyond your tithe
C.   Giving until you can't go out to eat/movies/fun activity once or twice a month
D.   Giving up the proceeds from one fun activity
E.   Giving even if it occasionally cuts into your regular grocery bill
F.   Giving even if it means no extra groceries that week (Living on the storehouse of your pantry)
G.  Giving only when the Spirit prompts you specifically- no matter the amount or how much it pinches
H.   Giving everything once in a while.
I.   "Other" or "A combination of some of the above"


Sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. And a poor  widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little. Summoning His disciples, He said to them, " I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury. For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed —all she had to live on." 
Mark 12:41-44

It Hurts

There is a physical pain I can't imagine not having when I see Jesus face to face for the first time and beyond:

When I love Him so much it hurts.

The Wrong Side of the Bed

How do you live as a Christian when you wake up to a bad day? I'm not talking about when things go wrong during the day- I mean those days when you not only wake up on the wrong side of the bed, but get up and start you day from there too. How do you give a defense for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15) without giving offense because the hope within you seemed to drain out during your sleep last night?

I'll be honest- that was today for me. And that has been quite a few days over my lifetime. So what do I do? I've been working on that:

1. Be brutally honest with myself first, and God second. We have to admit to ourselves that we are in a foul, depressed, anxious, or ornery mood first, because we often love to throw that blame elsewhere. Then, we need to go to God* with it: It's not like He doesn't know already. There is something about telling Him that in prayer that is a little healing.
   *Hint: When going to God about your foul mood, don't fuss at Him for it, like it's His fault. (Oh, you know there are times you do...) Instead ask Him to give you the strength to change it because you obviously can't on your own.

2. Read your Bible. This is the difficult part because it takes time and you're not going to want to since your are already cranky. Do it anyway. Let some of that orneriness be directed into making yourself read it because you "won't take no for an answer".

3. Play the right kind of music. No, I'm not going to tell you it has to be a certain style, but it shouldn't have ungodly lyrics. If you're not sure if it does check it against these verses - Galatians 5:19-21 - or just pick something else. In our house we call Barlow Girl, "Music to calm the savage beast" for my youngest son. I lean toward movie scores and sounds like Enya. God created us to be musical and we will be for eternity (Just read Revelation), so know yourself. Pay attention to how music affects you and use it to your advantage. (Otherwise you just might annoy yourself even further! Proverbs 25:20 )

The most important thing, is don't stew in it. Sometimes I just want to be in a bad mood, but that is not who we are to be for the sake of the Gospel. I've had to ask myself, "Is continuing to be in a bad mood worth  deliberately disobeying God?" No.

All this is not to say you - and I - still won't have bad days. They will just be fewer and further between. Also, as I struggle to get out of it, I learn even more how desperately I need Him! Remember, He won't leave you there.

The humble will eat and be satisfied; 
    those who seek the LORD will praise Him.
    May your hearts live forever!
Psalm 22:26
Happy are those who keep His decrees
    and seek Him with all their heart.
Psalm 119:2

Amazed

There are some days where I just have to sit back in wonder and amazement at the grace and love of our God the Father, and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

No, nothing unusual has happened. No great "God story" to tell. I am just floored at how mighty and forgiving He is that He could use someone as wretched and weak as me to do so much. Seriously- I know me well. I know what I am capable of and the horrible things I have done: That His glory can shine through in my life is a miracle.

I love that He shows me again and again that He really doesn't think as I do. Just when I believe I've figured out a way in which He works, God switches it up on me! He delights in keeping my faith, not my sight, fresh. How I adore Him for caring enough to do that: Even as I struggle to hang on!

I'm so grateful He allows me to learn lessons at times even before I have to fully endure them. The Spirit is good at chastising my desires and dreams which are being sown in selfish motives. He allows me to ask for forgiveness even before they sprout. I'm just so amazed....

And to think..., He loves you that much too.

