Giving and Receiving (Dec 26)

To sacrifice something is to make it holy by giving it away for love. – Frederick Buechner

I would like to share a devotional entitled, "Precious Offerings," by Chris Tiegreen:

1Ch 11:18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD.

David had been on the run from Saul, hiding out in caves and deserts. Now after Saul's death, he was on the attack against the Philistines in the same desert near the same caves. And, not surprisingly, David was thirsty. Far from home, he longed for the familiar water of Bethlehem. Three of his warriors decided to do something about it. They broke through Philistine lines and brought back the coveted water to quench David's thirst. David's response? He poured it out to the Lord.

Those of us from capitalist societies cringe at his wastefulness. The water came at such great sacrifice, at such enormous risk, that David could at least show his appreciation by drinking some of it! But David had a higher goal than quenching thirst. His desire was to offer the Lord whatever was most precious to him. And this water was precious. Three of his right-hand men had risked life and limb to get it, even though there were surely closer sources of water than the well at Bethlehem. They did it because they loved David. The water, therefore, was immediately one of David's most treasured possessions. And treasured possessions make the best offerings.

We could learn from that. We give generously to God at times, but we save our most treasured possessions for ourselves. The first 10 percent of our income is one thing; the precious items we secure with the rest of it are another. God loves expressions of sacrifice. The greater the sacrifice, the greater the love demonstrated. If we hold things tightly, we love less fully.

Consider the things you give God. Do you give Him not only the first of your income, time, and talents, but also the best of them? Do the things you treasure become the things you most want to honor God with? When you survey your domain, you will see things you hold dear and things that are expendable. Which do you give to God? Do you long to give Him what is most precious to you?

Yesterday was Christmas Day. At Christmastime, we always talk a lot about giving and receiving. Of course it is a time to celebrate the coming of Christ, but also for many people, it is a time to exchange gifts. They do this to show that they care. Someone started spreading the word that it is better to give than to receive: I give because I care, but I'm not all selfish and wanting lots of stuff. Well, as we celebrate at Christmastime, God gave the greatest Gift – His Son. But he also wants to receive. He wants our hearts, our commitments, our love. And we, on the other hand, tend to just receive – whatever we can get from God, we take. But we also need to give. Give God the best offerings – your heart, your love, your most treasured possessions, your most treasured love…all of it. Glorify and honor God this Christmas – give Him the most sacred spot in your heart. And receive the great gifts that come straight from His heart…

God’s Detours (Dec 19)

Mat 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. (20) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. (21) And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (22) Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, (23) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (24) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: (25) And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Gen 46:1-4 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. (2) And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. (3) And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: (4) I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Detour – a deviation from a direct course or the usual procedure; especially: a roundabout way temporarily replacing part of a route.

Sometimes along life's path, God throws us a detour. It may not seem to make sense. It may seem to be "out of the way," or it may seem frustrating, but God knows that sometimes we need extra measures, sometimes extreme, in order to see his glory. The other day, I was driving and was approaching an interchange. I needed to change lanes in order to go north, but the traffic was such that it seemed impossible. (It wasn't, really, but there were so many insane drivers out that day, I figured it was in my own best interest to not test my luck, haha.) Besides, with traffic stop-and-go, it almost seemed perfectly logical to just stay in my lane, end up on the south-bound lane and turn around at the next exit, which was only a mile away and an area with literally no traffic. It only took an extra minute, but it was an odd detour to take. But as I got on the highway and rounded the bend, I was presented with an amazing view in the sky as the sun lowered and was about to set. As I cruised down and turned around, beating the traffic, the thought crossed my mind that if I had headed north and avoided the detour, I would have missed the work of art that God had painted on the sky. See? Sometimes you have to think of the positive aspects of a situation when things don't seem to go the way you intended (or expected). When we are following God, a detour may be an altered route God uses to protect, preserve, and teach us about Himself and His will. In the scriptures listed above, people saw some pretty drastic changes to their plan, but it all fit into God's plan—the "bigger picture." A detour may seem like an inconvenience (or worse), but God may be using it to teach us something—or maybe even something on a much greater scale like changing a life or saving a multitude. Keep your eyes on the Lord. He will direct your path…including the detours.

Anticipation (Dec 5)

The other day we were playing with Lilie and she was having lots of fun (well, we all were). She was laughing and squealing. Sometimes we tickle her and she laughs. But sometimes, just the anticipation of the tickling makes her squeal. If we act like we're about to do something funny, she'll laugh just as hard as if we'd already done it. She laughs again, of course, when we finally follow through. Well, it got me thinking a little bit about anticipation, anyway.

Anticipation – the act of looking forward; especially pleasurable expectation.

Tit 2:11-15 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Php 1:19-20 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, (20) According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Psa 62:5-8 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. (6) He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved. (7) In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. (8) Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Pro 24:14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

We wait for the coming of the Lord. We wait for answers to prayer. We wait for direction. We wait for so many things. Do we wait in anticipation or do we grumble and get impatient? I think that you'll find that the joy is greater when you anticipate the answer. For if you are impatient, your answer will likely be, "Finally…Took long enough." Pray expectantly for God to work in your life and the lives of others. Wait expectantly for the coming of the Lord. Yearn expectantly for the leading of the Spirit.

Pray about it—let your life be full of joyful anticipation!

Taking the Right Path (Nov 28)

Mat 7:13-20 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. (18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

So, the other day, I was hiking through a park with a somewhat extensive trail system. Most of the trails are not marked or blazed, but you can tell pretty easily where they go. Now, in this particular park, there are a lot of elevation changes. So, if I want to go from point A at one end of the park to point B at the other end, it would be a terrible idea to just walk in a straight line. I’d be going up and down very steep and long hills and crossing streams and mucky areas. But if I follow a trail, it will twist and turn me all through the woods, but eventually get me there. But sometimes, there is a wye in the path. Sometimes, I might see another path that looks like it is going in a better general direction of where I want to go. But if I had a map of the trail system, I’d be able to see that after a hundred yards, it cuts over in another direction, or that just before it gets to the destination, there is a huge chasm that I wouldn’t be able to cross. It would be better, then, to stay on the correct path, even if it doesn’t always seem to be headed towards the destination. It may take a detour or follow a few strange twists and turns, but that is all to work around the terrain (and avoid that impassable chasm that I made up earlier).

