Confession

Of all the things Mr. Bill does well, a clever sidestep is one of them.  In order to get a straight answer, I’m still learning – after 42+ years – to ask the right questions!  Something rarely heard from pulpits today is what Scripture says about confession yet what is said is quite clear.  "Whoever conceals his transgression will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13).  Aren't we pleased in the process of justice when there is a confession of wrongdoing?  The principle of accountability suits us just fine unless it is between one’s self and God.  Ouch!  We are commanded to confess our sin before The One Who is solely qualified to forgive.  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9).  The ultimate cause and effect - do this and this happens: confess - be forgiven. Confession is quite simply agreeing with God.  I heard an evangelist say one time, "keep a short list of sins."  In other words, confession should be done regularly – at the very point of conviction - immediately. Did your day begin or end with a time of genuine confession?  If not, like me, your list may be much longer than it should be!  Let us make regular confession to The Father part of our daily walk.

Guiding Light

During back-to-back summers many years ago, we visited several lighthouses in North Carolina’s Outer Banks.  I remember well one particular lighthouse, which could only be reached by ferry!  Each lighthouse was structurally unique with its own history, but each one had a common thing: a huge beacon.  That beacon offered a guiding light to incoming ships.  A profound yet often forgotten truth is, “I am a stranger in the earth …” (Psalm 119:19a).  It’s so tempting to live life as if we’re at home.  We navigate the familiar with ease and manage life on-our-own.  I used to think it was only the young who lived like there was no tomorrow – wrong!  "For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come." (Hebrews 13:14).  Navigation in turbulent waters is tricky and many-a-ship – and person – have lost the way, dashed upon the rocks of poor decisions and hard times.  Oh, it should not be so!  God is The Beacon and His Word the Guiding Light.  Are you in turbulent waters?  Are you finding it difficult to distinguish the shoreline?  Open God’s Word, and let His Light guide you.  You will not be misguided!

My Roundabout

Roundabouts – they’re showing up in small towns all  across the country – replacing traffic lights and four-way stops to move traffic along. Even our little town will soon have a second roundabout.  Interestingly, the word roundabout can be traced to Scripture: the Hebrew word “cabiyb” (sä·vev) refers to movement that starts and finishes at the same place.  In its Biblical context, David uses the word to describe God's round about protection when he was on-the-run from Absalom, his son, who sought to kill him. In spite of David’s enemies surrounded him and he feared for his life, he wrote these words: “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about.” (Psalm 3:5-6). Think about it: David was so at peace in God's round about care, he laid down and slept!  There's none better in whom to trust than The One Who knows "when I sit down and when I rise up ... You understand my thoughts from afar ... You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways." (Psalm 139:2-3). Now, I suggest you be keenly alert when driving through a busy roundabout, but we need not fear in this life as we trust our heavenly Roundabout.

Wait - Sing - Watch

My Dad lost sight in one of his eyes at a very young age, so all his life he has lived with a blind side.  While we may have full use of both eyes, we all have a blind side.  You can follow all sound advice, cross every “t” and dot every “i” as best you can, yet still be blind-sided by the unexpected.  Wave after wave of disbelief, questions, anger, disappointment and anxiety can easily have you gasping for breath and courage to move forward. Through the pen of David, God said, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? … My heart will not fear … For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter … He will set me high upon a rock.” (from Psalm 27).  Because He is [completely] Sovereign, there are no blind sides with God.  As Pastor Tony used to tell us, “Nothing ever occurs to God” – the Omniscient (all-knowing) One is never surprised or blind-sided.  What is the Christian’s response to these times?  “Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14).  As we wait for God’s light and salvation safely hidden in His shelter, “I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.” (V.6).  Waiting in the dark is tough and it’s uncomfortable yet it is the way of trusting as we watch and wait on God to bring to pass His best in our lives.  Are you in the dark right now – in a place where you can’t see the way forward?  As you trust Him, wait – sing - watch.

Selah Days

In the daily flow of life, there's often little pause. Even here, in our empty-nest days, Mr. Bill and I find only brief moments of pause.  Scripture repeatedly uses a word: Selah or pause, and think of that. In David's Psalm 24, he applies an amazing title to Almighty God - the King of Glory.  Such a title should compel Believers to flock to and long for His Presence.  In reality, as a people, we are driven to many things other than Holy God.  If we are totally honest, we give the Holy One and holy things little attention during the course of a day.  Psalm 42 says, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the Living God …” (V. 1-2a).  Dare we admit to possessing such intensity for God?  I suggest, rather, we stumble in this because we do not have a proper view of this King of Glory.  David writes: “Who is this King of Glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of Glory. Selah.” (Psalm 24:10).  Perhaps David had a good grasp on Who God is and how God longs to be known among men: yes, King of Glory and King of all the other things to whom and what we give undue attention and allegiance.  Let us pause and consider God – the King of Glory; pause again and again, making Selah the way of our days.

