No Flinching

Have you ever played "flinch?" I watched the boys stand just out of arm's reach of one another and deliver an otherwise knock-'em-out-punch just to make the other one ... flinch. Flinching is actually a very natural thing. When on earth, Jesus established His position and it was one apart from the world. His love for people was evident, but He never departed from God's Truth. Christ said in John 8:23 that He was "not of this world," so it's no wonder His Truth (hence, his position) didn't set well with worldly wisdom and ways. What of our ways? Years ago, Mister Bill and I participated in The Truth Project and for the first time in my life I saw the world's presentation of truth measured against God's absolute Truth; it was astounding how Believers have played a game of flinch with the world. We have done what is natural [to the flesh] and flinched over-and-over leaving The Truth of God behind in a fog. In Hebrews 13:13, Christ calls us to His position, "outside the camp," in matters of urgent importance. The question is will we continue to love and practice the ways of the world (based on lies) in choosing its lies and distortions? When we bear The Name above all names and shine His Light, there is no blinking, winking nor flinching. It is time for courage and boldness, putting Christ and His Truth forth in every area of life. It is time for ... no more flinching!

The Shining Place

 Oh, how I love a power nap! Mister Bill - not so much. When he wakens from an "accidental” power nap, his face is expressionless, his eyes are dazed, and there seems to be no power! George MacDonald once prayed, “O Lord, make my mirror-heart Thy shining-place.”  Do you like what you see in the mirror first thing in the mornings?  My mirror scares me sometimes!  Haven’t you heard how a clean mirror squeaks?  Oh, for such a heart!  My heart gets world-smudges on it, leaving streaks and stains, which causes The Father’s reflection … well, not so good at times!  A clean and pure heart, however, gives a glorious reflection of its Creator. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:6, “For God … is the One Who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”  Believers who have trusted Jesus as Savior and call Him Lord will diligently seek Christ as King and their hearts' … Shining Place!

Live Vertically

Tell me, please, if you’ve discovered how to run a copier without paper or a car without gas. How silly, you say! True, yet so many Believers attempt to have good earthly relationships without a proper relationship with The Father. When asked what was the one greatest commandment, Jesus gave two, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31). Not only did Jesus identify the principle of relationships, He identified the proper order of them! Paul David Tripp writes, “We can know the true joys of human love only if love for God first rules our hearts.” A right vertical relationship (with God through Christ) must be the foundation of all our horizontal relationships (with others). Never imagine an earthly relationship will do what only a godly-divine-heavenly-spiritual relationship will do: God is Perfect, people are not. Take care to live-out the greatest commands and in proper order. Live vertically!

Experience Him

Math was never my strong subject; truth is, I received my lowest grade in Algebra. My problem wasn't comprehension, it was a foundational problem. I paid more attention to the silly boys who sat behind me than I did the teacher, missing the basic elements of the subject. Perhaps this is why so many Believers miss a deep and rich relationship with God. Just like Algebra is progressively built on core principles, so is the Believer's faith. Paul wrote, "Be fully capable of comprehending with all God's people the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [through your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God's presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself]." (Ephesians 3:18-19, AMP). Unless we pursue the depths of God, have a clear and fundamental understanding of His Nature and Perfect Character, we will never rightly know nor fully comprehend that love that surpasses knowledge. It is not mere knowledge of His Love that pierces the heart of man - no! It is The Power of God and Christ's redemptive work on the cross and His defeat of death resulted in an empty tomb. I challenge you - do not settle nor be content to just know of The Father, Son and Spirit ... let Him reveal His love to you personally. Experience Him!

Support Your Shepherd

Campaign season is back - oh, my! Signs, mailers, robo-calls, bumper stickers ... just hold on tight and persevere. What about this: support your local church and pastor. Growing up a PK (preacher's kid), I know firsthand the stress of shepherding. My Dad wasn't a morning person; not a coffee-drinker, he needed a little extra crank in the mornings. Many times there was a good reason: he was up late studying and preparing for a sermon or funeral service, out ministering to a sick or bereaved member in wee hours of the night. God said, "I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15). And give His Church pastors is exactly what God did! Recognize God's faithfulness to honor His Word by giving us pastors after the very heart of God. "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith." (Hebrews 13:7). When we support our shepherds with love, care and prayer, we ultimately honor God Who gave them to us. What a joy and delight when we have opportunities to minister to the minister. Seize every opportunity - support your local shepherd!