This reminds me a little bit of a passage from the book, Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan. If you’ve read the book, you’ll remember that Pilgrim was on a journey from his The City of Destruction to The Celestial City. He journeys through the Wicket Gate (and so begins the journey on the straight and narrow path) and to the House of the Interpreter, where he finds deliverance from his burden and becomes Christian. The allegory continues as Christian makes his way to the Celestial City, meeting various people along the way and passing through various cities and such that are an example of various situations that any Christian will encounter in his or her own journey of the Christian life. I couldn’t remember the particulars of the passage in the book, so I looked it up online and will share a little snippet from a summary on Wikipedia:

Along a rough stretch of road, Christian and Hopeful leave the highway to travel on the easier By-Path Meadow, where a rainstorm forces them to spend the night. In the morning they are captured by Giant Despair, who takes them to his Doubting Castle, where they are imprisoned, beaten and starved. The giant wants them to commit suicide, but they endure the ordeal until Christian realizes that a key he has, called Promise, will open all the doors and gates of Doubting Castle. Using the key, they escape.

As Christian travels the straight and narrow path throughout the allegory, he occasionally turns aside for one thing or another, but in this instance, he (and his companion) leaves the path to walk on another one that is easier to walk on and appears to go to the same destination. But it doesn’t and the bad decision leads to a place of doubting and despair and the two go through much trial.

So, I guess what I’m saying is it would be a good thing to have the trail map! When you reach a split in the trail, you can look at the map and easily discern which path to follow in order to get to the correct destination. And when you’re tempted to take a shortcut instead of following the trail in a big end around loop, you can again whip out the map and see that you’re going that way to avoid a really huge ravine, over which it might be dangerous and difficult to pass.

Joh 14:5-6 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? (6) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 10:1-5 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (2) But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (3) To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (4) And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (5) And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Joh 16:13-14 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Disguising Slander (Nov 21)

“Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; the one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure.” – Psalm 101:5

Once upon a time, I overheard someone speaking with another person. They were asking for prayer for someone, and then went on to say things to put them down. Oh, and, pray for them about that. Now, as it would happen, I knew that the things were not true. So, here is one person slandering another, but the curious thing is, they disguise it as something good: a prayer request. I’m sure we’ve all heard it; perhaps some of us have done it. People like to disguise slander and gossip as something else so it doesn’t seem so bad. But unfortunately, slander is still slander, gossip is still gossip, and bad is still bad.

Slander – the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another’s reputation; a false and defamatory oral statement about a person.

Gossip – rumor or report of an intimate nature; a chatty talk, often detailing personal or sensational facts about others.

Gossip and slander seem pretty similar, except that slander is a lie and gossip is usually true (or mostly true). The point is, although God does call us to pray for others and to ask others to pray for us, He also tells us not to speak bad things about others. It does not change the nature of our conversation if we simply call it something else.

1Ti 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

1Pe 4:14-16 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (15) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. (16) Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Tit 2:1-6 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: (2) That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. (3) The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; (4) That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, (5) To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (6) Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

Prov 10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

Prov 11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

Prov 17:9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.

So, let’s not say hurtful things about others, even if we disguise it as something good. Instead, let’s pray for one another. Let’s encourage one another and speak things that are good and honest and bring glory to God, hope to the heart, and a smile to the face.

Heb 10:24 Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.

Eph 4:29 Do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Prov 12:18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Prov 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.

A Leg to Stand On (Nov 14)

The other day, I was standing in the parking area at the end of 3rd Ave in Ford City, when I heard a screech. When I looked up, I saw a car round the turn off of the bridge, slowing down in a cloud of dust, and one of the rear wheels just kept on rolling. I stood there and helplessly watched as the wheel rolled on down the street, missing traffic in the other lane. It crossed into the oncoming lane for awhile, and then cut down 2nd Street, cut through someone’s yard, flirted with hitting the house, then crossed the avenue, passed narrowly between some parked cars, all before rolling up the hill and coming to rest in the grass. The car’s driver, meanwhile, had managed to get the car off the road, where it sat, awkwardly balancing on the remaining three wheels. You see, cars don’t drive well without all four wheels. They’re not balanced correctly. They wouldn’t have the support. The same goes for a chair, a stool, or even a person. If you’re standing there minding your own business and I sneak up from behind and knock out one of your legs, you’re going to fall. Sure, you could probably balance on one foot for awhile, but your body is balanced in such a way as to stand on two legs. A dog or cat balances on four legs. If you’ve seen a three-legged animal, they usually get around OK, but it’s a bit of a struggle.

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “without a leg to stand on” or “he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.” It basically means that the person has no chance of success in their venture. It’s a metaphoric idiom which transfers a lack of physical support to arguments or theories. You’ll often hear it used with regards to legal issues. If someone tries to bring a lawsuit against another when they, in fact, are the one in the wrong, or they don’t really have evidence, or it’s for some other silly reason, people will often dismiss the threat and say, “Oh, don’t worry about losing this case; he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.” You’ll hear it in arguments and debates, or in regards to false accusations. Basically, the person has no support. They have nothing to back up their claims. They have nothing to help them out. Lacking support, they’ll just crumble and fall. Their venture is doomed to failure.

