Sometimes, after you have been a Christian for a while, you have so much of your life, relationships and self invested in "God" that the thought of Him not coming through for you and therefore having proof He is not real is terrifying. To find out that what you have based your life on is a lie is too embarrassing a thought to deal with. So, we hedge our bets. We pray, "God, you said that if I put you first, as Lord and Savior, you would provide for me and my family. But if you don't, I will still love you and trust you and feel the same way about you". This may sound good, but I suggest that this kind of faith is not honored in the Bible. What is most important to God is our intimacy with Him, our trust in Him, our faith in Him. And God says in the Bible that this faith is more precious than gold. It is so important to God that He will rock our world until we come to the point of saying, "God, I have put You first. You said that if I did, you would supply food, clothing and shelter for me and my family. You have to come through for me. I have no plan "B". You promised you would and I am holding You to it. If you don't, then I have no reason to trust You anymore."
God doesn't say not to put Him to the test. God says not to put Him to a foolish test. Satan suggested to Jesus that He jump off the top of the temple because God promised to send His angels to hold Him up. Jesus answered that it is written, do not put God to a foolish test. If God says He will do something for you when you obey Him, He wants you to test that. Obey Him and then hold Him accountable for what He promised. That's not a foolish test. That's faith.
And here's my disclaimer: Though I have had success in trusting God, I have also experienced complete hypocritical failure at trusting God. I am not an expert. For every time I have trusted God and seen Him keep His promises, I have not trusted Him multiple times (with disastrous results). A turning point in my life came when I trusted God and obeyed His teaching by refusing to participant in the production of certain advertising promoting what I felt was pornography, abortion, or the occult. I risked my family's main means of support because of this apparent insubordination. Many true friends prayed for us. God gave me the chance to talk about His heart of love and concern for people to top levels of management. God softened the heart of the main decision maker who eventually said I could go back to work without having to touch these ads. (True to God's style, five years later He had this same company ask me to write large religion section advertising telling people about the love and acceptance of Jesus. This series of ads ran for fourteen years).
You'd think I would have "lived happily ever after". However, less than two weeks after being cleared to not do these ads, I caved in to the gripping fear of losing my livelihood. I moved an objectionable ad from its wrong position on the page to the right position, an ad I previously said I would not touch even to the point of losing my job. I did it because I was afraid people would think of me as a self-righteous hypocritical trouble maker and reject me if I caused them problems (this was satan lying to me, because I worked with some great people). There after whenever I was presented with an objectionable ad I always struggled with whether Jesus would protect my job or not if I refused to do the ad. It was never told to anyone I worked with that I didn't have to do these ads and I feared others' resentment for having to do them for me. There are too many other examples of my failure in trusting God and too embarrassing as well.
It can be hard, very hard, to decide to obey God. But when I obey Him, He always makes it worth it. And when I don't, I always eventually regret it, wishing I had obeyed Him.
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Sunday, November 3, 2013
A sign from Heaven
The religious leaders of Jesus' day demanded He give them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove He was the Messiah:
So what is the final proof that Jesus is God? Ask one of His followers what He has done for them personally.
Matthew 12 NKJVThe spectacle of miracles was not as important to Jesus as changed lives through the demonstration of God's loving character. Soul healing through the loving sign of physical healing was the goal of Jesus' miracles for those who believed in God's love. Irrefutable proof of His divinity thrilled those who loved God and confounded those who did not. His works of love proclaimed Him Messiah, Christ, the Son of God, God in the flesh. Jesus said that those confounded would not be guilty if He had not come and done what no one else has ever done.
38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
39But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.
John 15 NKJVJesus told His followers that the works that He did they would do, and even greater:
22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
John 14 NKJV
12“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
John 15 NKJVControl the wind and the waves? Change water into wine? Multiply bread and fish and feed thousands from one person's small lunch? Grow back missing limbs? Heal the sick? Raise the dead? Greater than these? I might think that impressing the masses with these spectacular miracles is Jesus goal. But Jesus' ultimate purpose for doing miracles was to give Life to the spiritually dead and introduce them to a relationship with His Father who loved them. This He could greater accomplish by loving multitudes of people through multitudes of His followers who love by the power of His Spirit living within them. That is greater than any spectacle.
26“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
So what is the final proof that Jesus is God? Ask one of His followers what He has done for them personally.
I'm Listening
Have you ever noticed that we don't have any "problems" anymore?... we only have "issues"? I think we are so much better off. And we don't "make progress", we "move forward". I know I've benefited immensely from that change. But seriously, new words to old concepts bring a new perspective and help us freshly rethink meaning. But the concept hasn't changed. We have.
What is the difference between "truth" as I perceive it, as you perceive it, and as it "Truly" is apart from distorted perception? And, if you believe there is "no absolute truth", do you believe that that statement is absolutely true?
Steven Covey implied that you can only hope to influence another if you risk being influenced by them. Why don't we agree to disagree and still love each other and talk to each other. Instead we accuse each other of "hate", call each other "sinners", refuse to listen to the other's point of view, and refuse to allow ourselves to be influenced by the other's pain. Are we so insecure in what we believe, that we that we can't allow ourselves to learn from each other?
Jesus' enemies hated Him because His Truth exposed their flaws. The people who loved Him (the common people) loved Him because they had the courage to acknowledge their flaws and accept His forgiveness and acceptance and healing. In His Truth they saw the power of God's love to change their life. He didn't ask them to first be perfect. He asked them to trust His love to change them by following Him. His enemies (the self-righteous religious crowd) didn't want anything to do with Jesus' love and Truth changing their life. They loved themselves just the way they were. They were right. They were perfect. Sound like anyone you know? I know it sounds like me.
I was in the depths of severe mental illness for ten years while God proved to me I was a sinner. It took that long, not because He is cruel, but because I refused to see the Truth. I had to admit my flaws and my need of His forgiveness and new Life. I wouldn't wish mental illness on anyone. But I would go through it all again if it was the only way for me to meet Jesus.
Our society is polarized to the point of dysfunction. The answer does not lie in waiting for "the other side" to wise up. The answer does not lie in political force. The answer lies in the listening ear of Jesus. And because He values you enough to listen to you, I value you enough to listen to you. Do you value me enough to let me listen to you?
What is the difference between "truth" as I perceive it, as you perceive it, and as it "Truly" is apart from distorted perception? And, if you believe there is "no absolute truth", do you believe that that statement is absolutely true?
Joshua 5 NIV84
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”Jesus' Truth does not belong to Republicans or Democrats, conservative evangelicals or liberal universalists. Jesus disciples included a former political freedom fighter (Simon the Zealot) and a former political oppressor (Matthew the Tax Collector). They included common uneducated fishermen (Peter, James and John) and the intelligentsia (Paul). Jesus loves all. And all can be transformed by His Truth.
14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
15 The commander of the LORD ’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Steven Covey implied that you can only hope to influence another if you risk being influenced by them. Why don't we agree to disagree and still love each other and talk to each other. Instead we accuse each other of "hate", call each other "sinners", refuse to listen to the other's point of view, and refuse to allow ourselves to be influenced by the other's pain. Are we so insecure in what we believe, that we that we can't allow ourselves to learn from each other?
Jesus' enemies hated Him because His Truth exposed their flaws. The people who loved Him (the common people) loved Him because they had the courage to acknowledge their flaws and accept His forgiveness and acceptance and healing. In His Truth they saw the power of God's love to change their life. He didn't ask them to first be perfect. He asked them to trust His love to change them by following Him. His enemies (the self-righteous religious crowd) didn't want anything to do with Jesus' love and Truth changing their life. They loved themselves just the way they were. They were right. They were perfect. Sound like anyone you know? I know it sounds like me.
I was in the depths of severe mental illness for ten years while God proved to me I was a sinner. It took that long, not because He is cruel, but because I refused to see the Truth. I had to admit my flaws and my need of His forgiveness and new Life. I wouldn't wish mental illness on anyone. But I would go through it all again if it was the only way for me to meet Jesus.
