Gift Yourself

On or near my desk where I write each day is a prayer plaque, a figurine, a small friendship  book, a block of Parallam®, a handcrafted card; and, I can tell you exactly who gifted me with each item.  Each item represents someone who has poured her life into mine.  Proverbs 18:16 says, “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.”  The sharing of gifts – a card, a phone call, an email, a casserole, a text, a hug, a prayer, your time – has great potential to lift a burden, heal a wound, encourage a heart, or cement a relationship.  The act of giving is a powerful way to show someone you care, and to extend the Greatest Gift of all – God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and dearest Friend. A moment poured out into another life is a moment well-spent.  To whom will you gift yourself today?

Know It!

We seem to naturally feel better about certain things if we have them in writing.  God knows this, and has given us added confidence in His written Word.  The Apostle John wrote, “And the testimony is this: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son [resulting in our spiritual completeness, and eternal companionship with Him]. … He who has the Son [by accepting Him as Lord and Savior] has the life [that is eternal[; he who does not have the Son of God [by personal faith] does not have the life. … These things I have written to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, so that you will know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have eternal life.” (1 John 5:11-13).  We “know” – are certain of, having absolute confidence without any smidge of doubt. One writer put it this way: we know that we know that we know. Think of the most certain truth you know then further understand that knowledge is made absolutely certain by God through His Son, Jesus.  Do you know that you know that you know?  You can know it then joyfully rejoice in it!

 

Your Newness

Before I retired, my job responsibilities governed what I did at work every day. In the same way, who we are as children of God and followers of Jesus Christ should rule who we are.  The regeneration (salvation) of a person changes everything. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things have passed away. Behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).  The newness isn’t a new no-do and to-do list; rather, the newness is who we are! Oh, yes, the newness will be evident in what we do and don’t do, but it is rooted in who we now are. I found great joy in doing what I was hired to do, completing my job responsibilities. As a result of the Believer’s newness in Christ Jesus, there’s a resulting overflow of good works (what we do).  Simply put, our newness cannot be hidden or contained – we do what we do because of who we are!  New is good in countless ways!  Show off your newness!

 

Please God

The old adage “if Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” [like it or not] bears-out some truth. In many homes, it’s Mom who seems to be the “glue” and the “oil” that makes for a tight-and-smooth-running nest. Paul wrote, “Finally, Believers, we ask and admonish you in the Lord Jesus, that you follow the instructions … how you ought to walk and please God and that you excel even more and more … for this is the will of God.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1, 3). The culture in which we live encourages personal happiness as the catalyst to a well-contented life.  Paul cautioned fellow Believers, however, it is pleasing God on which we be focused.  Oswald Chambers said, “Holiness – not happiness – is the chief end of man.”  You see, a beautifully pleasing life unto God and a perpetual nearness to Him come from one who lives to be holy as God Himself is holy (1 Peter 1:16).  If you find some unexplained, deep-seated unrest or discontent, a feeling something just isn’t quite right within you, consider how pleasing you are to God. It’s not [not necessarily] what you do but who you are and the condition of your relationship with Christ. Here’s the reality: if God isn’t pleased with you, you will never be pleased with yourself.  Let us please God … more and more!

Consider Jesus

An approximate 155 mile strip of land exists between North and South Korea, declared the Demilitarized Zone – a buffer or barrier between the two countries.  Both countries agree no military installations or activities will take place within the specified area of the DMZ. Believers often forget or ignore the fact that we are in a war – a spiritual battle – for righteousness.  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12).  The Apostle Paul aptly describes the inner battle between the Believer’s new and old natures: “What I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” (Romans 7:15). Such is the war between our flesh and our spirit!  “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free?” (V.24). Is there really a spiritual demilitarized zone for the spiritual man?  “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (V.25). Because of God’s forgiveness through Christ Jesus’ sacrifice for sin and The Holy Spirit living within Believers, yes! we can live in freedom, winning the war over sin.  The DMZ [I read] is not open to the general public; neither is spiritual freedom – it comes only to those who have surrendered completely to God’s Salvation through Jesus - The Savior of men. Perhaps you are in a losing battle and long for rest and peace from the struggle.  Consider – look to – Jesus Who offers Life in a battle-free zone – He has won the War over sin and death!  Yes, consider Jesus today!