Keys

For the last two years I've had a key to the fellowship hall at our church. This building which has a gym on the top floor and a kitchen with a dining room and small classrooms off to the side on the lower level, is separate from the main church building. The only connection is a covered walkway for those rainy days. So for the last two years, I've enjoyed access to anything I needed to get in kitchen area for my classes in the main building.


Yesterday, as I was setting up for our final Bible study class this year, I asked if the back door was unlocked to the main building so I didn't have to walk all the way around with my arms full. As we were walking to unlock it I mentioned that I didn't need the fellowship hall unlocked since I had a key. That's when my friend told me, "It's the same key that unlocks the doors in the main building too."


All this time I had the key to the main building! I can't tell you how many times I walked all the way around, waited for someone with the key, or went in search for someone to unlock one of those doors: And it was in my pocket the whole time! 


Isn't that how we often treat the Spirit within us?


We have full access to God, but we tend to forget that and rely on others to tell us or lead us in Spiritual matters. Books, teachers, and Bible studies are great tools to encourage and challenge us, but we should never rely on them as our main source of hearing from God. We have the Spirit within us! Read His Word and go to Him in prayer- He will guide us. Jesus promised. 


If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever......But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit - the Father will send Him in My name - will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
John 14:15-16, 26

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Ephesians 2:18

Bedtime-N-Bible

I realized last night that reading God's Word every day is a lot like going to bed on time/early.

They are both something you fully plan to do everyday, but things just keep coming up. Sometimes - quite often in fact - you don't get to it because of that one last thing you wanted to check online, or read, or watch on T.V. Any way you look at it, and before you know it, it's an hour and a half past when you said you wanted to go to sleep, the day has flown by, and/or you didn't have any quality time just reading His Word to you. That is when we will often  read a bit sheepishly and then finally lay down...

But you know what the funny thing is? When you lay down to sleep, it feels so good you wonder why you didn't get there sooner? It's the same reading the Bible. You have finally had your Daily Bread and are feeling pleasantly "full" wondering why you didn't read any of it sooner.

Why do I keep putting them off when I love them so much? 
Lord, help me to get to bed early after I have feasted on your Word!

Christian Perfection: by Oswald Chambers

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfect . . . —Philippians 3:12

It is a trap to presume that God wants to make us perfect specimens of what He can do— God’s purpose is to make us one with Himself. The emphasis of holiness movements tends to be that God is producing specimens of holiness to put in His museum. If you accept this concept of personal holiness, your life’s determined purpose will not be for God, but for what you call the evidence of God in your life. How can we say, “It could never be God’s will for me to be sick”? If it was God’s will to bruise His own Son (Isaiah 53:10), why shouldn’t He bruise you? What shines forth and reveals God in your life is not your relative consistency to an idea of what a saint should be, but your genuine, living relationship with Jesus Christ, and your unrestrained devotion to Him whether you are well or sick.

Christian perfection is not, and never can be, human perfection. Christian perfection is the perfection of a relationship with God that shows itself to be true even amid the seemingly unimportant aspects of human life. When you obey the call of Jesus Christ, the first thing that hits you is the pointlessness of the things you have to do. The next thought that strikes you is that other people seem to be living perfectly consistent lives. Such lives may leave you with the idea that God is unnecessary— that through your own human effort and devotion you can attain God’s standard for your life. In a fallen world this can never be done. I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in the lives of others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God’s purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants.

My Utmost for His Highest- December 2, by Oswald Chambers

The Goal Of Our Instruction

I've really been stuck in 1 and 2 Timothy lately. There is just so much richness there! Sometimes I look at the Word and think, "How can I say this any different? There is just no improving it obviously, and any comparison or allusion dulls it!" So today let's just soak in the first few verses of 1 Timothy 1. But instead of reading it as "the Bible", read it as a letter from God to you: It brings it much closer to home. Place your name instead of Timothy's, for the Spirit penned this to you as well. So join me as I read 1 Tiffany...

