I truly believe that God is in everything and can teach us lessons through everything. That's not to say that He causes everything - our free will has a great effect on that - but He can use all of it for our benefit if we allow and look for it.
One of my favorite ways to see the lessons of God is though kingdom principles in secular society. It amazes me when they are so excited about a "new idea" that works wonders. Most of the time it was written as an instruction 2 to 3 thousand years ago in the Bible. Ah well, proof once again that "...there is nothing new under the sun."(Ecclesiastes 1:9)
Where have you found some kingdom principles in secular places? It's fun to see what and whom God has used to speak to us. What's brought this topic up? A favorite one I've found:
"I find your lack of faith - disturbing." -- Darth Vader
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
It's A Choice
I've had to make a difficult decision: I can't even turn on the computer until I read my Bible for the day.
Now that we have internet at the house, I found that way too much time is wasted "checking" things. I check the weather, my email, Facebook, the weather, the school lunch menu, my blog hits, research on an interesting idea/topic, the weather... It's amazing how I think the weather is going to change in 10 minutes, but i love it.
I was so close to becoming a meteorologist...
With all this time wasted I realized that reading my Bible was sliding further and further down the list. Not good. The Spirit also reminded me of a verse in Mark that talks about how Jesus dealt with a busy and hectic lifestyle. He had taught in the synagogue all day and then had healed a multitude of sick since sundown - since it had been the Sabbath (Mark 1:21-34). Mark 1:35 is the verse that came to me. "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there."
Jesus, after being exhausted from the day and evening before, made sure He put His Father as the first priority during the day. Even if it meant getting up very early and having to go a distance to find a quiet spot. Can't you just see Jesus sneaking past the sleeping masses, stepping carefully and quietly so as not to wake them? Any parent of toddlers knows exactly what that's like. Yet that is the choice He made. Did Jesus have the right to be sleepy and stay on the mat a few extra hours? Couldn't He have just said His prayers lying there? Sure He could, but then His full attention wouldn't have been with His Father.
I want my Father to know I choose to follow Him and hear what He has to say to me each day. That should be my first priority. If not hitting a simple computer button gets me one step closer to that goal, is it really such a difficult choice to make?
Now that we have internet at the house, I found that way too much time is wasted "checking" things. I check the weather, my email, Facebook, the weather, the school lunch menu, my blog hits, research on an interesting idea/topic, the weather... It's amazing how I think the weather is going to change in 10 minutes, but i love it.
I was so close to becoming a meteorologist...
With all this time wasted I realized that reading my Bible was sliding further and further down the list. Not good. The Spirit also reminded me of a verse in Mark that talks about how Jesus dealt with a busy and hectic lifestyle. He had taught in the synagogue all day and then had healed a multitude of sick since sundown - since it had been the Sabbath (Mark 1:21-34). Mark 1:35 is the verse that came to me. "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there."
Jesus, after being exhausted from the day and evening before, made sure He put His Father as the first priority during the day. Even if it meant getting up very early and having to go a distance to find a quiet spot. Can't you just see Jesus sneaking past the sleeping masses, stepping carefully and quietly so as not to wake them? Any parent of toddlers knows exactly what that's like. Yet that is the choice He made. Did Jesus have the right to be sleepy and stay on the mat a few extra hours? Couldn't He have just said His prayers lying there? Sure He could, but then His full attention wouldn't have been with His Father.
I want my Father to know I choose to follow Him and hear what He has to say to me each day. That should be my first priority. If not hitting a simple computer button gets me one step closer to that goal, is it really such a difficult choice to make?
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Embarrassed
Don't you hate it when something goes terribly wrong? That's what happened to me yesterday. I had planned to play a small joke on someone to lighten their mood since they have had a lot going on in their life recently. However, being a woman, I had not thought of the possible implications, and in front of a group of men at church embarrassed myself and another poor, innocent young lady to no end. Ugh. I don't handle that well. I've been in a wretched mood ever since.
That, of course, is when God spoke to me. There is one aspect recently He had been telling me to give up which I hadn't. That played a part in this. I wouldn't have been there if I listened months ago. The amazing thing about God is that He can use our mistakes, that He warned us about in the first place, to teach us another lesson: I forgot how much I fear being embarrassed. Yes, it was a mistake, but honestly it wasn't that bad. But, boy can I beat myself up about it and give up on other things I shouldn't just to avoid being discombobulated.
