Life Manual

It's [fairly] safe to conclude everyone has an interest in what is relevant to our lives - that which is closely connected-applicable-appropriate.  Just think about how often we remove out-dated or out-grown clothes from our closets! Here's what we know about the Word of God: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8). Just a few days ago, in my doctor's office was a counter display of a book titled "Life Manual." Curiously, I picked it up, opened it to find it was a New Testament!  It's title "Life Manual" could not have been more accurate! Every answer to every question, every solution to every problem, every help for every struggle, every as well as the Salvation for our souls is presented in Scripture.  Yes, the Bible is indeed relevant to our lives. Read it daily!

Good For You

There's really no excuse for us not knowing these days the things that good for us and the things bad for us. The psalmist wrote these words in Chapter 73, which continually resound in my mind: "It is good for me to draw near to God." (Psalm 73:28a). Just like the discipline of making good choices for the body, choosing good things for the heart and mind is absolutely-completely vital to a healthy spiritual life and a close relationship with God. Are you experiencing an unexplained distance from The Father? To be sure, it isn't Him Who has moved.  Choose wisely - draw near to Him - it's good for you!

Response to Truth

A Borrowed Blessing from A. W. Tozer, The Set of the Sail

"Our response to truth should be eager and instant. We dare not dally with it; we dare not treat it as something we can obey or not obey, at our pleasure. It is a glorious friend, but it is nevertheless a hard master, exacting unquestioning obedience. The true follower of Christ will not ask, "If I embrace this truth, what will it cost me?" Rather he will say, "This is truth, God help me to walk in it, let come what may!"

See-See

Along with the Grands, I've learned the sign [language] for "done," which aptly translates "done-done."  Scripture tells us there are many who do not see-see: how is it possible to see but not see?  "The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4).  In John 9:5, Jesus Himself said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world."  Jesus promptly "spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay." (V.6).  Before you say "oh, yuck," consider the ultimate richness of Christ making the blind man to see-see - giving him both physical and spiritual sight! While Satan is persistent and effective at blinding people to the Godly Truth, he is no match to Christ Who remains the Light of the World and desires that all see Him as such.  I encourage you to be faithfully and diligently devoted to a life of personal holiness so that Christ's Light shine in and through us. We never know - we just might be what God uses to help others see-see.

Note: I'm having eye surgery today, and will be away for [what I hope is] a short time. MWB will return soon.  Stay in The Word.​

Fire-Ant Faith

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If you have never stumbled into a bed of fire ants, consider yourself blessed!  Those almost
microscopic creatures quickly send trespassers into a fire-ant dance! The Prophet Jeremiah was speaking of an intense faith when he wrote these words, "Sometimes I say to
myself, 'I will forget about the Lord. I will not speak anymore in His Name.' But then His message becomes like a burning fire inside me." (Jeremiah 20:9)  Can't you just hear Jeremiah's fervor! It's sad how Christians often get more worked-up at a football game or a BOGO sale than over the Greatness of God.  Believers need a hearty dose of Jeremiah's intensity for God.  Those [of us] who have

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done that fire-ant dance well understand urgency and excitement. Oh, that we possess a "fire-ant" faith that compels us to share Christ as we go. Maybe we'll look a little differently at those fire ants from now on ... from a safe distance, of course!​

Be Amazed!

​Is there anything more amazing than the night sky or hummingbirds feeding or a mother doe watching over her fawn?  All these I often see from my porch swing - and yes, I'm deeply amazed!  Genesis 1:31 says, "And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day."  A. W. Tozer calls the Old Testament a "marvelous rhapsody" on creation.  Men such as Moses, Job, David, Isaiah - holy and godly men - revealed in their ancient writings that they "were intensely in love with every natural beauty around them. But always they saw nature as the handiwork of an all-powerful, all-wise, glorious Creator." (Tozer).  To attribute the natural world's beauty and wonder to any other deity or beginning is to profane and insult The God of the Universe.  Take another look at Scripture - Take another look at the natural world - Be amazed once again! ​

Engineered By Christ

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A spoon full of sugar may help the medicine go down, but Ella-girl

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(Grand #1) will tell you
it

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makes her wild! 

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Consider this profound truth:

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God is the source of Godly fruits.  "The fruit of the Spirit is love,

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joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such

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thins there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23.  Try as we will, we cannot manufacture patience – it

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eventually wears thin and out; we cannot produce peace – eventually a warring spirit

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emerges

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;

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we cannot control self – eventually all control is lost.

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The benefits and risks of GMOs (genetically

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modified organisms) is debated.  While things occurring outside of nature

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are suspect, there is nothing suspicious about what is
spiritually modified by Almighty God.  Left

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to ourselves

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we

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cannot

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bear Godly fruit; we bear only fruit

​produced

from the natural-sinful man: hate, hostility and such as fill

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daily news feeds.

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Much like

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too much sugar

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for

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Ella

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,

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life apart from God

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carries huge risks

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- actually, it's deadly

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.  "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the

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desires of the flesh." (Galatians 3:16).  When we are

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spiritually engineered by Christ, the fruits

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of His Spirit emerge and we walk accordingly with The Father and with others.

​ It's a good question to ask ourselves:of the fruit in my life, who's the engineer?