Those guys that were in the car that I mentioned earlier were driving around with all four wheels. But, apparently, the lug nuts were loose and when the one wheel spun off, they lacked support, and found themselves stuck by the road. So, here you are, walking through life on your two feet. Your life is a testimony and proof of the words that you speak. You say you’re a Christian. You tell people that God is great and that they need Him. You talk about healing, deliverance, protection, leading and direction, peace, joy, encouragement, and so many other things that come with the Christian walk. People are watching your walk. They’re watching whether you stumble. They’re watching how it will turn out. So, does your life have substance? Do your words have support? Does your God show His greatness in you? Do you have a leg to stand on? Or do you lose a wheel and come screeching to halt on the side of the road?

1Co 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Rom 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

1Co 2:3-5 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. (4) And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (5) That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Jud 1:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

You’ve got God’s Word to stand on, you’ve got faith in a faithful God to stand on, and you’ve got a God that is able to keep you from falling…so don’t buckle or stumble…you’ve got a leg to stand on!

The Real Thing (Nov 7)

I’d like to begin by sharing a devotional by Chris Tiegreen:

We are called by Jesus to love one another. Love is the defining characteristic of the Christian community; Jesus called it His “new command” and said it would distinguish us as His disciples (John 13:34-35). He did not lay it out for us as a good option; it was an order. Obedience requires that we love Him and that we love others.

Knowing that, we usually try to put on love—or at least the appearance of love. Even when we cultivate bitterness in our hearts toward another, we cultivate smiles and warmth on our faces. Our words and our inner feelings do not always match. We act loving because we know we are supposed to; but we do not feel loving. That’s a problem.

Which is genuine love? When Paul tells us to love each other sincerely, does he really expect our feelings to fall in line with obedience? Is it acceptable to act loving rather than to be loving? It’s a start, but we can’t be content with that. Our feelings change slowly, especially when we’ve been offended or slighted. In such cases, we can at least act as we know we are supposed to act. But we cannot stop there. We must guard our hearts diligently. That is where all actions will eventually flow from. At some point, obedience must include sincerity. Otherwise, it doesn’t come close to the character of God.

Think about that. Does God love us reluctantly? Does He say, “You’ve sinned so much that I don’t have strong feelings for you, but according to My promise I’ll treat you lovingly”? Of course not. There is no internal contradiction in God’s attitudes. He is not superficial in the least. His love is real—the most authentic, genuine love there is. So must ours be.

How can we get there? Genuine love is so hard, especially when we’re told to love our enemies! Fallen, sinful natures cannot fulfill that command. The answer must be supernatural.

Trust God to live His life in you. That’s what our life in the Holy Spirit is all about. Ask Him not to reform your character by giving you love, but to replace your character by giving you His. His love is utterly sincere. Ours must be as well.

Romans 12:9-10

(9) Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. (10) Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;

1 John 4:7-11

(7) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (9) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

“Has God commanded something? Then throw yourself back on God for the means to do what He has commanded.” – Watchman Nee

Wisdom Through Words (Oct 31)

I’d like to begin by sharing a devotional by Chris Tiegreen from October 29.

Experts in memory techniques tell us that if we use a new acquaintance’s name in our conversation, we’ll be more likely to remember it. Students who discuss the subject matter of a class with each other are going to integrate it into their thinking better. Those who have a hard time remembering good jokes are those who never tell them. There is something powerful about uttering new-found knowledge. Speech reinforces thinking.

The principle is written into God’s Word as well. After we’ve prayed for His wisdom, meditated on His truths, and memorized some Scriptures, we may find that the process is furthered by our willingness to speak what we’ve learned. In contemporary Western cultures, the spoken word is a casual thing, a simple, verbal expression of sometimes meaningless thoughts. Not so in the Bible. There is power in the spoken word. When God created, He spoke. When He and His people blessed, they spoke. When people cursed, they spoke. What was said out loud could not be unsaid. It was concrete; its utterance made it so.

That truth should be enough to cause us all to examine our speech. Are we reinforcing negative thoughts and false suppositions when we open our mouths? Or are we reinforcing truth? Do our tongues practice righteousness and praise or discouragement and doubt? We think the mind has complete influence over the mouth, but it is often the other way around. Our own words can train us well.

When you have learned one of God’s truths in your mind, try speaking it with your mouth. Repeat it out loud to yourself. Share it with someone else. Discuss its application with other believers. Let it become a sensory reality rather than an inaudible thought. The likelihood of its remaining a part of your thinking and a part of your character will increase dramatically. Your mouth and your ears will establish what’s in your heart.

Proverbs 21:23

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Psalm 119:13

With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

John 15:11

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

He Who Dwells (Oct 24)

Psalm 91

(1) He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. (2) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. (3) Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. (4) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. (5) Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; (6) Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. (7) A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. (8) Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. (9) Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; (10) There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. (11) For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. (12) They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. (13) Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. (14) Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. (15) He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. (16) With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

As we begin to look at this passage from scripture, I'd like to point out some of the things that dwell means, when translated from the original language. The word can mean to sit down, to remain, to abide, to continue, and to endure, among other things.

Read through the scripture again. There are so many promises in there for God's protection and His constant care and keeping. But, if you look, you'll see that this scripture is for those that dwell in the secret place of the most High. It is for those that sit down and remain there. They continue no matter what else calls them away. They endure through all things. They don't leave. These people will find God to be a refuge and fortress. These people will not fear because they have God's presence always. Look at verse 9: “Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you...” You have made God your dwelling place. You've made Him your refuge. In His presence is where you stay continually. You know God. And it is of this person that God speaks in verses 14-16. I will deliver him. I will set him on high. I will answer him. I will be with him. I will honor him. I will satisfy him with long life. I will show him my salvation.

