tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70326304521830928512024-03-13T20:28:59.154-07:00Runner4Christ"Forgetting what lies behind and straining for what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward calling of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Philippians 3:13-14Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-61486868413707064832012-09-15T04:57:00.002-07:002012-09-15T05:00:13.710-07:00His Raining Faithfulness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUStqX7pqOXhEprhqVpB2ZG4wPdqxiIofJ9NUk3LyCtHsP68k7Jg70qlmIpYyTolYjXsCmbN_a-_xpWt-YWVLgPlJVXlUtQOl82d45Vdh2eJZ25m36sj2EMFVuVjmMVZAKv0lz3FzghU0/s1600/DSCF0397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUStqX7pqOXhEprhqVpB2ZG4wPdqxiIofJ9NUk3LyCtHsP68k7Jg70qlmIpYyTolYjXsCmbN_a-_xpWt-YWVLgPlJVXlUtQOl82d45Vdh2eJZ25m36sj2EMFVuVjmMVZAKv0lz3FzghU0/s400/DSCF0397.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">(I had to steal this photo from my friend, Heidi </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://dhostrem.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow me" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>dhostrem.blogspot.com<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>/</a></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">, who is such an amazing photographer!)</span></i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My eyes had been straining to peer through my semi-fogged windshield for over an hour. The windshield wiper blades were on maximum speed and pretty much useless to keep up with the torrential down pours I had to drive through. Using the white strips to my left, I guided my car as straight as possible and would have mini-panic attacks as other, larger vehicles would come blazing by me, splashing even more, unmanageable amounts of water onto my overworked windshield wipers. I thought to pessimistic and tired self, "Of course I would have to drive through thunderstorms all day!" I was journeying through an open, Missouri Valley south of Sioux City, Iowa on my 12 hour drive home from spending sometime with my family that weekend. The sky stretches as far as you can see in all directions making it easy to track the movement of storms.</span></i><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The rain let up enough so that I could see the morning horizon darken yet another shade of blue against the green fields with twig-like lightning strikes dancing slightly to my left. Lighter, grey-colored clouds were to my right: There was hope! The system appeared to be moving slightly ahead of me, so I even slowed-up more to allow the angry clouds to pass. With a few more spouts of rain, I was reminded of a passage of scripture that brought color back into my whitened knuckles and eased the pounding of my temples:</span></i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">"Let us know; let us press on to know the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>;</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Hos-6-3" style="position: relative;">his going out is sure as the dawn;</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="text Hos-6-3" style="position: relative;">he will come to us as the showers,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Hos-6-3" style="position: relative;">as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3</span></span></span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Hos-6-3" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Hos-6-3" style="position: relative;">Is it not remarkable that the rain proclaims the faithfulness of our God? Another verse with a similar reminder of His faithfulness can be found in Joel:</span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Hos-6-3" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="text Joel-2-23" id="en-ESV-22335" style="position: relative;">“Be glad, O children of Zion,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Joel-2-23" style="position: relative;">and rejoice in the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> your God,</span></span><br /><span class="text Joel-2-23" style="position: relative;">for he has given the early rain for your vindication;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Joel-2-23" style="position: relative;">he has poured down for you abundant rain,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Joel-2-23" style="position: relative;">the early and the latter rain, as before." Joel 2:23</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Joel-2-23" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span></i></span></span></div>
<i>ESV Commentary says that "for he has given the early rain for your vindication" can be understood as "the teacher (Hb.hammoreh) for righteousness." Keep in mind this is Old Testament text! Clearly, God is revealing more than his ability to make it rain but rather, using rain to remind us of His desire to give us righteousness through His Son, Jesus Christ!</i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Hos-6-3" style="position: relative;"> Such peace it brought to me as I drove down that long interstate highway that I know the God who opens up the sky to bring rain. Another thought that came to mind was the countless number of prayers that were being lifted due to the vast drought that had occurred along the interstate this past summer and I could not help but rejoice with the farmers that the LORD was faithful to their prayers and was bringing rains. </span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Hos-6-3" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="chapter-2"><span class="text Zech-10-1" style="position: relative;">"Ask rain from the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Zech-10-1" style="position: relative;">in the season of the spring rain,</span></span><br /><span class="text Zech-10-1" style="position: relative;">from the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> who makes the storm clouds,</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Zech-10-1" style="position: relative;">and he will give them showers of rain,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Zech-10-1" style="position: relative;">to everyone the vegetation in the field." Zechariah 10:1</span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Zech-10-1" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Zech-10-1" style="position: relative;">I enjoy the commentary for this passage of scripture as well because it gives more of a background on how asking for rain would indicate the faithfulness of the Israelites. Paraphrasing, they were dependent on the rain--especially the spring rains for harvest. Going back to (9:17) God promised that he would provide grain and new wine for his people. So really this passage comes out as a challenge to trust the LORD instead of the pagen gods who also claimed to provide rain. </span></span></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Zech-10-1" style="position: relative;"><br /></span></span></i></span></span></div>
<i>That image of the sky ahead of me is still fresh in mind even weeks after arriving safely home from my drive. As I write this, I can hear the constant patter of rain outside the door of our deck and cannot help but smile.</i>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-30114117760772581842012-04-26T07:24:00.000-07:002012-04-26T07:24:04.955-07:00Valley of Worry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFfdp6nkK8eprRG2A6zVjz7CMsfsKnJBGpb-ZMRGFAvU2zWFOX3ai8BJY4TUmo6Tasas-mwHd5UsjBYIonRckruACJDdLsdNkze785vlWCzCc2manOcrY-6zvVFrNypSyIzGX0QiekyI/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFfdp6nkK8eprRG2A6zVjz7CMsfsKnJBGpb-ZMRGFAvU2zWFOX3ai8BJY4TUmo6Tasas-mwHd5UsjBYIonRckruACJDdLsdNkze785vlWCzCc2manOcrY-6zvVFrNypSyIzGX0QiekyI/s320/photo-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How do you react towards life's surprises? If you're anything like me, you may tend to get overwhelmed in a matter of seconds. In fact, I think its safe to say you could put your watch by me: within 10 seconds I am deep in thought, figuring out my next step; around a minute to two minutes, I am in my worry-mode. Now, anticipating or planning in its entirety is not a bad thing, but when it along with the curtail of chronic worry, it becomes a problem. I feel like worry is something that we often excuse as christians; we think that it's an outward force therefore we have no control over it. In reality, it is the opposite and it teems from the well of pride within each of us. The root of worry lies in pride and is a slap of distrust in God. Why are you worrying? More than like your response goes something like this, "Well, I just don't know what's going to happen next! Life was going this way or my day was going this way and now it has all changed and I don't know what to do." Picking that response apart we discover that (1) You do not like NOT knowing what is going on that you have a limitation on knowledge, (2) You were comfortable in a position, (3) You don't like NOT knowing what you're suppose to do NOW. Am I correct? My worry often leads me into a twister of emotions that leads to erratic states of mind and everyone who cross my path gets a variety of quietness, or tears. Are you like that? Well, do not worry (no-pun intended) there is hope in God's Word that can be applied to EVERY surprise, twist or turn that comes your way. Follow me to the first chapter in the Book of James:</span><br />
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<h3 style="font-size: 1.05em;">
<span class="text Jas-1-2" id="en-ESV-30252" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: normal;">Testing of Your Faith</span></h3>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Jas-1-2"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">2 </sup>Count it all joy, my brothers,when you meet trials of various kinds,</span> <span class="text Jas-1-3" id="en-ESV-30253"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">3 </sup>for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-4" id="en-ESV-30254"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">4 </sup>And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Jas-1-5" id="en-ESV-30255" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">5 </sup><sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30255J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201&version=ESV#cen-ESV-30255J" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)</sup>If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-6" id="en-ESV-30256"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">6 </sup>But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><b> </b></span>a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-7" id="en-ESV-30257" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">7 </sup>For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;</span> <span class="text Jas-1-8" id="en-ESV-30258" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">8 </sup>he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Jas-1-9" id="en-ESV-30259"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">9 </sup>Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,</span> <span class="text Jas-1-10" id="en-ESV-30260"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">10 </sup>and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass<sup class="footnote" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-30260c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201&version=ESV#fen-ESV-30260c" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote c">c</a>]</sup> he will pass away.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-11" id="en-ESV-30261"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">11 </sup>For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Jas-1-12" id="en-ESV-30262"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">12 </sup>Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-13" id="en-ESV-30263"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">13 </sup>Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-14" id="en-ESV-30264"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">14 </sup>But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-15" id="en-ESV-30265"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">15 </sup>Then desire <sup class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30265X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201&version=ESV#cen-ESV-30265X" style="color: #651300; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)</sup>when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text Jas-1-16" id="en-ESV-30266"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">16 </sup>Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.</span> <span class="text Jas-1-17" id="en-ESV-30267"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">17 </sup>Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.</span><span class="text Jas-1-18" id="en-ESV-30268"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">18 </sup>Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have four take-aways from this passage that I hope will trigger my mind to recall the full extent of the passage:</span></div>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Count the surprise or trial as all joy</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ask for wisdom in FAITH</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remain steadfast</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Temptations to worry are not of God</span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Joy" does not mean you have to paint on a smile when you receive difficult news, emotions in themselves are not wrong, but if they lay the foundation of fear and worry, we need to pray that God would grant us a different perspective. We need to read James 1:3 over and over, reminding ourselves of the stead and constant work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, perfecting our faith. Secondly, James says we are to seek wisdom. Notice he doesn't say, "Pray that God will relieve whatever trial you're experiencing, or that He will rescue you." I think so often my prayers center around escaping or returning back to the way things were when really, I should simply ask for wisdom in that particular situation. God, being an all-knowing God is the greatest resource we have. We can always have godly-insight from fellow believers, but He is the source of all knowledge and wisdom. So within that 30-60 seconds before the worry sets-in, breathe and pray for wisdom. And ask in faith knowing that God will provide. Stand-up and put some girth behind your prayer: this is God we are talking about! Matthew 6, probably a more well-known passage on worry speaks volumes with the examples of God clothing the flowers of the fields in splendor and feeding the forsaken sparrows. If you cannot seem to muster the strength to ask for wisdom, just saturate yourself with scripture of God's faithfulness. He has scattered verses throughout the entire Bible revealing this amazing attribute of himself. Second Timothy 2:13 is the tail-end of almost a pep-rally-like passage, encouraging followers of Christ:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text 2Tim-2-11" id="en-ESV-29822"><sup class="versenum" style="font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: top;">11 </sup>The saying is trustworthy, for:</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="text 2Tim-2-11" style="position: relative;">If we have died with him, we will also live with him;</span><br /><span class="text 2Tim-2-12" id="en-ESV-29823" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">12 </sup>if we endure, we will also reign with him;</span><br /><span class="text 2Tim-2-12" style="position: relative;">if we deny him, he also will deny us;</span><br /><span class="text 2Tim-2-13" id="en-ESV-29824" style="position: relative;"><sup class="versenum" style="display: block; font-size: 0.75em; font-weight: bold; left: -4.8em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; vertical-align: top;">13 </sup>if we are faithless, he remains faithful—</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">for he cannot deny himself.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Zero in on that last portion, "if we are faithless, he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself." IS THAT NOT AN AMAZING TRUTH? If God were to be unfaithful, it would be as if he was denying Himself. So get it! Get after that prayer for wisdom with the strength from His Word with knowledge that God is faithful!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thirdly, remain steadfast or endure. Matthew 10:22 says "...and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." Furthermore, James touches on steadfastness later on in the Book in Chapter 5 where he says, "Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful." Remember your trial gives God a channel with which He can pour out his rich compassion and mercy upon you. Job went through a boat-load of trials, trial after trial, after trial and he remained steadfast. Again, it's not that you cannot be emotional or even frustrated with the circumstance, you're not a robot, God has given you feelings but continue to remind yourself, God will be glorified --He is faithful because He desires glory and more importantly, He deserves glory! He's the only God that can turn our filthy moments in this life into treasures. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And finally, worry is not from God. My mom always reminds me of this: it's not from God and you're dwelling on things is not going to solve it. Thinking ahead and planning is not wrong, but devoting precious moments of your day devoted to analyzing situations and circumstances over and over and over is as if you're running on a hamster wheel, never getting anywhere. Invest that energy into prayer, spending time in the Word and in fellowship with the community of believers. Seek counsel but go to the Lord first. Ask Him to take your thoughts captive and to help you to not give into the temptation to worry.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's tough. I know it is. I feel like this would be a thorn in my flesh that I'm constantly having to surrender on a daily basis. I go through these waves with each season in life and get frustrated along with the worry, because I know what I am not to do but still do (You know Paul's "Do-Do" chapter :) So I know that this will continue to be a part of my life, and it won't be until my faith is fully completed and perfected that I will be free, but I can rest in knowing that I am free in Christ. This sin area has been covered in His blood and His grace is sufficient. </span></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-16455241553770254592012-04-23T13:54:00.000-07:002012-04-23T13:54:09.523-07:00No Tissue Boxes in Heaven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5mGSCvb3Ac48_FC1JP8ZSswoJK4_dxEGFY8hACRJxUiZBXUPaEv2CMtal7aMLO7147jrkqVbSwJhHgbIIBTXEa1B7Kz0H_4lUP4mJdVu2C7Q9QrL53z2h67Tsw9yq3SlpUp5frVvUbg/s1600/No+tears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo5mGSCvb3Ac48_FC1JP8ZSswoJK4_dxEGFY8hACRJxUiZBXUPaEv2CMtal7aMLO7147jrkqVbSwJhHgbIIBTXEa1B7Kz0H_4lUP4mJdVu2C7Q9QrL53z2h67Tsw9yq3SlpUp5frVvUbg/s400/No+tears.jpg" /></a></div>
It is so easy to become overwhelmed in day to day events. Life is full of disappointments, frustrations and unexpected turns. I think Western Christianity sometimes gives off the impression that as a Christ-follower, you will never experience pain, suffering or challenges. Knowing that you will encounter pain and suffering probably may not immediately relieve those feelings, but I was reminded this past weekend in Pastor Mark’s message on “He is making all things new.”
In the message, Mark reminded us of having an eternal perspective. Passages in Revelation 21 and 22 both touch on the things we have to look forward in the New Heaven and New Earth. In Revelation 21:4, scripture tells us that
4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
I sat and thought about that, and applied it to my immediate struggles and was overwhelmed: No more struggle of selfishness and timidity, no fears of the next challenge in life or what other people think, no health conditions--worn-joints or pain with exercise; no need to have to count calories or fat grams or need to fit the profile I impose upon myself with the influence of cultural standards, no autism: oh how I wish we had freedom from the condition and my heart breaks for families that are continually battling with the challenges it presents; no bills, tuition fees, exams or need to meet qualifications for jobs.
There won’t be a need for a tissue box in the New Heaven and Earth. Isn’t that wonderful? No tears! No Death! Mourning, crying, pain all of these things will pass away.
I know the feeling of “Well, I just want to get married first, or I just want to start a family or establish a career, THEN God can return.” I am by no means discrediting those blessings that God has granted us while on earth—but I pray you will ask for an eternal, Christ-centered perspective in those thoughts. I pray that you would write down your list of immediate struggles and apply this scripture and see why the last few words of the book of Revelation state, “Come, Lord Jesus.” So perhaps instead of us getting hung-up on our day to day challenges or trying to anticipate the next struggle in life, you will pray for endurance now and take hope in the fact that there will be no tissue boxes in heaven.