Then a friend posted this on her Facebook page this morning..
"And (if) My people...respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking My presence, & turning their backs on their wicked lives, I'LL BE THERE ready for YOU: I'll LISTEN from heaven, FORGIVE
their sins, and RESTORE their land to health."- 2 Chronicles 7:14 (MSG)
their sins, and RESTORE their land to health."- 2 Chronicles 7:14 (MSG)
I know this may not seem entirely appropriate for this situation, but I think it works. When we get embarrassed, the first thing we must do is discover the source. "Was I doing something that glorified God or not?" If we were, there is no reason to feel ashamed. We have stood firm for our Lord. "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and that of the Father and the holy angels." Luke 9:26
If we were not glorifying God, then there are some changes which need to be made. This is where 2 Chronicles 7:14 comes in. We must humble ourselves before the Lord....and He will forgive and restore us. I take this to mean our fragile egos as well. How amazing that He can cleanse us of embarrassment!
Being a little embarrassed at times is good for us. It keeps our pride in check. But we must not dwell on it. We ask for forgiveness, learn our lesson, and then let Him keep it.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
It's All French To Me
I am learning French.
The funniest thing to me is I always said that would be the last language I wanted to learn. No particular reason, I just didn't care for the sound of it as much. Gaelic was my first choice, though that doesn't seem to be coming up any time soon unfortunately.
Because of the mission trip my husband and I will be taking in October, our group decided to get some of the basics of the French language down since that is the predominate language. When beginning to listen to the Lesson 1 of 30 CD, I was overwhelmed with the task of learning a whole new language. I felt as though my mouth had been shot full of Novocaine and stuffed full of marbles! However, at the end of the lesson, I could "understand: Je comprends " and say a few simple sentences. Yea! And I had only listened to it 5 times...
As the definition of each phrase was explained to me, I found it interesting that what was a bunch of noises a few moments ago now had meaning. I could hear it and now comprehend. Ah! That is so like the things of the Spirit!
13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 But the natural man does not welcome what comes from God's Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to know it since it is evaluated spiritually. 15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. 16 For:
who has known the Lord's mind,
that he may instruct Him?
But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:13-16
It's funny how we expect the world to act like they know Jesus Christ when there is no way they can truly understand without the help of the Spirit. It's really just a bunch of noise to them. It has no meaning. So our goal is not to make them behave in certain ways, but to introduce them to the best "language class" ever: Jesus Christ! Then as we learn together, our Tutor will teach us what to say.
11 Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don't worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.
Luke 12:11-12
The funniest thing to me is I always said that would be the last language I wanted to learn. No particular reason, I just didn't care for the sound of it as much. Gaelic was my first choice, though that doesn't seem to be coming up any time soon unfortunately.
Because of the mission trip my husband and I will be taking in October, our group decided to get some of the basics of the French language down since that is the predominate language. When beginning to listen to the Lesson 1 of 30 CD, I was overwhelmed with the task of learning a whole new language. I felt as though my mouth had been shot full of Novocaine and stuffed full of marbles! However, at the end of the lesson, I could "understand: Je comprends " and say a few simple sentences. Yea! And I had only listened to it 5 times...
As the definition of each phrase was explained to me, I found it interesting that what was a bunch of noises a few moments ago now had meaning. I could hear it and now comprehend. Ah! That is so like the things of the Spirit!
13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 14 But the natural man does not welcome what comes from God's Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to know it since it is evaluated spiritually. 15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. 16 For:
who has known the Lord's mind,
that he may instruct Him?
But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:13-16
It's funny how we expect the world to act like they know Jesus Christ when there is no way they can truly understand without the help of the Spirit. It's really just a bunch of noise to them. It has no meaning. So our goal is not to make them behave in certain ways, but to introduce them to the best "language class" ever: Jesus Christ! Then as we learn together, our Tutor will teach us what to say.
11 Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don't worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say. 12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.
Luke 12:11-12
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Rich
I had a really neat experience the other day. I had gone into my local grocery store to get some forgotten things on the shopping list and decided to get a fancy flavored water I love and a LARABAR which is the only prepackaged bar I can eat. While getting into my "'Check Engine Light' is not on" mini van, chewing on the fruity bar, and popping the freshness seal on my cherry/mint water, I had an overwhelming feeling: I am so rich.