Our society is polarized to the point of dysfunction. The answer does not lie in waiting for "the other side" to wise up. The answer does not lie in political force. The answer lies in the listening ear of Jesus. And because He values you enough to listen to you, I value you enough to listen to you. Do you value me enough to let me listen to you?
Saturday, October 26, 2013
God "embarrasses" Himself with Love
Luke 15:11-32 NKJV
Of course, this was ultimately shown when He hung naked, brutally beaten and bloody, nailed to the cross, dying, so that he could provide a way for us to spend eternity with Him.
Love doesn't get any greater than that.
When you die and meet Jesus He will not ask you about the size of your bank account, what neighborhood you lived in, the car you drove, whether you never smoked, drank or danced, how much you gave, whether you never missed church... etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
He will ask you, however, what did you do with "Him". He gave you His all. He gave you Himself. He does not condemn you. He does not demand perfection. He wants surrender. He just wants you. He wants an unhindered love relationship between you and Him.
What are you telling Him everyday by how you are living your life now? Go back to Him. He is waiting for you. And when He sees you turn, He will run to greet you.
11 Then [Jesus] said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.God, our Heavenly Father, the Creator of the Universe, loves us with such intensity, that He "embarrasses" Himself in His pursuit of a relationship with us. There is nothing so undignified or beneath Him that He won't do it to win our hearts to Him. (I am not talking about sin of course). In the above parable the son disgraced his father and himself and trampled their relationship by demanding his inheritance while his father was still alive. Yet his father loved his son, kept watch for him, and ran to greet him as soon as he saw him coming back. In Jesus' day and culture a dignified adult man would not run, it was considered beneath him. Yet Jesus portrays God, Jesus' Heavenly Father, as someone who loves us so much that He is willing to "embarrass" himself by running to greet us to communicate His great love for us.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’
20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.
25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”
Of course, this was ultimately shown when He hung naked, brutally beaten and bloody, nailed to the cross, dying, so that he could provide a way for us to spend eternity with Him.
Love doesn't get any greater than that.
When you die and meet Jesus He will not ask you about the size of your bank account, what neighborhood you lived in, the car you drove, whether you never smoked, drank or danced, how much you gave, whether you never missed church... etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
He will ask you, however, what did you do with "Him". He gave you His all. He gave you Himself. He does not condemn you. He does not demand perfection. He wants surrender. He just wants you. He wants an unhindered love relationship between you and Him.
What are you telling Him everyday by how you are living your life now? Go back to Him. He is waiting for you. And when He sees you turn, He will run to greet you.
Monday, October 14, 2013
To whom much is given
There is a man I have the privilege of working with on a leadership project for our church. He loves Jesus, his family, his church and more. He has been the video production backbone of our team.
And he recently turned 14.
I wish I had had his wisdom when I was his age.
Luke 12:48b NKJV
I believe this young man will continue with Jesus. And make the most of his relationship with the Master. And I believe he has much joy in his future: for God, others and himself.
And he recently turned 14.
I wish I had had his wisdom when I was his age.
Luke 12:48b NKJV
For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.This verse at first glance seems like a downer to me. But this verse is like a coin. One side is responsibility. When God gives us much we are required to use it all and make the most of it. The other side of the coin is blessedness, happiness, and joy. When God gives us much we have the opportunity to love God and others with more. And that results in ourselves and others having more opportunities to experience joy.
I believe this young man will continue with Jesus. And make the most of his relationship with the Master. And I believe he has much joy in his future: for God, others and himself.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Satan's lie about God
Under traffic sources in the statistics part of this blog's background functions are what I believe are sources of entry for those who read this blog. I clicked on one of them and it went to a porn site. (I quickly closed it and told my wife who was sitting in the living room with me). Before I became a Christian I viewed pornography. I eventually recognized its destructive influence on me and got rid of it (even before I knew Jesus). But like an alcoholic who becomes sober and then stays away from alcohol I stay away from pornography. And that's why I quickly closed it and told my wife. She knows the password on my computer and I don't hide anything from her, in order to protect myself from falling back into slavery to pornography.
If you view pornography I do not condemn you and God does not condemn you. God and I do, however, condemn what is destroying you and that is the pornography. God loves people but He hates sin - because sin hurts the people he loves.
Sin is an attempt to get our God-given needs met outside of God's will. Sin provides pleasure for a season but it will never satisfy the human heart's longing to be satisfied by God. God is waiting for you to give up satan's worthless pleasure and seek Him to truly meet your needs. God said, you will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all of your heart. Satan comes only to kill, steal and destroy. Jesus comes so that me and you can have real life! Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life, the wholesome nutrition for our souls that we might have true pleasure, true satisfaction, true life.
Satan will tell you that God is no fun. God invented fun. Satan will tell you that God is trying to steal the little pleasure you have left in life. God is trying to introduce you to real pleasure that builds you up, not satan's counterfeit that tears you down. Satan is trying to destroy us with pleasure-coated poison. God is trying to give us food for our souls, what we truly need to be happy.
In the end, it's your choice. But remember, if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.
If you want help please consider going to XXXchurch.com. I have never gone to the site myself (for fear I would get targeted with spam from the porn industry) but I have heard good things about it from others.
If you view pornography I do not condemn you and God does not condemn you. God and I do, however, condemn what is destroying you and that is the pornography. God loves people but He hates sin - because sin hurts the people he loves.
Sin is an attempt to get our God-given needs met outside of God's will. Sin provides pleasure for a season but it will never satisfy the human heart's longing to be satisfied by God. God is waiting for you to give up satan's worthless pleasure and seek Him to truly meet your needs. God said, you will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all of your heart. Satan comes only to kill, steal and destroy. Jesus comes so that me and you can have real life! Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life, the wholesome nutrition for our souls that we might have true pleasure, true satisfaction, true life.
Satan will tell you that God is no fun. God invented fun. Satan will tell you that God is trying to steal the little pleasure you have left in life. God is trying to introduce you to real pleasure that builds you up, not satan's counterfeit that tears you down. Satan is trying to destroy us with pleasure-coated poison. God is trying to give us food for our souls, what we truly need to be happy.
In the end, it's your choice. But remember, if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.
If you want help please consider going to XXXchurch.com. I have never gone to the site myself (for fear I would get targeted with spam from the porn industry) but I have heard good things about it from others.
Weather or Not Photography
Jim (Dad): Jeremy, where did you take this shot?
Jeremy (Son): This photo was taken at a friend's house.
Jim: Why do you shoot so many weather photos?
Jeremy: Because I think it's beautiful. And I love weather.
Jim: Have you had any photography training?
Jeremy: No.
Heaven for the Comfort, Hell for the Company
This is a phrase that I heard as a kid. It means: I want to go to heaven to physically feel good and escape Hell's torment and pain; but I want to socialize with people in Hell because they are "real" and not hypocritically thinking they are better than me. There is a lot of truth to this phrase.
Some people in church are hypocrites. Talking Jesus but without accepting others as they are, not giving mercy, love, forgiveness, acceptance and grace. The problem is these same people usually haven't experienced the unconditional love that Jesus offers. They think what makes them a "christian" is going to church, obeying rules (that is, the ones they want to obey and ignoring the others), and being accepted by other "christians". They have missed everything. And that "everything" is a personal relationship with Jesus.
When a person truly knows Jesus they don't think they are better than you. In fact, they believe they are your servant and put you first. Not just if you are another Christian but regardless of who you are, what you believe or what you've done. That's because that's what Jesus did... and still does. Jesus counted Himself among sinners and is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters.
People don't become true Christians by following rules and pretending they are perfect. Rather they become true Christians by surrendering themselves to the Jesus they have learned to trust and love because they have seen Him love them first hand through one of His followers.