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Wear It Well

​Who doesn't love to be showered with good things! Every born-again child of God has immeasurable reason to be delightfully grateful for all He lavishes upon us.  "Do not forget any of His benefits ... [God] Who forgives all your sins ... Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercy ... Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle." (from Psalm 103:1-5, AMP). Repeatedly, David says, "Bless the LORD" - affectionately praise Him (V.1, 2, 20, 21, 22). Blessing Him, we remember and acknowledge He is the Source of all our blessings. For sure, all of life is not free of pain and suffering but the Christian's crown of God's amazing love-kindness-mercy prevails!  Always! Remember His Goodness and wear His crowning well - with a grateful heart!​

Honor and Duty

Several years ago I was on a Caribbean beach, relaxing on a "beach bed" and a "beach butler" brought me an ice cold Coke!  Now, that was nice! In reality, we'd rather be served than serve, hence we don't often see duty as an honor.  Paul wrote, "I have a duty to perform and a debt to pay both to Greeks and to barbarians (the cultured and the uncultured], both to the wise and to the foolish." (Romans 1:14).  Paul understood something few Christians do: he loved Jesus so much, not only was it his duty (obligation) but an honor (privilege) to share the good news of God's Salvation with everyone. Later, in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul confessed his life was not his own - he was bought and paid for with the precious blood of Christ. I wonder how many of us believe this with more than our lips; do we understand we have a responsibility to be God's "salt and light" to the world (Matthew 5:13-16).  It's our joyful honor and delightful duty!  ​

On-Course

My Dad tells of Amos, the family mule, which was prone to be distracted and get off-track. This isn't just a mule trait! It's also common among Believers on the less traveled and narrow road of Godly living: truth is, we're prone to wander. God instructed Israel's new leader, Joshua: "Only be strong and and very courageous; be careful to do everything in accordance with the entire law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper and be successful wherever you go." (Joshua 1:7). Pastor Tim reminded us a few weeks ago - on the narrow road of holiness, the ditches are closer so travel in wisdom and with diligence!  It's good to consider how tethered (bound) we are to Godly principles for living. God's words (Scripture) and the power of the Holy Spirit help us remain focused and not wander - like old Amos - to the right or the left. Stay on-course!

Tremble and Trust

Where I live, tremors aren't very common - can't say I too sad about that! Spiritually speaking, few today tremble before Almighty God. David writes, "Tremble, and do not sin; meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD." (Psalm 4:4-5).  It's interesting and notable the progression: trembling precedes not sinning which precedes being still which precedes trusting. In other words, stand in awe and reverence  - choose righteousness over unrighteousness - be dumbly and silently still - be securely and boldly confident in the LORD. Tremble and Trust! ​

Nourish Yourself

What do we say when we're hungry?  Although most of us have no real idea what it feels like, we usually say, "I'm starving."  Many Christians are indeed starving spiritually! It's not uncommon to experience a deep unexplained emptiness - not in the stomach but - in the soul or spirit.  Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me." (John 15:4). To stay connected to The True Vine (John 15:1) demands a life of discipline - stay in The Word, meditating on it day and night. Are you starving yourself spiritually? Nourish yourself in Christ through His Word. ​

Passion and Priority

A closer look isn't always welcome!  Few people care for a close-up picture of themselves, which may show the flaws. The same is true of a close examination of the heart. The religious leaders of Jesus' day made a good presentation of righteousness before the people - knowing and keeping all the laws. Ha! Jesus saw right through to the hearts of them: "So you, also, outwardly seem to be just and upright to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." (Matthew 5:28).  I wonder how many Christians could stand an intense look at their hearts. I cannot speak for anyone except myself - I fail every time! Oh, but the Blood of Christ ever cleanses and His Grace ever abounds! Let's be sure purity of heart  is a passion and a priority!

Pure Source

Despite the finest filtration and purest water source, can we really be sure our drinking water is clean?  To the naked eye, it may appear to offer the best of refreshment!  Purity of heart requires a pure source!  Genuine and absolute purity occurs primitively and originally only in Almighty God.  In his song, Moses declares, " Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?" (Exodus 15:11). The Christian's highest calling is to be holy (pure) as God is holy (pure). To fulfill the demand of the call, stay near the Source of absolute purity!  It is an act of faithful diligence - a drawing "near with a sincere heart." (Hebrews 10:22). Ask yourself: am I seeking purity from the Pure Source - Holy God and His revealed Word, Jesus Christ?  Am I staying close to the Source?  Am I drinking deeply? Only  Yes! Yes! and Yes! brings genuinely pure and lasting refreshment. ​

Real Freedom

Consider for a moment the contrast to freedom: slavery, bondage, servitude. If you live in this country, you are free. We gratefully acknowledge and honor those who fought and died for our right to live free.  There are many [of the same], however, who - by an act of their own will - reject a spiritual life of freedom.  Galatians 5:1 says, " For freedom Christ has set us free."  Things such as fear, worry and uncertainty bind us tightly, removing all freedom to live a full and joyful life.  "For you were called to freedom" (Galatians 5:13) so "Live as people who are free" (1 Peter 2:16).  As we wave the flag of freedom this week, let us surely not forget to examine our lives for losses in spiritual liberty.  This freedom is extended to all who will acknowledge The One - Jesus Christ - Who gave HIS all for real freedom.

Cost of Freedom

What is freedom?  To DC (our last dog), it was being out of his pen to "paint" every tire in the yard.  To the boys, it was a no school or work. The word "freedom" doesn't' begin to describe its real value, yet the word rolls off our tongues and slides from our lips with way too much ease. The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men. Some names are well-known - John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson - while others seemingly lost in history.  What about those other men who signed our Country's birth certificate? Five signers were captured as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, while another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.  Never question the cost of freedom -- the price is always great.  The freedoms we share as Americans were literally paid for with courage, commitment, even blood of those whose weightier dreams of liberty. So it is with our spiritual freedom; the Cost is immeasurable and like no other.  It cost God His only Son.  Pure and unblemished, His desire that we be free outweighed the will of The Father and The Son's own life.  Mere hours before His death, Jesus said, "Not my will, Father, but thine be done."  He pledged His life His Godly honor for our eternal liberty.  Never forget: the cost of freedom is always great! ​