Wow. I want those promises. I want it to be said of me, “He has known God's name.” (v. 14) These are all great and wonderful promises. They are great things to think about and most certainly a comfort in times of trial and hardship or persecution or temptation. God is always there. But His presence is always near me because I have chosen to stay where He wants me to be. I've been thinking about this the past few days. How often does God tell us what His will is and instead of putting ourselves there where He wants us, we make our own plans and forget about His. Here are some thoughts from Matthew Henry regarding abiding in the secret place and the promised result:

1. It is the character of a true believer that he dwells in the secret place of the Most High; he is at home in God, returns to God, and reposes in him as his rest; he acquaints himself with inward religion, and makes heart-work of the service of God, worships within the veil, and loves to be alone with God, to converse with him in solitude. 2. It is the privilege and comfort of those that do so that they abide under the shadow of the Almighty; he shelters them, and comes between them and every thing that would annoy them, whether storm or sunshine. They shall not only have an admittance, but a residence, under God's protection; he will be their rest and refuge for ever.

Are you at home in God or are you always itching to run off and do something else? Do you always set out with your day to do the will of God, but find that the best laid intentions didn't turn out so hot? Do you dwell in the secret place or do you wander to and fro? God's got some great promises here, but they're spoken to the one that has set his/her love before God and has chosen to continue in God's place. Where are you? God loves you and wants you in His presence and in His will.

Rejoicing in Deliverance (Oct 17)

The other day, I heard on the news that they had begun bringing the Chilean miners to the surface after a very long time and amazing rescue efforts. That night before bed, I was checking a couple of things on the computer and I when I opened the web browser, there was just a huge thing about the rescue, including a link to watch live video. “Well, if they're in the process of pulling the guys up at this very second,” I thought, “why not check out the video?” When I started viewing the video, they had just begun pulling up another miner. They brought his wife and some other people to the area and everybody was so excited. But above their excitement, you could still see a look of unsurety and wondering. The camera kept switching between the people and showing the pulleys turning and the cable coming up out of the hole. It took a very long time. I was going to close the video, but decided that since it was live, I might as well see one guy come up. After awhile, the capsule was close enough to be in earshot, so the men began shouting down the hole to the miner. The miner shouted back up at them and everybody cheered. They exchanged jokes and cheers with the miner as he rode up that last distance. Finally, the capsule emerged from the hole. They unlatched everything and the miner stepped out. Everybody was so happy. His wife was completely overjoyed and so were all of the rescuers and the officials and politicians that were standing around. Everybody hugged him and cheered and it was overall a big picture of pure glee.

There is no doubt that the miners that were down in the mine knew that they needed deliverance. They definitely knew that they needed to be rescued. When they were delivered, they were very grateful and rejoiced. Other people that cared about them also rejoiced. Many people (possibly that didn't even know them personally) rejoiced.

Luke 15:4-10

(4) What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? (5) And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (6) And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. (7) I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (8) Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? (9) And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. (10) Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

The Bible says that everybody has sinned, yet not everybody seems to know that they need to be rescued. I heard that while those miners were down there, after they got an initial hole drilled, they were able to send them some games and things to keep them occupied during the many weeks that they had to wait. Can you imagine some of them having so much fun with the games and being so content with how they were getting by, that they forgot that they needed to be rescued? And can you imagine them not being grateful for the rescue? But it's true. Some people don't see that they need to be delivered from sin. Some people also tend to have an attitude that they deserve deliverance and when it comes, instead of being grateful, they'd rather complain about how long it took. I don't know if that happened with any of the miners. I'm just talking generically about people in general. And it also happens when it comes to people and their relationship with God. Imagine how great deliverance from sin must be that the angels rejoice over one sinner repenting. Let us rejoice when we find God's deliverance! If you need deliverance, whether from initial sin or just some difficult thing or dark moment, keep waiting on God. Don't be discouraged if it takes awhile. Keep waiting. Keep praying. Keep rejoicing in even the small blessings along the way. And when you experience a miracle...when God sends deliverance...rejoice! Praise God for His wonderful work!

Luke 17:11-19

(11) And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. (12) And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: (13) And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. (14) And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. (15) And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, (16) And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. (17) And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? (18) There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. (19) And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Big and Small (Oct 10)

The other day I was walking in the park and the sky was so blue. As I looked at the sky, it was so clear and the atmospheric conditions were such that the jet contrails were visible for a long time, stretching across the sky. There were so many of them. They criss-crossed every which way. And while I was looking up in the sky, I spotted about three jets. They were crossing paths and adding to the mesh of contrails. I've seen the flight maps that show how many thousands of paths there are criss-crossing all over the country, but here I am in Northpointe and above my head were probably a hundred different flights within a short period of time. Multiply that by all day and every other point in the country. Wow, that's a lot of flights. And as I stood there, I thought about those planes. Each one probably had a hundred or two hundred passengers that were traveling between two cities. Some of them would layover and grab another flight. Some of them would drive or take a bus or train to their final destination. Each one had their own plan, their own agenda, part of their own life. We cross paths with other people on a regular basis and at that moment, we interact and our lives are joined. But at other times we each have our own life and our own situations and our own things to deal with. That quick glimpse in the sky reminded me that there are millions and millions of other people, all with their own unique lives, dealing with their own unique problems and rejoicing in their own unique surprises. I mean, in that moment of time, there had been thousands of them right over my own head. And there always are, we just don't usually see all of those planes.

With billions of people, God still hears your voice and knows your every dealing.

With all of those other people out there, you must be hardly a blip on the radar. Oh, not so. God knows you. He hears your voice. He knows all of your dealings, your hardships, your blessings, even the day to day stuff. And with all of those people that He has to deal with, He even has a specific plan for your life.

With billions of people, we must get beyond our “me” complex and pray for others!