I'll be honest that being able to get those few luxuries doesn't happen very often. We live pay check to paycheck, but are always blessed by God to be able to get everything we need. Yes, there are many times where we do without, but when it gets down to the last clean set of clothing, there is alway enough to get the detergent. And it's usually on sale...
As I sat there feeling so wealthy, I praised God for it: Thank you, thank you, thank you Father that you have taken us so low that we can be appreciative of the little blessings. I never want to take it for granted- no matter the cost.
Shouldn't we feel the same way about salvation? We have to reach the point where we truly realize to the marrow of our soul that we are sinners deserving of eternal punishment and separation from God. (Revelation 3:17-18) We are as poor and wretched as can be. But, by the grace, love, and mercy of God through His Son Jesus Christ we have the option of being completely cleaned up through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. Once we accept His rule over our lives we are so very rich...
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also.
4 But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, 5 made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved! 6 He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in [His] kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift— Emphasis mine
Ephesians 2:1-8
I'll be honest that being able to get those few luxuries doesn't happen very often. We live pay check to paycheck, but are always blessed by God to be able to get everything we need. Yes, there are many times where we do without, but when it gets down to the last clean set of clothing, there is alway enough to get the detergent. And it's usually on sale...
As I sat there feeling so wealthy, I praised God for it: Thank you, thank you, thank you Father that you have taken us so low that we can be appreciative of the little blessings. I never want to take it for granted- no matter the cost.
Shouldn't we feel the same way about salvation? We have to reach the point where we truly realize to the marrow of our soul that we are sinners deserving of eternal punishment and separation from God. (Revelation 3:17-18) We are as poor and wretched as can be. But, by the grace, love, and mercy of God through His Son Jesus Christ we have the option of being completely cleaned up through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. Once we accept His rule over our lives we are so very rich...
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also.
4 But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, 5 made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved! 6 He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in [His] kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift— Emphasis mine
Ephesians 2:1-8
Monday, May 17, 2010
Second Chances
We serve a God of second chances.
You blew the "I'm perfect" position the first time you sinned (Romans 3:23), so Jesus Christ came to earth - God made flesh - to live out that perfect life for us. He took the punishment for the sins we have committed on Himself as He hung on the cross, had God turn away from Him (Mark 15:34), experienced death for three days, and then rose to conquer death for us! NOW we have our second chance...
Most of us know this. It is the essential essence of our salvation. But did you know He also gives us second to obey Him.
I've heard several stories this week from Christians who felt God leading them to speak to someone or do some task through the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Yet, as so often happens, we've rationalized away that still small voice to carry on with our daily busyness. If we are willing to admit it, what we have done is chosen to disobey God because we were more afraid of being "weird" than of disappointing Him.
Though because of His great love for us and desire to bless us, He gives us second chances. Those are the beautiful stories I heard this week. I truly believe the blessing is not as great when we wait, but at least we still receive a portion. There really is nothing more fulfilling and joyful than giving something in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am so guilty of putting off my own blessings He desires to give me for the sake of excuses.
I'm determined to change that: Though I'm glad He offers it, I don't want to have to use that second chance. Do you?
You blew the "I'm perfect" position the first time you sinned (Romans 3:23), so Jesus Christ came to earth - God made flesh - to live out that perfect life for us. He took the punishment for the sins we have committed on Himself as He hung on the cross, had God turn away from Him (Mark 15:34), experienced death for three days, and then rose to conquer death for us! NOW we have our second chance...
Most of us know this. It is the essential essence of our salvation. But did you know He also gives us second to obey Him.
I've heard several stories this week from Christians who felt God leading them to speak to someone or do some task through the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Yet, as so often happens, we've rationalized away that still small voice to carry on with our daily busyness. If we are willing to admit it, what we have done is chosen to disobey God because we were more afraid of being "weird" than of disappointing Him.
Though because of His great love for us and desire to bless us, He gives us second chances. Those are the beautiful stories I heard this week. I truly believe the blessing is not as great when we wait, but at least we still receive a portion. There really is nothing more fulfilling and joyful than giving something in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am so guilty of putting off my own blessings He desires to give me for the sake of excuses.
I'm determined to change that: Though I'm glad He offers it, I don't want to have to use that second chance. Do you?
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