 

Stay Stupid

Yes, I know we shouldn’t call others stupid, but stupid (senselessness) does overtake each of us at times.  The secret is to keep it a secret as best you can: it’s "better to keep your mouth  closed and thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Can you believe, of all people in history, King Solomon felt stupid! "Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy." (Proverbs 30:2-3).  Interestingly, his feeling of inadequate wisdom only pressed him to seek God more. Solomon struggled to avoid vanity and pride, which always hinders knowing God. What a model for the wise!  Now, let’s not promote stupidity as the world defines it, but remain humble and teachable unto God. As inappropriate and ridiculous as it may sound, spiritually-speaking … let’s stay stupid!

 

It's About Time

A few days ago as I was refilling my hummingbird feeder, a hummingbird hovered right next to me until I finished!  I’m sure if I could have read its mind, it was saying, “well, it’s about time!”  Through Paul, God tells us, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5).  Furthermore, we know we are to be daily “transformed by the renewal” of our minds to know what the good and perfect and acceptable will of God (Romans 12:2). To have a transformed and Christ-like mind should be the goal of every Follower of Christ.  How is it possible to be this close and personal to Christ? I can assure you it is not quite as easy as re-filling a hummingbird feeder!  God said come near to Me and I will come near to you (James 4:8). The disciplines of Bible study, meditation, prayer, worship and fellowship with other Believers are crucial and necessary to cultivating and sustaining a deep and abiding relationship with The Father.  It’s sweet to sit on the porch and watch as hummingbirds drink from the feeder, but nothing compares with the sweetness of being up close and personal with God through His Son and The Holy Spirit. If you’re not experiencing an up close and personal relationship with Him, wouldn’t you agree … it’s about time.

 

SMIG Moments

Have you ever been part of a smig?  Something so small yet so big – that’s a SMIG!  Paul wrote, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18, KJV).  The old expression “seeing is believing” has zero value in the spiritual realm. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped form, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1). We can hold-touch the physical and temporal things but not-so with the enduring-forever things. When was the last time you put kindness in a box, tucked love away in your closet, trapped encouragement in a jar, pinned faith to your refrigerator door?  The unseen things are what make smig moments!  I was reminded of this today as a group of ladies overwhelmingly responded to the needs of another Believer.  What we do for and in the Name of Jesus Christ endures; truth is, we have absolutely no idea of their enduring, lasting, eternal significance.  Remember this: however small, however insignificant, however common an act of kindness, love, encouragement, faith [or such] – in God’s Hands, it becomes BIG. Make sure smig moments are part of your life – every day!

 

Not A Bother

Often finding himself in unanticipated predicaments, Pooh is famous for saying, “Oh bother!”  Basically, Pooh was saying [to whomever would listen or help] – oh what trouble or care or worry!  In his book Whatever Happened to Worship?, A. W. Tozer writes, “It is my assessment that losing the awareness of God in our midst is a loss too terrible even to be appraised.”  Whether we are about our daily business or obediently assembling with other Believers in worship, are we aware of the sacredness of God’s Presence?  Israel’s newly appointed leader learned the awesomeness of God’s Presence early in his term: “Now when Joshua was by Jericho he looked up, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his drawn sword in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, ‘Are you for us or for our adversaries?’ He said, ‘No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the LORD.’ Then Joshua fell with his face toward the earth and bowed down, and said to him, ‘What does my lord have to say to his servant?’ The captain of the LORD’S army said to Joshua, ‘Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so.” (Joshua 5:13-15). In similar fashion to Moses, this was Joshua’s “burning bush” moment! How very quickly we forget or how deliberately we ignore the call of Christ that all we are for Him is sacred.  Because God’s Presence is with us always, we must never be so flippant or too familiar with the Godly holiness to which we’ve been called!  Moses was tending sheep, Joshua was training warriors, Ruth was gathering wheat, Martha was preparing a meal – all aware of The Father and His call upon their lives.  In whatever position, situation or place you find yourself this week, may it be with [perhaps] a new and profound awareness the ground upon which you stand is never a bother but rather a holy attitude and act of worship!