If you’d like to listen to Pastor Mark’s message, I encourage you to visit the website, fellowshiponline.comJonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-25341725511127137422012-01-08T05:30:00.000-08:002012-01-13T10:56:26.336-08:00Seeking to Savor Christ This Year<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEcyz8K3Yv8_WGpEFqw-i-wrswk0H-UT7cD7g9Yjy4LCwQvfOCzs0jL8XX2YA84u1Ft0hQ1ilk8duwzMvpu-Lk_9t-u8o18-80Igzk1f6jps5uduRYP3U3zS_rLZH3yC69YaNh8sMvjw/s1600/25782_377361481537_503511537_3912922_7770235_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEcyz8K3Yv8_WGpEFqw-i-wrswk0H-UT7cD7g9Yjy4LCwQvfOCzs0jL8XX2YA84u1Ft0hQ1ilk8duwzMvpu-Lk_9t-u8o18-80Igzk1f6jps5uduRYP3U3zS_rLZH3yC69YaNh8sMvjw/s400/25782_377361481537_503511537_3912922_7770235_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697192370119872066" /></a><br />We are a couple weeks into the new year: how are those resolutions coming along? If you're like me, you know the areas you need to improve on but don't want to make an actual declaration of your resolution for fear you'll end up like the other 80% of Americans that fail to keep them!<div><br /></div><div> Our resolutions most likely fall into one of three categories: disatisfaction with our bodies, disatisfaction with our money, and disatisfaction of organizing our time; am I correct? Everyone looks at themselves in the mirror and says, "Welp, I need to lose this and this and this, build this up etc" We look in our wallets and say, "I need to save here, invest here, quit spending here," and we pull out our planners and say, "I need to drop this activity, add this activity, go on this vacation and so on."<div><br /></div><div> Christians and Non-believers alike make these resolutions which are fine and dandy but have you ever thought about going to the source of the your disatisfaction rather than just treating these symptoms with your annual resolutions? Read back over these resolutions which one and only one will truly make you satisfied with who you are? If you lose those 10 pounds, will you be satisfied? If you save $5,000-10,000 this year, will you be satisfied? If you add one more activity, club or even Bible study will you be satisfied: feel as though you've accomplished something? No, you're going to move on to your next disatisfaction in life and try to treat another "symptom" of discontentment. Christians not only deal with this in the physical, emotional and mental relam but we carry it into our spiritual lives as well. We think to ourselves, "Man, if I would just get up every morning and spend my 15 minutes in the Word, then I could really feel good about my relationship with Christ," Or "Ok, I'm going to join my 4th Bible study during the week so that I am really super Christian and I'll honor God with how many Bible studies I am in. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>I so appreciate one of our teaching pastors at Fellowship Bible for addressing this topic on January 1st and for John Piper's message at the 2012 Passion Conference for bringing such a great word on Salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Our Pastor used the text from Psalm 27:4-8 which says: (provided from www.biblegateway.com)</div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><div class="heading passage-class-0" style="margin-top: 10px; color: rgb(92, 17, 1); "><h3 style="font-size: 16px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Psalm 27:4-8</span></h3><p class="txt-sm" style="font-size: 12px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">English Standard Version (ESV)</span></p></div><div class="result-text-style-normal text-html "><p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-14290" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">4</sup> <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14290A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#cen-ESV-14290A" title="See cross-reference A" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">A</a>)</sup>One thing have I asked of the LORD,<br /> that will I seek after:<br />that I may <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14290B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#cen-ESV-14290B" title="See cross-reference B" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">B</a>)</sup>dwell in the house of the LORD<br /> all the days of my life,<br />to gaze upon <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14290C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#cen-ESV-14290C" title="See cross-reference C" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">C</a>)</sup>the beauty of the LORD<br /> and to inquire<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-14290a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#fen-ESV-14290a" title="See footnote a" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">a</a>]</sup> in his temple.</span></p><p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-14291" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">5</sup> For he will <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14291D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#cen-ESV-14291D" title="See cross-reference D" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">D</a>)</sup>hide me in his shelter<br /> in the day of trouble;<br />he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;<br /> he will <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14291E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#cen-ESV-14291E" title="See cross-reference E" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">E</a>)</sup>lift me high upon a rock.</span></p><p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-14292" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">6</sup> And now my <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14292F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#cen-ESV-14292F" title="See cross-reference F" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">F</a>)</sup>head shall be lifted up<br /> above my enemies all around me,<br />and I will offer in his tent<br /> sacrifices with shouts of <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14292G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#cen-ESV-14292G" title="See cross-reference G" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">G</a>)</sup>joy;<br /><sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14292H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#cen-ESV-14292H" title="See cross-reference H" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">H</a>)</sup>I will sing and make melody to the LORD.</span></p><p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-14293" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">7</sup> <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14293I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#cen-ESV-14293I" title="See cross-reference I" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">I</a>)</sup>Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;<br /> be gracious to me and answer me!<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-ESV-14294" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">8</sup> You have said, <sup class="xref" value="(<a href="#cen-ESV-14294J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#cen-ESV-14294J" title="See cross-reference J" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">J</a>)</sup>“Seek<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-14294b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#fen-ESV-14294b" title="See footnote b" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">b</a>]</sup> my face.”<br />My heart says to you,<br /> “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-ESV-14294c" title="See footnote c">c</a>]" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#fen-ESV-14294c" title="See footnote c" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">c</a>]</sup></span></p><div class="footnotes"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Footnotes:</span></strong><ol type="a"><li id="fen-ESV-14290a"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14290" title="Go to Psalm 27:4" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:4</a> Or <i>meditate</i></span></li><li id="fen-ESV-14294b"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14294" title="Go to Psalm 27:8" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:8</a> The command (<i>seek</i>) is addressed to more than one person</span></li><li id="fen-ESV-14294c"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14294" title="Go to Psalm 27:8" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:8</a> The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain</span></li></ol></div><div class="crossrefs"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Cross references:</span></strong><ol type="A"><li id="cen-ESV-14290A"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14290" title="Go to Psalm 27:4" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:4</a> : <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=[Ps.26:8;84:1,2]&version=ESV" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">[Ps. 26:8; 84:1, 2]</a></span></li><li id="cen-ESV-14290B"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14290" title="Go to Psalm 27:4" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:4</a> : <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.23:6;65:4;[Luke2:37]&version=ESV" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Ps. 23:6; 65:4; [Luke 2:37]</a></span></li><li id="cen-ESV-14290C"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14290" title="Go to Psalm 27:4" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:4</a> : <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.90:17&version=ESV" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Ps. 90:17</a></span></li><li id="cen-ESV-14291D"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14291" title="Go to Psalm 27:5" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:5</a> : <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.31:20;[Ps.91:1;Job5:21;Isa.4:6]&version=ESV" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Ps. 31:20; [Ps. 91:1; Job 5:21; Isa. 4:6]</a></span></li><li id="cen-ESV-14291E"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14291" title="Go to Psalm 27:5" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:5</a> : <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.40:2&version=ESV" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Ps. 40:2</a></span></li><li id="cen-ESV-14292F"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14292" title="Go to Psalm 27:6" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:6</a> : <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.3:3&version=ESV" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Ps. 3:3</a></span></li><li id="cen-ESV-14292G"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14292" title="Go to Psalm 27:6" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:6</a> : <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=[Num.10:10]&version=ESV" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">[Num. 10:10]</a></span></li><li id="cen-ESV-14292H"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14292" title="Go to Psalm 27:6" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:6</a> : <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Eph.5:19;Col.3:16&version=ESV" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16</a></span></li><li id="cen-ESV-14293I"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14293" title="Go to Psalm 27:7" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:7</a> : <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.30:10&version=ESV" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Ps. 30:10</a></span></li><li id="cen-ESV-14294J"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:4-8&version=ESV#en-ESV-14294" title="Go to Psalm 27:8" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Psalm 27:8</a> : <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps.24:6;105:4&version=ESV" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">Ps. 24:6; 105:</a>4</span></li></ol><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">What a wonderful piece of text, Amen? There's an aspect of us seeking the Lord with the resolve He has given to us. The Bible is clear on examples of this resolve in prayers of people such as Psalm 68:1 (earnestly seeking) or in Jeremiah 29:13 (seeking with the entire heart) and in 1 Chronicles 6:11 (seeking with an urgency). But there is also an aspect of seeking the Lord that should stem from the moment we accepted Christ: seeing and savoring Christ. John Piper addressed this in his 2012 Passion Conference message and from his book "Seeing and Savoring Christ," where he explained the dependency we must have on Christ for Salvation. We don't just "decide", but there's an element of Christ revealing Himself while we're dead in sin and raising us to life. The longings of our heart are therefore only satisfied in Christ and Christ alone. Does this mean you cannot take care of your body? Does this mean you cannot be wise with your money? No! The whole reason for addressing the core of your relationship with Christ is to recognize that HE should be the reason you take care of your body and HE's the reason you seek wisdom in handling money and your time. You should be so focused on savoring the goodness of God's grace through Christ that the fruits of the gift of the Holy Spirit teem love, joy,peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control--all of which the resolutions we discussed fall under. You must also ask the LORD to provide you with the correct mindset: the renewal of your mind: the transformation that only comes from Christ. You cannot "will yourself" to Salvation: it comes ONLY by the gift from Christ's atonement. Christ is most glorified as the giver of Salvation: It's about Him being glorified not on your works to become a better person.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">So I encourage you to instead of setting multiple resolutions this year: resolve to seek and savor Christ. Seek Christ through prayer: Seek God's face not and not just his hand: seek his beauty and not just his provision. Seek God through His word and savor it: meditate, ask God to grant you greater desires and longings for His Word. And allow the Fruit that comes from knowing your God cover the areas you feel need to change: your body, mind and emotions should follow the heart that is seeking God.</span></div></div></div></span>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-48897962427035868232011-12-17T04:25:00.000-08:002011-12-17T05:21:45.963-08:00'Tis this Season to be Holy'I am participating in Beth Moore's Daniel Study. The study has 'daily homework assignments," that we complete throughout the week and then gather together to view a "session sermon," by Beth. We are recently completed Session 7 which correlates with Daniel 7 and touches on the characteristics of the Anti-Christ/Beast/Man of Lawlessness. In verse 25, of Daniel 7, we read that<div><br /></div><div> " He (beast), shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times , and a half time." </div><div><br /></div><div>Beth goes on to explain in the homework, that many scholars believe that "shall think to change the times and the law," relates to what we know as our practice of religion. She painted a picture of a time with which we were under a nasty dictator who desired to take away all religious holidays and practices. She then proceeded to ask, what would it do to you if you were not able to celebrate Christmas or Easter with the true meanings behind the commercial costumes? If we weren't able to celebrate Christmas by going to church, would you have an "underground service?" I wonder if that is what individuals are doing around the world that are already under the oppression of a nasty dictator. Would you risk going to jail to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ? Or perhaps the death and resurrection of Christ?</div><div><br /></div><div>From that, I went a step further in my mind and asked, "What if the commercial aspects were no longer a part of the holidays? Would I anticipate the season as much as I do with all of the commercialism and excitement affiliated with gifts? I'm not trying to be a Scrooge in all of this, but I am trying to truly "set apart" from the world by asking these questions and gauging myself with the Truth, God's Word. I am not going to copy down the entire text from 2 Peter 3 but I will begin at verse 16 where it says, (these are Peter's 'Final Words')</div><div>"..There are some things in them (Paul) that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this before hand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."</div><div><br /></div><div>I so encourage you to read the scripture leading up to this passage because it describes a lot of the events behind the final words of Peter. Now, does it say flat out, "The Anti-Christ will take away all holidays and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">persecute</span> Christians that choose to celebrate them?" Not exactly, but from we do know, He will do everything in his power to twist and mimic the One True God. In Daniel we have learned that Satan goes as far as creating his own version of the trinity: "The Dragon" (correlates to the Father), the Beast (correlates with the Son) and the False Prophet, (correlates with the Holy Spirit). So we can only assume he will attempt to turn these once beloved celebrations of our Lord Jesus Christ into holidays that are centered on him or at least distracting us from their origins. </div><div><br /></div><div>Do I like the excitement and jolly of the time of year: you bet your boots! But I am so thankful that I was reminded to step back and ask the Lord to renew my mind a bit from the whirlwind of "Christmas-Fluff," and ask myself, would I celebrate the true meaning of this holiday without recognizing Christ? I think many of us, even Christ-followers would find it easy to just buy gifts, sit around a tree, hang up <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Christmas</span> lights and call it good: especially if it meant keeping us from going to jail. Now these are just holidays, celebrating them or not doesn't mean obtaining salvation or not but they do center on the One who does give us Salvation so it would only make sense to celebrate and honor the LORD for what He has done. </div><div><br /></div><div>My prayer is to not destroy the lyric, "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ti's</span> the season to be jolly," but perhaps think in terms of another version, "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ti's</span> this season to be Holy." Christ came as the light of the world, to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">illuminate</span> us and bring us from the darkness of sin into light; to transform us and make us worthy of being in the presence of the Holiest of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Holies</span>. By all means you can be jolly but let the jolly be from the fact that Christ has come to make you Holy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Post comments! Share what the Lord is teaching you in this season!</div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-6178510560869634602011-10-24T05:30:00.001-07:002011-10-24T05:35:25.670-07:00Part 3: Miss to Mrs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHU6_nQn82Qxgeg07JIASVGX3LvkEp2iIemxFEh3HZgbm_LLGPTYIUCC_KwdCU7CgWEblarmQOZp2g5IsCyKy3FynRQHaHOVdFmEM6DZG5DRdDJgHwlKRcJ79hE4JhpEPg5y5yIgg6VY/s1600/Thank+you+cards.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 353px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZHU6_nQn82Qxgeg07JIASVGX3LvkEp2iIemxFEh3HZgbm_LLGPTYIUCC_KwdCU7CgWEblarmQOZp2g5IsCyKy3FynRQHaHOVdFmEM6DZG5DRdDJgHwlKRcJ79hE4JhpEPg5y5yIgg6VY/s400/Thank+you+cards.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667035364514773202" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Part 3 of “Miss to Mrs”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Our third and final portion of this mini-series of devotionals ends with “S” as “Surrender your thoughts and emotions to God.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">When you’re planning a wedding, you have countless number of thoughts running through your mind. It is so easy for Satan or your flesh to take over and really mess with your emotions. Things that wouldn’t normally bother you all of a sudden do; areas that you are normally very patient in become incredibly difficult to wait upon and yes, I’ll say it, girls, we are very emotional in life transitions! <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Even if you have a wonderful relationship with your family and soon-to-be in-laws it’s easy to get hung up on their suggestions for the wedding or ideas for how things should go and you can get overwhelmed! There were so many times I wound up in tears over something so pitiful and so not worth my tears!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Kory and I entered into the season of wedding planning praying that I wouldn’t get overwhelmed with it all but It was most certainly a battle to the very end! So my advice? When you feel your emotions rising, take a step back and say, “I surrender these emotions and thoughts to you God.” Don’t even allow your mind to go beyond that initial thought. Emotions are wonderful and should not by any means be disregarded, however I will say as one who can be very sensitive, they get in the way! They truly can destroy the joy of <span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;">everything if you allow them to. God is above your emotions: your faith is not based upon your emotions, it’s a choice. Similarly, when things are thrown at you during the planning process, you have to approach them with a clear mind, with minimal emotions. Happy and excited feelings are great! Bridal showers, bachelorette parties, hair appointments, decorating for your new home are wonderful and should be lavished with your emotions! I remember at my Bridal shower in South Dakota, I was so overwhelmed with the love and support of my family and the church body, I started to cry during my speech and EVERYONE began to cry (45-50 women!). It was so beautiful! I loved that moment! CLING to those moments of emotions. On the other hand, I think I cried to Kory every night of the last week leading up to the Wedding. I remember it was 11 O’clock the night before I asked if Kory and I could pray together before midnight (as if we were going to turn into pumpkins! We didn’t see one another before our Ceremony). I was a mess. He was great to affirm me in all of it but I was a mess! Reality will sink in and a lot of emotions will take over. This is when you have to step back and say, “Lord, I trust you! I trust you with my emotions and ask for your will to be done on this special day!” Your worrisome mind will not make the wedding go any smoother nor the transition of being single to a wife any easier! Worrying about anything will not accomplish anything! Worrying will only make you more fatigued from your already hectic schedule, am I not correct? I am really preaching to myself because you realize that this is not just a “wedding thing,” it’s a day-to-day struggle for a majority of women: it continues well beyond the kiss at the alter!