If you can't find a true Christian perhaps you want to consider investigating becoming a true Christian yourself? Pray to God and tell Him you want to know Him. Read the Bible starting in John (you can use the index to find it) and learn about Jesus' character and love for you and others. Pray that God would lead you to one of His true followers, that they might help you know God better. You can explore if Jesus is someone you want to spend your life and eternity with. And being with Jesus is what makes heaven, heaven.
Some people in church are hypocrites. Talking Jesus but without accepting others as they are, not giving mercy, love, forgiveness, acceptance and grace. The problem is these same people usually haven't experienced the unconditional love that Jesus offers. They think what makes them a "christian" is going to church, obeying rules (that is, the ones they want to obey and ignoring the others), and being accepted by other "christians". They have missed everything. And that "everything" is a personal relationship with Jesus.
When a person truly knows Jesus they don't think they are better than you. In fact, they believe they are your servant and put you first. Not just if you are another Christian but regardless of who you are, what you believe or what you've done. That's because that's what Jesus did... and still does. Jesus counted Himself among sinners and is not ashamed to call us His brothers and sisters.
People don't become true Christians by following rules and pretending they are perfect. Rather they become true Christians by surrendering themselves to the Jesus they have learned to trust and love because they have seen Him love them first hand through one of His followers.
If you can't find a true Christian perhaps you want to consider investigating becoming a true Christian yourself? Pray to God and tell Him you want to know Him. Read the Bible starting in John (you can use the index to find it) and learn about Jesus' character and love for you and others. Pray that God would lead you to one of His true followers, that they might help you know God better. You can explore if Jesus is someone you want to spend your life and eternity with. And being with Jesus is what makes heaven, heaven.
Wisdom, Humility and Real Life
James 1:5 NKJV
I used to write these posts for the local newspaper, accompanied by a meaningful photo. After writing them weekly for two years I became proud, thinking I was writing them out of my own wisdom, out of my own power, out of myself. I knew I was getting proud, but I couldn't shake it. My pride got in the way of hearing from God to write the posts. And eventually I had to quit writing them. And I couldn't write another until eight years later.
There is a relationship between wisdom, love and pride. Wisdom is the practically working out of love for God, others and ourselves in our daily lives. Pride is the opposite of love. Pride cuts off the ability to hear God's wisdom because we seek glory for ourselves and so it results in a fall, or the destruction of our lives.
God knows we all have a problem with pride. That's why He sent Jesus to take the punishment for our pride. God said to humble ourselves under His mighty hand and in due time He will lift us up. He doesn't lift us up the way this world does, that is, by making ourselves "greater" than others. He lifts us up by making us like Himself, by making us able to be a loving servant like Him. Humbling ourselves and loving and serving others is real glory. And this real glory, when we humble ourselves, and love God with all that we are and others as much as ourselves, is just breaking even in God's sight. It is the minimum God expects from each of us. We are no "greater" than anyone else.
And that's the way we would want it isn't it? We want others to love us as much as they love themselves. But, we don't want them to feel "greater" than us by doing so. It is just what is expected.
But loving others this way is impossible in our natural selves. When we are born our spirits are dead. But, when we confess our sins to God and believe that Jesus paid our sin debt in full (when He died and rose from the dead), God gives us the Person of His Spirit that is alive and willing and able to do all that God asks. We then are able to choose to follow God if we want to follow Him. And when we choose to follow Him we find out the reason He made us. We find real life the way God intended it to be.
1 John 5:11-13 NKJV
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.James 4:6 - 10 NKJV
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.Naturally, in and of myself, I don't have any wisdom at all. I become painfully aware of this sometimes when God removes His wisdom from me. Then I realize that if my own wisdom was dynamite I wouldn't have enough to blow my nose. God is the source of all true wisdom.
I used to write these posts for the local newspaper, accompanied by a meaningful photo. After writing them weekly for two years I became proud, thinking I was writing them out of my own wisdom, out of my own power, out of myself. I knew I was getting proud, but I couldn't shake it. My pride got in the way of hearing from God to write the posts. And eventually I had to quit writing them. And I couldn't write another until eight years later.
There is a relationship between wisdom, love and pride. Wisdom is the practically working out of love for God, others and ourselves in our daily lives. Pride is the opposite of love. Pride cuts off the ability to hear God's wisdom because we seek glory for ourselves and so it results in a fall, or the destruction of our lives.
God knows we all have a problem with pride. That's why He sent Jesus to take the punishment for our pride. God said to humble ourselves under His mighty hand and in due time He will lift us up. He doesn't lift us up the way this world does, that is, by making ourselves "greater" than others. He lifts us up by making us like Himself, by making us able to be a loving servant like Him. Humbling ourselves and loving and serving others is real glory. And this real glory, when we humble ourselves, and love God with all that we are and others as much as ourselves, is just breaking even in God's sight. It is the minimum God expects from each of us. We are no "greater" than anyone else.
And that's the way we would want it isn't it? We want others to love us as much as they love themselves. But, we don't want them to feel "greater" than us by doing so. It is just what is expected.
But loving others this way is impossible in our natural selves. When we are born our spirits are dead. But, when we confess our sins to God and believe that Jesus paid our sin debt in full (when He died and rose from the dead), God gives us the Person of His Spirit that is alive and willing and able to do all that God asks. We then are able to choose to follow God if we want to follow Him. And when we choose to follow Him we find out the reason He made us. We find real life the way God intended it to be.
1 John 5:11-13 NKJV
11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.Matthew 10:39 NKJV
He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.Today, right now, Jesus is calling you. And if you listen to Him, and respond to Him, you will never be the same.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
I'm glad I didn't get what I wanted
Jesus said that even in abundance our life does not consist in what we have. I just updated my Linked In account to reflect my new job. For my job description I put that I serve the mentally ill of which I am one. At one time I wanted to be a CEO or president or anything that at that time I thought commanded respect. I despised my mental illness and the stigma and "shame" that came with it. Now I thank God for the experience of mental illness though I would not want to go back to having no meds. I get to meet some of the neatest people through my job. And what used to hold me back now I use to join with others in moving forward. Jesus' kingdom truly is upside-down when compared with how this world thinks. If God would have granted me a healthy brain and given me my desire to "be important", I would be lonely, frustrated, and friendless. Instead He gave me defective brain chemistry, pain and sorrow, and a new life that values other people instead of what I think other people think of me.
What do you value? Are you happy? The Bible says that Jesus, took the form of a servant, and for the joy set before Him, endured the cross to pay for our sins. What did He value? You and me, and His Father. He was never elected to public office, never wrote a book, and didn't travel the world. He did however, humble himself and obey His Father. And He is happy. If you want to follow in His footsteps you can. Just confess your sins to Him. Tell Him you're sorry for them and that you are turning from them with His help. Tell Him you believe He died for your sins and rose to give you new life. And then tell someone about the forgiveness and new life God has given you. Read the Bible and pray. And love and obey Him. You will experience His peace, love and joy.
What do you value? Are you happy? The Bible says that Jesus, took the form of a servant, and for the joy set before Him, endured the cross to pay for our sins. What did He value? You and me, and His Father. He was never elected to public office, never wrote a book, and didn't travel the world. He did however, humble himself and obey His Father. And He is happy. If you want to follow in His footsteps you can. Just confess your sins to Him. Tell Him you're sorry for them and that you are turning from them with His help. Tell Him you believe He died for your sins and rose to give you new life. And then tell someone about the forgiveness and new life God has given you. Read the Bible and pray. And love and obey Him. You will experience His peace, love and joy.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Satan's work exposed
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV84
When satan tells me a lie it is usually aimed at a shame and insecurity I feel. He threatens to expose my weakness and I fear telling anyone because I feel ashamed. And the lie grows hidden in the dark. But if I have the courage and insight to realize what the lie is and expose it, or I talk to someone who helps me to do this, I can compare satan's lie to the truth found in the Bible. Then I realize that Jesus loves me just as I am, that He has already paid for whatever I'm ashamed of, that I am complete in Him, and that satan cannot harm me.