No Stumps

We have been removing some trees in our yards and it looks much better except for the stumps!  They are unsightly and difficult to get rid of. The Believer's life is often in similar fashion: we foolishly think if we just stop certain habits and begin behaving in a more pleasing way, all will be well. Nothing is further from the truth! Colossians 3:5 tells us to "put to death what is earthly in you." A change of habits and behavior doesn't do the job; no, left behind is that sinful stump with its root system still alive and functioning. "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. If we live by the Holy Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit." (Galatians 5:24-25). Mister Bill has been burning a stump [for what seems like] weeks now; it's actually become a project. In like manner, the Believer must set-fire to the sinful nature daily in the Power of The Holy Spirit. It is a genuine Spirit-filled life that attacks and kills (mortifies, destroys) the root or stump of sin at its source. Mister Bill's stump-burning project will likely continue for some time, and so must our daily-dying to self in The Power of Christ and The Holy Spirit. May we surrender to Him as He completes His work - no stumps!

Lofty Living

Lofty heights are appealing. I've stood in a few places of great heights and, I must admit, the view was spectacular. We sure do have lofty thoughts of ourselves; we may not put those thoughts into words but how we live spells-it-out plainly. The Puritan puts it like this: "When Thou wouldst guide me, I control myself - When Thou wouldst be sovereign, I rule myself - When Thou wouldst take care of me, I suffice myself - When I should depend on Thy providing, I supply myself - When I should submit to Thy providence, I follow my will - When I should study love, honour, trust Thee, I serve myself." Oh, how we need to climb-down off our self-proclaimed throne and allow The One Who is All-Sufficient take His rightful place. God said He "opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6). It's true, we may anticipate the ascent to heights but the descent surely comes, and can prove treacherous. Be spiritually wise and avoid ... lofty living.

Home Improvement

My buggy was pretty full: hanging pots, a small bedside lamp, and ten shrubs of which I don't even recall their names. Why all the stuff? Me, and hundreds of other people, had "home improvement" on our minds. Bottom line, we all spent too much money so we could do too much work! Why is it we neglect Christ's home ... the heart? We spend countless hours on the appearance of our homes, our vehicles, our food, but we neglect the most important thing to God -- our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 gives precise instructions about the upkeep of God's  dwelling place: "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." Instead of keeping His home clean and seeking to improve it, we allow spiritual pollutants-toxins to seep in and then expect Christ to live in it! Oh, how much our hearts need ongoing, constant attention. It's the only way we can be all God wants us to be, and the only way we can be used as God wants to use us. So, what do you say - how a bout a little ... home improvement?

THE Good News

News junkies are starving for some good news! As Anne Murray sang so beautifully in 1983, "we sure could use a little good news today." The best good news is THE Good News from God that is summed up in an empty tomb! "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people," the angel broadcast in Luke 2:10, Then THE Good News was personally delivered by God when "He gave His only Son [Jesus]" (John 3:16) to redeem mankind, reconciling us [by grace through faith] to The Creator. Sadly, like many good things go unreported today, the same is true for THE Good News of God's great Salvation. There's no lack of reporters or messengers; there's estimated hundreds of thousands who know THE Good News and Its Redeemer personally yet fail to share It. Jesus told His disciples (by the way, that's all Believers), "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." (Mark 16:15). I agree, we DO need some good news today. The reality is that the world is literally dying for Believers to do our jobs - to tell what we know, Lets give the world more than a little good news - let's give 'em THE Good News!

True Love

Until 1988, our family was 3 - then, quite suddenly, it became 5! Not long after we brought the twins home, there was [also] a sudden change in the noise level. There's a spiritual noise-factor described in Scripture, often overlooked. "If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." (1 Corinthians 13:1). We all like to think of ourselves as loving but, truth is, we're really not very good at the kind of love written about in this New Testament chapter. This word "love," also translated "charity," is natural to none of us - it comes only from God. "Beloved, let us love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7). Quite often I find myself so engrossed in myself, I fail to and be sensitive to those around me; I may not hear the noise at the moment but soon The Holy Spirit within me plays-back my gonging and clanging. God's Love is "enduring, kind and thoughtful" (V.4) and it is not "self-seeking" (V.5); of faith, hope and love - love is the greatest (V.13). Honestly, Godly Love is often beautifully applied with quiet effectiveness. We're wise to ask ourselves: is the love we're displaying God's True Love or are we just making noise?