1 Timothy 1:2-11*

To _________, my true child in the faith.
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the father and Christ Jesus our Lord.


As I urged you.....remain "where you are" so that you may command certain people not to teach other doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God's plan, which operates by faith.


Now the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Some have deviated from these and turned aside to fruitless discussions. They want to be teachers of the law, although they don't understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. 


Now we know that the law is not meant for the righteous person, 
   but for the lawless and rebellious, 
   for the ungodly and sinful, 
   for the unholy and irreverent, 
   for those who kill their fathers and mothers, 
   for murderers, 
   for the sexually immoral and homosexuals, 
   for kidnappers, liars, perjurers, 
and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching based on the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me (and you).


*Everything which is in quotations, underlined, italicized, and placed in bold is of my own doing and not Scripture. They were placed there for emphasis.

Take Some Time To Just Laugh

 A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22


Enjoy :-)

This one gets really good starting with the third guy...

This one is somewhat disturbing....but you can't help but laugh :)

Are Your Lemons Sugar Coated?

Today I found something I wrote about 4 years ago.
What do you think?

Are Your Lemons Sugar Coated?

Have you ever had a fish bone stuck in your throat? Hurts doesn't it? You know it won't kill you that instant, but what if it punctures your throat? Or gets lodged there long enough to become severely infected? Every time you swallow, it sends a searing pain through you body, so you try not to, but instinct has you gulping like a fish out of water. You know you need help, but don't know what to do.

            Now imagine someone passes by and offers you a palm-sized yellow object which sparkles. They tell you that it will get the bone out and save you, and they even offer to let you lick it a little to see if you like it. You try a timid taste and realize it is sweet! That, of course, makes you swallow again in pain, but you now have hope. You thank them profusely, and accept the life saving object gratefully. Beaming over your new treasure, you take a small bite and nearly drop it in disgust: It is horribly sour!  How could that possibly save you? Reasoning with yourself you begin to think that perhaps you are just supposed to keep licking it. As you do, the pain in your throat becomes gradually less, but deep down you know that the bone is still lodged there and that most likely you are becoming numb with pain. Well, nothing is wrong with that, is there? Perhaps that is all there is to it, and it is welcome enough. There is the nagging thought that you still have to get the bone out, so you decide to try biting it once more, but after all the sugar your mouth is coated in, it tastes even worse than before! Now what? If only that person had told you what to expect! If only you knew if it is suppose to be sour! How will this really save you?

Do we as Western Christians even recognize the full flavor of the gospel anymore?

When we are sharing the gospel with others in industrialized nations, do we tell them what they desperately need to know in order to be saved, or are we so worried that they will not be interested that we sugar coat it?  The Lord Jesus Christ never promised it would be easy: In fact, just the opposite. In John 15:20 Jesus says, “Remember the word I spoke to you: 'A slave is not greater that his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you...” ¹ It is not all sour however! Jesus also says in Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” What are we truly more concerned of? This “...momentary light affliction...”(2 Corinthians 4:17) or the eternal?

If a person speaks of God, do we wipe the sweat from our brow and check off one more for the kingdom of God? Don't think that because someone believes that Jesus is the Son of God they are saved. Remember “...the demons also believe- and they shudder!”(James 2:19) Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?' Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!'” 

How can we know then? The apostle John says in 1 John 2:4-6, “The one who says, 'I have come to know Him,' without keeping His commands is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him: the one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.” Is the truth in us and in those we are witnessing to? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

What can we do? We work out our “...own salvation with fear and trembling”, knowing that it is “God who is working in you enabling you both to will and to act for His purpose.” (Philippians 2:12-13) We look forward to the day when we will hear our Master say, “Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your Master's joy!” (Matthew 25:21) Why? Just as Christ, we do this for the joy that lay before us! (Hebrews 12:2)

So, as we share with others that Jesus Christ is the Son of God... “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...”(1 Corinthians 15:3-4) are we giving them sugar-coated lemons, or are we allowing God to make the lemonade?