Yet, it's not all about you. I was listening to a message on Saturday that was a call to prayer. I knew that I had to add that aspect to this lesson, so here it is: We need to pray! There is so much going on out there and so many people going about without God that we need to pray and reach out. Do you pray for people that you don't know that you run into in the store or where ever? Do you pray for our leaders? Do you pray for people on the other side of the world? Do you pray for your lost friends and coworkers? Do you pray for your family? Do you pray for your close friends? Your Christian friends? Do you pray for the church? So many people and situations need God's touch! We need to pray! God is big enough to handle everyone and everything? Don't neglect prayer!

Matthew 10:29-31

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Isaiah 49:1-3

1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me; 3 And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

Psalm 139:13-15

13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Esther 4:14

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Casual Christianity (Oct 3)

Today I would like to share with you a devotional entitled, “Casual Christianity,” by Chris Tiegreen.

Casual Christianity is an oxymoron. There is no such thing as a low-commitment version of our faith. It is impossible to say, “I'm a follower of Jesus, but I'm not prepared to lay down my life for the gospel.” Both of those assertions cannot be true. “When Jesus calls a man,” to quote Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “He bids him come and die.” Ours is a faith that demands our entire allegiance; it can be no halfhearted thing.

Church history is filled with martyrs. Missionary kids have seen their parents executed. Many Christians have lost a spouse or child to persecution. Whole communities have been tortured or imprisoned. And many have given their own lives. Whether this is a tragedy or the glory of the church—and it is, in fact, both—is not the point. It is a given. It is assumed of Jesus' followers that they will follow Him wherever He goes. And He goes to places like the Cross.

Martyrdom is not something that confronts most of us. Few of us are persecuted. Yet all of us can say with assurance that sometimes following our Savior is difficult. He asks us to make sacrifices. He asks us to be obedient, even when obedience is painful. And though He doesn't ask all of us to die for Him, He does ask all of us to live for Him. When we were bought by His blood, we became His possession. Gloriously, joyfully His possession, but His nonetheless.

One of the great weaknesses of today's American church is our unwillingness to humble ourselves as our Savior did. We are often consumer Christians, shopping around for a faith that suits us well. But when we really encounter Christ, we face a choice: Stand firm in our faith, despite our many tests and troubles, or settle for a lukewarmness that can barely, if at all, be called “Christian.” We must be prepared for the trials. They will come. And how we respond will tell us—and others—whether we are His disciples.

Jesus has many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His cross. - Thomas a Kempis

When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. - Matthew 13:21

Matthew 26:33-35

33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Matthew 26:73-75

73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Feed My Sheep (Sep 26)

A couple of weeks ago, Jim preached a sermon about the fruit and the seed of the Spirit. He took a look at the reason that we harvest our crops - to put away in the storehouse the fruit of what we've labored all summer to raise. There are two things that we gather - the fruit and the seeds: the fruit so that we can survive the winter with something to eat, and the seed so that next spring we have something to plant in order to have another crop. The sermon was a blessing and I'm sure it touched many hearts. (You don't have to miss out – Listen here: http://christourrock.net/sermons/100912.mp3) Something that he mentioned during the sermon caught my ear. Often times we describe the fruit of the Spirit as evidence of having the Holy Spirit in our life, in other words: evidence of being a true Christian. We often liken it to an apple tree. If a tree makes apples, you know for sure that it is an apple tree. If it doesn't, it either isn't an apple tree or it isn't producing like it should. If a person has the fruit of the Spirit, then you know they're a Christian. If they don't, then they either aren't a Christian, or something is wrong in their heart. But Jim expanded to see another angle that the fruit is something that is produced to sustain us (and also to provide seed in order to grow more and more). He went on to say that the fruit produced by the Spirit in us will be used to feed and nourish other Christians. For example, if the seed of the Spirit is in me, God's love will be produced in my life. That love that is in my life will touch your spirit and help you. Think about that for all of the different fruits that are mentioned: joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance...the Spirit's fruit produced in one will feed another!

John 21:17
Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

I guess I had never thought of that aspect of the fruit of the Spirit before (although I often teach about God's heart and God's word in you reaching out and affecting others). But Jesus said to feed His sheep. And Paul says to encourage, comfort, and build up one another.

1 Thessalonians 5:11-15

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

I guess the way I see it, if you feed someone, you're helping them out. You're getting them nourished so that they don't starve, wither away, and die. You're also giving them the fuel that they need to work and do stuff. Everything we need to grow and live and be strong to do his work comes from God, but sometimes he sends it to us through the fruits produced in someone else. And sometimes he sends it to someone else through the fruits produced in our lives. So go and receive from God. Allow Him to change your heart and fill you with His Spirit. Give God the glory and go out there and feed His folks.

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Hebrews 10:24-25

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Proverbs 12:18

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

(Oh, and by the way, Scriptures don't just talk about going out and encouraging and building up people. They also talk about exhorting and rebuking. But I don't see that as a contradiction. It's still feeding God's people. Remember when mom would make you sit at the table until you finished your peas [or other vegetable of low regard]? Or remember when she made you take the gross cough syrup or other medicine? You needed those things for proper nourishment and health.)

Separated (Sep 5)

Are you separated from God? Do you feel as if He's left you? Do you feel a distance? Do you wonder what has happened?

Isaiah 50:1-3

1 Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away. 2 Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst. 3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

Is it a fault of God's that you have been separated? No, it is because of your own sin. Do not blame anybody else. Do not say that God was unable to keep you or failed you somehow. God is great. He is able to keep. He is able to save. He is not weak; He is mighty.

Isaiah 50:4-11

4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. 5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. 7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. 8 He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me. 9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. 10 Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. 11 Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

It is time to stand strong. It is time to return to God and put our trust in Him. It is time to be open to hear His word and follow His leading. Stay with God. Strive to grow in faith and grace. Do not be satisfied to distance yourself any longer. Wake up; be alive again. Rejoice in God's saving and keeping power! Hold fast to your faith and stand strong in the Lord.