Fit for The King

Admittedly, not an expert on the nature of cats but having had a few as pets, I know they do not like to be wet.  One of my favorite little-Danny pictures is of him trying to share his kiddie pool with the family cat. That did not end well.  I’m evermore amazed at the intensity of the struggle for a pure heart!  In the Word, unceasing prayer, a healthy diet of Christian music and faithfulness to hear sound preaching and teaching – still the struggle persists.  Psalm 24 describes the one who is able to stand in holiness before God, and in Verse 5 I found the key (my aha moment): “He shall receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his Salvation.” (Psalm 24:5).  The [good and honorable] diligent pursuit of holiness – study, prayer, fellowship, etc. – are all practices of excellent, however, it is God’s Grace that makes holiness possible in my life.  Paul wrote, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10).  The motion or ritual of good habits produces nothing in me – it is God and the Holy Spirit through Christ the Son Who use those acts of faithful obedience to bring about holiness and make me fit to stand before the “King of Glory” (V.8). 

I’m not sure a cat came be taught to love water, but I’m sure it is only the Power and Presence of the Triune God Who can change the wretchedness of me into the beauty of holiness.  What a relief that is!

Silence

Some people can’t handle silence: there must be sound!  Silence, however, is just what God gives to us at times. God said “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10).  How we love to know God but [oh my] how we struggle to be still.  Most Christians - including myself – miss God because we mistake His silence as no response.  When He received word of Lazarus’ illness and the urgency He come at once, Jesus “stayed two more days in the place where He was.” (John 11:6).  The urgencies of this life often conflict with what God is revealing to and in us.  God is Sovereign in all things, including His silence, and that silence may just be His answer.  Oswald Chambers writes God’s “stillness is contagious.”  Instead of avoiding silence altogether, why not understand it as the right moment to hear Him – His Voice?  It’s the perfect exchange – our stillness for His sound.  I’m confident silence could quickly become some of the greatest moments of our lives. 

Tell the Tale

What a great yard man we have!  He does a fine job of keeping the grass mowed, weeds cut, bushes trimmed and plants watered.  Occasionally, he fertilizes things that need it.  Have you ever thought about how well we promote spiritual weeds – even fertilize them – rather than work to eradicate them?  What farmer takes pride in a hearty crop of weeds?  We're wise to ask ourselves this question: on a scale of 1-10, how does the pursuit of righteousness score?  Ah, the answer is very revealing!  In the parable of the sower, Jesus presented four scenarios where seeds fell: "... some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up ... some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth and when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away ... some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them ... other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit ..." (Matthew 4-8).  While it is God Who brings forth spiritual harvest in the Believer's life, we must be diligent in personal disciplines - careful with the selection of spiritual nutrients!  The psalmist relates poor choices to personal shame: “May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, so that I will not be ashamed.” (Psalm 119:80).  These words certainly sound like one who chooses to grow righteousness rather than sinfulness.  Not always easy, but such simple decisions change who we are and can alter circumstances and outcomes.  Are your personal choices growing righteousness or fertilizing weeds?  The harvest will always tell the tale!

Old Man

What makes you cringe or blink or gasp?  Referring to a parent or spouse as the “old man” or “old woman” never seems quite right. Apostle Paul, however, wrote about the old man, but not in a disrespectful way. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6:6).  All – and only – because of Jesus, Christians are freed from the old man or sinful nature, and this is good news!  No more are we chained to the reign of sin in our lives.  This freedom gives us all we need to live the new life in Christ. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).  This is particularly exciting because as Believers, we don't have to remain chained to bad habits or plaguing failures or a regretful past.  The old is behind us and the new in front of us.  Yes, the old man wiggles and squirms to stay alive in us, but "greater is He Who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4).  Aha!  Knowing these things, it’s perfectly okay - actually very fitting - to say: In Jesus’ Name, be done old man!

Old Man

We all have pet peeves; you know, those things that make us cringe or blink or gasp.  Referring to a parent or spouse as “old man” or “old woman” never seems right. Apostle Paul, however, wrote about the old man, but not in a disrespectful way. “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6:6). All – and only – because of Christ, Christians are free of the old [man] or sinfulness; no longer are we chained to the reign of sin in our lives.  This freedom – because of Christ’s death and resurrection – make us free to live in newness of life.  “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).  This is terribly exciting news to Believers: we aren’t chained to the old ways or past – we live in new.  We must, however, make a daily deliberate choice to embrace the new to rule over the old man.  In this case, it’s perfectly okay to say: In Jesus’ Name, be done old man! 