<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><i>So what does scripture say about your thoughts? I feel like David, although a very manly-man, was pretty emotional considering the Psalms he wrote! I love it because we can definitely relate to him! Here are some Psalms that ultimately our God who created emotions, wrote through the Psalmist David:<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-outline-level:5"><b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin; font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><i>Psalm 10<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:";"> <b><sup>1</sup></b> Why, LORD, do you stand far off?<br />Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?</span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-bidi- mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><i> <b><sup>2</sup></b> In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,<br />who are caught in the schemes he devises.<br /><b><sup>3</sup></b> He boasts about the cravings of his heart;<br />he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.<br /><b><sup>4</sup></b> In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;<br />in all his thoughts there is no room for God. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <h4><span style="Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><i>Psalm 13<o:p></o:p></i></span></h4> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><span style="Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin; "><b><sup id="en-NIV-14076">1</sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></i></p><p><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"> How long will you hide your face from me?</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style=" ;font-size:small;"> </span><br /><b style="font-size: small; "><sup id="en-NIV-14077">2</sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space" style=" ;font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">How long must I wrestle with my thoughts</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style=" ;font-size:small;"> </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"> and day after day have sorrow in my heart?</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style=" ;font-size:small;"> </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"> How long will my enemy triumph over me?</span></span><span style=" ;font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p> <p><span style="Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin; font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><i> <b><sup id="en-NIV-14078">3</sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Look on me and answer, LORD my God.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <h3 style="margin-top:0in"><span style="Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><i>Psalm 92:4-6<o:p></o:p></i></span></h3> <p><span style="Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin; font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><i> <b><sup id="en-NIV-15416">4</sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />I sing for joy at what your hands have done.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><b><sup id="en-NIV-15417">5</sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>How great are your works, LORD,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />how profound your thoughts!<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><b><sup id="en-NIV-15418">6</sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Senseless people do not know,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />fools do not understand,<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <h4><span style="Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><i>Psalm 139<o:p></o:p></i></span></h4> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span>For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></i></p> <p><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><span style="Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin; "> <b><sup id="en-NIV-16241">1</sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You have searched me, LORD,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />and you know me.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><b><sup id="en-NIV-16242">2</sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You know when I sit and when I rise;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />you perceive my thoughts from afar.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><b><sup id="en-NIV-16243">3</sup></b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You discern my going out and my lying down;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />you are familiar with all my ways.</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p> <h3 style="margin-top:0in"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"><span style="Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span>Psalm 139:23<span style="Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><sup id="en-NIV-16263"><span style="Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;font-weight:normal">23</span></sup><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> </span></span></span><span style="Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin; font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Search me, God, and know my heart;<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />test me and know my anxious thoughts.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"> </span></i></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;"> </span></i></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Do you see the emotions in David? He isn’t necessarily ignoring them and being emotionless: he is investing his emotions into the LORD and not in his situation or people he is interacting with is he? The times that he did react with his emotions, he ended up sinning!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now is this saying you shouldn’t confront someone or a situation? Not necessarily but whatever that situation is, it shouldn’t be a response ridden with random emotions that lead to endless drama and regret. If there’s an issue ---during the wedding, after the wedding, it should be approached with emotions expressed to God first, then probably your spouse can be a sounding board and then a response to the offender/offended. Make sense? Ultimately, God needs to be the God of your emotions. He didn’t give us emotions so that we could make decisions on our own: He gave us emotions as a gift to truly experience and worship Him through our senses! When we waste our emotions on matters of this world or worry of what could happen, we are taking away from the gift that God gave us for worship. Make sense? <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">So there you have it: Miss to Mrs! There are many more “tips and hints” to this process but when I was practicing “r” by running one afternoon the week of the wedding, this idea came to me as one that would be worth sharing! So what does MRS stand for? Make time. Rest in Him and…..Surrender your thoughts and Emotions to Him! And…..guess what, just over 2 months into it---I AM STILL HAVING TO APPLY THEM! That’s why Miss to Mrs is not just for pre-married women, it’s for ANYONE regardless of season of life! </span></i><o:p></o:p></p>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-16093317064300347052011-10-10T03:13:00.000-07:002011-10-16T05:12:02.900-07:00Miss to Mrs Part II<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdtQFar7FckZzeHNc2ZAtlYI7GJr8hAoy4Qu7T2eTqQ5LUn1LY4CSCfRyNfwlsbJkKA51gzlpnsB1o9-z5kkNQm7HXReoijm0Nd-3lAkL10prLqT6eQzmfZ56Gl83Yl0-YjDpebGrpIU/s1600/IMG_3074.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdtQFar7FckZzeHNc2ZAtlYI7GJr8hAoy4Qu7T2eTqQ5LUn1LY4CSCfRyNfwlsbJkKA51gzlpnsB1o9-z5kkNQm7HXReoijm0Nd-3lAkL10prLqT6eQzmfZ56Gl83Yl0-YjDpebGrpIU/s400/IMG_3074.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664061551322943746" /></a><br /><div><i>Continuation of the series "Miss to Mrs" Part I was on "Make Time" today's blog, "Rest in Him" and yet to come, "Surrender Your Emotions." These are three tips mostly for the "Bride to be" but can be applied to any one's situation!</i></div><div><br /></div>Rest In Him<div><br /></div><div>What is your typical sleep pattern? Do you get 8 hrs? 9 (lucky!)? The few months prior to the wedding, my sleeping pattern was horrible! I had so much going on outside of the wedding that it only added to my already sporadic sleeping pattern. Just last week, my beautiful and much more technologically savvey friend Jessica, showed me an application on her phone that tracks the depth of her sleep pattern. Picture a typical x-y axis with a line following closely to the X-axis: this meant you had a wonderful, deep sleep---the kind that you do not like waking from. Then she showed me the crazy squiggle lines one night she slept poorly: months prior to the wedding, my screens would have looked like!</div><div>It wasn't so much my concern that everything would be perfect, there was just so much to do. It doesn't help having a bit of a creative mind that doesn't want to shut off. But more often than not, it's easy to become really consumed with ideas and anxiety if and when they will become a reality. You may be experiencing lack of sleep for other reasons; school, work, family issues, tension between a friendship or a boyfriend/girlfriend, fear of future problems, finances and the like. Sadly I recall a wonderful devotion on this topic but have forgotten who wrote it. I remember the devotional said something along these lines: sleep is actually an act of worship because it's a signal that we are trusting God with tomorrow. The mentality: "I don't have to fret about tomorrow now when my body is aching for rest, I can sleep and trust that the Lord will provide." Now the Word also warns about sleeping too much, haha, but for the sake of this devotional, let's pretend we all have sleep depravity. I found a couple scripture verses that pertain to this idea of trusting the Lord as we sleep:</div><br /><br />Proverbs 19:23<br />The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.<br /><br /><br />Psalm 127<br /><div>Unless the LORD Builds the House<br /><br />A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.<br />1Unless the LORD builds the house,<br /> those who build it labor in vain.<br />Unless the LORD watches over the city,<br /> the watchman stays awake in vain.<br />2It is in vain that you rise up early<br /> and go late to rest,<br />eating the bread of anxious toil;<br /> for he gives to his beloved sleep.<br />3Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,<br /> the fruit of the womb a reward.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Isn't verse 2 a wonderful verse to cling to on this subject: It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep." I don't think God is hating on the "Early Bird/Late Owl" mentality here so just because you enjoy getting up in the morning or like to stay up later doesn't mean you are in vain---but in context with "eating the bread of anxious toil," can reveal that God is talking about individuals that have a tendency to fret and worry themselves to the point that they cannot sleep. Here are some more verses:</div><div><br /></div><div>Psalm 4:8</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-13974" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">8</sup> In peace I will lie down and sleep,<br /> for you alone, LORD,<br /> make me dwell in safety.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Ecclesiastes 8:16-17</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17475" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">16</sup> When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the labor that is done on earth—people getting no sleep day or night— <sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-17476" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">17</sup> then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.</span></div><div><br /></div></div><div>And if you think about it, God used sleep as a time to speak to people throughout the entire Bible. I wonder if He thought it wouldn't scare them as easily as someone like Gabriel just walking into your home. Ha!</div><div><br /></div><div>So although you may be having loads of fun creating things for your wedding, it's important to allow yourself to simply REST IN HIM because it's so easy to become unhealthily consumed with the wedding, the job, the greatest fear etc... And if you think of your sleeping as an act of worship, it is easier to do! Approach going to bed like walking into your church sanctuary with a beautiful worship going on. It will make your pre-wedding months so much more enjoyable!!!!</div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-59304508103454550722011-09-25T05:51:00.000-07:002011-09-25T05:56:18.979-07:00Clutter of Fear<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryqteOGxF2-or6ImFoj7T12Y5f5tbbEJwBDRken4xN5L5ni4WO4JLVxxIrld8L-f62uC81aWnezHjshdZRpQEqvdLrKhq1OXtaQGt_dUR2pIHNywtniKflz7z8eyE0X1KP1l-MS1hOOw/s1600/cartoon-lady-closet.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 328px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryqteOGxF2-or6ImFoj7T12Y5f5tbbEJwBDRken4xN5L5ni4WO4JLVxxIrld8L-f62uC81aWnezHjshdZRpQEqvdLrKhq1OXtaQGt_dUR2pIHNywtniKflz7z8eyE0X1KP1l-MS1hOOw/s400/cartoon-lady-closet.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656280244591056242" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Image from: http://www.aginggal.com/tag/junk/</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Have you ever gone through the spare bedroom of your house, a closet or the garage and really sorted through things, tossing the clutter? My dad is notorious for bringing old things “back from the dead” or the trash pile at our house because “You never can tell when you may need something.” Now my dad is probably the most creative person I know when it comes to reusing items: he can make anything out of nothing, it’s awesome. But isn’t it funny when you clear out a lot of that clutter, how much room and space you have? The room takes on a whole new look does it not?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I love re-organizing space; my husband constantly shakes his head and grins at how many times I have rearranged our spare bedroom closet. We have only been married for a little over a month and I have probably cleaned it every weekend since then! I have to be transparent with you however; although I may be an impeccable organizer of space in a home, my life is cluttered.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Many people struggle with specific sin “cluttering” their lives like pornography, love of money and financial advancements; mine clutter is fear.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I was sitting church last Sunday listening to the sermon on the beatitude found in Matthew 5:3 which states, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As the sermon progressed, I felt this tug on my heart in this area of fears. Being poor in Spirit, as Pastor Mark explained, deals with two components of humility and transparent. Humble in the sense that we need to be willing to admit, “We need help!”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Christ did not come to this earth to tell us, “Thou shalt hold it all together!” (I wonder if Jesus/God/Holy Spirit <span style="font-family:Wingdings;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-char-type:symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol;mso-symbol-font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span> giggles at how we throw in “shalt’s” and “thou’s.”) No, Christ came to take that yoke upon himself and we are simply to rely upon him. I think when we boil it down, our desire to hold it all together doesn’t stem from a heart of wanting to do things right but rather hidden pride. Pride can come in all shapes and sizes. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Proverbs 16:5 says, “<sup>5</sup>Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.” We can all recognize arrogance and are quick to judge that individual for being so arrogant, when in reality, my little fear-fests everyday are not any better. Whether a man is boasting outwardly or inwardly he is still boasting. Fear tiptoes along this line of inward boasting: “I need to perform, I need to do well, I need to be efficient because of xyz.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Or, “If I don’t do this, I am going to look so bad, and/or have to admit that I am not who I should be.” What you should be is a humble, transparent Christ-follower that is dependent upon your God.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This “should be” always haunts me throughout my day as if I am not as efficient enough, thorough enough or even funny enough, I am a failure. These thoughts of failure clutter my mind just like the spare bedroom closet containing random things we say we are going to use ‘one day!’ We hoard our fears, churning them over and over in our minds throughout our days as if thinking about them will scare you into performing better. As you look back on your day you may ask yourself, “So….what was I so afraid of in those moments? What did I even accomplish?” It’s silly! But I believe this fear-fest truly stems from a heart of non-reliance and rest in the God of REST! James 5:5-6 says <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><sup>5</sup>Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? <sup id="en-ESV-30327">6</sup>But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Grace, some versions use “upholds.” <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What a magnificent word! Do you ever feel like you need something lifted up during your day? Maybe it’s your body! You’ve exhausted yourself from the trials of the day so much that physically you’re aching of tension (cough, cough, everyday!). <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not only uphold but in verse 5 it says that God yearns; He yearns jealously over the spirit he has made to dwell in us! Not a spirit of arrogance, organization-extraordinaire, nor independence from God, but a Spirit that WORSHIPS God. A Spirit that relies upon God. How awful yet wonderful to know that during my day of worry and fear that I have a God jealous over my cluttered mind; readily providing grace without me even knowing it! <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So how do we change? We need clean-house: not become more organized, but clean-house on our worries. This first begins with humble acceptance of our need for God; recognize, it’s not about us!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>No matter how much is at stake, your worrying is making your God jealous because ‘<sup>7</sup> For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline,’ as it says in 2 Timothy. So any other ‘spirit’ ---especially of fear, is counterintuitive of what God has given us: aka, WRONG! Seek power, love and self-discipline. Admit to God that you do not have the self-discipline to remove these fears from your day; that they overwhelm you driving to work or at work or at home with family. Ask for power to overcome them and the ability to love those around you. That is something that really frustrates me at the end of the day, I look back and ask myself, “How did I show recognition and love to those around me today?” Usually my answer is nowhere to be found because my day was spent slaving over my cluttered mind.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Does this all make sense? I hope so. Can you see how when you really dig-deep enough into your cluttered mind, that the clutter is not coming from poor organization but rather a prideful heart: a heart that desires an independent spirit from the God who loves you. Reject the spirit of timidity today and seek the Spirit that provides power, love and self-discipline. <o:p></o:p></p>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-32611921411873191922011-09-11T04:58:00.000-07:002011-09-11T04:59:59.341-07:00Miss to Mrs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLbB9Rr-4Cfv5iimxvQu2fN5fqpyi6eiTeL5SVop8TUmkqL5_oHjTDj8Lntr40tJI8nv0pMsRXH1sZOgUCKedubuyUuxk684wSRdE263HcOnS5Wr0VN-hjy5xDUyOdoo61HR-gDsfckI/s1600/223792_706944950656_116507807_36026755_4530632_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLbB9Rr-4Cfv5iimxvQu2fN5fqpyi6eiTeL5SVop8TUmkqL5_oHjTDj8Lntr40tJI8nv0pMsRXH1sZOgUCKedubuyUuxk684wSRdE263HcOnS5Wr0VN-hjy5xDUyOdoo61HR-gDsfckI/s400/223792_706944950656_116507807_36026755_4530632_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651070508565401490" /></a><br />Part I ( because I have too much to say!)