Pour Me Out (Aug 29)

The other day, I was sitting at my desk and I heard a strange noise. Thump, thump, thump. I sat still. I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I turned off the A/C and fan and listened some more. The sound was coming from my water pot that I keep next to my plants. I looked inside and found a baby mouse jumping around, trying to get out. Why was he in there? Possibly he was running along the shelf and fell in. At any rate, the mouse didn't belong in there. Normally, you just put water in the pot. You put stuff in there that you want to pour out on your plants to help them grow. Stuff in the pot gets poured out (even the mouse got poured out in the yard...). I'm sure the mouse didn't have any thoughts on the matter, but do we put ourselves in God's big water pot so that we can be poured out—used by God—to help people grow in God's grace? Are you poured out for God? Are you poured out for God's people? It reminds me of some of the words to a song:

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.

Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.

Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.

Wow, what a prayer! You ask God to take you and make you into something He can use. And you ask Him to use you for His work. You are no longer for your own purposes but those that God deems appropriate. You are broken down, built back up into a vessel that honors God, filled with His Spirit, and completely poured out for His work. Do you know what it means to be emptied? Do you know what it means to be poured out?

2 Timothy 4:1-8

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

1 Corinthians 12, 13

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many...18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him... 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another... 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues... [Love] beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

A Pure Heart (Aug 22)

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. - Psalm 51:10

We've discussed purity before. It's one of those concepts that are pretty absolute. Webster defines it as “unmixed with any other matter” and also “free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes; containing nothing that does not belong.” I've used in the past the example of a bottle of water. The label claims that it contains pure water. If I were to dump a bunch of junk into the water, it would no longer be pure and you would be stupid to drink it. But what about if I only put a small amount of junk in? What if I only add one speck of dirt? What if the speck that I add is something seemingly harmless? You get the picture. As soon as there is even an itty-bitty speck of something that doesn't belong, it's no longer pure.

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

God wants us to have a pure heart. He wants us to be completely, undividedly devoted to Him. No mixture, no side agendas, no hidden motives, no other loves, no other...

Let me share a selection by Chris Tiegreen, from his book Walk With God.

Jesus calls the pure in heart “blessed.” It is an elusive purity for us. We have a hard time maintaining inoffensive thoughts for long periods of time. We are tainted with misplaced motives and petty agendas. If we're really honest with ourselves and our God, we know the truth: our corruption runs deep.

Jesus knows the impossibility of a pure heart, and He offers to fill us with His purity. We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, with an emphasis on the holy. Even so, our purity fluctuates as widely as does the vibrancy of our relationship with Him. What can we tell ourselves to avoid discouragement?

We must remember the essence of biblical purity. It is single-minded devotion to God. It does not imply that we will always have perfectly sinless thoughts. It means that the direction of our lives will be solidly, irrevocably invested in Him. When arguments between self and sacrifice resound in our hearts, the godly impulse will eventually win the argument. Perhaps we may fail many times. Regardless, our desire for godliness must remain steadfast. The “steadfast spirit” must constantly be renewed.

God knows the frailties of our character. The human heart is a fickle thing; it caves in to the voices of this world and the compulsions of our flesh. But it is redeemable, utterly redeemable. “He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25, italics added).

Have we forgotten the call of the holy God He understands our imperfections, but He calls us above them. The pure in heart—the steadfast, passionate, faithful lovers of the Savior—are a work in progress. But it is a relentless work. Our direction never changes. God will always show more of Himself to those blessed enough to crave purity.

1 Peter 1:22-23

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Hebrews 10:19-25

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Don't Forget to Remember (Aug 15)

Today we listened to a message by William Carrol entitled, "Don't Forget to Remember."

This message encourages us to take every opportunity to intentionally bring to mind what Jesus Christ accomplished for us on Cavalry's Tree. So that we will be able to endure in times of difficulty and not grow proud in times of prosperity. Jesus gives us a mandate to remember all He has done for us. We must remember when we had no hope and no strength and God stretched out His hand and freed us from all our bondage. Also, remember to love, esteem and pray for the body of Christ. Lastly, remember the lost. Don't forget to care for the people who don't necessarily care for you. Remember the Cross and what Jesus sacrificed for us so we can live in true freedom.

Listen: http://sermon3a.tscnyc.ws/2010/mp3g/20100704S2.mp3

God Shouldn't Be a Facebook Friend (Aug 8)

We all probably have a set of “really close” friends and a bunch of “not as close” friends. We have the people that we hang out with all of the time and we have the people that we see somewhat often and still enjoy being around. And we probably also have the folks that we lost touch with and always figure we'll catch up some day. For years people have used letters, the telephone, and more recently email and online chat to keep in touch with people that they don't see too often (possibly they live too far away or such). Today, it seems that many people have turned to “social networking” sites such as Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family or reconnect with people with whom they've lost touch. I don't use Facebook much, but I have found it to be a handy way to keep tabs on family in Michigan and talk occasionally to some friends that I don't see too much. It's also a handy way to share photos and such. But it also brings into light a whole new category of friend: the Facebook friend. These are people that you know, but you hardly ever talk to them. They are in your list and you see all of the things that they write and the pictures that they share. You have a good idea of what cool things they're up to, etc., but you don't really ever talk. They're not any kind of companion and you don't really share much of anything, except an occasional stream of facts and tidbits from their life. It's weird. I suppose it's better than no contact at all, but it seems kind of detached or something. It's a weird kind of phenomenon I guess.

Something that God has been speaking to my heart lately is the need to be close to Him. He wants me to spend more time talking to Him in prayer, reading and studying His word, and worshiping and praising Him. I was walking along and talking to Him the other day, expressing my desire to know Him more and not be too detached and I thought about that new concept of “friend”. I don't want God to be that kind of friend to me. I want Him to be a close friend, one that is always nearby, one that I can always talk to, one that knows my heart (and I know His), and one that is forever and ever. You might have a friend like that and also a friend that is more of an acquaintance that you hear from every now and then, so you probably know what I'm talking about.