 

Handful of Quiet

An avid slow-pitch softball player [in my younger years], there was one basic goal: at game-end, have more runs than the opponent.  As a team, we accomplished this with tight defense, hitting the ball hard, aggressively running the bases and pursuing home plate. This didn’t always guarantee a win but it made for a good game! Much of our lives is spent “running the bases.”  At every turn to bat, the player hopes to reach 1st base then 2nd then 3rd then cross home plate to score.  And, guess what? She hopes to do the same thing the next at-bat.  Solomon observed man’s toil and skill, “This also is vanity and a striving after wind … Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind.” (Ecclesiastes 4:4,7).  Endless striving after this-and-that brings only more striving after this-and-that – a plowing of water.  Contentedness – ah, now that settles in the soul and soothes the otherwise restless spirit of man; in Solomon’s words, it renders a handful of quietness: deep abiding solitude and stillness of the soul.  Paul wrote, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Philippians 4:11).  The learned Believer knows the secret of contentment is its source – not what but who: it is Christ Alone.  We don’t have to wait until we reach our promised eternal home for a this contentment. Oh, no – let us now joy and delight in Him, our Hope of Glory, and experience that blessed … handful of quiet!

 

Face The Consequences

One of the most enjoyed gifts my Mom gave me was a tabletop fountain! The sound of moving water is peaceful and soothing – could be why I love the beach so much.  Those sounds have brought moments of quiet in the midst of wrestling boys, duck and goose calls, football games. We often don’t realize it, but consequences aren’t always bad; some consequences are actually positive!  Psalm 1 describes wonderful consequences when we follow Godly advice, avoid unholy influences, and focus on God's Word.  "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper." (Psalm 1:3). This time of year, we see the results of extreme heat and lack of water, but this passage gives hope in life’s drought.  We can in fact flourish!  The appearance of well-tended plants is obvious, but we also see evidence of a healthy plant by its fruit. What a lovely illustration of how spirits can remain fresh when remaining close to God through a deliberate and well-tended relationship with Jesus Christ – He IS Living Water!  The reality is every day brings circumstances [even people] that threaten us spiritually and emotionally yet Refreshment from The Eternal Spring is abundant and accessible.  How gracious The Father is ever Refreshing! What joy we do not have to dry up like a once vibrant summer garden!  We can confidently claim His promise to prosper rather than wither!  So, joyfully face the consequences of a faithful walk with Christ, and -- refuse to wither!

 

Cleaned-Up

Have you ever been told “you clean-up pretty good?”  The unsaid point is you were pretty sightly but now you’re not!  Titus 2:11-12 makes clear how Believers have been cleaned up and by whom: “For the Grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal Salvation for all mankind. It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness and worldly desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world.” Lest we be guilty of getting the proverbial cart before the horse, we don’t clean-up then come to God – no! we come to God and it is He Who draws us to Himself in our dirty filthy rags then purifies us by the blood sacrifice of His Son, Jesus “Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people to be peculiarly His own, people who are eager and enthusiastic about living a life that is good and filled with beneficial deeds.” (V.14). Simply put: we don’t clean-up then come to God; we come to God Who cleans us up according to His Perfect Holy Righteousness. If you’re born from above (saved, redeemed, justified), you’ve been cleaned beyond measure! Furthermore, you’re now being cleaned day-by-day (made holy, righteous, sanctified) to gladly live a life pleasing to God. Consider where you are in this cleaning process, and know there’s no better way to be than clean before the Lord.

 

Let Go

There’s an old saying that a snapping turtle won’t let go until the sun goes down. Myth or not, I’m not anxious to find out!  As Believers, we are to faithfully pray for and bear certain burdens in our own lives and in the lives of others.  We are not, however, to be so obsessed with matters that we worry or become anxious.  When we do – and we ALL do at times – it is a real lack of trust in Christ Who tells us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).  Do you know most eagle deaths occur because of drowning?  This magnificent and powerful and intelligent bird will snatch a fish or animal that is too heavy; the weight overcomes the eagle and pulls it to its death.  Sadly, this is the same story for many Believers who refuse to let go of heavy burdens we are not designed nor commanded to bear. Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30). Easy and light – doesn’t that sound nice? It’s ours for the taking: just let go!