Be That!

Parents appreciate the help of picture books to teach their children persons, places and things: trees, clouds, cows, firemen, etc. Mister Bill and I were glad when our Grands learned to recognize us then say the words "PopC" and "MomC." Sadly, there are adults who seem to never know who they are, and that not-knowing is exactly what Satan wants. Jesus came to eliminate the not-knowing, the wonder: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). Ah, the sweetness of eternal salvation by grace through faith! Those born of The Holy Spirit (Believers) must remember, however, who we are and from what we have been rescued. It is sheer foolishness that Believers exhibit lives devoid of spiritual victory and vibrancy. "For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith." (Galatians 3:26). Because of Christ, this is who we are! We find ourselves in Him - We are who we are because of Him. Be encouraged, O Believer. With perfect confidence, know who you are then ... be that!

 

Life Sufficiency

It's interesting to watch Mister Bill gather the needed tools and devices for a project. Once in while, however, he fails to bring with him something critical to completing his work. We may act and live like it, but none of us can know for certain what each day will bring. My calendar helps keep Mister Bill and I informed and on-track but even that cool organizing tool isn't fool-proof. That's life! When the day falls apart or when life unravels, Believer need not fall-apart nor unravel; God says He "is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8). When we can't, He can. When we aren't, He is. When we don't, He does. When we won't, He will. When we really really really believe this, we live and act according to this key truth: our sufficiency is from God (2 Corinthians 3:5). What a relief we dom't have to live in ever failing self-sufficiency! Christ alone is the Believer's ... Life Sufficiency.

Yet I Rejoice

What a joy to watch children who love the outdoors!  Chasing butterflies, climbing trees, swinging, picking daffodils - delightfully simple pleasures. What a contrast to being driven indoors by rain and storms. To fully appreciate Habakkuk's prayer in Chapter 3, we have to understand the prophet's frustration with Israel's repeated disobedience and God's use of the wicked Babylonians to judge the nation. Nonetheless Habakkuk prays, "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation." (Habakkuk 3:17-18). Like looking through a rain-spattered window, longing for a sunny day, we embrace hope knowing the sun will be butterflies to chase, trees to climb, swings to be swung and daffodils to pick! We do this because the righteous live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4). Yes, this life brings rain and sometimes lots of it ... yet I rejoice; sometimes the sun doesn't shine ... yet I rejoice. We take joy not in what is visible but The One Who is invisible yet sure - the God of our Salvation. Whatever you're facing at this moment or whatever is facing you, live by these words ... yet I rejoice!

Enjoy Him

It’s crazy how much fun do-nothing days can be! Some of our best get-aways have been those when we literally did nothing: nap, read, nap, drink coffee, nap, piddle-fish. One of the greatest questions we may ever ponder is “what is the chief end of man?”  Along with glorifying God  (1 Corinthians 10:31), the psalmist proposes, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and portion forever.” (Psalm 73:25-26). The word "forever” usually sends us into eternity-thinking but Believers' forever has already begun. Yes, of course, for those who have been justified (saved) by faith, there awaits post-earth eternity of “enjoying God.” However, we can [and should] enjoy God right now through a close-personal relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. Whatever the “good” life is to us, we should thank God but realize life isn’t generally spent in beautiful places in do-nothing days; sometimes it’s night-time tears, hospitals or cancer clinics, frantic fear about our children, job loss or wondering where the money will come from for gas or groceries. A relationship with Christ offers enjoyment [yes] even in troubling times. Why? Because God through Christ is The Portion – quite simply, all we need. Wherever we travel, there really is "no place like home.” However true that is, one day Believers will be at-home in Heaven where no sorrow-tears-loss-fear exist. No, we’ll have a new and forever sense of what real enjoyment is. Until then, let’s work on that relationship with Christ and enjoy Him here and now.