¹ See also: Matthew 10:22, Luke 21:12-19

A Baby Step In Faith

Now I implore you, brothers, through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to agonize together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf: 
Romans 15:28


We ask for your prayers today as we take a baby step step forward in faith. 


There are so many things in life I do not feel worthy of in the least. What continues to amaze, dazzle, and terrify me is that the Lord my God is so gracious, loving and giving! I feel as though He's asking me to step into the pot of gold at the end of rainbow of my desires. Pray that we will seek His direction at all times. Pray that we will never detour to the desires of our flesh and selfishness, but that we will always be willing to follow Him fully!


Thank you for lifting us up today.

The Hardest Simple Thing

Do you know what the biggest deterrent to a vibrant relationship with God is? The one thing that it must have: Faith.

There is no 12 step, 3 main points, 40 day goal, for Dummies book that will acquire faith for us. There is no proof. There is nothing tangible. It makes no logical sense. Now faith is the reality of what is hope for, the proof of what is not seen. Hebrews 11:1

To be forgiven our sins:
   We must have faith. Matthew 9:2, Luke 5:20
To be well:
   We must have faith. Matthew 9:29; Mark 5:32
To do mighty things for the sake of the Gospel and Jesus Christ:
   We must have faith. Matthew 21:21; James 1:6
To be righteous:
   We must have faith. Romans 1:17; Galatians 5:5

Why?
...for we walk by faith, not by sight - 2 Corinthians 5:7


There is, however, a very important element to goes along with faith which we must never forget...


Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13


It is one of those things we must just accept: Have faith. 
For as Jesus said, ..."But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:32

Some Things Just Fit

A cold, rainy day and a good book.
Sweet Tarts and a Coke go with Star Wars;
   Reese's Pieces go with E.T.;
      A pot of tea and shortbread cookies go with Lord of the Rings.
Marshmallows and a campfire.
Popsicles and a hot summer day.
The beach and coconut scented tanning lotion/sunblock.

A Godly life and persecution 2 Timothy 3:12
Dying and Salvation Mark 8:34, John 12:24-25
Love and giving Mark 10:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:16; 1 John 3:1
Hope and Jesus Christ Colossians 1:27; Hebrews 3:6; 1 Peter 1:3

Motion Sick

Have you ever had motion sickness from swinging? I have, and let me tell you- It's not fun. You can be left queasy for days even after you get off.

Today, my spirit is motion sick: The swing of religion has made me sick to my stomach, but I just can't get off. Why? It's name is Salvation, and the two extremes are Faith Alone and Faith + Works. The problem they have is also the same as a swing's- you can't stay up on either side indefinitely. This debate which has been going on for thousands of years will most certainly not be fully explored in this tiny blog post, but I do want to give you a quick summary:

We are saved by the grace of God through our faith in Jesus Christ alone, but our works are evidence of what we believe.

Ephesians 2:8-9 sums this up easily. If you believe the Bible, you have to believe what it says.
For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift— not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are His creation—created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. (Emphasis Mine)

Our works do not save us and they never will. Our works should come from the overflowing love and gratitude we have for what Jesus Christ has done for us. If there are no works, the question becomes, Are you not grateful enough to do something about it?

If I told my child I loved them, but never took any time to clean their clothes, cook their food, talk for hours, help with homework, cuddle them, or play Sorry! for the millionth time, would they know that I truly love them? What evidence would they have?

Even Jesus had something to say about this;
 ⁴³ "A good tree doesn't produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn't produce good fruit. ⁴⁴ For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren't gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush. ⁴⁵ A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

   

 ⁴⁶ "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things I say? ⁴⁷ I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them: ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn't shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!"
Luke 6:43-49


The point is, your life needs to be evident to those around you that it belongs to Jesus Christ. 