<br /><br />Well, it is hard to believe but just a few weeks ago, I married an incredible man and began the beautiful yet probably scary road to something called a marriage! And to tell you the truth, I actually feel so much better on this side of the ceremony than on the other! So often you hear of girls dreaming about the “Big Day,” myself included, but as my wedding drew closer I found myself discovering areas that were not a part of my dream. I had this idea of writing this devo just a few days before the wedding: I was trying to stop and reflect on the whole process of preparing for the wedding rather than freaking out about the last minute details that weren’t falling into place. I tried to think of acronyms to go with the term “Mrs.” The letters relate to the process of going from a single woman to a married woman while maintaining a sense of joy:<br />M-Make time<br />R-Rest in Him<br />S-Surrender emotions<br />In reality, these principles can be related to all stages of life but I found that they are most needed during this transition. Allow me to expound! Make time. Ha! You may be thinking, “Ok Joni, allow me to wave my magic wand and ‘kapoof’ TIME!” I know, I know, it isn’t that simple is it? But I don’t literally mean create more time or even really ‘cut-out’ things from your schedule but it is important to set aside time to be with the Lord, friends/family and yourself. Preparing for a marriage doesn’t involve just the wedding, it involves life-changes and you will need the Lord, you will need a community and you will need sanity! I was running when I came up with this idea for a devo: running has always served as my little piece of ‘me time.’ I love mornings (as you can tell by the time this devotional was written!) and so that is usually the time I set aside for the Lord. Probably the area that I must admit that I struggle in, is squeezing in the time for my friends and family. I am a driven individual that loves order, and progress and so it is difficult for me sometimes to just stop and enjoy a person near me. This would be the area that I failed-in prior to the wedding and it showed. When I did get to have some ‘girl time’ or ‘family time’ I was exhausted or continuously running my brain to go over the mental list I needed to accomplish. Now, I must also be realistic and say, “I planned a wedding in four months!” So of course things were tight with time being the greatest pinch, however you should never neglect making time. What does the Bible say about all this? Let’s look at a few verses relating to the topic of ‘making time.’<br />Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place<br />35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”<br />38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.<br />Look at the fruit that came from Jesus going off to a solitary place: He was able to have a focus on preaching in nearby villages, and to drive out demons!<br />The Fellowship of the Believers<br />42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.<br />I realize that this passage is referring the church as a whole following Pentacost---but we can still apply the principle of the matter, “Fellowship is important!” Not because God wants us to have our own little social clubs and feel like we belong---but because it represents Him! He is continuously in fellowship with himself and so we are worshipping God when are meeting together, sharing our resources---like time!<br />Titus 1:3-5<br />3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.<br />Ha! I am sure a few people see this verse and have an immediate response; however, I want you to read it five times first! First off, I love this passage because I think of all these little old ladies having too much wine (I know, that’s not necessarily what it’s saying---but it’s a funny picture is it not?). The point of sharing this scripture is to see the importance of older women, yes, your mom included, in teaching you how to become a wife. I realize that moms are not perfect: you may have a mom that neglected you greatly and the last thing you want is her advice on how to be a wife; or perhaps your mom passed away and you cannot go to her for advice on the matter---that’s ok! This passage opens up the door and includes “older women” they don’t have to be in a nursing home –they could even be an older sister, someone you work with or even your new mother in law—I know that may be pushing it for a few of you (mine happens to be a counselor so it works out!). Notice the importance of these older women speaking into the younger ones about loving their husbands and children, learning how to be self-controlled, and pure. “Busy at home” may or may not cause you to wince just because so many women struggle with the thought of ‘just being a stay-at-home-mom.’ When in reality, it’s a great privilege and technically, one of the woman’s greatest duties within a marriage is to prepare a home; a place of rest and settlement for all those who inhabit it (herself included---that’s why you can splurge a little on the décor, or at least that’s my reasoning! Hehe!) Being kind, and subject to their husbands: just their husbands, not other men and notice it ends with the reality that we can actually distort the true Word of God if we don’t practice these Biblical principles! Ok. I think you have the picture on “Make time.” Let’s move on to R!Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-19755520967149974482011-08-01T02:58:00.000-07:002011-08-01T03:13:48.289-07:00Moments of Trust<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnhnFHLevMQxTHeC5a9jTPGj99Cg3Qb4egcN-CILHXdpAEdJdt8Ef9wH08eYCmJZuxyxbL69k1evRTYpy75JoPRtN4Q1G-XhtrUDV6n3o2yTDSzwPnxogwIbju_rHEmk3ZeGSsdy9AZA/s1600/munchkin.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 363px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnhnFHLevMQxTHeC5a9jTPGj99Cg3Qb4egcN-CILHXdpAEdJdt8Ef9wH08eYCmJZuxyxbL69k1evRTYpy75JoPRtN4Q1G-XhtrUDV6n3o2yTDSzwPnxogwIbju_rHEmk3ZeGSsdy9AZA/s400/munchkin.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635828420268247234" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo of myself in my Grandpa and Grandmas in Wisconsin, happy and healthy!)</span><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I am feeling most challenged on this topic of trust lately. I am at a bit of a crossroads in my life and so it is easy to become overwhelmed with the countless possibilities and events that will take place in the course of the day let alone the next few months. As I sat in church this past Sunday listening to a sermon on Proverbs 3:5-6, I couldn’t help but want to apply this scripture to my life: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your paths.”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>As our Pastor took this verse and explained key aspects to the act of trusting God, he shared several stories from his life as well as within his family of moments that trust was demonstrated either between one another or between himself and God. I began to think about my life and moments of trust. As a little baby, I experienced a time-period between the ages of 8 months to 2 years that I had several seizure episodes with the possibility of having a chronic condition. My mom retells this story every year on my birthday to remind herself and myself of God’s faithfulness in my life. She remembers standing over my crib every night watching me, afraid that I would have another episode.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She often would call my grandmother (her mother), Erma, so fearful and my Grandma Erma would simply say, “Dorothy, I have prayed about it, and I really feel that she is going to be ok—I just have a sense of peace about this all.” Mom would reply, “I just don’t have that ability right now, my faith is so weak with fear.” And Grandma Erma said, “Well then, just rely on God through my prayers!” My Grandmother Erma had such faith and trust in God in those moments that she was able to act as a pillar, a tangible mediator on behalf of God---not desiring to be relied on because of her own strength, but because of her own faith and trust in a faithful God.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lo and behold, I quit having seizures and when my brain was fully developed, I was told I wouldn't experience them anymore! Praise God! A miracle! The bittersweet part of this moment of trust in my life is that my sweet Grandma Erma passed away not too long after I was healed. I don’t remember interacting with her, but I cannot help but feel that the prayers she invested in me as a child have impacted me well beyond that trial. It is so good for us to recall these moments of trust in the past to remember that God is faithful! He is on our side! He will never leave us nor forsake us. He does not desire to give us a snake when we ask for a piece of bread. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Additionally, in the act of trusting God with either our very life or a situation within our life, we are to let go of leaning on our own understanding. This is the very center of my thorn in my side: I stubbornly rely on my own abilities, intellect and resources. Even if you recognize those gifts are from God, you still cannot rely on them! God desires for us to surrender our own understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In the sermon, our Pastor shared these other verses in regards to the aspect of leaning not on your own understanding:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Proverbs 11:28 “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish like a green leaf.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Proverbs 28:26 “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is so easy to fall into the habit of relying on your own understanding. I will often try and anticipate what God is doing in certain situations in my life and say to myself, “Oh! I bet this is what God is doing, or perhaps this is what God is teaching me.” When in reality, this mentality is wrong! It is not wrong to attempt to discern God’s leading, but it is wrong to always try and figure things out on your own: “I got this God, I know what I need to do.” Watch out! This habit of relying on yourself is deeply rooted in our sinful nature dating back to the Garden. What did Adam and Eve eat from? The tree of Knowledge in Good and Evil.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Think about that, Eve wanted to know for herself instead of simply walking with God and her husband.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>So often, we too “just want to know.” We pray, “God, I just want to know what is going on here! Why is my life like this? Why is it so difficult or Why can’t I just be free from this!” <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>When in reality, God doesn’t want you to have to carry the burden that He does: it is not a burden to Him because He is God of the universe: we are merely human. The heartbeat of our God is to be loved and trusted by his children: for us to rely on Him and desire for Him. Like a father desires for his child to trust him in certain moments here on earth, so much greater does our Father desire for us to simply walk with Him in these moments of life: both in times of trial and success. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What about you? Take a moment right now, and recall just one moment of trust in your past. If you are having difficulty recalling a time, read the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>to get your mind reflecting on another’s moment of trust. You’ve experienced a moment, trust me! (Ha! No pun intended) When you recall that moment, praise God for it—even if it was years ago, praise Him for it right now. Thank Him for the countless times he has been faithful to you and your needs and then surrender whatever your facing right now as well as your understanding of it. Wait. Wait for the Lord either to respond with His overwhelming peace or deliverance in some form or fashion. Whatever the outcome, know that it is best because God’s way is always best. Our minds are so finite and can barely make-out things two feet in front of us; God sees eternity behind and before Him. Take a moment and simply trust!<o:p></o:p></p>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-69951895137583088162011-07-30T04:58:00.000-07:002011-07-30T04:59:54.556-07:00Trusting in Chariots<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G5DIzWYLTb-ABVOb5gh2wl7zT34RidV0PsrJuo2DQcKTLNdj5pHBc1i0POjMBMqwZqu6ATV3ytA5uXXSQIfvrglp5VaPUGodvJkprKS859agQyTSTLQ6fwoBJ7M2hIkklzXsWkGY2Zk/s1600/MH900404834.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4G5DIzWYLTb-ABVOb5gh2wl7zT34RidV0PsrJuo2DQcKTLNdj5pHBc1i0POjMBMqwZqu6ATV3ytA5uXXSQIfvrglp5VaPUGodvJkprKS859agQyTSTLQ6fwoBJ7M2hIkklzXsWkGY2Zk/s400/MH900404834.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635113788110546306" /></a><br /><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">image from: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=chariot#ai:MP900404834mt:2</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Trust in the Name of the LORD Our God</div><div>To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.</div><div>1May the LORD(A) answer you in the day of trouble!</div><div>May(B) the name of the God of Jacob(C) protect you!</div><div>2May he send you help from(D) the sanctuary</div><div>and give you support from(E) Zion!</div><div>3May he(F) remember all your offerings</div><div>and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices!</div><div>Selah</div><div>4May he(G) grant you your heart’s desire</div><div>and fulfill all your plans!</div><div>5May we shout for joy over(H) your salvation,</div><div>and in the name of our God set up our(I) banners!</div><div>May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!</div><div>6Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;</div><div>he will answer him from his holy heaven</div><div>with(J) the saving might of his right hand.</div><div>7Some trust in(K) chariots and some in(L) horses,</div><div>(M) but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.</div><div>8They collapse and fall,</div><div>but we rise and stand upright.</div><div>9O LORD, save(N) the king!</div><div>May he answer us when we call.</div><div>Cross references:</div><div>A.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:1 : Gen 35:3</div><div>B.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:1 : Prov 18:10</div><div>C.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:1 : Psalm 59:1; 69:29</div><div>D.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:2 : Psalm 73:17; 2 Chr 20:8</div><div>E.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:2 : Psalm 128:5</div><div>F.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:3 : Acts 10:4</div><div>G.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:4 : Psalm 21:2</div><div>H.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:5 : Psalm 9:14</div><div>I.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:5 : Psalm 60:4; Song 6:4, 10</div><div>J.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:6 : Psalm 28:8</div><div>K.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:7 : Isa 31:1; 36:9</div><div>L.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:7 : Prov 21:31</div><div>M.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:7 : 1 Sam 17:45; 2 Chr 32:8</div><div>N.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Psalm 20:9 : Psalm 48:2</div><div>www.biblegateway.com ESV</div><div><br /></div><div>While driving in your car, you trust that your seatbelt will keep you from being ejected if an accident were to occur. While riding a bike, you wear a helmet trusting that it will protect your head if ever you were to fall off. While baking cookies, you trust that the oven mit you put on your hand will keep it from getting burned. These are all obvious, common sense things that we trust in every day right?</div><div><br /></div><div>Well take it a step further and think about some emotional and psychological securities you may have: do you make sure you have plenty of money sitting your bank account just in case you need to buy something? What about your job? Do you work 50+ hours in your attempts to secure your position, pleasing people while paying an outrageous mortgage with three little ones and a loving wife at home? Do you spend endless amounts of time studying and preparing for exams that it sucks the joy and life out of every day? What about spending loads of money on cosmetics to make your face look younger, and a physical trainer to help you keep your body toned and sleek? What about transitioning your kids into adults? Do you have a tendency to put ridiculous amounts of rules and regulations on them, expectations so that they grow up and transition as easily as possible, without any challenge or conflict along the way? And lastly, when you lay your head down at night on your pillow, do you fall asleep with the mentality, “I am good enough, if I were to die tonight, I would go to heaven: I pray, go to church, help out the needy every once in a while….”</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When trouble arises within your life? What is your “go-to?” In Psalm 20, David writes a series of almost prayer-like phrases to the reader, encouraging them to put their trust in the LORD. During his time, people put their trust in the power of the Egyptian army: these men rode on chariots and horses and were extremely powerful. I think of the movie, "The Prince of Egypt," or maybe the "Ten Commandments," when I read this text and envision this wall of soldiers racing to the Red Sea to try and stop the Isralites from crossing. What happened to these men on chariots and horses though? The Red Sea collapsed upon them and they all died. Their chariots did not save them in moments of battle. We have plenty of battles that go on everyday that we attempt to fight with our "Modern Day Chariots."</div><div><br /></div><div>In times of hardship, rather than relying on your health and physical capabilities, your performance at work, your creativity in organization and your ability to persuade and communicate---putting your trust in God. Rather than relying on pleasurable things like sex, alcohol, pornography, sports, romantic novels and movies----putting your trust in God. Rather than relying on giving your kids everything they need, exhausting yourself in every activity known-to-man, studying harder ..putting your trusting in God. And rather than seeking out your daily quota of good deeds for the day to fulfill your requirement to earn your salvation, putting your life in the hands of Jesus Christ---and trusting that the LORD our God will save you.</div><div>Just stop and take a few minutes meditating on Psalm 20. Maybe explore those cross-references like “L” in verse 6 leads you to Isaiah and gives more insight on these “chariots” and “horses.” There are things in life that make sense to do –wearing a helmet, a seatbelt and using oven mits –I am not saying disregard these things and just rely on the LORD to save you But what is it that you cling to if something were to happen to your loved ones? Your job? Your body? Do you ever imagine what life would be like without those things? If you cannot imagine seeing your life without them ---you need to take a step back and have a heart-check. I am not saying neglect your kids, your job, your body, your finances---but don’t also put all of your hope, joy and peace into those things—even a life is a temporary thing. Invest in things that will last by putting your trust in the LORD and believing that HE is big enough , strong enough, loving enough and forgiving enough to save you from whatever your facing!</div><div><br /></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-41838690270174775762011-07-10T03:50:00.000-07:002011-07-10T04:26:04.223-07:00Missing Out on Milk and HoneyIn the Bible, the Promise Land was flowing with "milk and honey." As a nutritionist, I say "everything in moderation"; so my healthy promise land would consist of fruits and vegetables with that milk --skim. As an average woman, my promise land would have been flowing with milk and chocolate chip cookies or Oreo Blizzards from Dairy Queen. Ha, what about you? This is not really a deep theological question, I am just trying to get your little imagination working!<br /><br />Why milk and honey? This promised combination was first introduced in Exodus 3:17-18ish when God promised the Israelites that he would, "to bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, a land, "flowing with milk and honey." And they will listen to your voice....." Ok so fast forward to Deuteronomy 1:25 where scripture cross references us, and it says, "And they (twelve men sent to the Valley of Eschol) took in their hands some of the fruit of the land and brought it down to us, and brought us word again and said, 'It is good land that the Lord our God is giving us." So it wasn't in a literal sense, Hehe, my imagination has these men coming up with their hands all stuck to milk bottles (BAH! Sorry, early morning, kinda loopy!) So basically, the milk and honey represents fruit, land that is prosperous and well....promising! Now you know the rest of the story, the Isralites refuse to enter into this promise land because they are fearful of the giants and fortified cities. The people "wept that night and grumbled against their leaders Moses and Aaron. They thought it would be better to go back into Egypt as slaves than to enter into this wonderful land. Now, I am not a huge risk-taker and coming from the outside in, but if God promises to deliver his people---he does. These people had just dusted off their sandals from walking through the Red Sea; they had a pillar of fire at night and a cloud in the day aka God's presence leading them through the desert; I just would expect a different reaction, wouldn't you? I mean, how would have you reacted? Put yourself in the place of an Israelite for a brief moment.<br /><br />Now look at your track record? Just ponder this past year and recall challenges, frustrations and moments that you either trusted the Lord, or you coiled back and hung out in the wilderness for a while. Perhaps you're facing a promise land opportunity right now: an opportunity of a lifetime--a mission trip, a new church, career change, or even a relationship. There maybe a few reasons to coil back: fear for finances, fear of failure, fear of having to work too hard, fear of just not knowing what each would look like. You are at the highest point of potential with the choice to take a step forward or backward. The Israelites chose to take the step backward and they all died before they were able to enter into the Promise Land. Not only that, but God was ..well, really frustrated with them: ....." I have pardoned, according to your word (response to Moses' attempt to intercede for his people). But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and not obeyed my voice shall see the land that I swore I would give to their fathers. "<br /><br />Ah. The frustration of a Father. I think that disappointment in God's voice within this passage alone would be such a heavy weight to bear. Can we be different than the Israelites, please? Can we approach the Promise Land God has set before you with confidence in our God? I am probably one of the weakest people when it comes to confidence and faithfullness in trusting the Lord's hand. But the scripture, God's Word records these stories and parables and love letters with the purpose of guiding us through this life. I am praying that we would not choose the desert over the "Dessert" if you will, of the Promises of our Loving Father. God is bigger than your fears of failures, fiances, even your health and safety. Let's trust Him!Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-25532278869375909332011-07-05T11:13:00.001-07:002011-07-05T11:14:44.822-07:00The Purity Plan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwfNleJhKMcTbgs1eWGG-QySx8AZ2D2Gm4omFVAAULCGBuu-KrCkZo12H4aAioG-dCSJYKDQlDDQa-3Y2a8jjgdDVrahfAEU99HV10vGcujdCKyw_hURBfDR1YgQ-EWBgOnU7fA9FqLs/s1600/3760.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwfNleJhKMcTbgs1eWGG-QySx8AZ2D2Gm4omFVAAULCGBuu-KrCkZo12H4aAioG-dCSJYKDQlDDQa-3Y2a8jjgdDVrahfAEU99HV10vGcujdCKyw_hURBfDR1YgQ-EWBgOnU7fA9FqLs/s400/3760.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625933102964076642" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Image from: http://allrecipes.com/Cook/18631338/Photo.aspx?photoID=3760</span><br /><br />We have this running joke in our family involving the world’s greatest dessert, “Better than ‘S-E-X’ Cake.” Yes, the hyphens in between the letters are to prompt you to spell the word out. I believe my Aunt Nancy first made the cake and told my mom about it. I think Nancy spelled it out as a joke because we were younger---and to this day, I still spell the word out! Or else I replace it with “Better than winning the Boston Marathon Cake!” All kidding aside, I am so very thankful for my parents in the way of educating my siblings and I on the importance of purity at an early age. Sure, I guess you could consider us a wee bit sheltered: I read the books, went to the Rebecca Saint James, “Wait for Me,” concerts and even have a cousin that taught abstinence in schools! You could say that I was set-up with a no-fail system in high school and college. What is crazy though, is that as I am only 40 days out from my wedding, and in all honesty, those things are not what are keeping me from falling into sexual temptation: it’s the Holy Spirit. Even though those things have helped remind me throughout my adolescent years to remain pure, it wasn’t until I hit the homestretch of my engagement that I realized that purity runs much deeper than wearing a ring, setting boundaries and having accountability. I think so often we rely on these forms of accountability within the Christian faith that we almost undermine the power of the Holy Spirit in moments of temptation. We also give credit to curriculum and perhaps even an example rather than seeing the inner-probings of the heart as the most crucial aspect and plan in it all.<br /><br />Scripture tells us that when Jesus ascended into heaven that he told his disciples that it was better for him to go so that “The Helper” could come. That ‘helper’ is the Holy Spirit. Now I think, in that moment as a disciple, I would have said, “WAIT A SECOND! You’re Jesus---someone better? Huh?”<br /><br />John 16:7<br />Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for(A) if I do not go away,(B) the Helper will not come to you. But(C) if(D) I go,(E) I will send him to you.<br />Cross references:<br />A. John 16:7 : John 7:39<br />B. John 16:7 : John 15:26; John 14:16<br />C. John 16:7 : Acts 2:33<br />D. John 16:7 : John 14:2<br />E. John 16:7 : John 14:26<br /><br />John 14:16<br />And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another(A) Helper,[a] to be with you forever,<br />Footnotes:<br />a. John 14:16 Or Advocate, or Counselor; also 14:26; 15:26; 16:7<br />Cross references:<br />A. John 14:16 : John 14:26; John 15:26; 16:7<br />Why would it be better to have the Holy Spirit instead of Christ? We can flip back a few pages to John 14 and read this!<br /><br />John 14:26<br />26But the(A) Helper, the Holy Spirit,(B) whom the Father will send in my name,(C) he will teach you all things and(D) bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.<br />Cross references:<br />A. John 14:26 : John 14:16<br />B. John 14:26 : Luke 24:49; Acts 2:33, with John 15:26; 16:7<br />C. John 14:26 : John 16:13; 1 Cor 2:10; 1 John 2:20, 27<br />D. John 14:26 : John 2:22<br /><br />Now you may say, “Joni, I am so happy that all you need is the Holy Spirit to keep you pure, but I need something a little more tangible in order to keep myself from falling into temptation.” Which is totally understandable, and I am not in any means discounting the importance of supplementing your relationship with Christ with tangible things such as setting boundaries, having accountability or reminders of pursuing purity—but , (a big but!) we as Christ-followers cannot disregard the power of the Holy Spirit and need to be intentional about approaching purity by asking the One who defines Purity. If we claim that the only reason why we are remaining pure is due to books on purity, or because Rebecca Saint James wrote a song about waiting, we miss the boat completely on God’s original plan for us.<br /><br />A couple of months ago, I sensed a shift of temptation in the physical component of my relationship with my fiancé and I was frustrated. I was reading in a women’s devotional book (that I cannot recall right now) that dealt with the topic of “Sanctification.” It touched on a passage found in Exodus 31 that describes God as ‘Jehovah-mekoddishkem’ which means, “The Lord Sanctifies You.” And in this passage, specifically in verses 12-18 we read:<br /><br />The Sabbath<br />12And the LORD said to Moses, 13"You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, 'Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you. 14You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death.(A) Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15(B) Six days shall work be done, but(C) the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD.(D) Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. 16Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. 17(E) It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that(F) in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and(G) on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"<br />18And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the(H) two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with(I) the finger of God.<br />Cross references:<br />A. Exodus 31:14 : Exodus 35:2; Jer 17:27; Num 15:32-36<br />B. Exodus 31:15 : Exodus 20:9<br />C. Exodus 31:15 : Exodus 16:23; 20:10; Gen 2:2<br />D. Exodus 31:15 : Exodus 31:14<br />E. Exodus 31:17 : Exodus 31:13<br />F. Exodus 31:17 : Gen 1:31<br />G. Exodus 31:17 : Gen 2:2; Heb 4:4, 10<br />H. Exodus 31:18 : Exodus 24:12; 32:15, 16; Deut 4:13; 5:22; 9:10, 11; 2 Cor 3:3<br />I. Exodus 31:18 : Exodus 8:19<br /><br />So from this passage, I gathered that true sanctification can only come from God. How does this relate to earthly relationships: in its entirity! God did not create purity for relationships, he created relationship for purity. To sanctify means to set apart, to be holy and/or saint-like. We must understand that we have to be sanctified to be near God because He is so incredibly holy. This can only come from God ---even though the passage also tells the Israelites to keep the Sabbath as a form of worship to God. Verses 12-13 proves this point “I the LORD, sanctify you.”<br />So although relationships are wonderful and beautiful---they are not what defines you, God specifically uses all areas of our vapor-length lives to shape and mold us; redeem and transform us so that we can ultimately be with Him for all eternity.<br /><br /><br />This is concept is threaded throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament with verses. Probably one of the most beautiful love letters related to the concept of sanctification is found in John 17 of Christ praying—I encourage you to read the entire passage, but the key piece for this topic is found in John 17:19<br />“And(A) for their sake(B) I consecrate myself,[a] that they also(C) may be sanctified[b] in truth.”<br />Footnotes:<br />a. John 17:19 Or I sanctify myself; or I set myself apart (for holy service to God)<br />b. John 17:19 Greek may be set apart (for holy service to God)<br /><br />Other scripture: Acts 20:32, Acts 26:18, Romans 15:16, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 6:11, Hebrews 2:11, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews 10:14, and Hebrews 10:29.<br /><br />Scripture from www.biblegateway.com ESV<br /><br />Whew. Ok, let’s bring this “Purity Plane” to a landing. So what I felt when I read all the scripture on sanctification is that we should pursue holiness in all areas of life. “Be Holy for I AM Holy.” So even though we are made holy by the blood of Christ---there’s an element of us continuing to pursue holiness. That last passage in the list above, Hebrews 10:29 has some strong words to set some fire under the importance of pursuing holiness, “How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?” So as you can see, it is CRUCIAL for us to not just “Save Ourselves” because of what our parents taught us, Rebecca Saint James sang about, or we don’t want to get pregnant etc…our ultimate purity plan is to the FEAR GOD and to recognize that HE DIED so that we could be made Holy and blameless before the Father. The Holy Spirit bears witness to this truth and therefore, should act as the key to our “Purity plan.” Do I say, disregard boundaries to your relationship? NO WAY HOSEA! In fact, Kory and I are constantly finding we have to, even as much as on a per-day basis, to set some boundaries on how we spend our time together.<br /><br />Ok, what if you made a mistake? What if you pushed the Holy Spirit aside and indulged a little? Or perhaps you totally ignored Him and fell into the temptation. You will be forgiven--Praise the Lord. God is such a gracious and merciful God and will redeem your waywardness ---but just like the passage in Hebrews says, we do not want to “spurn the Son of God,” and “profane the blood of the covenant by which we were sanctified with.”<br /><br />So, continue to remind your lovely future spouse of what the Word says. Sexual temptation itself is not wrong—it’s if you fall into it and give way OUTSIDE of marriage. If you sense probing’s of the Holy Spirit in simply sitting next to each on the couch days before you are married, talk about it, pray about it and ask Him for direction. When my fiancé and I find ourselves tempted, we often sit back and say, ‘Whoa, wait a second. Are you ok?’ and then pray about it and go our separate ways. Sometimes it’s easier than others to do this but I cannot stress enough for you to include the Holy Spirit in the time you spend together: He should be number one on your list of your purity plan. And I guess if this all fails (which it won't!) is try implementing “Better than S-E-X cake” into your daily time together and eat it whenever you’re tempted.....I guess, once you’re married, you can compare! :)Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-9721119776139797532011-06-26T08:45:00.000-07:002011-06-26T08:49:04.768-07:00The Guest List<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BxzlXNUHvRkgYC-r04mWT35wwrAOXNiF9YcAboMm8uJ_WFaTThy6ujA2noVjA5RRtK-3s77IO5MDgEXwpPZcr7tJ-vMc9frPL59E7JWzUCCftCQJoMblzgAWbnZuHOGVNSwAYT3swOE/s1600/MH900177792.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0BxzlXNUHvRkgYC-r04mWT35wwrAOXNiF9YcAboMm8uJ_WFaTThy6ujA2noVjA5RRtK-3s77IO5MDgEXwpPZcr7tJ-vMc9frPL59E7JWzUCCftCQJoMblzgAWbnZuHOGVNSwAYT3swOE/s400/MH900177792.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622555891899180066" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Image from: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=guest%20book&ctt=1#ai:MP900177792|mt:0</span>|<div><br /><br /><div>I have just completed the never-ending task of sending out wedding invitations for my wedding at the end of the summer. This process began mid-May and went through most of June with a few ‘straggler invitations’ yet to be sent out! Thankfully my mom had kept my sister’s list from her wedding as somewhat of a foundation to go off of with a few of my friends and finance’s friends added here and there. The wedding won’t be extravagant in number by any means but one hopes that most people invited will attend! There’s nothing like anticipating a large number of people for any dinner or banquet and then only a handful actually showing up. The RSVP cards tend to be the critical information more so than the invitations because therein lies the expected attendance. After all, you want to make sure that you get a good estimate for the reception. Maybe you even go as far as to put names on tables of expected guests: I am staying away from that because it means more work!<br />If you haven’t been married before maybe you can relate more to a birthday party or a big get-together or party; who do you think you’d invite? Generally friends and family, some colleagues, and oh, wealthy acquaintances that will no doubt bring a great gift, right!? Would you ever anticipate inviting a homeless man off the street? What about a single mom that lives in an abuse shelter? Perhaps you’d invite the nerdy kid from your Chemistry class in high school? Ok, ok, maybe your boss that nobody likes and drives everyone crazy or the precious, special needs kid that works at the local grocery store? If I could peer out from your computer screen what facial expression would you give me regarding the previous suggestions? More than likely I would get a mixed face, “Dah, ah, yah, I mean I guess if they really wanted to come….maybe,” or “You know, I would just prefer to have people that really care about me or people that will give good gifts!” Ah ha! That’s what I thought: this reaction is and is not ok; ok in the sense that you’re human and selfish and sinful and you have to be honest; it’s not ok in the sense that you’re human, selfish and sinful so you are in desperate need of Christ to redeem this area of your life. You may be asking yourself, “Self, why is Joni telling me who to invite to my wedding, birthday party or get-together; who does she think she is?” This is true. I am not here to tell you who to invite to your next big shin-dig but a passage of scripture really shook me up and reminded me of who the center of the wedding, party or get-together should be about. It also reminded me of a much larger celebration that will be taking place soon when Christ returns and that we as Christ followers should humble themselves when comes to selecting their seats. Let’s read Luke 14:7-24 together shall we?<br />www.biblegateway.com ESV version<br />The Parable of the Wedding Feast<br />7Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed(A) how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8"When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place,(B) so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11For(C) everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."<br />The Parable of the Great Banquet<br />12He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give(D) a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers[a] or your relatives or rich neighbors,(E) lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13But when you give a feast,(F) invite(G) the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid(H) at(I) the resurrection of the just."<br />15When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him,(J) "Blessed is everyone who will(K) eat bread in the kingdom of God!" 16But he said to him, (L) "A man once(M) gave a great banquet and invited many. 17And at the time for the banquet he(N) sent his servant[b] to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' 18But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.' 19And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' 20And another said,(O) 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in(P) the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' 22And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24For I tell you,[c](Q) none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"<br />Footnotes:<br />a. Luke 14:12 Or your brothers and sisters. The plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) refers to siblings in a family. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, adelphoi may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters<br />b. Luke 14:17 Greek bondservant; also verses 21, 22, 23<br />c. Luke 14:24 The Greek word for you here is plural<br />Cross references:<br />A. Luke 14:7 : Luke 11:43<br />B. Luke 14:10 : Prov 25:6, 7<br />C. Luke 14:11 : Luke 18:14; Prov 29:23; Ezek 21:26; Matt 18:4; James 4:6, 10; 1 Pet 5:5, 6<br />D. Luke 14:12 : John 21:12 (Gk)<br />E. Luke 14:12 : Luke 6:34<br />F. Luke 14:13 : Neh 8:10, 12; Esth 9:22<br />G. Luke 14:13 : Luke 14:21<br />H. Luke 14:14 : 1 Cor 15:23; 1 Thess 4:16; John 11:24; Rev 20:4, 5<br />I. Luke 14:14 : Acts 24:15<br />J. Luke 14:15 : Rev 19:9<br />K. Luke 14:15 : Luke 13:29; 22:16, 30<br />L. Luke 14:16 : For Luke 14:16-24, Matt 22:2-14<br />M. Luke 14:16 : Isa 25:6<br />N. Luke 14:17 : Esth 6:14; Prov 9:3, 5<br />O. Luke 14:20 : Deut 24:5<br />P. Luke 14:21 : Luke 14:13<br />Q. Luke 14:24 : Matt 21:43; Acts 13:46<br /><br />Jesus is sharing two different parables in this passage of scripture however, I think they both relate perfectly to our theme. In the first parable, Christ is hanging out at a Pharisee’s house having dinner. He was being watched closely (Luke 14:1-6) because he had just healed a man on the Sabbath. He was directing his words towards the Pharisee’s in saying (via Joni Paraphrase), “Look, when you go to a wedding feast, do not expect to sit in a place of honor, rather seek a less important place so that when the hosts come up to you and invite you to a higher place to sit, that you will be honored even more!” Christ had this amazing way of teaching humility—especially to the Pharisees, the religious and self-righteous people of the day. We have these people to—we may have even been one of these types of people at some point: thinking we deserve a higher place when we go out to eat somewhere, attend some church event or even at work. Christ is radical in the sense that he calls us to seek the lowest position first. This doesn’t necessarily have to be related to particular event like a wedding but rather just your typical “weekend splurge.” Rather than trying to climb the popularity later by dinning at the “high society restaurant” instead you serve at a local food pantry or mission, pulling up a chair to a table of homeless men and talk about life. We have a lot to learn about becoming last, do we not?<br />The second parable is related to a “Great Banquet,” rather than a wedding. Christ again challenges the Pharisees to abstain from the typical trend of inviting people that they enjoy being with, friends, family and wealthy individuals and invite the lowly people of the community. These people have nothing to offer you other than their attendance to the feast. The parable transitions into a story of a man who invited a ton of people to his home and surprisingly, everyone he invited made up these excuses to not attend. I thought the excuses Christ uses in the parable are very relevant to today’s society:<br />(1) I have bought a field and I must go see it! I have gotten something new and more exciting than attending some feast. Maybe it isn’t a field for you, maybe it’s some new boat, piece of technology, a new car or work-related investment that you are excited about. I can spend time with people any other weekend…….<br />(2) I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them—this maybe more work-related. “ I don’t have time! I have to get this paperwork in before the fiscal year ends or else! Or perhaps its activity driven, “My kids have umpteen soccer games and t-ball games this weekend, I won’t have time to have a meal with anyone, in fact, we’ll be eating in the car!”<br />(3) This is my favorite excuse, it made me giggle: “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.” HA HA HA! AH! Seriously? I mean, I undoubtedly will want my husband’s undying attention with certain “Honey to do” lists that will be created once we’re married. Maybe this guy is also relating it more to the pleasure of being with his wife too! I don’t know the exact angle he is taking with this excuse but all I know is that as near and dear as your spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend or family member is to you, they should never trump the unique and amazing fellowship we have with God at the Table.<br />As the church, we have a tendency to put excuses before the Lord similarily to these guests, “not now God, I know you want me to go on that mission trip but I just can’t take that amount of time from work,” or “I know we should go to that Bible study with the other couples on Wednesday night, but I am just too exhausted and need to just be home for one night,” or “God, can I not enjoy and splurge a little on some entertainment rather than give the money to the church?” The man in the parable just ‘had it’ with the invited guests so he invited anyone off the streets to come and enjoy the feast: the man wanted a full house! The scripture passage specifically says “Compel people to come in.” The ESV commentary says:<br />“that the Greek word anagkazo means to “compel” or “force” someone, but a number of interpreters understand a weaker sense here: ‘strongly urge, persuade.’ That sense seems better suited for the context and is supported in other examples of Greek literature. The kingdom will be filled, but many of those originally invited will be excluded.”<br />In an effort to somewhat tie these things together without impeding poor theology, I see it this way: God doesn’t need us to fill the places at His table, but rather, He invites us to join Him. If we decide not to go, it’s our loss and he finds someone else—even if they are “less deserving” in the world’s eyes. I feel that we in America sometimes haven’t the slightest clue what it means to truly humble ourselves and see our actual position in the Kingdom. We look at other cultures across the world and see their efforts of the faith as inferior because their worship is not as civilized as ours, or our ways of studying scriptures at the corner coffee shop as more spiritual than the grandmother reading her children scripture under a bug net in some tropical community. Am I disregarding our efforts in America to read the word as fake and erroneous? Of course not! I don’t care what it takes to make you read the Word or to seek the Lord in your life---but the idea of becoming last instead of seeking to be first comes harder for Americans simply because of the way our culture is structured. Additionally, we make tend to make excuses when it comes to partaking in true fellowship in community. We are an independent-thinking culture and always working towards improving ourselves, our surroundings or current life situation. While we are busy running around, chasing the wind as Solomon states in Ecclesiastes, God is inviting us to join him in an Eternal feast NOW---not when Christ returns---we can enjoy fellowship at the Table NOW! It truly is our loss if we make excuses not to attend.