Join me in getting out the steel-toed shoes today.
We're both going to need them.
For those whose lives are according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those whose lives are according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit....Those whose lives are in the flesh are unable to please God.
Romans 8:5, 8
OK. That's tough to digest, but vague enough not to feel too guilty, right? So let's read the next set of verses defining the things of the flesh and of the Spirit:
Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar about which I tell you in advance - as I told you before - that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:19-23
Please take some time on the following, as I am.
I'm going list those again. As you read it, I ask that you first define each one. Then ask the Spirit to help you be completely honest and open with yourself about whether it is something that you "think on". After that, compare what the Spirit has shown you about what you dwell on which is of the flesh and which is of the Spirit.
Of the Flesh:
Sexual Immorality
Moral Impurity
Promiscuity
Idolatry
Sorcery
Hatreds
Strife
Jealousy
Outbursts of Anger
Selfish Ambitions
Dissensions
Factions
Envy
Drunkenness
Carousing
Anything Similar
Of the Spirit:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faith
Gentleness
Self-Control
I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Dentist
My son, Elijah, broke his only two adult teeth yesterday. As we came home that afternoon, the kids went up on the deck and asked for the keys to get in the house. Since I had my hands full with groceries and other stuff that accumulates in your vehicle, I threw the keys up on the deck for them to catch. They raced to see who could catch them first and, well... Elijah's teeth won. One is just chipped along the top, but the other has a wedge missing right down to the gum in the back. At least he suffers well.
After giving him a little while to calm down, he tried eating some Jello to see if it would hurt. Since that was fine, I gave him something warm to drink to see if temperature would bother the tooth. Luckily, no pain there either. I began hoping we had dodged the bullet and could wait a little while till his dentist got back from vacation. About an hour later I made them a sandwich to eat on the way to church. That did it. He yelled and smacked his hand over his mouth in surprise. I know that feeling- a nerve had been touched.
So, guess who's at the dentist this morning with his dad? Praise God for brothers in Christ who go to the same church and just happen to be dentists... I won't worry about Elijah at all.
I know what you are thinking: So what does this have to do with living a Christ centered life? What lesson could I possibly learn from a broken tooth? Well, I'm glad you asked...
It started me thinking about how random an act his teeth breaking with a set of keys was. Seriously, those teeth had been hit many times before by brothers, walls, and balls. Another thing is we even tested to see if a nerve had been hit - Not throughly, but cautiously - and just as we started to feel free and clear, Ouch!
This is what it reminded me of:
There are times in our walk on this earth where Christians, who are clearly un-perfected as of yet, will be hit out of the blue with a sin that we thought we, or those around us, had resisted with no problem over and over with before. That's just Satan's way. He will chip and chip away will he gets a break. I'm not talking about a little slip up either. Other times it involves a huge "crazy, random happenstance" that may not even be the result of sin, but produces in us a doubt of God's sovereignty or love for us.
Any way it comes, we are left broken with nerves exposed.
Often we test the waters of our new pain with the little hurdles of life. We may even pass them with flying colors, but when life's big sandwich comes along... The sin temptation, the unexpected happenstance #2, the inability to ignore the pain any longer... we need to go to The Dentist.
I guess what I'm trying to say is this: When you break your "teeth" in life, don't try to fix it on your own or say it's not really that bad. Just go to The Dentist immediately. He's the one who made them anyway.
After giving him a little while to calm down, he tried eating some Jello to see if it would hurt. Since that was fine, I gave him something warm to drink to see if temperature would bother the tooth. Luckily, no pain there either. I began hoping we had dodged the bullet and could wait a little while till his dentist got back from vacation. About an hour later I made them a sandwich to eat on the way to church. That did it. He yelled and smacked his hand over his mouth in surprise. I know that feeling- a nerve had been touched.
So, guess who's at the dentist this morning with his dad? Praise God for brothers in Christ who go to the same church and just happen to be dentists... I won't worry about Elijah at all.
I know what you are thinking: So what does this have to do with living a Christ centered life? What lesson could I possibly learn from a broken tooth? Well, I'm glad you asked...
It started me thinking about how random an act his teeth breaking with a set of keys was. Seriously, those teeth had been hit many times before by brothers, walls, and balls. Another thing is we even tested to see if a nerve had been hit - Not throughly, but cautiously - and just as we started to feel free and clear, Ouch!
This is what it reminded me of:
There are times in our walk on this earth where Christians, who are clearly un-perfected as of yet, will be hit out of the blue with a sin that we thought we, or those around us, had resisted with no problem over and over with before. That's just Satan's way. He will chip and chip away will he gets a break. I'm not talking about a little slip up either. Other times it involves a huge "crazy, random happenstance" that may not even be the result of sin, but produces in us a doubt of God's sovereignty or love for us.