So, don't just read/hear a few things about God from time to time and ignore Him most of the time. Don't be disconnected and separate. Spend time with God and let your friendship, fellowship, and relationship be real.

Psalm 145:18

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.

Psalm 16:8

I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Psalm 89:15

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.

Revelation 21:3

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

James 4:8

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Micah 4:5

For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God Forever and ever.

Reliability (Jul 18)

I own an unreliable car. Being a General Motors car, it has the ill-conceived PassLock II security system installed. Basically, GM designed this system so that anytime at random, usually when most inconvenient, the system will engage and the next time you try to start the car, the system disables the fuel pump, preventing a successful start. At this point, the system takes ten minutes to reset. PassLock then lies dormant until its next random strike. GM seems to fail to see why this is a problem, but to most people, this clearly classifies the vehicle as unreliable. You never know when it is going to work and when it isn't. Sometimes I'm almost late to work. Sometimes I sit at the gas pump after completing my sale while people wait in line behind me. You just never know. I think about this every time I stop for gas. Anyway, I was thinking about this on Saturday. I was headed out to tire shop to get new tires. I was leaving a little late and was going to arrive pretty close to closing time, hoping that they wouldn't be busy and could get me in. It was then that I realized the distinct possibility after getting the order in for tires that the technician might not be able to start the car and then they might squabble about it getting too late to wait for the reset. Fortunately, the car has behaved (and has for the past week or so) and I was in and out of the shop with no problem. But, it got me to thinking about reliability.

Perhaps it's our cultures collective sense of entitlement or perhaps it is a natural expectation, but I think that we as people usually expect reliability in most situations. Reliability is usually a consideration while comparing different products when making a purchase. Many things we use, such as tools, appliances, utilities, etc., we expect to just work. I think this holds true as well for people and even God. We expect people to be true to their word and do as they say, when they say. We certainly expect the same of God.

Now, I just got done describing something that I expect to be reliable that isn't (my car). Most of the things in that list (tools, utilities, etc.) also have a tendency to fail (again, usually at the most inopportune times). Well, guess what: so do people, oftentimes. But, God doesn't. God is reliable. He is always faithful. And as Christians, living with God's spirit, so should we be.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 – Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 – But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.

2 Timothy 2:13 – If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Psalm 31:23-24

23 O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. 24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Revelation 3:10

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Exodus 19:5-6

5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Nehemiah 13:13

And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

Romans 13:8

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

A Break (Jul 11)

I don't know if you experienced the same weather this past week as I did, but I would like to use it as an example for this lesson. I was up on the lake this past week and for a good portion of the week, it was very sunny and hot. In fact, for several days in a row the temperatures stayed in the mid-to-upper nineties and the lows were in the eighties overnight. The air was also very humid during this time. It was almost too hot to do anything. Now, don't get me wrong – the weather was beautiful, but it seemed like the moment you stepped out the door, any movement rendered you soaked in sweat. I still took lots of walks on the beach and went swimming, but activities were short and spread out so as to not overdo it with the heat. I also had to keep well-hydrated. As we watched the weather report, they kept saying that the heat wave would last for a certain number of days and then it would drop into the eighties and there would even be a bit of rain. But, each day, we found that the heat wave would continue and they'd put off the cooler days in the forecast. Then, one day late in the week, in the afternoon, I noticed the sky darkening. I heard slight rumbles in the distance. I walked out to the shoreline and the wind started to blow in off the lake. There were even occasional drops of rain carried by the wind. We finally had a break in the weather. It felt so refreshing. It was so much cooler and I just stood there on the shoreline for awhile, looking out over the lake and letting the wind gush past me. I had a wonderful time on vacation the whole week, but that break in the weather felt like such a relief on my body. And it got me to thinking.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Matthew 11:29-30

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Psalm 119:133-135

133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. 135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.

James 5:7-8

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

To Nap or Not to Nap (Jun 20)

The other day, I was driving home from work and when I came over one hill, I noticed a pile of fur laying in the middle of the road and assumed it to be a dead groundhog. Generally, as a rule, I try to avoid hitting things in the road as long as it is safe to do so. This applies to both living and dead things. First of all, I don't like to kill things, and second of all, even if it's already dead, I don't really want to hit it with my car. If I can't swerve around it because it's in the middle of the lane, I'll usually straddle it. Well, since I was heading into a turn, I straddled the animal with my car. At the last second, the “dead” groundhog lifted it's head and this extremely terrified little groundhog face was looking at me. Thump. I looked in the rearview mirror and it was sitting up, looking around, all stunned. Then he ran away. I guess it was his lucky day and he only got a bump on the head – a very rude awakening! Now, the point of my lesson is not to discuss whether or not we should hit things in the road or whether or not I should have swerved. Rather, my point is to discuss one very bad decision that the little critter made that day. In fact, it might very well have been the worst idea that the groundhog had all day. It was wandering through the field and felt a little sleepy. So, it decided for some reason that it would be a good idea to wander out into the middle of the road and take a nap. It learned a lesson and now spends much of its time hunkered down in a hole, wincing at every strange noise ;) In short, the lesson learned is that there are places that are good for resting and places that are not. There are times for rest and times for alertness.

Matthew 26:40-41

40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

1 Thessalonians 5:5-11

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Do

Rest in God; set aside worldly pursuits; trust in God's plan; be refreshed and replenished in a time of prayer and Bible reading/study; strive for the things of God using His strength instead of striving in your own ways in such a futile effort...

Don't

Let your guard down around temptation; slack off in your higher calling; ignore God's people; doze off in church, prayer time, or other times when you need to listen for God's voice; put your head down in battle; be lackadaisical...