Power Over The Pits

Soon peach trees will bloom and bring us those sweet juicy peaches - great for homemade ice cream! As delectable as a fresh peach is, we do not find the pit pleasing. God's Word speaks of another kind of pit - a natural or artificial cavity or hole. "If a man does not repent ... he travails with wickedness, and he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood. He has dug a pit and hollowed it out, and has fallen into the hole which he made." (Psalm 7:12, 14-15). It's crazy how little repentance is preached from pulpits today! Repentance is a deliberate, radical, 180-degree turn away from sin. Believers should find themselves confessing and repenting regularly as they grow in holiness before The Lord. When we do not, we indeed dig a pit into which we find ourselves a reluctant victim. David wrote, "O LORD my God, in You I have taken refuge; save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me." (Psalm 7:1). As we call upon The Lord for protection and refuge from the enemy, we [too] should ask God save us from ourselves, knowing "He Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you." (Romans 8:11). Are you stranded in a pit or struggling to navigate the pits of life? Call on Christ Who gives Life and The Holy Spirit Who gives us Power ... over the pits!

His Beloved

Think about when you feel most loved. Was it when you were in the woes of sorrow or difficulty that someone really loved on you and your heart was strengthened? The word "beloved" appears 112 times in the King James Version of the Bible, referring to one most dearly loved. God called Jesus His "beloved Son" then Jude later addresses Jesus' followers as "beloved" in his letter. We rightly conclude those who belong to The Father are His beloved ones. How [then] do we experience this most-dearly-loved status as Believers? Well, I felt most-loved a few weeks ago when friends brought dinner and flowers, when my mailbox exploded with cards of encouragement, when greeted with smiles and hugs. The psalmist says: "For me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works." (Psalm 73:28). In close spiritual proximity to God is where we'll know true beloved-ness. If there were actually a loveometer - a device to measure love - it would be most accurately calibrated to The Perfect Love by which we are loved of God. Oh, yes, He loves me - Oh, yes, He loves you - Oh, yes, He loves you and me. Draw close to God - He Who loves ... His beloved!

Treasured Treasure

Do you remember the show “To Tell the Truth”?  It was one of the first television game shows.  Three people were introduced with the same name – two of the three were imposters. A panel of judges would ask probing questions then guess which was in truth the real person named. Oh, my, at the imposters today!  To tell the truth, it's not easy to know the truth.  Here's a truth: few folks consider truth a treasure. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”  The truth buffet is loaded with imposters, and we're easily distracted by what sounds good, looks good, and feels right.  Treasures need safe-keeping, to be guarded and preserved.  King Solomon wrote, “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23).  The heart - preserved by The Truth of Godly Wisdom - is indeed a real treasure!  Godly Wisdom is treasured truth: "Forsake her [wisdom] not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee." (Proverbs 4:6).  At the end of "To Tell the Truth," the host would always say, "Will the real [  ] please stand up."  That's when the truth became clear.  Sometimes we were surprised, and sometimes not.  There is no surprise at the Treasured Truth of Godly Wisdom - It never fails.  Godly Wisdom is truly ... treasured treasure!

Let Us Hear

Let's face it, at times our hearing isn't so sharp! Sure, the problem may be something physical but other times we're just not positioned to hear what we need to hear. The prophet Habakkuk said, "I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower and look out to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint." (Habakkuk 2:1). The prophet was troubled that God would use a [more] wicked nation (Babylon) to judge Israel's (Judah's) own wickedness. Habakkuk couldn't see the justice in that! As we look around us [even] today, injustice is deafening. We neither comprehend nor understand the senseless actions and policies of rulers and governments in the midst of human suffering. God is sensitive to our hearts as He was to Habakkuk's: "And the LORD answered me: 'Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay ... the righteous shall live by his faith!'" (Verses 2-4). A genuine, deep and abiding faith brings Believers to feel so certain of God no matter how dark things appear, there is no doubt. Such faith assures us of The Sovereign God Who knows the end before the beginning and everything in-between as well as how He plans to accomplish His purpose. And, where did Habakkuk hear this profound answer from the LORD? As he spiritually positioned himself to hear The LORD speak. In these times when chaos and suffering drown-out so much, do not let the voice of God be muted: like Habakkuk, take your position - assume your post to hear what The Lord will answer. He speaks ... let us hear.