Any way it comes, we are left broken with nerves exposed.
Often we test the waters of our new pain with the little hurdles of life. We may even pass them with flying colors, but when life's big sandwich comes along... The sin temptation, the unexpected happenstance #2, the inability to ignore the pain any longer... we need to go to The Dentist.
I guess what I'm trying to say is this: When you break your "teeth" in life, don't try to fix it on your own or say it's not really that bad. Just go to The Dentist immediately. He's the one who made them anyway.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
For You
I read over a Scripture the other day that spoke to me enough so that I wrote the reference down on my, "I need to research this more" list. And as I sat here today asking to Lord what I should write about He kept bringing it to mind. The funny thing is that as I read over it again, I can't seem to remember what was so clear and profound to me then. I have no idea. It's a great passage and I see a lot of truth and possibilities here to talk about, yet the particular one He brought to me before remains elusive.
Why? I asked. That's when a sweet whisper came to me. "Because it is meant for someone else this time."
So, here you are. This Scripture is for you.
Romans 6:12-14
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace.
Why? I asked. That's when a sweet whisper came to me. "Because it is meant for someone else this time."
So, here you are. This Scripture is for you.
Romans 6:12-14
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Are You An Unseen Threat?
I found a quote today that I love.
Are you certain, however, that you are a threat in the right area? I honestly believe we are all a threat on one side of the gate or the other. Make sure you are aware of your choice.
I choose to be like Christ Jesus:
Be a lamb to people.
Be a lion to the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)
"Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the ground each morning the devil says, 'OH CRAP, SHE'S UP'!"
Are you certain, however, that you are a threat in the right area? I honestly believe we are all a threat on one side of the gate or the other. Make sure you are aware of your choice.
I choose to be like Christ Jesus:
Be a lamb to people.
Be a lion to the spiritual forces in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)
Monday, July 26, 2010
Happy Is The Man
What makes you happy?
Perhaps a day away with friends, a fine meal, a good book, a new tune, or lying by the pool. There are many things in this life that we would say make us happy. My personal favorite is to have the house all to myself on a cold, rainy day with nothing to do but drink a pot of tea and read a good book.
Just the thought makes me happy...
As Christians there is something else that should make us happy- God says so in His Word! This one, however, we tend to use our selective forgetfulness on. It's His discipline of, and instruction to, us.
Lord, happy is the man You discipline
and teach from Your law
to give him relief from his troubles
until a pit is dug for the wicked.
Psalm 94:12-13
If you notice, happiness comes as two-parter. The first is His discipline. Remember, He disciplines those He loves as a father does for a child He dearly loves (Proverbs 3:12). That is His part.
Second though is dependent on some action from us; To be taught from His law. His Word. In order for this to happen, you have to be in the Word, reading and meditating upon it. Then will He teach you from it. There is even a way for us to learn quickly in these situations. When we read the Bible on a daily basis we are hiding/treasuring His Word in out hearts so that we won't sin against Him (Psalm 119:11)- but if we do sin, the Spirit can bring it to mind more quickly.
When trials or discipline come, do your part. Get in the Word and humble yourself before God. Then - and I truly believe only then - will you experience happiness. He promised...relief from all his(our) troubles, until He settles the account with them on His own.
He promised. And you can take Him at His Word.
Perhaps a day away with friends, a fine meal, a good book, a new tune, or lying by the pool. There are many things in this life that we would say make us happy. My personal favorite is to have the house all to myself on a cold, rainy day with nothing to do but drink a pot of tea and read a good book.
Just the thought makes me happy...
As Christians there is something else that should make us happy- God says so in His Word! This one, however, we tend to use our selective forgetfulness on. It's His discipline of, and instruction to, us.
Lord, happy is the man You discipline
and teach from Your law
to give him relief from his troubles
until a pit is dug for the wicked.
Psalm 94:12-13
If you notice, happiness comes as two-parter. The first is His discipline. Remember, He disciplines those He loves as a father does for a child He dearly loves (Proverbs 3:12). That is His part.
Second though is dependent on some action from us; To be taught from His law. His Word. In order for this to happen, you have to be in the Word, reading and meditating upon it. Then will He teach you from it. There is even a way for us to learn quickly in these situations. When we read the Bible on a daily basis we are hiding/treasuring His Word in out hearts so that we won't sin against Him (Psalm 119:11)- but if we do sin, the Spirit can bring it to mind more quickly.
When trials or discipline come, do your part. Get in the Word and humble yourself before God. Then - and I truly believe only then - will you experience happiness. He promised...relief from all his(our) troubles, until He settles the account with them on His own.
He promised. And you can take Him at His Word.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)