 

Pray Rightly

Mr Bill and I are nearing the end of a remodeling project, and we’ve often sought guidance and advice from experts in flooring, tiling, plumbing, etc.  Grateful, of course, for learning “opportunities,” we’ve mostly learned how much we do not know!  Have you ever thought about how casually we hear or say, “pray for me.” Yes, we are commanded to and rightly should pray for one another; truth is, however, God does not hear all prayers!  I suggestion this Biblical truth is widely ignored.: “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2, NASB). Did we get that – sin is the great separator between God and man!  Basically, when a Believer has unconfessed, unforgiven, unrepented sin, God gives no Audience to our prayers. See, personal confession of sin and a plea for forgiveness must be at the top of our prayer-list; then God hears from one who has a pure-clean heart; hence, He hears our prayers on behalf of ourselves and others.  There’s nothing flippant or casual about prayer to The Holy One: “the prayer of a righteous man has great power” (James 4:16).  Let us first be attentive to what hinders our prayers to The Father, and cautious to whom we say “pray for me.” What beauty and privilege are ours to go directly into the Holy Throne Room through the One Name of Jesus the Son, knowing confidently The Father hears and responds.  Be an expert in this area of prayer: pray rightly!

 

The Rescuer

First steps are exciting – I thought so as I watched my great-niece taking some of her first steps this week!  First steps are very important: they lead to more steps, more stable steps; and, eventually deliberate steps to destinations unknown.  Proverbs 16:9 says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” When we neglect to walk in the established steps of God for our lives, we usually find ourselves in the middle of a mess! In need of God’s rescuing grace!  The first-step in being rescued from mis-steps is always calling out to the Lord: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.” (Psalm 107:28).  Interestingly, when in peril, we don’t yell, “I’m not drowning – leave me alone!” Oh, no; we cry out to The Rescuer: “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.” (Psalm 91:15). The drowning person humbly calls to The One Who rescues!  “The Lord your God is in your midst, a Mighty One Who will save.” (Zephaniah 3:17).  Perhaps you have mis-stepped. Perhaps dark waters are threatening?  Take that first step and call out to The Rescuer – The Mighty One Who saves. He stands ready to answer and rescue and deliver!

 

Do Love

Mr Bill often refers to himself as my “beast of burden,” which is his comical way of saying he does a lot of stuff for me.  Ok, it’s true!  Thanks, Mr Bill.  As Believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we have a similar role: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, KJV).  What does this mean?  Believers who are walking in and by the power of The Holy Spirit are called to come alongside and help carry-endure the physical, emotional and spiritual load threatening to crush a brother or sister Believer. As we do so, we accomplish the “law of Christ” – Jesus’ new commandment: “love thy neighbor as thyself (Galatians 5:14).  When Jesus said “love one another” in John 13:34, He didn’t mean to just feel love or say loving things; no, He meant we are to do love!  Words are often cheap, requiring little more than moving our lips. But to do love – oh, that’s a game-changer!  How wonderful when Believers actually do come alongside each other, holding [spiritual] hands to walk through the shadows of life, bringing comfort-strength-peace-encouragement to one another. What a beautiful picture of The Savior walking with us step-by-step of this life.  Is there someone you know who right now needs a “beast of burden” to help carry the load-of-life?  I suspect there is!  Help bear a burden … do love today!

 

The Real Better Life

Yay! for better – living, eating, feeling, looking, acting, being … better.  Even though they had a history of failing, at the onset of their time in the Land of Promise, the Israelites declared: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods.” (Joshua 24:16, NASB). It was [once-again] a “do-better” moment.  How many times have we – as Believers, Followers of Jesus Christ – been there, done that?  Joshua cautioned the people, “You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins … if you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods.” (V.18-19).  Do you see yourself in this? I clearly see me!  It sounds good to declare and determine better days for the LORD, but so often it’s said with a I-can-do-this heart rather than I-can’t-do this. The better me is always when I admit my weakness, my inability to be-and-do better!  It is only when the me is surrendered to the Christ-in-me when I’m finally the better me.  Oswald Chambers asks this probing question: “Are you sufficiently right with God to expect Him to manifest His wonderful life in you?”  HIS wonderful life in me is the better life for me!  Do you want a better life?  Humbly declare what you are not and cannot then allow Christ to live wonderfully in and through you.  Experience the real better life!