Writing about this is easier than dealing with it and so though I know what's going on I still have to fight the battle. Praying and reading the Bible, talking with Christian friends who understand, and even writing a blog post about it, helps expose and destroy satan's work in my life.
Thanks for reading this and feel free to comment about anything you would like.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.I suffer from lack of confidence sometimes, especially in new situations. Satan knows this and regularly attacks me there. Satan's fiery darts, those destructive thoughts and feelings, are hitting me most recently in my new job. I am praying that Jesus will take care of my thought life and me personally and my company and their customers. I am praying that Jesus will expose the lies of satan (that I believe) to the light of God's truth. The truth will disarm the lies and make them powerless against me. How does this work?
When satan tells me a lie it is usually aimed at a shame and insecurity I feel. He threatens to expose my weakness and I fear telling anyone because I feel ashamed. And the lie grows hidden in the dark. But if I have the courage and insight to realize what the lie is and expose it, or I talk to someone who helps me to do this, I can compare satan's lie to the truth found in the Bible. Then I realize that Jesus loves me just as I am, that He has already paid for whatever I'm ashamed of, that I am complete in Him, and that satan cannot harm me.
Writing about this is easier than dealing with it and so though I know what's going on I still have to fight the battle. Praying and reading the Bible, talking with Christian friends who understand, and even writing a blog post about it, helps expose and destroy satan's work in my life.
Thanks for reading this and feel free to comment about anything you would like.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
My youngest son decided that tithing once is enough!
My youngest son was buying a video game today that cost $20 with the money he earned this week, also $20. I told him he needed to wait and save his money because $2 of the $20 belonged to God. He told me he already tithed once and that he really wanted to spend the money on the video game. I told him that his mom and I tithe every week. He said that tithing once is enough. I said "ok". And I wondered if I had misrepresented tithing to him... and to you.
God does indeed tell us to test Him in this area of finance. So, did God fail my son? We don't know yet. But I think it is important to know why God wants us to tithe. He provides an extra 10% when he gives us money (whether through our work, investments, social security, etc.) so that we can return it to Him through our local church. God uses our/His money to pay for people and programs that lead people world-wide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Now, God doesn't need our money. All the money we have comes from Him and He could finance everything through miracles if He want to do so. But God wants us to know the joy of giving like He does, to know the joy of being a part of His work to unconditionally love people, and to show a watching world His reality and true nature through our loving actions.
I neglected to tell my son all this and I wonder if that might have influenced his decision concerning tithing. After all, my son might not be able to appreciate these blessings if he doesn't know about them. My son is asleep right now, but tomorrow I hope to be able to talk to him. I want to ask him about why he tithed, did God bless him more than he could receive, and what would have to happen for him to decide to tithe again.
And, I apologize to you if I made tithing sound like a guaranteed money making investment. God has always blessed me for tithing. If it wasn't for Him I would not have avoided many traffic accidents, I would not have met my beautiful wife, I would not have been able to adopt my two wonderful sons, and I wouldn't have a job that I like and I think suits me well. These blessings can't be seen as easily as the four tickets to a kids' movie that his brother received when his brother tithed, but they are no less real.
I will talk to my son in the morning. I believe God has, or will, bless my son with more than he can receive because of his one week tithe. And, he and I will watch for it.
God does indeed tell us to test Him in this area of finance. So, did God fail my son? We don't know yet. But I think it is important to know why God wants us to tithe. He provides an extra 10% when he gives us money (whether through our work, investments, social security, etc.) so that we can return it to Him through our local church. God uses our/His money to pay for people and programs that lead people world-wide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Now, God doesn't need our money. All the money we have comes from Him and He could finance everything through miracles if He want to do so. But God wants us to know the joy of giving like He does, to know the joy of being a part of His work to unconditionally love people, and to show a watching world His reality and true nature through our loving actions.
I neglected to tell my son all this and I wonder if that might have influenced his decision concerning tithing. After all, my son might not be able to appreciate these blessings if he doesn't know about them. My son is asleep right now, but tomorrow I hope to be able to talk to him. I want to ask him about why he tithed, did God bless him more than he could receive, and what would have to happen for him to decide to tithe again.
And, I apologize to you if I made tithing sound like a guaranteed money making investment. God has always blessed me for tithing. If it wasn't for Him I would not have avoided many traffic accidents, I would not have met my beautiful wife, I would not have been able to adopt my two wonderful sons, and I wouldn't have a job that I like and I think suits me well. These blessings can't be seen as easily as the four tickets to a kids' movie that his brother received when his brother tithed, but they are no less real.
I will talk to my son in the morning. I believe God has, or will, bless my son with more than he can receive because of his one week tithe. And, he and I will watch for it.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Did God pass the "test"?
Malachi 3:10 (NKJV)
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.Back on September 1, 2013 I told you about my wife and I double "tithing" (or giving back God 20% of what He has given us during the month) in order to show our two sons that God comes through on His promises. God promises in Malachi in the last book of the Old Testament of the Bible that He will throw open the windows of heaven and pour out so much blessing that we will not have room enough for it, if we give Him back His 10% of what He gives us. Since we were already giving God back His 10% we decided to give Him back 20% in the month of September to give God the chance to show our sons proof that God can be trusted.
God has blessed us by giving our sons neighbors to play with after school. Jesus has helped me to see more quickly when I'm wrong and apologize to my wife. God has enabled us to go to church together, which is very sweet because it hasn't happened often lately. My younger son has been walking away from the antagonism of others, which takes great strength and I am proud of him. God provided a mini-mentoring session for my older son through a Christian friend of a Christian friend who was cleaning my carpets (he did an excellent job with my son and the carpets - ask for referral information). My son tithed five weeks at church tonight (partially ahead of schedule) and was totally pumped, ready to see what God would do to bless him.
Monetarily, God did some off-the-chart things for us, as well. First, He provided a perfect stranger to pick up our dinner check at a restaurant. Next, my wife got paid for work that she wasn't planning on getting paid for. Our family received a free hotel stay, including mileage, breakfast, pool, and exercise room. I interviewed for a new job and quit my then current job on Thursday, September 5th, 2013 and got paid for the next two weeks. Last Monday, September 23, 2013, God gave me the job I interviewed for making twice as much as I did before plus unbelievable benefits. This fits perfectly with my wife going from 40 hours per week to 20 hours per week (which is welcome). And as far as God's timing, my job starts the same day my wife's job goes to part-time.
To me, God has indeed opened for me the windows of heaven And poured out for me such blessing That there is not room enough to receive it.
Ephesians 3:20 - 21 (NKJV) 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Monday, September 23, 2013
There is room for you at the "top".
Someone has said that Jesus' kingdom is an upside-down kingdom. Our Lord and Master, our God, is also the servant of all. Our greatness is not measured in how many people are working for us, but in the works of love we do for others.
This attitude does not come naturally. It comes super-naturally. Jesus said we must be "converted". Jesus said that He reveals His truth to "babes". Jesus said that if we hear His message and receive it [do it] we receive Him and God the Father who sent Him.
(My son has given me permission to share the following). I am continually impressed with my 18 year old son and how he grasps who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are and their ways. When faced with a problem, many times he is the first to say, "Dad, let's pray. Let's ask Jesus for help". My son is brilliant socially and is one of the leaders in his classroom. He also reads and writes at a second grade level.
Though some in this world would overlook him, I admire him. He's like the child that Jesus held in His arms and gave as an example for His disciples to be like.
I've explained to my son that he is smart, frequently pointing out to him when he demonstrates that quality. But I have also told him that he is wise, also pointing out that quality when he demonstrates it. And, I've explained the difference. My son loves God the Father and Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit. My son reverences God and values God. My son is teachable about God and His ways. And so my son is wiser than some with multiple times his IQ.
Some value intellect. Some value athleticism. Some value popularity. God values love. Love for Him and love for others. And true love for God always expresses itself as obedience to God. Not that we are perfect. But when we do sin we repent (turn around), ask God and anyone involved for forgiveness, learn from our mistake, and press on.