<br />So, no pressure for those of you that have been invited to my wedding come if you can! For those of you coming, it won’t have any distinguished place-settings so no need to seek higher positions. My heart’s desire is to make myself last at my wedding, even as the bride so that God may be glorified and for the event to truly be a picture of this passage of scripture. It’s not about us! Don’t make excuses for when God invites you to partake in the REAL celebration! RSVP your attendance today by surrendering your life to Christ!<br /></div></div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-58252559881248910812011-05-27T05:46:00.000-07:002011-05-29T03:24:47.104-07:00The Look<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKoFa6epjy5MAoUzafckAOQB3SRXjn-P2gbOV3xsOvyI0cozvgGlHqifRSBGU-Le7fFZzofz3tkRdq2B0wGOPRMK1564AHZQIOuvw6VJCJxxHhgAODJjiTD1C456wEAoVcfSccddZW-Q/s1600/MH900448534.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 325px; height: 325px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611376770181544130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKoFa6epjy5MAoUzafckAOQB3SRXjn-P2gbOV3xsOvyI0cozvgGlHqifRSBGU-Le7fFZzofz3tkRdq2B0wGOPRMK1564AHZQIOuvw6VJCJxxHhgAODJjiTD1C456wEAoVcfSccddZW-Q/s400/MH900448534.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Image from:http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=baby&ctt=1#ai:MP900448534<br /></span><br /><br /><br />I have been blessed enough to have the opportunity these past two weeks to work with kiddos at a hospital in Little Rock for my last rotation of my internship. It is really special working with kids because there is this sense of hope throughout the halls and various units. One unit that I have been able to work in is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or the NICU. All week I have been looking after premature babies, calculating calorie, protein and fluid needs as well as tracking growth. It is crazy how after a while, you begin to see numbers and charts and forget that this is an actual child, a human being with a need. Today however, I had one of those moments that stopped me in my tracks. It wasn't a cute nose, an adorable cry or a tiny little hand that attracted my attention: it was the look of a special needs baby. I was with my preceptor and she was explaining to me the condition of the child and the little baby opened up his eyes for a brief moment and it hit me like a ton of bricks. His eyes were so deep and his face so freshly made and flawless. Even as I write this, I get the chills and it has been etched into my mind.<br /><br />As I was walking tonight, I thought about the significance of that look and how it relates to God's purpose and will for life. So often people think that if a child is marked with a mental or physical disability that their little life is worthless and ruined. I don't completely understand why conditions and disabilities occur and why God "allows" them to occur but I reverse that mentality and thank God for creating a life to begin with! None of us deserve to live in the first place. Not only that, but creating a life like that--that is different, unique and special. I feel that hidden behind those deep blue eyes of a special needs baby is a child that God has created with a plan and purpose to reveal an aspect of our amazing Creator. He is helpless; dependent upon his caregiver completely. Similarly, we are helpless; unable to eat, drink or even breath on our own without our Creator granting us another minute to live on this earth. There is truly something about that little guy and I am thankful for his look today to remind me of how precious this life is that we have all been given. It is my heart's prayer that you too take a moment and look into the eyes of a baby and see your need to become like a little child before your Father; humbling and surrendering yourself to our blessed Savior Jesus Christ as your provider both for Salvation and your very life!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />John 3:2-4 (English Standard Version)<br /><br /><br />2This man came to Jesus[a](A) by night and said to him,(B) "Rabbi,(C) we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do(D) unless God is with him." 3Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is(E) born(F) again[b] he cannot(G) see the kingdom of God." 4Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?"<br /><br />www.biblegateway.com<br /><br /><br />Psalm 127:3-5<br /><br /><br />3Behold,(F) children are a heritage from the LORD,<br />(G) the fruit of the womb a reward.<br />4Like arrows in the hand of(H) a warrior<br />are the children[a] of one’s youth.<br />5Blessed is the man<br />who fills his quiver with them!<br />He shall not be put to shame<br />when he speaks with his enemies(I) in the gate.<br /><br /><br />www.biblegateway.com ESVJonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-4991639166143999632011-04-23T05:01:00.000-07:002011-04-24T17:55:16.894-07:00What is Your Isaac?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_Rk-3SOduKHYcMdxgYVf6eFrP450LD2C2hGeuyQfHvlAwYvJmcgnmP2zNAWNIkhlzFeubbcTxYPY8zOIRpPzx50brh54LDvmOhlQQvPxaDXMZfxe6oBcxvqxMvASudCdH_tXHmgllXQ/s1600/7-ali-mountain.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598757873663748722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_Rk-3SOduKHYcMdxgYVf6eFrP450LD2C2hGeuyQfHvlAwYvJmcgnmP2zNAWNIkhlzFeubbcTxYPY8zOIRpPzx50brh54LDvmOhlQQvPxaDXMZfxe6oBcxvqxMvASudCdH_tXHmgllXQ/s400/7-ali-mountain.jpg" /></a> Image from:http://mmaaggnnaa.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/7-ali-mountain.jpg<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>The Sacrifice of Isaac<br /><br />1After these things(A) God tested Abraham and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." 2He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to(B) the land of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Moriah</span>, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." 3So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy[a] will go over there and worship and come again to you." 6And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and(C) laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8Abraham said,(D) "God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together.<br />9When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and(E) laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." 12He said,(F) "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for(G) now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."<br /><br />www.biblegateway.com (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ESV</span>)<br /><br />This story of obedience has always fascinated me. Abraham lived with a sense of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">reckless</span> abandonment that we are to also apply to our own lives. What is interesting about this story is that prior to this event, God had promised Abraham this for years upon years upon years. When he finally got Issac as his son, God asks him to sacrifice him---notice Abraham did not even question the Lord in all of this. Abraham simply replied, "Here I am Lord." Now all this is to not glorify Abraham as some super-human but to recognize the true definition of "fearing the Lord." Verse 12 says this after Abraham had the knife prepared to slaughter his son: "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you FEAR GOD, seeing you have not <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">withheld</span> your son, your only son, from me."<br />In those days, having a son was a HUGE deal. Huge. Because the son carried on the family into the next generation, the family's inheritance was passed onto him by this father. So everything that the family accomplished or did in the span of time they were given on this earth, was passed onto the son. Isaac was not just one of many sons of Abraham---he was his only son--the son that God himself had promised, yet he surrendered him wholeheartedly to the Lord. I love the point of this passage where Isaac asks, "Hey dad, where is the lamb to be sacrificed ?" And Abraham replies, "The Lord will provide the lamb." AH! Does this not sound so familiar to what is to come in the New Testament? "Behold the lamb that comes to take away the sins of the world?" Christ <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">fulfilled</span> this sacrifice: He too was God's only Son.<br /><br />Even though we may not have children or understand the totality of offering your own child as a sacrifice, we too can relate and are called to fear the Lord as Abraham did. Christ has become our ultimate sacrifice through his death and resurrection. So although we may not "need" to sacrifice anything to obtain our salvation (other than total surrender of our lives) we are still called to fear the Lord--to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul mind and strength.<br /><br />What is your "Isaac" in life? Is it your future? Is it your education? Your body? Your job? Your money? Your mom? Your dad? One area that God has GREATLY transformed in my life is the concept of marriage. As I am preparing to be married, I cannot help but think back to years prior to becoming engaged--I prayed and prayed for my spouse. I remember just before I met Kory, I had come to this realization that my life did not begin with marriage--my mission and ministry did not commence at the alter. Funny how all of a sudden I met Kory and now am engaged to be married. But even now, as I look forward to so much of a marriage with him, I find myself continually taking our marriage to the top of the mountain, knife in hand prepared to sacrifice it---not because I want to destroy it, nor do I want to lose it---but because even though marriage between a man and woman is sacred, and a wonderful example of our relationship with Christ----the Lord is to be feared above all else. The Lord is to be Lord over all. Do we need to live in fear of God taking things away from us that he has given? No, of course not---God is not out to give us something and just take it away because he can: but he does have the authority in our lives as Lord, to do whatever it is that will bring him the most glory--because He is God.<br /><br />So the point in all of this is to not say to you, "What would be the hardest thing to sacrifice to God?" But rather make the point that God actually is the one who sacrificed the most in all of this---yes he called Abraham to surrender his son as a sacrifice, but God surrendered his very self, in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son, as an atonement for our sins. Would that not compel you to sacrifice anything and everything in your life---including your own? I pray that we would not cling to the gifts we've been given; education, family, a spouse, our bodies, our very lives---but that we would cling to the Giver.</div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-52776743466901387972011-04-16T04:41:00.000-07:002011-04-16T05:18:09.640-07:00Joyful ReconciliationPsalm 32 1(A) Blessed is the one whose(B) transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2Blessed is the man against whom the LORD(C) counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit(D) there is no deceit. 3For when I kept silent, my(E) bones wasted away through my(F) groaning all day long. 4For day and night your(G) hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up[b] as by the heat of summer. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Selah</span> 5I(H) acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I(I) will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Selah</span> 6Therefore let everyone who is(J) godly offer prayer to you at a time when you(K) may be found; surely in the rush of(L) great waters, they shall not reach him. 7You are a(M) hiding place for me; you preserve me from(N) trouble; you surround me with(O) shouts of deliverance. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Selah</span> 8I will(P) instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will(Q) counsel you with my eye upon you. 9(R) Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with(S) bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. 10(T) Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who(U) trusts in the LORD. 11(V) Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and(W) shout for joy, all you(X) upright in heart! Footnotes: a.Psalm 32:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term b.Psalm 32:4 Hebrew my vitality was changed Cross references: A.Psalm 32:1 : Cited Rom 4:7, 8; Psalm 85:2 B.Psalm 32:1 : Exodus 34:7; John 1:29 C.Psalm 32:2 : 2 Cor 5:19 D.Psalm 32:2 : John 1:47 E.Psalm 32:3 : Psalm 31:10 F.Psalm 32:3 : Psalm 22:1 G.Psalm 32:4 : 1 Sam 5:6, 11; Psalm 38:2 H.Psalm 32:5 : Psalm 51:3 I.Psalm 32:5 : Psalm 38:18; Job 33:27; Prov 28:13; Luke 15:18, 21; 1 John 1:9 J.Psalm 32:6 : Psalm 30:4 K.Psalm 32:6 : Psalm 69:13 L.Psalm 32:6 : Psalm 18:4, 16; 42:7; 69:1; 144:7; Job 22:11 M.Psalm 32:7 : Psalm 91:1; 119:114; Psalm 27:5; 31:20 N.Psalm 32:7 : Psalm 9:9 O.Psalm 32:7 : Psalm 18, title; Exodus 15:1-18; <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Judg</span> 5:1-31 P.Psalm 32:8 : Psalm 25:8, 12 Q.Psalm 32:8 : Psalm 73:24 R.Psalm 32:9 : Prov 26:3; Job 35:11 S.Psalm 32:9 : James 3:3 T.Psalm 32:10 : Prov 13:21; Rom 2:9 U.Psalm 32:10 : Psalm 34:8; 84:12; Prov 16:20; <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Jer</span> 17:7 V.Psalm 32:11 : Psalm 64:10; 68:3; 97:12; Psalm 33:1 W.Psalm 32:11 : <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Deut</span> 32:43 X.Psalm 32:11 : Psalm 7:10 <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/">http://www.biblegateway.com/</a> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I came across this passage this morning while reading and I couldn't help but find such joy in it and share it! I included the cross references as well <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">in case</span> you were wanting to explore into more detail about certain verses. I can totally relate to the Psalmist in verses 1-4 where he is trudging along with this heaviness of the Lord's hand upon him. Have you had to carry the dead weight of someone? Hopefully not like a body-bag-dead-weight, but you know, when you are just playing around and you collapse and someone has to drag you or you have to drag someone? It's horrible! It's so tough! That's what I feel like when I am convicted of something, like this huge person's dead weight has just collapsed upon my back. The Psalmist says, "For when I kept silence, my bones wasted away..." Not only does that conviction of the Holy Spirit weigh a ton, but your insides ache and groan for relief. What a wonderful thing, Amen? What a glorious thing to have the convictions of sin, because I believe it proves all the more of the work of the Lord in our lives! Reread verse 5. Ah! So great! Such a wonderful example of God's faithfulness in forgiving our sins---and this is in the Old Testament, before Christ--so here is somewhat of a glimpse of the grace-giving God that we serve providing forgiveness for one's iniquity. The Psalmist urges those of us who are godly, to offer prayer in time that God is near. Now God is present both in times of living obediently and times of disobedience, but this verse urges us to offer prayer in that moment to reconcile our hearts to God. I used the cross-reference on this verse in Psalm 69:13 which states: "But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness." Offering that prayer of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">reconciliation</span> with God is so important! We should praise the Lord for his abundance of steadfast love and his saving faithfulness! What a wonderful Father. I love the description of God when the Psalmist says, "You are my hiding place, you preserve me and surround me with shouts of deliverance!" When you look at forgiveness that way, we should rejoice so much more than how we normally react to sin. I don't know about you, but I often find myself continuing to bury my head in the sand when I sin. I hold onto that and continue to beat myself up. I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">acknowledge</span> that I am forgiven, but I fail to surrender it completely. I understand that we have consequences that may go beyond our prayer of confession, depending upon the authority over us---but why give yourself lashes when it's already been done? Why crucify yourself when Christ has already taken your place. You can recognize the horrific act of Christ dying for you, but also remember, that He is the perfect sacrifice, the perfect Lamb, Atonement for our sins and you trying to make yourself into a mini sacrifice, won't cut it! He's done it! Relate to him, but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ultimately</span> see his sacrifice as sufficient, and REJOICE in your forgiveness! I like the promise of verses 7-8 which are from God. They say that he will instruct us in the way we should go and his eye will be upon us. At times, I am one to not like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">observance</span> of someone. In my internship, we will often have our preceptor go with us and observe our charting or consulting of a patient and you get pretty insecure with her eyes watching you. But there is also rest in it because you know that if you make a mistake, she is there to counsel you, to help you and make sure that you do it right. There is security within the insecurity: dependence upon God to help you. In addition, the verse makes reference to a mule or a horse with a bit. We are to be obedient in those moments of counsel or direction---to not doubt the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">instructions</span> from God. This is just like when my preceptor says that I need to make this statement in the chart or visit with the patient about this ---if I don't do it, then not only is my preceptor in shock of my disobedience, and that patient may not be getting the best care possible. There is something to be said about being obedient in the moment you are asked to do something: a trust is immediately created and in that trust, God is glorified in your life. Ending this passage, the Psalmist makes the statement that 'many are the sorrows of the wicked.' Do you live in constant sorrow? Is your heart continually troubled? Perhaps you have good reason! Perhaps you are wicked and are in need of surrendering your life to God. But if you have surrendered your life to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Christ</span>, maybe you're like me in the sense that you continue to live in light of the sin rather than living in light of the sacrifice. The passage ends with the command to rejoice in God's steadfast love that surrounds those who trust God. Do you trust God? Do you truly believe that He will forgive you? Do you fear yourself more than God? I do sometimes. I have standards set-up in my mind that force me to fear myself more than God: and that's wrong! It's wrong! I am all about recognizing your sin and experiencing that dead weight that is caused by the Spirit's convictions. I think of Luther who use to sleep on the cold, damp floor and roll around in ashes because he recognized his unworthiness before our Righteous and Holy God. Go ahead and recognize your unworthiness, but then rejoice and be glad and shout for joy with an upright heart! You have been forgiven a mighty fine: eternal separation from our loving God. That is something to take joy in!Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-80127244747810626402011-04-03T12:20:00.000-07:002011-04-03T12:30:55.032-07:00Taking Candy From Strangers<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUUvCtQcLzGeVuc_HJ2uTQC_0vo9ndlhTs-yH_PyRmG2YaXpuUAU3JGfV_Y6LHVVXEaO5VscjDvbkExdBIDRaBSjodLBqvAqot-NP3weyuUwEglCMVa31ciaFLQzS4I7340ascHj6OnQ/s1600/tricycle_jpg.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 265px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591440561999339810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUUvCtQcLzGeVuc_HJ2uTQC_0vo9ndlhTs-yH_PyRmG2YaXpuUAU3JGfV_Y6LHVVXEaO5VscjDvbkExdBIDRaBSjodLBqvAqot-NP3weyuUwEglCMVa31ciaFLQzS4I7340ascHj6OnQ/s400/tricycle_jpg.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">Image from: </span><a href="http://www.intellicorpintouch.com/child-abduction-statistics.aspx"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.intellicorpintouch.com/child-abduction-statistics.aspx</span></a> </div><br /><p>Can you all remember your first “Stranger Danger” education wave in elementary school? I remember having Officer Savvy and Officer Christiansen come into my Kindergarten classroom to talk with our class on how to stay away from strangers. The said things like “Hey! How many of you kids like candy? (My classmates and myself: “Me! Me! Me!”); that’s great! Who do you normally get candy from? (“Mom! Dad! Grandma!” Etc…) That’s great! It’s fun getting candy from your parents or grandparents, especially if it’s your favorite kind. But what about from someone you don’t know? Is it safe to get candy from someone you don’t know?