Guardrails

Drivers pass them daily, giving little thought to their presence; nonetheless, guardrails are placed strategically for drivers’ protection: perhaps because of a deep ravine or a lake or river – guardrails serve a specific purpose.  Likewise, Christians should wisely consider spiritual guardrails to safeguard personal holiness.  Personally, I desperately need calculated parameters to restrict my wandering heart.  As a couple and as parents, Mr. Bill and I [long ago] established some guidelines by which we would make decisions.  At times and to some people, these rules seemed unrealistic and impractical, but the steering concept came from Scripture: “come out from among them and be ye separate.” (2 Corinthians 6:17).  The short and simple – don’t live by the world’s standards – be different according to God’s precepts.  I love how the prophet Jeremiah puts it:  “I did not sit in the circle of merrymakers.” (Jeremiah 15:17).  Sometimes we notice guardrails along the road are scarred from one who came too close or the guardrail broken where a vehicle did not heed the warning.  Spiritual guardrails seem unnecessary and of little consequence to those who aren’t following God’s directive, “be ye holy for I am holy.”  (Leviticus 11:44, 1 Peter 1:16).  Eighteenth Century hymn writer, Robert Robinson penned these powerful words of truth: “Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter bind my wand’ring heart to Thee … Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it – Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it – Seal it for Thy courts above.”  Don’t you see?  We need spiritual guardrails!  Do you have any?  If not, prayerfully consider creating some practical ways to keep your heart safe and make steer your heart toward holiness.

Boost

Cold and flu season is upon us!  It’s the time of year we typically boost our physical immunity to ward-off [as one of my girls puts it] the nasties.  Equally important, Believers should increase their spiritual immunity to sin’s unrelenting attacks.  Scripture tells us to “above all else, guard your heart” (Proverbs 4:23), and this 24-7 task involves more than just soaking in the Word of God: it includes avoiding septic spiritual germs.  In her book, Holiness – The Heart God Purifies, Nancy Leigh DeMoss writes: I am not (and never will be) so “spiritual” as to be immune to ... sin. Alarmingly, many Christians don’t see the impact on their hearts of their entertainment choices!  The influence of the movies and television shows we watch, the books and magazines we read, and the music we listen to either boost or weaken our spiritual health.  That’s why God said in Romans 13:14, “make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires.” With unrelenting due diligence, we are to be intentional in our choices to increase in spiritual strength.  Consider today how you will be obedient unto Christ, and weather sin’s open season on your heart!

Chokers

A popular piece of jewelry in the 70’s was the choker.  Even I, who care more for what I like than what is popular or fashionable, [yes] even I had a choker or two.  Rightly named for its snug fit around the neck, I wonder how many things choke us spiritually, rooting out holiness from our lives.  It could be entertainment or work or daily busyness or relationships – there are many. God said through His servant Paul, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Romans 13:14).  If we’re trying to give up chocolate, it makes perfect sense to stop buying it: make no provision – remove the temptation and opportunity to fail. To promote holiness, we must take decisive action – make determined and disciplined decisions – to remove the things that have become chokers of righteousness.  Do you have a choker or perhaps two?  Ask God to help you deal with it, and watch holiness flourish. 

Weed Control

Whether you call it a weed eater or a weed trimmer or a weed whacker, it has one purpose – to cut weeds.  Everyone who tends a garden or a yard knows how important weed control is and what a disaster it can become when they are ignored.  Did you know holiness and sinfulness cannot co-exist in the Christian’s life?  One or the other dominates!  Like unchecked weeds, sin overtakes holiness when left unrestrained. Now, Mr. Bill routinely sprays weeds with something that actually kills them, and that’s exactly what God says we are to be actively doing to sin in our lives: “… if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13).  Like weed control, it’s a daunting task to which we must be diligent. Oh, the abundant and joyful rewards of holy living!  Next time you hear the sound of a weed eater, give serious thought to how well you’re managing the spiritual weeds in your heart.

Live Contrary

We don’t hear the word contrary much anymore but when Mama said to me “don’t be so contrary,” I knew her meaning: don’t be so stubborn and defiant.  She was talking about my general attitude!  There is, however, honor in contrariness with regard to holiness: “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22). To perversely disagree or do the opposite of what is expected or desired – to be contrary – is exactly what Paul admonishes Believers to do.  Live in opposition to your sinful nature and what the world encourages.  Christians must not embrace the if it feels good, do it or follow your heart or it’s your life, live it philosophies.  A true disciple of Jesus Christ rejects the world’s pattern of thinking and lives in contrast – contrary – to the world.  Very simply, we exchange sinfulness for holiness.  Oh, yes, I knew exactly what Mama meant – shape up, girl, change your attitude.  Nonetheless, contrary living – rejecting the world’s way – honors God and is exactly to that which Christians are called.  Prayerfully, by God’s Grace, live contrary.

Right Focus

Focus!  If we were horses, we could wear blinkers (sometimes called blinders) to keep our eyes on one thing.  Have you ever determined early in the day to concentrate on being a kinder-gentler-better you?  How’d that go?  God said, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8). The truest and deepest love – from God through Christ – produces amazing results: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control …” (Galatians 5:22-23a). Quite simply, we must be Spirit-focused and not fruit-focused. This is the only way these desirable traits of the Spirit come to us – “This is the word of the LORD … 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6).  We will never, in our own strength, manufacture Spirit qualities; only the Spirit can do this, and will do this!  Let us make sure our focus is spot-on: adjust the spiritual lens and bring into spiritual sight His Spirit then walk in It.