Taking the Step of Faith (May 30)

I was reading something about faith and the author was stressing the idea of needing to trust in God and walk by faith. He cited that human nature draws us to a tendency to want to see tangible things in order to believe or take action or make big decisions. But we, as Christians, need to trust in God and be willing to have faith in things not seen. We need to believe.

The other day, I was walking Lilie around. We had stopped for a bit. When I stood her up, she stood there for awhile without me holding on to her. She balanced just fine. But then I could tell that she wanted to walk some more. Instead of taking steps, though, she looked around to find my hands, grabbed them, and then began to walk. She's still too afraid to take those first steps without holding on to something / someone. She gets along just fine grabbing on to furniture and when she's running across the room holding my fingers, I'm barely supporting her. It reminded me of the things that I had been reading about Christians needing to take the step of faith—trusting in God and letting go of other things that we want to hold on to, just because they're tangible.

Maybe Lilie doesn't know it, but God has given her, as a human, the ability to stand, walk, and run. God has offered to give us His Holy Spirit and strength to do all that He has called us to do (and say). Why is it that so often, instead of trusting in Him and taking that step of faith, we instead lean on our own understanding or something else. These things have failed us in the past, but we “know” them. They are familiar to us and we'd rather believe and trust in something that we've seen than in something that may be yet unseen. Lilie knows that holding on to my fingers will enable her to walk across the room. I may not steer quite right or go quite the right speed, but it gets the job done, for the most part. Our own understanding always seems to fall short, but we trust in it because it's what we know. It's time to let go and take that step of faith and see what our good God will do!

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

James 1:2-8

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

James 5:13-16

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Romans 4:3

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Together (May 23)

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

“God doesn't produce loners. He makes some people more sociable than others, but He has not called anyone to a lifetime of isolation. Why? Because the body of Christ is made up of many parts. They cannot operate independently any more than fingers can operate without hands or muscles can operate without nerves. An isolated soul is, in a very real sense, separated from the fellowship of Christ. He can experience the Spirit of God in some ways, but not in others. An essential means of God's Spirit working in our lives comes only in community.” - Chris Tiegreen

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

2 Corinthians 13:11

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Ephesians 4:1-7

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Who Are You Going to Answer (May 15)

So, the other day, I read a devotional on this topic and thought it was something that we all need to hear and think about.

Proverbs 9:4

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

Proverbs 9:16

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

If you read through the book of Proverbs, you will not only find a lot of passages about wisdom, but you will also find many parts where wisdom takes on a voice, calling the reader to seek that which is Godly and to turn away from folly. But check out the two calls that I listed above. They are the same call. One of them is wisdom calling out to those that are seeking wisdom, to come in and feast on wisdom's richness, forsaking the foolish ways. But the other, which sounds pretty much the same, is the voice of folly. We talk a lot about the call of God and how you should answer His call and obey His voice. “God is calling you,” we always say. All through Proverbs we hear the voice of Wisdom, calling us to walk in the way of understanding, fearing the Lord, and obeying His commands. But how often do we talk about that same call that comes with a different voice? How often do we consider that call of folly seems to always be echoing the call of wisdom?

“You want wisdom and understanding?” she says, “Come in here.” But she is a temptress, calling all passers-by to come in to her secret place. She doesn't have wisdom and understanding to offer; she has only confusion and distraction. It reminds me of the woman cautioned against in Proverbs 2.

Proverbs 2:10-22

10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; 17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. 18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. 20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

So—everyday you will probably hear the calls from both wisdom and folly. Which voice are you going to answer?

Give Me a Reason to Not Give Up (May 9)

This message is for those who feel like giving up and have been wrestling with the following questions: Why does it seem like the unsaved are so much better off than I am? How come my walk is so narrow and strict while others in the body of Christ seem to be at liberty to enjoy a broader walk and are free to enjoy pleasures that I am deprived of? Your cry is God just give me one reason to go on with this journey. The reason is for the salvation of souls. Those who walk narrow will have something of God revealed through them so that many souls can be snatched out of the fires of hell. Judgment is coming and God wants you to be a testimony to every lost soul. Will you live your life for the betterment of others? You are going to heaven and God wants to use you to take some souls with you.

Today we listened to a message by Carter Conlon. Listen to it here:

http://media.tscnyc.org/mp3/20100425S1.mp3

Persistence (May 2)

On Saturday, I attended a picnic in Boyce-Mayview Park. Unfamiliar with the area, I checked the location and possible routes on Google Maps. If possible, I like to avoid driving through Pittsburgh, so I modified the route a little bit to avoid some of the uglier traffic. A month or so ago, I purchased a GPS for my car so that I can refer to it if I'm ever in an area that is unfamiliar to me. Well, I stopped at Wal-mart before heading to the picnic and when I got in my car, I told the GPS to take me to the park. Well, the GPS lady wanted me to go a different route than I had already decided on in my head—and she was very persistent about it, too. Every quarter-mile, she was telling me to turn down a different road so that I could loop back and follow her original route. She wanted me to go that way. It wasn't the correct way (according to me opinion on the subject, of course), but she was dead set on me taking this other route. Well, anyway, it got me to thinking about persistence.

Picture this: God has a plan for you and a path for your life. He knows that it's the right way and wants you to follow Him and be obedient in His call. But, you keep persistently wanting to go your own way. “I want to go this way, God! I want to go this way!” He takes you a little further. “But, oh God! This other way makes so much more sense! If I turn around here, I can still loop back and go this other way! It will be quicker—more direct!” Each time, God patiently says, “No, this is the way; walk therein.” How long will we persist in our own way and refuse to go God's way?

Jeremiah 6:16

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

So... in summary...

Do

Persist in seeking God.

Persist in faith.

Persist in obeying God's call.

Persist in going God's way, no matter how “good” your own way seems.

Don't

Persist in your own way instead of God's way.

Persist in falling to the same temptations.

Persist in listening to the call to leave God's path, even for a moment.