Is it?


*For another great Scripture passage on this read James 2.

The Nerve...

This is amazing! Watch the video then make sure and read the following verses. How beautiful and intricate is His intelligent design: LIFE. We are a testimony down to our nerves!!

How can we even dare to say our heart and words are not connected?

My words [come from] my upright heart,
    and my lips speak what they know with sincerity.
Job 33:3


May the words of my mouth
    and the meditation of my heart
    be acceptable to You,
    LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14


When I was a son with my father,

    tender and precious to my mother,
    he taught me and said:
    "Your heart must hold on to my words.
    Keep my commands and live.
    Get wisdom, get understanding;
    don't forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.
Proverbs 4:3-5


A wise heart instructs its mouth
    and increases learning with its speech.
Proverbs 16:23


But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. These are the things that defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man."
Matthew 15:18-20

People Are Awesome. But God.....!

I've not been able to stop thinking about this video for the last several days. It is amazing what humans are capable of...even without God. Just think of what we could do with Him...

Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God."
Mark 10:27


Do we live like we believe that?

Prayer For One Another

Today I am going to deviate a bit from the normal. This morning I received an email from a a family we recently have made contact with. As I read through it, I was reminded of the parable Jesus told in Luke 11:5-12. He wants us to be persistent in prayer, not that we are to badger God with our requests till we get what we want, but so that we learn to come to Him repeatedly for many thing. He wants us to draw near, and He often uses situations in our lives or those around us to do it.

I have provided a link to the Morgan family blog site below if you are interested in learning more about how God is working in their lives and calling them.

The Morgan Journey
November 1st, 2010

PLEASE CONTINUE to read! This is not your regular monthly prayer letter, but an urgent request for prayer on our behalf.

 Let me (Laura) warn you: This may be the strangest prayer letter you ever receive from us - (stateside, at least).

 It's not a letter I want to write. Not to say that I haven't thought about writing it - or that I don't think it's a good idea. We need for you to pray. But I'm emotionally fragile as I write it. Weary. Discouraged. Emotionally and physically spent.

 For the past six weeks, we have been waging war on head lice in our home. If you've never battled head lice, let me give you a mental picture of the physical toil involved: Daily laundering of every bed linen on every bed. Daily laundering of every towel and every stitch of clothing. Daily drying (1/2 an hour, high heat) of every pillow. Daily vacuuming of every carpet or rug. Daily steamcleaning of every mattress. Daily steaming or vacuuming of the car. Daily cleaning or spraying of furniture. Daily (at least) boiling of every brush, comb and hairclip. And daily picking of nits (which can take as long as 3 hours in one head of hair alone). There are days that we begin at 6:45 a.m. and don't finish until the wee hours of the following morning.

 Typically, a week or two of lice eradication treatment solves the problem (as it did with 3 other families in our church). But we've been fighting this battle on and off for six weeks.

 The hardest part, though, hasn't been the physical work involved. It's been the emotional toll this has taken on our family - and, to be honest, especially me.

 I am so emotionally weary. So weary of worrying who we've accidentally infected. So weary of wondering whether we appear socially irresponsible. So weary of worrying if we've been socially irresponsible. So weary of worrying who might get mad at us. So weary of deciding whether we're "clear" to be involved in social situations. So weary of telling kids they can't do this and can't do that. So weary, conversely, of letting them go when things appear so much better only to discover they weren't as good as we thought. (We have gone to extreme lengths to eradicate the issue, and on several occasions thought we had.) So weary of wondering if I'll ever feel free to hug again. So weary of missing my friends. So weary of not being able to pursue college options with Emma. (There has been no time, and no option of traveling to visit schools.) So weary of not being able to work at raising support. (We had hoped September and October would be fruitful months before the holiday lull.)