So my goal is to humble myself and be like my son, like the little child Jesus gave as an example to be like. And the nice thing about Jesus' upside-down kingdom is that there is always room at the top, or rather bottom. All of us can serve others and be like Jesus.
This attitude does not come naturally. It comes super-naturally. Jesus said we must be "converted". Jesus said that He reveals His truth to "babes". Jesus said that if we hear His message and receive it [do it] we receive Him and God the Father who sent Him.
(My son has given me permission to share the following). I am continually impressed with my 18 year old son and how he grasps who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are and their ways. When faced with a problem, many times he is the first to say, "Dad, let's pray. Let's ask Jesus for help". My son is brilliant socially and is one of the leaders in his classroom. He also reads and writes at a second grade level.
Though some in this world would overlook him, I admire him. He's like the child that Jesus held in His arms and gave as an example for His disciples to be like.
I've explained to my son that he is smart, frequently pointing out to him when he demonstrates that quality. But I have also told him that he is wise, also pointing out that quality when he demonstrates it. And, I've explained the difference. My son loves God the Father and Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit. My son reverences God and values God. My son is teachable about God and His ways. And so my son is wiser than some with multiple times his IQ.
Some value intellect. Some value athleticism. Some value popularity. God values love. Love for Him and love for others. And true love for God always expresses itself as obedience to God. Not that we are perfect. But when we do sin we repent (turn around), ask God and anyone involved for forgiveness, learn from our mistake, and press on.
So my goal is to humble myself and be like my son, like the little child Jesus gave as an example to be like. And the nice thing about Jesus' upside-down kingdom is that there is always room at the top, or rather bottom. All of us can serve others and be like Jesus.
16 He who hears you [Jesus' disciples] hears Me [Jesus], he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.” (Luke 10:16, NKJV)
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes." (Luke 10:21, NKJV)
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me." (Matthew 18:1-5, NKJV)
Friday, September 20, 2013
Giving and Receiving
Just a few minutes ago I had the most unusual, and baffling and joy-filled experience. My wife and my younger son and I were dining at an Italian place we like. A gentleman we had never met before was waiting for his take-out order and asked us about my son's hoodie with the Indiana Colt's logo on it. We told him that my wife's family lives in Indiana and that we had followed Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy. I was trying to get up the nerve to share Jesus with this gentleman using Tony Dungy as a starting point. I chickened out and didn't say anything and the man reached over and picked up our check. It was for over $35 and to me that is a lot of money. So I took the check back from him. He took it back from me and said, "I've been blessed, now you go bless others".
I was stunned. This has never happened to me before. I asked the man if he was a Christian. I don't remember exactly how he answered. My wife said later that he probably was a Christian because not that many people say, "I've been blessed".
Wow, God is awesome! This man is awesome! I've never felt like this before. He mentioned that I could leave a nice tip. We left $10.
This man doesn't know that today was the last day of my job. Or, that my wife is going from 40 hours to 20 hours per week. But God knows. And this man obeyed God. Because this man obeyed God, God was blessed, the man was blessed and I and my family were blessed.
I gave this kind man my blog information and I hope he reads this. Thank you very much, sir, we appreciate your generosity, especially at this time.
I am being considered for another job with another company right now. I would be grateful if anyone who reads this would choose to pray for me to get the job that God wants me to get. (Also, I would be glad to pray for you about what concerns you if you would like to leave a comment).
What a day! Thank you Jesus! Thank you kind man! And thank you for reading this. Have a blessed day.
I was stunned. This has never happened to me before. I asked the man if he was a Christian. I don't remember exactly how he answered. My wife said later that he probably was a Christian because not that many people say, "I've been blessed".
Wow, God is awesome! This man is awesome! I've never felt like this before. He mentioned that I could leave a nice tip. We left $10.
This man doesn't know that today was the last day of my job. Or, that my wife is going from 40 hours to 20 hours per week. But God knows. And this man obeyed God. Because this man obeyed God, God was blessed, the man was blessed and I and my family were blessed.
I gave this kind man my blog information and I hope he reads this. Thank you very much, sir, we appreciate your generosity, especially at this time.
I am being considered for another job with another company right now. I would be grateful if anyone who reads this would choose to pray for me to get the job that God wants me to get. (Also, I would be glad to pray for you about what concerns you if you would like to leave a comment).
What a day! Thank you Jesus! Thank you kind man! And thank you for reading this. Have a blessed day.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
You have to be a sinner before you can be forgiven
Jesus isn't looking for the good people, the perfect people, the people who have it all together. If we could be perfect then He didn't need to die. No, Jesus said through David in the Psalms:
Psalm 34:17-18 (NKJV)
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite [to repent, to turn around] spirit.(Brackets mine)
Psalm 51:16-17 (NKJV)
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3-4) and "those who mourn" over their sinful condition. "For theirs is the kingdom of heaven" and "they shall be comforted". Not the haughty, not the proud. Not those who claim to have it altogether, and say they have no sin. Jesus said God accepts those who recognize who they are and cry out to God to clothe them with His righteousness, with Jesus.
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Jesus loves us sinners!
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
Whatever situation I find myself in, the preceding verse promises me victory. The problem is that at first I didn't want the victory... I wanted to sin. Then when I tried to resist sin, the temptation was too great, or so I thought, and I gave in. It wasn't until I thought through the consequences of sin that I decided I wanted victory over it. And I truly had to want victory over sin, more than I wanted the pleasure of sin for a season.No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Then, I asked God to show me the way of escape and to give me the wisdom to take it. This puts God in the lead and and me dependent on Him, which is the best place to be. God says to resist the devil and he will flee from you:
James 4:7 - 10 (NKJV)
This is for most sin. One of the surprises I found from reading Dr. Chuck Swindoll, was that concerning sexual sin, God did not want me to stand and fight temptation. No, He wanted me to RUN, to flee, to get out of Dodge. This is what Joseph did when his master's wife tried to seduce him. He ran.7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Genesis 39:11 - 12 (NKJV)
Joseph had no choice, but for us, many times the way of escape doesn't have to be that dramatic or at the last minute. When traveling you can ask when you check in to the hotel to have the objectionable TV channels turned off. Also, if you can, don't travel alone but with a trusted friend. Do a phone check in with your spouse or accountability partner at night. Plan ahead and do whatever it takes to stop sin before it stops you. Jesus said that if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! (Matthew 5:30). Of course this was exaggeration, Jesus doesn't want you to be without a hand, but what Jesus meant was to deal decisively with sin.11But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12that she [his master's wife] caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.
God loves people. God hates sin, not people. God hates sin because it hurts Him and it hurts people. The penalty was death for King David when he committed adultery. But God pardoned him. When a woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus to have her stoned Jesus said, "Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone".
John 8 (NKVJ)
3Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.7So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”11She said, “No one, Lord.”And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”12Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”John the Apostle said that if a man claims to have no sin he is a liar and the truth is not in him.
1 John 1:8 (NKJV)
8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.Therefore, we all deal with sin. Those who brought the woman caught in adultery found this out, and so they all left. But by what power are we delivered from sin? The apostle Paul said:
Romans 7:13 - 25 (NKJV)
13Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. 14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
Romans 8:1 - 11 (NKJV)
Jesus is the friend of sinners, not so we can continue in sin, but so that Jesus can forgive our sin, cleanse us of sin and give us His righteousness and His Life. Call on Him today, He is waiting to forgive you and give you new life!1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,£ who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Jesus can make satan's lies tell the truth
2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV84
The truth is that Jesus loves us. He has taken care of everything. We do not have to perform up to standards for Him to accept us. He accepts us just as we are. When we trust Him to save us from the punishment we deserve, we become His children. Two thousand years ago He took our shame and blame and suffered the punishment for it. There is nothing else to pay. He freely gives us His righteousness, Spirit, and life. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
The evil one, satan, attacks us when we are weakest, and attacks the weakest part of ourselves. That's different for each one of us. What is a constant though, is that satan's attacks are lies. They may contain some parts that are true, but the message that he conveys is always a lie.