(“No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” With the Classroom clown still screaming when we’re done….yup! We had a few of those) That’s good class! No, it is not safe to get candy from strangers, do you know why? Gabe (he knew everything!), the smartest boy in the class says, “It isn’t safe, they could take you away from your mom and your dad or hurt you, or even poison you with the candy!” Ok, so you get the picture! </p><br /><p>I was sitting in church this morning listening to Pastor Williams share about a passage in Matthew 7 on false prophets. The passage uses another analogy of “false prophets are like wolves in sheepskin.” </p><br /><p>True and False Prophets </p><br /><p>15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. True and False Disciples 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ www.biblegateway.com NIV </p><br /><p>Just for some comical relief, I am going to let out a “Ha!” Because I know I have just picked probably one of the “Top Ten Controversial Verses of the Bible,” (right up there with the Predestination verses….yup, I said it! :) ) But seriously. When looking at this passage of scripture, I think that we can glean some very simple information: How can we serve a God who spits out lukewarm individuals for him to turn around and give us a gray passage of scripture? This passage is very black and white to me when approaching it. Jesus is warning people to ‘watch out for false prophets,” people, who are, like Pastor Williams said, are ‘adding’ or ‘changing’ what has been said in the Word. I will give you five ‘Mississippi’s’ to guess how relevant this is to the recent news on certain pastors with skewed biblical teachings are sweeping the nation. It was happening back in Jesus’ day as well! Just like a stranger offers you candy, these false prophets are presenting you with a ‘sweet Gospel,’ something that appeals to your taste and your liking. The “drive-thru pray the prayer technique” is a hot concept among churches claiming to present the Gospel. You may even get a little feeling in your stomach and get teary-eyed as you go on your way, ‘pay your bill,’ and back out to the freeway. This is a great example as to how false prophets are approaching people: tailoring the Gospel to your needs; one-size-fits-all approach. When sadly, thousands maybe millions of people are being lied to! Am I saying that you cannot initiate a relationship by praying to God? Of course not! How else does one talk to God but through prayer? I wish sometimes I could look inside another man’s heart and discern his sincerity level to Christ, but then I’d be Christ…and I am not (thankfully!). No, I may not be able to read the person’s heart, but the passage does say that he or she will ‘bear good fruit.’</p><br /><p>I grew up on a farm in South Dakota and we had a few apple trees in our grove that I would go and pick from at the end of summer, early fall. I was able to identify which tree was doing well, was healthy and full of life based upon the size of apples it produced. If it look like the worms had gotten to most of the apples or the tree appeared as though it had wilted; I didn’t bother messing with that tree. Now, so often people see this analogy and say, “But what if I am struggling and I am unable to produce fruit, does that mean I have to be perfect? Someone who is always on top of things, always sharing the Gospel and always producing, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control?” Ha, no. Once you become a Christian, you are not perfect---your salvation was perfected through Christ, but you yourself, may still sin and struggle for the rest of your life. But the point made here, is that a good tree, is going to produce good fruit, regardless of type of weathering that takes place on it. If the Spirit of God is within you, and you believe that God is a perfect, sinless, holy God, then shouldn’t you reflect those same attributes? </p><br /><p>Hmm. The next passage is one that my youth pastor, Dave Moe, challenged us with my senior year of high school. I remember sitting there and he approaching this verse with no sugar-coating: he wouldn’t allow us to give him the Sunday-school answer. In fact, I remember him almost being down-right angry, a righteous fury that came because he knew that some of us had been lied to, even though they may have grown up in his church. I love that quality in Dave and I was so blessed to have him challenge me on this. In my mind as an 18 year old, a grown girl with roots dug well deep into scripture, I was thinking, “How is it possible God? Don’t you want everyone to enter the Kingdom? If they say they know you, and do things for you, shouldn’t they be allowed to come in?” Dave emphasized the last portion of the passage to us, “You who practice lawlessness.” Dave wasn’t coming down on us for not being perfect: He wasn’t trying to point out our flaws and weaknesses: He was saying, if you have not made a lifestyle change, one that has completely surrendered and repented of his or her sins, then you cannot help but practice lawlessness, or bad fruit. Just like the trees in our grove that were bad trees to begin with, there’s no way that all of a sudden they would have the ability to produce good fruit. A new seed would need to be planted and it would have to grow up to become a good tree. </p><br /><p>Do you get the difference? There is one. A big difference. So often we as Christians get approached by other people or mocked for obvious things we may or may not do. I am one who has strong convictions on several things that people would look at and say, “Why? Are you too good? Other Christians do it! You’re too much of a goody-goody; I don’t think God would send you to hell for…. (Fill in whatever you want).” I get frustrated with these assumptions because to me, a relationship with Christ is not a matter of getting to go to heaven or hell, its saying, “I want to be with God! Where God is, I want to be. I want to be in a relationship with Him, I want to experience who He is and what He’s created me for.” </p><br /><p>When you find someone you love and desire to spend your life with, you don’t just get married, to get married: you marry so you can do life together, to become one. Similarly, you don’t just accept Christ with this expectation that the only thing you desire is for you to not have to go to hell.</p><br /><p>My heart aches for people to realize this before they come to the point of their life that it’s too late and you are the one saying verse 21. How a loving God say can verse 22, you may ask: a God that is not only loving, but just, righteous, and holy. Think of your biggest pet peeve and multiply it times a thousand, or imagine the angriest you have ever been, similarly God has a fury against sin, it is everything He is not and He lost his son over it. Sin is hostile to everyone involved. But He has given us a means of approaching His throne out His great love, grace and mercy.</p><br /><p>You see, we serve an amazingly mysterious God! One that deserves to have a committed child, not one who just wants to “sneak into his kingdom” (which doesn’t happen). Do you get it? Does it make sense? Don’t take candy from strangers! Don’t believe the lies that you can ‘get salvation,’ based upon the lies of false prophets. Recognize the true Gospel: that Salvation comes to those who surrender their lives, take up their cross and follow Christ daily. Or maybe I will just let the scripture speak for itself! </p><br /><p>Mark 8 </p><br /><p>The Way of the Cross </p><br /><p>34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” www.biblegateway.com NIV </p>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-71108489702183417922011-04-01T05:14:00.000-07:002011-04-01T05:21:29.929-07:00Illegal U-Turns of Life<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9JPr5qqzqNgktXLCBROuTr3AUrWrRQMUA_MUY5lZwWnNgCMv04gHpk4gKd-K1-XPm6h8O5Q8YqW_-4jYOqmnd9_m5Gj8HVkqbUWUYWvj5nTkRMfKa-Hq6efAFV6DUAfsoDJQes3DLHc/s1600/u_turn_prohibited_sign_R3-4_large.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590588241094637890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9JPr5qqzqNgktXLCBROuTr3AUrWrRQMUA_MUY5lZwWnNgCMv04gHpk4gKd-K1-XPm6h8O5Q8YqW_-4jYOqmnd9_m5Gj8HVkqbUWUYWvj5nTkRMfKa-Hq6efAFV6DUAfsoDJQes3DLHc/s400/u_turn_prohibited_sign_R3-4_large.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>Image From: <a href="http://www.ricesigns.com/real_pictures/u_turn_prohibited_sign_R3-4_large.jpg">http://www.ricesigns.com/real_pictures/u_turn_prohibited_sign_R3-4_large.jpg</a></div><br /><div>I was lost. I was north of Dallas trying to find my cousin’s house at 12:30 pm at night after driving from Little Rock and I was lost! Now, in South Dakota, we have a system with our roads: the numbers either increase or decrease as you go east, west, north or south on country roads with the exception for a few random road names like “Greenfield” or “University.” Texas, on the other hand, must like to see out-of-staters squirm because there was no way I was going to be able to locate the road I needed to turn on due to the sporadic numbering system! I couldn’t tell which direction was east, west, north or south and to top it off, my dear boyfriend was indeed food poisoned just prior to our departure and needed me to pull over frequently. Can you imagine the scene? It’s somewhat comical now but I recall those moments as being nothing shy of miserable! I sensed that we were going in the wrong direction and so what do I do? I go through the intersection, look ahead and behind to see if traffic is coming from either direction and do a U-turn. As I am returning to the same intersection I was driving through moments before, Kory, bless his patient heart, says “Ah, Joni, not trying to freak you out but you may get pulled over, there’s a cop ahead of us that just pulled into the parking lot to turn around.” I immediately went into that panic mode: you know the “OH NO!” I feel like no matter how many tickets you get or how old you are, you get that 14-year-old-driver fear of, I am going to get my freedom taking away! They’re going to take my license! My palms got sweaty, my heart raced for a few moments and sure enough, the Cop switched on the blue lights and I pulled over. He came over and asked the standard question, “Ma’m, do you know why I pulled you over? Back on that last road you were on, you performed an illegal U-Turn, did you see the sign” I honestly had not seen the sign and replied with a “No, sir, I didn’t, I’m sorry.” He proceeded to see my license and registration. (Meanwhile, Kory is turning all shades of green).</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The officer went back to his car ran my license and came back a few minutes later. “Well ma’m I am only going to give you a warning tonight, here’s a copy, just be careful.” I was so relieved and then I proceeded to ask, “Sir, I am so lost, is there any way you could give me directions to the golf course?” Ha, oh goodness, we finally got to my cousin’s but what a night! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>My reasoning behind sharing this story is that, I was listening to a message on the topic of obedience to the law from a passage of scripture found in Romans 7 and 8 and I immediately was drawn back to that night and saw some correlation between the Laws related to driving and the Law of scripture.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Let’s read it together: </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[d] a slave to the law of sin. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>(continuing into chapter 8)</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Life Through the Spirit 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/">www.biblegateway.com</a> NIV</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>What an amazing passage of scripture, amen? As I was just rereading it, I was able to draw a few parallels with real life story of getting pulled over. Typically, if you break the law—knowingly or unknowingly, you deserve a ticket for breaking that particular law. With that ticket comes a fine. This maybe a stretch, but try and use the story as an analogy with this passage: imagine that when you got pulled over, you were guaranteed to never have to pay the fine with the violation completely removed from your record. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>You may still get pulled over for breaking the law, but the violation was immediately forgiven and paid by another person: Christ. Now, you could go through life, let’s say, not a believer and work really hard at not getting pulled over but what if you came to a different state, like me, and unknowingly broke the law? You’re still guilty of breaking the law! Whether you know it or not, you’re guilty. Similarly, no matter how wonderful our ‘driving skills’ in life maybe, we are still guilty of sin! And there is no way that we have what it takes to pay the debt of that sin in our lives, but through Christ, we have been set free from the fines of the law and have been forgiven. Now Paul will go on an describe the concept of “having the license to sin?” By no means! No we should desire to abide by the law even more because we know that Christ is going to have to pay for that sin each and every time we ‘get pulled over.’ But when we do, we can rest assure and say, “I am free!” And we praise God for his grace through our faith in Christ Jesus. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Although it may seem somewhat an elementary analogy to the magnificent mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ, I hope that you can approach today in light of knowing that you are free from condemnation through faith in Christ Jesus, and that when you’ve established a committed relationship with Him, he will forgive both your intentional and ‘unintentional’ sins---paying for your ticket on the Cross of Calvary. </div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-51792143012723845292011-03-22T04:12:00.000-07:002011-03-22T04:20:16.399-07:00Inexpressible Joy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyO40LpehckFx0mFSkxaE7Q6VjUw5RHqp2diENWDo0KSXploPDAg2tmoQbB0GT3xpM9Y4tz_4v7E9fpytsqNaKZZGOLFUIyF5pPtcEaV11FOtOEO0logzvQPJy6GjIAGeEPOgy1lYxYOI/s1600/6176_1196536232212_1192650685_31194250_1841245_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586862317000420178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyO40LpehckFx0mFSkxaE7Q6VjUw5RHqp2diENWDo0KSXploPDAg2tmoQbB0GT3xpM9Y4tz_4v7E9fpytsqNaKZZGOLFUIyF5pPtcEaV11FOtOEO0logzvQPJy6GjIAGeEPOgy1lYxYOI/s400/6176_1196536232212_1192650685_31194250_1841245_n.jpg" /></a><br />I Peter 1:3-9<br /><br />3(A) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!(B) According to his great mercy,(C) he has caused us to be born again to a living hope(D) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to(E) an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and(F) unfading,(G) kept in heaven for you, 5who by God’s power are being guarded(H) through faith for a salvation(I) ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by(J) various trials, 7so that(K) the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes(L) though it is tested by(M) fire—may be found to result in(N) praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8(O) Though you have not seen him, you love him.(P) Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9obtaining(Q) the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.<br /><br />Do you realize that you have inherited something that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading: your salvation through Jesus Christ. In fact, it is guarded in heaven by GOD!<br /><br />Are you rejoicing today in your fiery trial? Do you see how it is testing your genuineness in the faith?<br /><br />Your response to trials is to be 'praise and glory and honor' at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ---no, you don't have to put on a fake smile and act like your trial does not bother you: you are to look at it in the perspective that Christ matters more and that no matter what is taken away from you in this life---Christ remains!Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-37031991552988483452011-03-11T03:57:00.000-08:002011-03-11T04:01:29.371-08:00Marks of Jesus<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTu5_nWow2LUZKsszV7RiFkJeW1KRqlE9aTZ2X6AQBuIHRlGk5vvdDm1CjeT9554i92-2fYIY-oCb6ma_l5vRxI2Vvj_v3_vgD9ZXTX6tBvgeUok4R6LT69iFSIHNMSfuO_ZjiznDZNHs/s1600/canon-beach-oregon-sunrise-2008-044.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 385px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 255px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582791256641682098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTu5_nWow2LUZKsszV7RiFkJeW1KRqlE9aTZ2X6AQBuIHRlGk5vvdDm1CjeT9554i92-2fYIY-oCb6ma_l5vRxI2Vvj_v3_vgD9ZXTX6tBvgeUok4R6LT69iFSIHNMSfuO_ZjiznDZNHs/s400/canon-beach-oregon-sunrise-2008-044.jpg" /></a><br /><div><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Image from: <a href="http://brucefong.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/breath-taking-pacific-sunrise/">http://brucefong.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/breath-taking-pacific-sunrise/</a></span></em></div><br /><div><em><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span></em><br />I myself don’t have a tattoo nor do I plan on getting one anytime soon but for those of you who do have one, I am 99% that you selected that tattoo with the intentions of sharing a message. Even if the tattoo was somewhat a spontaneous rebellion, it was done with the intention of proclaiming some aspect of yourself and maybe, even a subliminal declaration of your independence. What about scars? Do you have scars from when you first started riding a bike? Getting burned by a sparkler at the 4th of July? Or slipping on a grain cart and bumping your chin? Ok, that last one is totally mine. But even though we didn’t voluntarily receive those scars, they are on our skin with a message or a story of some point in our life. Maybe some of those scars were voluntary during a discouraging and dark time in your life. Perhaps those scars are ones that you didn’t do to yourself and that others did to you both externally and internally. Marks on our bodies, regardless of how they got there, are visible signs of an instance in time that is permanently displayed on or in them.<br />In Galatians 6, Paul is closing out his letter to the church of Galatia starting in verse 11:<br />“Not Circumcision but the New Creation<br />11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!<br />12 Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to[b] the Israel of God.<br />17 From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.<br />18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen. “ NIV www.biblegateway.com<br /><br />In this text, Paul begins by addressing outward impressions and how often the church would do things simply to appear as though they are religious and doing good works. Circumcision was a big deal and therefore the religious leaders of the day desired for you to be circumcised so that you could boast in your flesh and your own good works. Paul goes against these teachings and says: ‘No! I won’t boast in anything but Jesus Christ through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.’ He, Paul, was not going to be controlled by ritualistic marks of the flesh; Paul desired the mark of a new creation that comes through Christ and the crucifixion to this world. Verse 16 describes Paul’s desire for people to follow peace and mercy who indeed are people of God, the Israel of God.<br /><br />ESV commentary says that this ‘Israel of God,’ is equal with the church. “ Which sense is best here must be decided with reference to the larger context of Paul’s thought, both in Galatians and in his other epistles, Israel of God. That is, in contrast to the children of the ‘present Jersusalem’ (4:25), the true people of God are the believing children of Abraham (3:7,29), who belong to ‘Jerusalem above’ (4:26-27).”<br />In verse 17, Paul says, something significant to our discussion: “From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” Paul was persecuted on numerous accounts throughout his life and ultimately, died for the sake of the Gospel. 2 Corinithains addresses these marks of persecution that Paul received as well;<br /><br />“23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. “<br /><br />Ha, our short list of injuries at the beginning of this devo is nothing in comparison to Paul’s list of persecution is it? Yet, notice that Paul didn’t say, “I bear the marks of persecution for Christ,” but rather “I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” On one level he was indeed using his marks to prove his commitment to the Lord, displaying the persecution, however, His marks also refer to the ‘new creation’ component of his life. We may or may not ever have scars from persecution or physical abuse for what we believe in: even though that may make you appear ‘more Christian,’ and is actually very honorable to endure through sufferings like Christ, it still doesn’t make you ‘a new creation.’ You are a new creation when you are crucified to the world and the world to you. When you surrender your life to Christ, you bear his mark! You are no longer marked by the world nor do you have the need to have religious rituals as signs that you are committed to Christ. Now, signs and displays of your inward commitment to the Lord may surface, but again, Paul tells us not to boast within those things but only boast in Christ!<br /><br />“2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.<br /><br />4 Such confidence we have through Christ before God. “<br /><br />2 Corinthians 3:2-4 www.biblegateway.com NIV </div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-9354905842292505312011-03-06T03:12:00.000-08:002011-03-06T03:18:45.490-08:00Outside the Camp<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJ95wDrjiL1iSa45FEjLyfhDR6RJWrHlN_ktTBtbCO1fqhWwxwTU4RBQG6Bx-EHqpuU4byOt8S6yvi-SaCRvFVwo_GZKcLhkbPhIXkpvIrOBtDy4NwEduaz27LlgQ4antEVit9TG-V_0/s1600/3822910450_52602c7bca_o.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580924648150565506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJ95wDrjiL1iSa45FEjLyfhDR6RJWrHlN_ktTBtbCO1fqhWwxwTU4RBQG6Bx-EHqpuU4byOt8S6yvi-SaCRvFVwo_GZKcLhkbPhIXkpvIrOBtDy4NwEduaz27LlgQ4antEVit9TG-V_0/s400/3822910450_52602c7bca_o.