And then - so, so terribly weary of thinking about the potentially harmful effects of these pesticides that we've been putting on our children's heads, and our own, as well. (Four times each, we have had some combination of Rid and Malathion lotion on our scalps - and for as long as 12 hours in some cases). So weary of seeing that big, ugly fear of catastrophic health issues raise it's ugly head - especially since I thought I'd seen God bring so much healing in that area.) So weary of negatively impacting my children with my own heavily voiced fears.

I wish I could tell you, dear friends, that I've responded with heroic faith - as one who's worthy of her calling. Oh, I've done a lot of striving. I've mentally reminded myself of all the good things God could be accomplishing through this trial. I've chided myself for being such a wimp when many families I know are going through much more difficult - even tragic - circumstances than this. I've told myself that God is sovereign - that nothing he doesn't ordain can happen as a result of the pesticides. I've battled the frustration of picking nits by praying for a different friend with each 1/8-inch section of hair I picked.

But as I took a few minutes this weekend to read over the e-mailed notes from an Ephesians study I've been attending in Birmingham, I was convicted - saddened - by how unworthy of my calling I have actually lived. In chapters 1-3 of Ephesians, Paul reveals the amazing truths of who we are in Christ and the riches of inheritance which belong to us through that union. And then in chapter 4, he challenges us - based on belief in those truths - to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. (Paraphrasing my wonderful teacher's notes): Paul describes four attributes of walking worthy: Humility (not thinking too highly of yourself); Gentleness/Meekness ("that temper of soul in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting"). Patience/Longsuffering: "the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; it is the opposite of despondency and is associated with hope). And Bearing with one another in love (which only comes as we are rooted and grounded in love through the power of the Holy Spirit).

If you had observed me during these last few weeks especially - and some of you have - you would know that I have been prideful, angry, frustrated, impatient, despondent, hopeless, and unloving.

Would you please pray that I will trust the loving, sovereign hand of my heavenly father?

New treatment

And would you please pray for our efforts thenceforth?

Ten days ago, we purchased $100 worth of natural enzyme products (recommended by a friend who had had success with them). This past weekend, we realized that these products had not been successful either.

Now, after three conversations with our doctor's office this weekend, we've purchased the first of several $75 bottles of medicated scalp lotion - a new, non-neurotoxic product which has no pesticidle ingredients. The doc on call this weekend had had personal experience with this new medication, and also said that their office has had only had positive feedback from it.

Today, we are starting from the ground up. We have packed up the majority of our clothing and toys, are about to begin recleaning everything in the house as outlined above, and are using the new product with the prayerful expectation that it will effectively kill any live bugs. We will follow this with the careful checking and (where necessary) picking of all nits (eggs) on every head - a process which is likely to take as long as five or six hours (and which we'll have to do every day this week). Finally, we'll follow-up with a reapplication of the new medication in a week to 10 days.

Would you please pray for us today and through this week?

• * That this process will work.
• * That the medication will kill all live bugs (there was apparently resistance to the other medications, but resistance is not an issue with this lotion).
• * That we will effectively clean and treat our environment.
• That we'll be able to effectively find all eggs and remove them (crucial to the process, and especially difficult in Emma's curly hair.)
• That God will protect anyone we have inadvertently exposed.
• That our Father will give us the grace to live as ones worthy of our calling - humbly accepting his dealings with us as good; not despondent, but full of hope; and bearing with one another in love.
• That God will enable us (Steven and me) to be the aroma of Christ to our children through the rest of this process.
• That we and Emma will have the physical and mental energy to accomplish what can be done with colleges at this time (essays, scholarship aps, etc.), and that we'll trust God's plan in this area.
• That we'll trust God's timing to raise our support even when we are hindered from being about the work of support-raising. (We were supposed to attend a missions conference and see dear friends at a supporting church this weekend - looks like Steven will have to attend that one alone - another thing you can pray for.)

Someday, I hope to blog about the spiritual insights God's given me through this situation. For now, though, I have energy only to trust that you'll pray.

His together,

Laura (and Steve)