Before I had a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, I thought I was "pretty good". I thought I was a Christian, which was a lie of satan (I liked Jesus' philosophy but I did not know Him personally). I thought the few sins I had were no big deal, which was a lie of satan (they were not few and they were a huge deal). Satan had me completely deceived and so satan just kept telling me I was "pretty good", I kept believing him, and so he didn't need to do anymore to insure I was going to hell.
But once I surrendered to Jesus satan went on the attack. I was now a threat to him. He couldn't change my new eternal destination (heaven with Jesus) but he could try and stop me from taking anyone with me. My experience has been that the more closely I follow Jesus, the more I notice satan's attacks. And it seems like most of the time those attacks are thoughts and feelings, that is, satan's fiery darts.
Jesus dealt with satan by appropriately quoting the Word of God, the Bible. We can too. Next time, I'll post some verses that I've found helpful.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.My mental illness doesn't present itself as voices, either inside or outside my head. What I contend with are feelings and thoughts. Painful, hopeless, anxious feelings that sometimes leave me thinking that I should give up. I call them satan's fiery darts. And I used to give in to them. Then I battled them unsuccessfully. Now, after thinking about the preceding verse, I ask Jesus to take these thoughts captive and make them tell the truth.
The truth is that Jesus loves us. He has taken care of everything. We do not have to perform up to standards for Him to accept us. He accepts us just as we are. When we trust Him to save us from the punishment we deserve, we become His children. Two thousand years ago He took our shame and blame and suffered the punishment for it. There is nothing else to pay. He freely gives us His righteousness, Spirit, and life. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.
The evil one, satan, attacks us when we are weakest, and attacks the weakest part of ourselves. That's different for each one of us. What is a constant though, is that satan's attacks are lies. They may contain some parts that are true, but the message that he conveys is always a lie.
Before I had a personal, intimate relationship with Jesus, I thought I was "pretty good". I thought I was a Christian, which was a lie of satan (I liked Jesus' philosophy but I did not know Him personally). I thought the few sins I had were no big deal, which was a lie of satan (they were not few and they were a huge deal). Satan had me completely deceived and so satan just kept telling me I was "pretty good", I kept believing him, and so he didn't need to do anymore to insure I was going to hell.
But once I surrendered to Jesus satan went on the attack. I was now a threat to him. He couldn't change my new eternal destination (heaven with Jesus) but he could try and stop me from taking anyone with me. My experience has been that the more closely I follow Jesus, the more I notice satan's attacks. And it seems like most of the time those attacks are thoughts and feelings, that is, satan's fiery darts.
Jesus dealt with satan by appropriately quoting the Word of God, the Bible. We can too. Next time, I'll post some verses that I've found helpful.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Spare change can change your life...
Luke 12 NKJV
13Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”14But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of £covetousness [greed], for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”16Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’21“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”Your life can be as rich and sweet and full of joy as any millionaire's, or even more so. And a millionaire's life can be as bankrupt as anyone in bankruptcy, or even more so. Jesus said our life is not determined by what we own. Money can solve some problems, but it can bring even more of its own, (like the desire for more money). I was never so greedy as when I had more money (and depended on money). I've never felt more free to give than when I didn't have a job (and depended on God to provide).
Have you ever noticed that some people are strong and some are weak? Some rich and some poor? Some are blind and some can see? Some are brilliant and some struggle? Some are healthy and some are sick? The early followers' of Jesus had a solution to these problems. The strong helped the weak. The rich helped the poor. The blind were healed or helped by those that could see. Those who could think well helped those who couldn't. The healthy healed or helped those who were sick.
God didn't give the Rich Man in the parable plentiful crops so that he could "take [his] ease; eat, drink and be merry" for many years. I believe when God gives me more than I need it is to serve with it, not to indulge myself with it. I find more fun in meeting someone else's need in the name of Jesus, than in buying myself something that I don't need.
For about the price of a coffee, roughly $1.33 a day, you can change the life of a child by sponsoring them through
Hope for Children part of World Hope International at:
http://www.worldhope.org/page.aspx?pid=511
or Compassion International at:
http://www.compassion.com/
You will give them education, nutrition, and medical care. And the opportunity to meet Jesus.
And giving that $1.33 a day just might change your life as much as your child's.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Jesus tells us to be "Meek" not Weak!
My son and I were watching an old 1950s era episode of "Denise the Menace". Denise's Mom said to his Dad, "If you're too meek and mild to stand up for what is right, I will". The Bible called Jesus' mother Mary, "meek and mild". I always assumed by the way it was used with the word "mild" that meek meant weak. Then I heard somewhere that the word "meek" meant "great strength under control". To find out what "meek" really means I looked in: online dictionaries, Bible dictionaries and encyclopedias and Googled "What is the Biblical definition of meek?"
Some online dictionaries define "meek" as "weak" using its current common use as the definition. W. L. Walker in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says that: "['Meekness'] presupposes humility, flows from it, and finds expression in moderation." However the most help I received was from Mr. Grady Scott and his explanation of Matthew 5:5 found at the following URL:
http://www.christianlibrary.org/authors/Grady_Scott/matt5-5.htm
Mr. Scott describes Moses as standing up to the most powerful man on earth at that time (Pharaoh Ramses) and yet describing himself as the most meek of men. Jesus controlled nature (stilled the wind and waves), demons (cast them out of their victims) and the elements (turned water into wine) and yet describes Himself as "meek and lowly of heart".
Mr Scott describes the origin of the word "meek":
So "meek" does not mean "weak", rather it means having your strength under control. When someone wrongs you, you don't lose your temper. You don't seek revenge. You do what Jesus did and entrust all things to your Father in Heaven and do exactly what He says to do. To those who don't know Jesus that may appear to be weak - forgiveness, grace, longsuffering, putting others ahead of yourself - can be misinterpreted by the masses. But to the person whom you forgive, give undeserved favor, endure without retaliation, and put before yourself, you convey the unmistakable love of Jesus.
Some online dictionaries define "meek" as "weak" using its current common use as the definition. W. L. Walker in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia says that: "['Meekness'] presupposes humility, flows from it, and finds expression in moderation." However the most help I received was from Mr. Grady Scott and his explanation of Matthew 5:5 found at the following URL:
http://www.christianlibrary.org/authors/Grady_Scott/matt5-5.htm
Mr. Scott describes Moses as standing up to the most powerful man on earth at that time (Pharaoh Ramses) and yet describing himself as the most meek of men. Jesus controlled nature (stilled the wind and waves), demons (cast them out of their victims) and the elements (turned water into wine) and yet describes Himself as "meek and lowly of heart".
Mr Scott describes the origin of the word "meek":
An understanding of the root definition of meek in the original language and how it was used will help us in understanding what Jesus meant.
1. Greek word praus
a. Used to describe a soothing medicine.
b. Used by sailors to describe a gentle breeze.
c. Used by farmers to describe a broken colt.
2. What do all these definitions have in common? They all describe great power under control.
So "meek" does not mean "weak", rather it means having your strength under control. When someone wrongs you, you don't lose your temper. You don't seek revenge. You do what Jesus did and entrust all things to your Father in Heaven and do exactly what He says to do. To those who don't know Jesus that may appear to be weak - forgiveness, grace, longsuffering, putting others ahead of yourself - can be misinterpreted by the masses. But to the person whom you forgive, give undeserved favor, endure without retaliation, and put before yourself, you convey the unmistakable love of Jesus.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
"Perception is Reality." - Lee Atwater.................... "Is Mr. Atwater's statement a Perception or Reality?" - Jim McNaughton
According to perception, Jesus was a failure. He was tortured, mocked, beaten, and spat upon. His followers ran. One of His friends had turned Him over to His enemies. His only defense was to validate the charge against Him. One of those closest to Him, denied that he ever knew Him, in order not to experience His fate. The thousands that had heard Him preach and experienced His miracles didn't show up.