Kindness Without Measure

This ole world is lacking many things; perhaps one of the most missing is kindness. J. Vernon McGee explains the difference between kindness and loving-kindness: "If you go in and ask your mama for a piece of bread with some butter on it, and she gives it to you, that's kindness. But if she puts a little jam on it without your asking her, that is loving-kindness." To those who love and seek to honor Him, God says, "Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart." (Proverbs 3:3). The "mercy" God speaks of immeasurable kindness ... yes, loving-kindness! Such kindness comes from hearts that recognize the abundant mercy (kindness) that has been shown them by their Merciful God. We, therefore, extend kindness without measure - dish-it-out in heapin' helpings! Such immeasurable mercy hangs around our necks and is written on our hearts reflecting Jesus Christ. Let us not be stingy [with kindness] but faithfully practice ... kindness without measure!

Perfect Cast

Fishing is Mister Bill's thing - not mine. That established, I have held a fishing rod a few times and I concluded that "casting" is the best part. The psalmist wrote, "Cast your burden on the LORD." (Psalm 55:22). That which has been given you - the care, concern, anxiety that weighs you down - hurl it, throw it, fling it to The Lord. The Hebrew word goes a step further: cast it off, shed it, throw it away! Unlike the sinker and lure at the end of a fishing line, which is cast then reeled back in, those who genuinely trust in The Lord and His certain promises are commanded to give-up their burdens and not take them back. The psalmist continues, "He [The LORD] will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved."What a precious promise we are given when we totally surrender our burdens - "casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you." (1 Peter5:7). Onto Him is the ... Perfect Cast.

Perfect Strength

Not particularly a favorite, but some days my toes touchdown in motion ... my feet can't keep up with my mind! Beverly - slow down, take a breath and remember: "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Of course, a clear mandate for every day! The question is this: "Do you now possess the needed strength to perfectly accomplish such holy requirements?" (Every Moment Holy). If my plan is to tighten the belt, pull-up the boot straps and take a deep breath and press on, hmm... the day will certainly overtake me. Paul says "put no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3) but rather proceed with all confidence, knowing "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). What a privilege for each day's holy requirements, and utter delight for the power to accomplish them for God's Glory. Thank You, Father, for ... Perfect Strength.

The Faithful One

If you've ever been without water, it really makes you appreciate it more. We take so many things for granted - electricity, food, warmth, rest, good health, etc. Jeremiah begins Chapter 3 of Lamentations describing the affliction he has seen because of Israel's rebellion against God: those who "walk in darkness and not in light" (V.2) - many who "waste away" with "shattered hopes" (V.4) - those surrounded with "bitterness and hardship" (V.5) - many "weighted down" with chains (V.7). How foolish Believers are to think this happens only to the lost - oh, no! Even Believers fall into periods of spiritual darkness and hopelessness! Jesus plainly said in John 14:15, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" and when we choose rebellion over obedience ... well, we can rightly expect dark and hard and weighty days. Thankfully, Jeremiah leads us to remember: "I have hope - it is because of the LORD'S lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because His compassions never fail - They are new every morning - Great and beyond measure is Your faithfulness." (V.21-23). What joy when the electricity or water is restored! How much more marvelous when we confess and repent from spiritual rebellion [against God] then restored to sweet communion and fellowship with ... The Faithful One. Oh, yes - how sweet it is!

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Eternal Deposits

So many necessary things we do must be done over-and-over: laundry, dishes, mopping, mowing, etc. Imagine how delightful it would be if these things were once-and-done! Makes me think seriously about those things I do that are more than temporal - that have eternal worth. As Believers, we are called to have an other-world mindset: "Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2). For sure, what we do here on earth are done-performed-accomplished [in the physical sense] but when done with eternity in mind, we just might find ourselves doing different things. "May our work this day be rendered first as service to You, that the benefits of it might be eternal." (Every Moment Holy). Count on it, there will always be grass to mow, laundry to be laundered, floors to be mopped, dishes to be washed and put away, but a continuous offering to God in service to others satisfies the soul of those who seek to honor Christ. As you begin each day, consider the work of your hands; what matters most will always be ... the eternal deposits.