 

Wise Choice

So I’ve been told – I’ve spoiled Mr. Bill. Among other things, I select and lay-out his work and church clothes.  Yeah, I know – it’s ridiculous!  Choices are a part of life, and not all choices are conscious ones! A new leader to the Israelites, Joshua stood before the people and said, “Choose you this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15).  Whether we realize it or not, we make this same choice daily – consciously or unconsciously.  Oswald Chambers says the choice is “between you and God … [we] do not confer with flesh and blood about it.”  The simple truth is this: it’s a matter of God’s will for the day or my will for the day. Joshua declared “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (V.15).  Mr. Bill seems pretty content that I choose his clothes, but only you and I can choose the will that governs-rules our hearts and lives. Let us choose deliberately and choose wisely!

 

Fire-Ant Faith

If you’ve never stumbled into a bed of fire ants, consider yourself blessed … beyond measure!  Those near-microscopic critters instantly cause a fire-ant dance! The Prophet Jeremiah referred to an intense faith: "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 the passion in Jeremiah's words! It's sad how Believers get more worked up at a football game or over a holiday sale paper than over the Greatness of God and His Eternal Word.  I suggest we need a hearty dose of Jeremiah's enthusiasm and intensity for God.  For those of us who have blundered onto a mound of fire ants, we understand urgency and excitement. A "fire-ant" [type] faith compels us to live-and-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!

 

Rightly Rights

We live in a land of “rights” – secured by brave men and women, many of whom gave their lives. Each one of us should be appalled at the recklessness of freedoms “to” … to be disrespectful rather than kind, to scream rather than listen, to be quarrelsome rather than peaceable, to dishonor rather than honor.  Such behavior-conduct isn’t rightly right. The greatest and most sustained right we’ve been given as men and women is that which was secured by The Savior on Calvary’s hill. Because of God’s Grace and Jesus’ Sacrifice, we rightly live in honor unto God and with one another. “Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his [good] deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom.” (James 3:13).  That Greek word “good” means excellent, useful, precious, suitable, commendable, admirable, noble, praiseworthy. Let us not forget – Believers are first and foremost citizens of God’s Spiritual Kingdom and ruled by The Kingship of Jesus Christ; hence, we must choose rightly rights, which are obediently (rightly) reflected in God’s Goodness lived-out in their lives.  This week we will rightly celebrate the freedoms of America! Do not, however, neglect to acknowledge and celebrate our ultimate Freedom because of Christ and pray we become a Nation-People of rightly rights among and toward one another, always pointing to The One Who gave us the Greatest Freedom!

 

Cliff-Dwellers

Driving Mr. Bill’s truck, in contrast to my car, is quite different: the higher ride gives a sense of safety – a “king of the road” feeling.  God had choice words for the Edomites – descendants of Esau – who opposed Israel and fortified themselves in the mountainous regions surrounding the Dead Sea: “The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD.” (Obadiah 1:3-4). The heights and clefts of their dwellings gave the Edomites a false and foolish sense of security.  Are we not also given to an Edomite way-of-thinking?  In arrogant self-pride, we live apart from the decrees of God. Perhaps one of the most notoriously foolish thoughts is that we can live righteously without study and prayer as well as worship and fellowship inside the Body of Christ (His Church).  We must not wink or sign at God’s words, “I will bring you down,” but rather be wise to His warning: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7). With love, Almighty God warns us of such destructive thinking-and-living. History confirms things did not end well for the Edomites – they were “as though they had not been” (V.16) – extinct, no more. “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.” (Hebrews 10:31).  Are you living as a cliff-dweller, resting in a false sense of security and peace?  There’s no Cleft so high as Jehovah God, no Rock so secure as Christ.  Make sure He is The Cleft and The Rock in which you live.