He was buried and His own disciples didn't expect Him to rise from the dead as He had claimed He would. Guards posted at His tomb said His disciples stole His body. No reputable government official ever saw Him after that. It was over. It was finished. It was done.
Yet the reality is that Jesus won the ultimate victory for all time! He conquered death when He was raised from the dead. His followers stopped running and, once filled with His Spirit, risked their lives boldly proclaiming that He was alive, that only He was King, and forgiveness of sins is found only in Him.
His message of God's unconditional love for everyone has never stopped growing. Though many have tried to stop Jesus and His love, they have all met with or will meet with, ultimate failure.
Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away".
And so, in the end, Jesus words, the words of the Bible, are the only Reality.
He was buried and His own disciples didn't expect Him to rise from the dead as He had claimed He would. Guards posted at His tomb said His disciples stole His body. No reputable government official ever saw Him after that. It was over. It was finished. It was done.
Yet the reality is that Jesus won the ultimate victory for all time! He conquered death when He was raised from the dead. His followers stopped running and, once filled with His Spirit, risked their lives boldly proclaiming that He was alive, that only He was King, and forgiveness of sins is found only in Him.
His message of God's unconditional love for everyone has never stopped growing. Though many have tried to stop Jesus and His love, they have all met with or will meet with, ultimate failure.
Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away".
And so, in the end, Jesus words, the words of the Bible, are the only Reality.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
From nothing to everything
God, the Father of Jesus, respects us, His creation, made in His image, so much, that He does not force us to love Him. In fact, He has created this world in such a way that we can go through our whole life denying His existence and His rightful claim on our life. God does not demand worship. He is love, and love does not force others to love. In fact, love cannot be forced. He simply loves us continuously from before we are conceived until we die; and He orchestrates circumstances and relationships in hopes that at some point we will see that He loves us and that as a response we will freely choose to love Him in return and others as ourselves.
But, why would God send good people to hell? What if no one ever told them about God? God would be unfair to reject someone who was never told about Him, wouldn't He?
Romans 1:18-20, NIV:
I knew God was real but I didn't care. I had no love for Him.
But God had love for me.
He gave me mental illness, which might seem like hate, but it was really love. The mental illness struck at my biggest source of pride and self-sufficiency: my brain. I was paranoid and could not think logically and I could not emotionally relate to others. Because of my mental illness I was rejected and alone, even in a crowd of friends and family. After ten years of this "hell" I was still rebellious toward God and still did not respect or love Him.
But He loved me.
And, when I had absolutely nothing left to lose, God offered me a relationship with Him. And it was only when God had taken away everything the world had to offer: intellect, money, jobs, cars, friends, family, that I grudgingly accepted Him; specifically because I had absolutely nothing left to lose.
Thinking that I was naturally "pretty good" I could not have been any more disrespectful to God. And He humbled Himself and endured me until I accepted Him and His love. He has transformed me from someone who hated love to someone who rejoices in love. I have been forever changed by Jesus' love and all the credit goes to Him.
If you want to know Jesus the way I do all you have to do is to reach out for Him with all that you are. He said He will be found by you. Tell Him that you have sinned against Him and that you are sorry and that you accept that His death on the cross paid for your sin debt in full. Then tell Him that you believe He rose from the dead on the third day to make you just, forgiven, and holy. And tell Him that He is now your Lord and Master and that you will follow Him for the rest of your life when at last you will meet Him face to face.
Next, tell someone what Jesus has done for you. And find a church that believes and preaches the Bible. Find someone who is farther along in their walk with Jesus and who's life is worthy of imitating and ask them to mentor you. And always read the Bible and pray, because God loves you most of all and He can help you most of all.
But, why would God send good people to hell? What if no one ever told them about God? God would be unfair to reject someone who was never told about Him, wouldn't He?
Romans 1:18-20, NIV:
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,Before I knew Jesus and surrendered my life to Him I was scared to death of dying. Occasionally, I thought the rapture (Jesus taking all of His people from the earth) had occurred and that I was left behind. When I thought I was going to die, or I thought I was left behind, I had a brief moment of clarity. I knew God was holy, I knew I was sinful, and I knew He was just to reject me. And after those brief moments I rejected what I knew to be true and "closed my eyes" and went back to my life as usual.
19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
I knew God was real but I didn't care. I had no love for Him.
But God had love for me.
He gave me mental illness, which might seem like hate, but it was really love. The mental illness struck at my biggest source of pride and self-sufficiency: my brain. I was paranoid and could not think logically and I could not emotionally relate to others. Because of my mental illness I was rejected and alone, even in a crowd of friends and family. After ten years of this "hell" I was still rebellious toward God and still did not respect or love Him.
But He loved me.
And, when I had absolutely nothing left to lose, God offered me a relationship with Him. And it was only when God had taken away everything the world had to offer: intellect, money, jobs, cars, friends, family, that I grudgingly accepted Him; specifically because I had absolutely nothing left to lose.
Thinking that I was naturally "pretty good" I could not have been any more disrespectful to God. And He humbled Himself and endured me until I accepted Him and His love. He has transformed me from someone who hated love to someone who rejoices in love. I have been forever changed by Jesus' love and all the credit goes to Him.
If you want to know Jesus the way I do all you have to do is to reach out for Him with all that you are. He said He will be found by you. Tell Him that you have sinned against Him and that you are sorry and that you accept that His death on the cross paid for your sin debt in full. Then tell Him that you believe He rose from the dead on the third day to make you just, forgiven, and holy. And tell Him that He is now your Lord and Master and that you will follow Him for the rest of your life when at last you will meet Him face to face.
Next, tell someone what Jesus has done for you. And find a church that believes and preaches the Bible. Find someone who is farther along in their walk with Jesus and who's life is worthy of imitating and ask them to mentor you. And always read the Bible and pray, because God loves you most of all and He can help you most of all.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
My son is going to tithe!!!!!
My younger son is going to test Jesus and give a tithe of what he has earned this week. Though I encouraged him, it is his decision, I have left it totally up to him. We are going to test God and see if He throws open the flood gates of heaven and see if my son has enough room for it. We will report back on what God does.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Wait a minute, what is "tithing"?
It suddenly dawned on me that you may not know what tithing is. A "tithe" is a tenth of what God gives you. In the Old Testament God says that the tenth is His. You may say, that is an Old Testament law and that you are not under law but grace. That is true, we are under grace and are led by the Spirit of God. And the Spirit of God has led me to tithe and receive God's blessing by His grace. The New Testament says to save up to give to God in proportion to the increase God has blessed you with. So, ask God what He wants you to give. And then give that and don't worry whether it is a literal tithe or not. In fact, one pastor suggested that you give anything but a tenth. He said that this would force us to go to God and hear from Him to find out what He wants us to give. Whatever you give, give with thanks and a grateful heart. Gods best blessing is the "hilarity" we feel when we give out of love for Him.
God protects more than crops and fruit!
Malachi 3 NIV
What I think is most significant is that God has protected ME! God has kept me safe and free from accidents that were my fault. I have been in two accidents that were not my fault since I gave my self to Jesus, and He saved me from much harm in both.
You will only find out how God will bless you if you accept His challenge and put Him to the test by tithing. Try it and see!
6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.I interpret Malachi 3:11 to mean that God is interested in protecting more than just my crops and fruit (I don't have either). I interpret the verse to mean that if I honor God with my tithe He will protect, among other things, my cars from rusting and wearing out. I know they won't last forever but they each are over ten years old, each have over 120,000 miles, and each have very little, if any, rust. The 2002 Pontiac Montana needs a perennial repair of the heater core thermostat (or something like that, I'm not a mechanic) and may need an engine gasket replacement in 40,000 miles. The 2003 Toyota Camry has only had the tires, windshield wipers and battery replaced; (but soon needs something like a timing cover gasket replaced).