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Image from:</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3822910450_52602c7bca_o.jpg&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/40450405%40N08/3822910450/&usg=__dz9_ioa_CUZDBeHLvJRIGaJPT5o=&h=864&w=1152&sz=391&hl=en&start=325&zoom=1&tbnid=mUQRDMvQ76StPM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=156&ei=DW1zTea_JoSitgfL8-z_BQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcity%2Bwalls%252Bimages%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26nfpr%3D1%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D561%26tbs%3Disch:11%2C6649&chk=sbg&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=929&vpy=198&dur=399&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=190&ty=112&oei=-WxzTcLqGcq4tgebvbyGDw&page=16&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:19,s:325&biw=1345&bih=561">http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3822910450_52602c7bca_o.jpg&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/40450405%40N08/3822910450/&usg=__dz9_ioa_CUZDBeHLvJRIGaJPT5o=&h=864&w=1152&sz=391&hl=en&start=325&zoom=1&tbnid=mUQRDMvQ76StPM:&tbnh=115&tbnw=156&ei=DW1zTea_JoSitgfL8-z_BQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcity%2Bwalls%252Bimages%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26nfpr%3D1%26biw%3D1345%26bih%3D561%26tbs%3Disch:11%2C6649&chk=sbg&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=929&vpy=198&dur=399&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=190&ty=112&oei=-WxzTcLqGcq4tgebvbyGDw&page=16&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:19,s:325&biw=1345&bih=561</a> </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /><br /></span>I don’t know about you, but I am so thankful that we as Christians do not have to present animal sacrifices anymore! Can you imagine trying to sacrifice an animal in your Sunday best? Yikes! I say this half-joking and half-serious. Maybe in a way, it would be good because we’d relate with the true sacrifice of Christ a little better. I don’t normally find gory things such as sacrifices as something of greatest interest until I was reading in Hebrews and came across this passage:<br /><br />“ 9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so. 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.<br /><br />11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. 13 Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. 14 For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.<br />15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”<br /><br />So technically it was the priest that did the sacrificing on the behalf of the people—but still: imagine your pastor carrying into your church, blood from an animal that was just thrown in the parking lot: so different isn’t it? So different, yet I sense this strange similarity in the way we live our lives. This portion of scripture starts off in verse 9 and presents the point for us not to become swayed with false doctrine and teachings. I am not a Bible scholar, but it sounds like the author was addressing a topic of accepting grace rather than following rituals. It goes on in verse 11 to describe the process of offering sacrifices and then draws a parallel to Christ himself and his sacrifice, outside the gate. Outside the gate. Throughout all of the Old Testament and history of the Israelites, the Tabernacle is the Holiest of Holies where priests would present sacrifices. Yet, when Christ came, the sacrifice was not even in the realms of the temple, but outside the city gate. Verse 13 calls us to go outside the camp and bear the disgrace he bore. Does this mean we are to sacrifice ourselves? Of course not, well, not physically---the ESV commentary makes a good point with this passage:<br /><br />“Go to him outside the camp speaks metaphorically of leaving behind the love of this world and desire for its approval, and embracing the reproach of Christ, emulating Jesus’ response to his shameful sufferings (see 12:2-3). Moreover, such Christian endurance is founded on a realization that this world is a mere temporary dwelling (no lasting city) en route to an eternal abode (cf 11:14-16; 12:22-24).”<br />There: Does that make sense? It’s a metaphor: asking us to leave the concept of ritualistic religion and go to a place of understanding the sacrifice and nastiness of our sin. Not that we cannot worship in a temple and fellowship with other believers, but we shouldn’t emphasize that as our ‘enduring city,’ or what will save us in the end.<br />15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”<br />“Through Jesus,” not through “going to church x-number of times,” or even “praying the prayer,” do we find salvation. It says that we are to “continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise,” THROUGH JESUS. Aka, the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. The fruit of lips refers to the good things that come from our mouths: praise, gratitude, encouragement and words of love for something or someone. When you’re in love with someone, there is something special about saying his/her name. They say that saying a person’s name in an endearing way is equal to professing a kind of love towards that person. In the same way, we can glorify God just by merely professing his name to everyone. Verse 16 does mention that we are to do good and to share with others—not to earn salvation, but as a way to please God. In the Old Testament, scripture talks about the aroma of sacrifices pleased God and in the same way, when we give and share with others in Jesus’ name, we too have a sweet aroma that is emitted. Not just giving out of wealth, but out of need too! So often we give when it doesn’t cost us anything, but there are countless examples of Biblical characters giving EVERYTHING they own. Ha—you have no idea how nervous I get writing on the topic of sacrifice because I know that the LORD will very shortly, ask me to do what I am challenging others: rightfully so! But again, we do it out love for the Lord THROUGH Jesus. So although you don’t have to necessarily get your Sunday best dirty, maybe focus more on how to present yourself, your devotion, your words, and your gifts, as a form of sacrifice both in your place of worship and outside the walls of church: go to Christ outside the city gate. </div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-61073286224545915312011-02-21T04:12:00.000-08:002011-02-21T04:22:27.677-08:00Just Do Something!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYA-n1eCCUlpQDl0kQZ64JEv1WTDQoAzqRKViSIwfAvE7hluP93SXs8m5oykav0yX5OTiYmjwbYA_cth_T12ebXbqLPQPEZVoYae8YPhxASD-sE1mKaBGbqQxVQJOgHhR8GpavU9NkhM/s1600/OpenBible.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576117128597885362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYA-n1eCCUlpQDl0kQZ64JEv1WTDQoAzqRKViSIwfAvE7hluP93SXs8m5oykav0yX5OTiYmjwbYA_cth_T12ebXbqLPQPEZVoYae8YPhxASD-sE1mKaBGbqQxVQJOgHhR8GpavU9NkhM/s400/OpenBible.jpg" /></a><br /><div><br /><br />Image from:http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Goeg_TiIEi8/S7nv964HvVI/AAAAAAAAAWw/xqqfDqarQXw/s1600/OpenBible.bmp<br /><br /><br />Have you found yourself combing the pages or skimming the index in the back of the Bible for a topic relating to your ‘big decision,’ you’re currently facing? I find myself doing this from time to time. It’s not bad that we are going to God’s Word to look for direction on things we don’t know but have you ever thought that the answer may not be spelled-out word for word in the Bible but rather the answer lies in the transformation of one’s mindset and hear? I was visiting the other morning with a middle-aged man about my generation and my season of life. He spoke of his desire to influence my age group through mentoring and serving the body of believers by dispelling some underlying pressures that are often applied to young adults. These pressures involve making the right decisions on careers, schooling, marriage and relationships. In general, he said something along the lines of this:<br />“ It’s ok if you don’t ‘have it all together,’ if you end up going to school and discovering you don’t like what you’re doing, it’s ok that you spent the money because now you know you’re not going to go that direction: move forward and find where your passion truly lies. And if you happen to meet someone who is seeking the Lord while you’re seeking the Lord and you feel that you are supposed to be together: go for it—don’t sit there hemming and hawing over ‘Is this the one?’ Of course you need to be wise in the way you pursue relationships but we so often put so much pressure on making decisions that we waste precious time on something the Lord desires for us to step out in faith on. If I would have sought that or was encouraged to pursue my gifting at that age, who knows where I would be now: but regardless of what happened, I am where I am and the Lord is using me. I don’t regret the decisions I made, but I do wish that the church would encourage young adults to ‘Just Do Something’.” (Just Do Something is the name of a book he recommended me to read!)<br />Wise words? I agree! What is interesting, I have felt this pressure lifted in my own life, over the past few months. I feel like the Lord has been transforming my ideas and concepts of what ‘pursuing God’s will for my life’ and what it looks like. The transformation has not been a matter of revelation in some miraculous sign or wonder, but rather learning about WHO God is and living in the light of knowing Him more. There’s a passage in Ecclesiastes that Solomon wrote on the topic of the “Purpose of Life.” The entire book is somewhat depressing is it not? Ha, he talks about how meaningless pursuing pleasures and desires are much like chasing the wind; but at the end of the book, his remark is this :<br />“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of man.”<br />Notice the wisest man to ever live did not say, “Make sure you comb the Bible as carefully as possible to find the answer to who you’re supposed to marry, where you’re supposed to live, what you’re supposed to do or if you’re supposed to be a full-time missionary in Antarctica (thank heavens he didn’t say that! Eeek! South Dakota is cold enough thank you very much!). He said that we are to “fear God and keep his commandments.” That’s your purpose! That’s your will! Fear God. I know, you’re rolling your eyes—I can see it, but I’m serious! Shoot me your earth-shattering question and I will say this: Fear God and keep his commands. Why? Why does it have to feel like my answer to your question is another question? Because it is not supposed to be complicated! God desires to be sovereign in control: yes he does give us an element of choice within his sovereignty but we need to understand He will accomplish Another verse instructs on this topic in a similar fashion. It’s found in Philippians 4 verse 8 which states:<br />“8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”<br />So simple, yet so difficult to get through our thick heads! Try not to get so hung up on “What do I do about this? Where do I go? Who am I?” (I am getting a headache just thinking about it!) The answer is not God’s revelation: IT’S HIM. It’s Him. Seek to know your creator and He will reveal to his creation the who’s, what’s and why’s that you’re facing. When in doubt, focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.” Start there. Fear God and follow what his word says.<br />I am a big fan of this song by the band “Deluge,” and writer Jonathan Stockstill, called “Open Up the Skys,” here are the lyrics. It reminds you of how we should pray and consult the Lord on matters: not seeking blessings or answers but rather seeking HIM.<br /><br />“Our beloved Father please come down and meet us<br />We are waiting on Your touch<br />Open up the heavens, shower down Your presence<br />We respond to Your great love<br /><br />pre-chorus<br />We won't be satisfied with anything ordinary<br />We won't be satisfied at all<br /><br />chorus<br />Open up the sky, fall down like rain<br />We don't want blessings, we want You<br />Open up the sky, fall down like fire,<br />We don't want anything but You<br /><br />verse 2<br />Our beloved Jesus we just want to see You<br />in the glory of Your light<br />Earthly things don't matter<br />They just fade and shatter<br />When we're touched by love divine<br /><br />chorus<br />Open up the sky, fall down like rain<br />We don't want blessings, we want You<br />Open up the sky, fall down like fire,<br />We don't want anything but You<br /><br />Bridge<br />Here we go lets go to the throne<br />The place that we belong Right into His arms.”<br />Lyrics from:<br />http://www.gugalyrics.com/JONATHAN-STOCKSTILL-OPEN-UP-THE-SKY-LYRICS/345131/ </div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-72984906324394149462011-02-17T04:24:00.000-08:002011-02-17T04:58:20.287-08:00But You RemainThink of everything that changes from day-to-day in your world: what you eat, what you wear, gas prices, daily routines and routes; your work environment, your MOOD (Don't you dare deny it! We all have a moody gene in us--some of us express it more than others--just sayin); your overall health, your plans and on, and on! Change is inevitable and for those of us that like things to remain constant---it can be a rough world to live in! Everyday I feel like I am having to surrender my natural tendency to desire things to be the same or within a realm of control. There's a verse in Hebrews that stood out to me this morning, let's read it together:<div><br /></div><div>"And, You, Lord, laid the foundation of the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end." Hebrews 1: 10-12</div><div><br /></div><div>The passage prior to these verses is addressing the supremacy of Christ. I was originally reading through Colossians 1 and then cross referenced to this passage and found a similar theme of defining Christ's role in creation and His supremacy. We often see Christ as coming in around the Christmas story, when in reality, Christ laid the foundation of the earth! He was there with Adam and Eve...and before! This passage of scripture also addresses Christ supremacy over angels. I feel like we put angels on a to tum pole within our society as supreme beings when God created them to serve us--to serve the Church and worship Him (vs. 7,14). But that's another topic to discuss--let's get back to this passage.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the author or Hebrews uses the analogy of the changing of a garment in comparison to the heavens. Do you have a favorite pair of jeans? A favorite baseball cap? Don't you just wish the fabric fibers would just hang-on for a little longer? I have jeans and running clothes that I have had for years -that should probably be thrown away a while ago (this is not an excuse for you to tell me to get rid of them--haha, "Perfect timing to tell Joni she really does need to get rid of those jeans!) Now, the passage says that the heavens are like garments that become worn-out. Archaeologists could testify that this world is pretty old and there are some things on this earth that have been around forever! My mind immediately goes to those big, beautiful redwood trees in California. I LOVE pictures of these trees: they're massive and just tower over people. These trees have been around what seems like forever---but this passage says that they too, will wear-out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well gracious! What does that mean for those of us who struggle with change? Are we always going to have a furrowed-brow of fear or chronic crankiness because things are always changing? If you choose to focus on things that are constantly changing or will eventually change--yes but if you choose to focus on the one thing that remains, your brow can relax a little. I am not belittling your fears of change, in fact, if anyone understands the fears that come with change, it's me! But we can take a passage like this one and meditate on it; accepting the message and react by praising God for NOT changing! Praise God that he has had the salvation of man in His plan since the beginning of time. It was not a surprise to him when man fell into sin. I find so much comfort in that! I could be stripped of everything like Job and still have all that I need in Christ clinging to his constant presence. So don't panic-- it's ok if your garments wear out, if your route changes on your way to work, even if friendships come and go--continue to keep your focus on the one who will remain!</div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7032630452183092851.post-14708037012275698302011-02-05T04:11:00.000-08:002011-02-05T04:17:20.514-08:00Worshipful Communication<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjsMNzCDyui77Pwqilvkbgiyk9XpREcISBaf0ForFnH7U1dDWdHGf3BbekxlsmBBDQaWY_bX7S9Cs0FYd1j6rCdwIZ_sIyJ_7yt_1WolLExd7kKueVgAXrTwUsbBJiqYErLa2aNH9njE/s1600/30927_593087656586_116505090_34535363_189173_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570178386747851138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjsMNzCDyui77Pwqilvkbgiyk9XpREcISBaf0ForFnH7U1dDWdHGf3BbekxlsmBBDQaWY_bX7S9Cs0FYd1j6rCdwIZ_sIyJ_7yt_1WolLExd7kKueVgAXrTwUsbBJiqYErLa2aNH9njE/s400/30927_593087656586_116505090_34535363_189173_n.jpg" /></a><br /><div>The modern day church enjoys worship music. Think about how worship music is not only used within the four walls of your church but how it has been carried-out into another sector of the music industry. Worship leaders now lead services and actually go on tour. Worship music available to listen to on the radio, on CDs, Itunes, and Pandora (which in fact, I am listening to right now). It’s great! It’s wonderful: just wonderful that worship music is at the tips of our fingers whenever we need to reconnect with the LORD, be encouraged by a set of lyrics, or simply enjoy listening to some music. I am a Christian music-junky. I grew up with a mother as a Choir director and voice teacher in both school and church so since birth I have head thousands of songs, mostly traditional hymn, worship or classical. I listen to it a lot and have music constantly playing---except when I am praying, I shut it off otherwise I get distracted. My friends will ask “ What’s the title of this song?” or “Who sings this?” and more than likely I will have an answer shortly thereafter or I will squirm like crazy until I know it. Ha. “My name is Joni and I am addicted to worship music (Hi Joni).”<br /><br />With all that being said, there is a side of singing songs about God that I feel like we’re still missing. I say this because after reading this passage in Colossians, I thought about the context of the words “psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit,” and there’s a different feel to it than just your average worship song. Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to minimize the importance of our praise and worship choruses that we currently sing---but do you ever sing of God’s faithfulness to one another? Or admonish one another with all wisdom through song? Read the passage first and allow me to explain this better.<br /><br /><br />“12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:12-16 ESV<br /><br /><br />Prior to verse 12, Paul addresses the topic of “Living as Those Made Alive in Christ,” challenging the church to recognize that they are alive in Christ and to rid themselves of their fleshly desires and nature. He says just before verse 12 that we are “being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator,” And that there is now “neither Jew nor Gentile.” Therefore….clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Ok, so you understand as a Christ-follower, you are God’s chosen people---made holy and dearly loved. Other things we do because we have been made alive in Christ is (1) bear with each other (2) forgive one another (3) put on love and (4) let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. The last portion says that we are to (1) teach, and (2) admonish. I love looking up new words so I went ahead and found the definition for the word admonish and found that this verb means “ to caution, advise, or counsel against something. to reprove or scold, especially in a mild and good-willed manner: The teacher admonished him about excessive noise. to urge to a duty; remind: to admonish them about their obligations.” www.dictionary.com<br /><br /><br />That definition makes sense with the context of the verse doesn’t it? How do you teach someone? How do you correct someone when they say something wrong or give advice? The way I teach is usually through explaining, with an eventual limit on patience if the person is not listening or understanding me. If I am correcting someone, it’s usually ridden with pride or I may avoid conflict all together. The avenues to teach and admonish in this passage however seem a little different than the ways we normally teach and admonish. The verse calls us to use avenues through “psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”<br /><br />Now, you may be asking yourself: “Self, are we supposed to take this literally? Am I really supposed to sing at someone when I am telling them something or when I am telling them what they need to do differently?” HA! Wouldn’t that be fun to have your life as a musical where you just break-out into song at random times? I don’t think we need to carry it to that extreme, but yes, it would be fun. No, I think that what Paul is getting at is that the means that we communicate with one another should be done in such a way that we are worshipful: worshipping God as we communicate with one another. When we simply talk to someone or command someone to do something, it often has a domineering-element to it: “You are doing this wrong.” Or “This is how you need to do this.” Instead of a loving, compassionate, song-like encouragement and urgency from the heart. Are songs not a wonderful gift from God? In the Old Testament and just history in general, song has been a means of teaching one another and telling a story. We often remember better through song. The Psalmists wrote hundreds of songs praising and worshipping God. This verse from Isaiah talks about a singing that will take place in the future (Isaiah 33:20): 20 The LORD will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the LORD.<br /><br />I know you may be thinking, “Well it makes sense to sing to the Lord and worship but singing to one another is different and kind of weird.” I understand, and I completely see your perspective on that and I recognize that our praise and worship is reserved for the LORD and He alone; but do you see how we communicate with one another should have a sense of ‘sing-ability,’ to it. We should sing from a grateful heart and sing from a heart overflowing with love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we communicate with one another, we should remind one another through song or in a melody-like manner which stems from the bottom of our hearts with convictions from the Spirit: not from a commanding, self-righteous dominance. There is a difference in our modern-day worship and this singing that is described. It is my hope that God transforms our hearts in such a way that we teach and admonish one another in worshipful communication. </div>Jonihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16171318442911860603noreply@blogger.com0