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings.
9 You are under a curse —the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me.
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit, ” says the LORD Almighty.
12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.
What I think is most significant is that God has protected ME! God has kept me safe and free from accidents that were my fault. I have been in two accidents that were not my fault since I gave my self to Jesus, and He saved me from much harm in both.
You will only find out how God will bless you if you accept His challenge and put Him to the test by tithing. Try it and see!
Putting God to the test?
Malachi 3 NIV
Several years ago I challenged my older son when he was about 12 years old, to test God and see what God would do if my son tithed. My son tithed seven dollars and we watched what God would do. God said to test Him in this and so we did. Within a few days I was given four free tickets to a first run major kids' movie. God blessed not only my son, but his brother and mom and dad.
I didn't stick with teaching this to my son and now, ten years later, my son is not interested in tithing. I don't plan on giving up on teaching him and his younger brother though. My wife and I are going to double tithe and ask God to bless my wife and I doubly (so that we doubly don't have enough room for it) so that my sons will see that God can be tested and also see that God comes through on His promises. This test will be for the month of September 2013. I will report back with developments.
6 “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.Until you experience the blessing God gives in response to tithing you may be reluctant to give God back His ten percent of what He gives you. At least that's what I think my sons are experiencing.
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings.
9 You are under a curse —the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me.
10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit, ” says the LORD Almighty.
12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty.
Several years ago I challenged my older son when he was about 12 years old, to test God and see what God would do if my son tithed. My son tithed seven dollars and we watched what God would do. God said to test Him in this and so we did. Within a few days I was given four free tickets to a first run major kids' movie. God blessed not only my son, but his brother and mom and dad.
I didn't stick with teaching this to my son and now, ten years later, my son is not interested in tithing. I don't plan on giving up on teaching him and his younger brother though. My wife and I are going to double tithe and ask God to bless my wife and I doubly (so that we doubly don't have enough room for it) so that my sons will see that God can be tested and also see that God comes through on His promises. This test will be for the month of September 2013. I will report back with developments.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
We can trust God's Heart
Jeremiah 29 (NIV)
The beautiful thing is that we don't need to depend on our own strength to follow Him. If we agree with God that we have had wrong attitudes and actions in the past (sin), if we believe that God the Father raised Jesus, God the Son, back from the dead, and if we surrender control of our lives to the One who loves us most, Jesus promises to meet our needs and give us strength.
And with Jesus in our heart, we will be able to love supernaturally, and God will give us joy. The way may not always be easy though. Satan used to ignore me but now that I follow Jesus, satan attacks me much more than before Jesus saved me.
But, Jesus said, "Take heart, for I have overcome [satan].
10 This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.God is always seeking our best. And loving God, loving Agape Love, is the best thing for us. God's Word tells us how to do this. Trust Jesus and obey Him. But this is hard to do on our own. I naturally want to take the quick and easy path of sin to meet my God-given needs. Sin is fun for a little while, but the problem is that the fun doesn't last long. And the pain of sin is much greater than the pleasure and can last much longer. And sin hurts me, others and God. That's why God calls it sin. God wants us to meet our God-given needs His way. And that takes patience for God's timing and trust in His character and possibly some amount of effort.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
The beautiful thing is that we don't need to depend on our own strength to follow Him. If we agree with God that we have had wrong attitudes and actions in the past (sin), if we believe that God the Father raised Jesus, God the Son, back from the dead, and if we surrender control of our lives to the One who loves us most, Jesus promises to meet our needs and give us strength.
And with Jesus in our heart, we will be able to love supernaturally, and God will give us joy. The way may not always be easy though. Satan used to ignore me but now that I follow Jesus, satan attacks me much more than before Jesus saved me.
But, Jesus said, "Take heart, for I have overcome [satan].
Let's change the world
Deuteronomy 8 (NIV)
The parallels to what has been happening to the USA is striking. America has suffered droughts, floods and storms in increasingly greater severity. Why? I believe because America has gone far from God and God is trying to get our attention.
God has a great heart for justice for the oppressed, for the helpless.
Racism causes great injustice: educationally, socially and economically.
Abortion literally chops up helpless living babies and sends them to the garbage.
And our money driven culture doesn't care.
For a few brief moments American's priorities were exposed by 9/11. We suddenly saw that ball players were not the heroes that the commercial culture makes them out to be. The real heroes were firefighters, police officers, and military personnel; and the countless ordinary citizens who have also sacrificed themselves by helping others. Churches saw many new faces...briefly. President George W. Bush said that the rest of America moved on from 9/11 but that he stayed there. I wish all of America would have stayed there long enough to pay attention to God.
God said to Israel that if they obeyed Him they would be the head and foreigners would be the tail. And if they did not obey Him foreigners would be the head and Israel would be the tail. Similarly, hasn't our own economic health paralleled our moral decline since the 1960's? We used to lend to other nations. Now we are in massive debt to other nations. And the debtor is servant to the lender.
What is next for God to use to get our attention? As terrible as 9/11 was, it only woke up America for a few weeks, a few months at best. Since then it has been no different than before. When Israel refused to acknowledge the One that won their wars and gave them freedom from their enemies, God stopped helping them. In time of war after 9/11 our nation prayed. And we saw God help us using technology. If we do not acknowledge the One who loves us and protects us, all our technology will be useless.
You may be asking, what can we do, the problems are so big and I am just one person? God says one person praying is like a thousand and two like ten thousand. Let's ask God to first change us and offer ourselves to Him each day to do whatever He asks. Then let Him lead us. Margaret Mead is attributed as saying, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has".
10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.Though my university selectively showed me facts that imply otherwise, I believe our nation was founded on Jesus and the Gospel. (Other faiths enjoyed freedom of expression, and that is attributable to the characteristic of being a predominately Christian country). Because Jesus permeated the new culture, God blessed this nation just as He blessed Israel when Israel obeyed God. However, God did not spare Israel, His "treasured possession", when they did not obey Him. He sent droughts, floods. storms, and lastly, invading armies, to get their attention.
11 Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.
12 Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down,
13 and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied,
14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
15 He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock.
16 He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.
17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”
18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
19 If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.
20 Like the nations the LORD destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God.
The parallels to what has been happening to the USA is striking. America has suffered droughts, floods and storms in increasingly greater severity. Why? I believe because America has gone far from God and God is trying to get our attention.
God has a great heart for justice for the oppressed, for the helpless.
Racism causes great injustice: educationally, socially and economically.
Abortion literally chops up helpless living babies and sends them to the garbage.
And our money driven culture doesn't care.
For a few brief moments American's priorities were exposed by 9/11. We suddenly saw that ball players were not the heroes that the commercial culture makes them out to be. The real heroes were firefighters, police officers, and military personnel; and the countless ordinary citizens who have also sacrificed themselves by helping others. Churches saw many new faces...briefly. President George W. Bush said that the rest of America moved on from 9/11 but that he stayed there. I wish all of America would have stayed there long enough to pay attention to God.
God said to Israel that if they obeyed Him they would be the head and foreigners would be the tail. And if they did not obey Him foreigners would be the head and Israel would be the tail. Similarly, hasn't our own economic health paralleled our moral decline since the 1960's? We used to lend to other nations. Now we are in massive debt to other nations. And the debtor is servant to the lender.
What is next for God to use to get our attention? As terrible as 9/11 was, it only woke up America for a few weeks, a few months at best. Since then it has been no different than before. When Israel refused to acknowledge the One that won their wars and gave them freedom from their enemies, God stopped helping them. In time of war after 9/11 our nation prayed. And we saw God help us using technology. If we do not acknowledge the One who loves us and protects us, all our technology will be useless.
You may be asking, what can we do, the problems are so big and I am just one person? God says one person praying is like a thousand and two like ten thousand. Let's ask God to first change us and offer ourselves to Him each day to do whatever He asks. Then let Him lead us. Margaret Mead is attributed as saying, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has".
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