"A minister was one day moving his library upstairs. As he was going up with a load of books, his little boy came in and was very anxious to help his father. So his father just told him to go and get an armful, and bring them upstairs. When the father came back, he met the little fellow about half-way up, tugging away at the biggest book in the library. He couldn't manage to carry it up. It was too big. So he sat down and cried. His father found him, and just took him in his arms, book and all, and carried him upstairs. So Christ will carry you and all your burdens, if you will but let Him."-Moody
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Morning Prayer
After only a little more than a week and a half of waking up at 5:30 to read and pray I am more assured of God's magnificence and of the impossible idea of fully comprehending that magnificence than ever before. I do fully anticipate that with each moment of the day I will gain a new closeness to God and with each morning of prayer I will gain a new understanding and renewed direction from God. I am primed every morning with prayer. My morning prayer is radical because it is faith filled and full of anticipation for God's work. That same faith and anticipation set me ready and primed, sets on the edge of prayer, prepared to commune again and again.
Every morning when I rise I celebrate God. I begin the pray with earnest thanks and continued prayer for forgiveness for whatever sins I am not yet aware of and the ones which I fully recognize. Then I begin to pray for every need I can recall or have written down for both myself and others-this is when I feel the earth begin to move. It is not the same ground that I stand on or the ground my house is upon. No one is woken up in this quake, no one except me. Whatever mountain which has grown up in my heart since last I prayed is shoved into an ocean I'll never see. Every moment is precious and faith filled, not faith which I have grown but faith which God has planted in me.
Of course, with every moment of new growth a new mole hill (or perhaps even a mountain) rises again. This is of no concern, and the issue's size is of no consequence- my faith, and more than that, my God are not concerned with the size of the moutain- it will be moved. Every doubt which waves its ugly head is once again cast aside, for I know that "the testing of your faith produces steadfastness" (James 1:3).
Every morning when I rise I celebrate God. I begin the pray with earnest thanks and continued prayer for forgiveness for whatever sins I am not yet aware of and the ones which I fully recognize. Then I begin to pray for every need I can recall or have written down for both myself and others-this is when I feel the earth begin to move. It is not the same ground that I stand on or the ground my house is upon. No one is woken up in this quake, no one except me. Whatever mountain which has grown up in my heart since last I prayed is shoved into an ocean I'll never see. Every moment is precious and faith filled, not faith which I have grown but faith which God has planted in me.
Of course, with every moment of new growth a new mole hill (or perhaps even a mountain) rises again. This is of no concern, and the issue's size is of no consequence- my faith, and more than that, my God are not concerned with the size of the moutain- it will be moved. Every doubt which waves its ugly head is once again cast aside, for I know that "the testing of your faith produces steadfastness" (James 1:3).
Monday, August 2, 2010
Faith, hope and love...and sign seekers
Matthew 12:38-40
38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you."
39He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Here he refers to the whole generation, and in my opinion, every generation that has followed. How often have I prayed, "God, break open the skies and make them see," but there would be no need of faith then. Faith is not our gift to God, it is God's gift to us. When we grow in intimacy we will, as a result, grow in faith. Here in we find the problem with sign seeking- it makes our faith the result of aesthetics. Sign seeking determines to see God's hand before serving His will. This would make our "obedience" into something different. It would become emotional and whimsical- propelled by awe and wonder. None of those things are bad in and of themselves, but they were never meant to be the goal or the starting line. Sure we must begin with our desire for love.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has set eternity in our hearts. I John 4:8 says that God is love. There is in our hearts eternity, like a scent in the nose of a hound we seek to find our source. An eternity is very large and enduring, it cannot be satisfied by temporal things. It is only by eternal things that we are given any sort of contentment, it is only by God.
Faith and hope are temporal things which touch the eternal, but love is as eternal as God and it reaches into the temporal. Faith and hope are temporal because they will, inevitably, be fulfilled or exhausted. There will come a time when faith is no longer necessary and hope is no longer useful, a time when God and His Glory are set immediately before us. As if to say that we are at Point A and our hope is to arrive at Point B. We also have faith that our means of travel will bring us to that location successfully. When we arrive at Point B our hope is fulfilled and our faith is complete. Christian faith and hope touch the eternal because they reach to and are not satisfied until we make heaven.
Love works in the opposite direction. It begins in heaven, with God, and comes (or came, rather) to us.
I John 4:7,8
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Love, unlike faith and hope, is not fulfilled, but rather it is fulfilling. It's where the eternity of our hears finds its connection. Like two magnets grasping at one another, God extends to us that which our heart is drawn to. That is why when "these three remain: faith, hope and love...the greatest of these is love."(I Corinthians 13:13) Faith and hope will cease to be necessary, but love-love was, long before we were and it will remain as long as God is. This is why love is so powerful and so necessary, it is the underlying commonality of all men, that they, even if unknowingly, desire God, for God is love.
If this and every generation desires a sign, then give them a sign. Give them a sign as Christ gave a sign.
"For Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
"Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you." (Matthew 5:43-45)
"'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: ''Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."(Matthew 22:34-40)
"By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another."(John 13:35)
Do not pray that God break open the sky. We must pray that God break open us and pour himself in. What more miraculous sign is there than this: to love, to be loved, to have love and to have a foremost desire for God's loves. There is not a more awe inspiring wonder.
"To address men well they must be loved much, whatever they may be , be they ever so guilty, or indifferent, or ungrateful, or however deeply sunk in crimes, before all and above all , they must be loved. Love is the sap of the Gospel, the secret of lively and effectual preaching the magic power of eloquence. The end of preaching is to reclaim the hearts of men to God, and nothing but love can find out the mysterious avenues which lead to the heart. If you do not feel a fervent love and profound pity for humanity, be assured that the gift of Christian eloquence has been denied you. You will not win souls, neither will you acquire that most excellent of earthly sovereignties - sovereignty over human hearts... love is irresistible." -D. L. Moody
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Standard
"We must never make our moments of inspiration our standard."~Oswald Chambers
The two men on their way to Emmaus didn't recognize Jesus Christ while they were walking with him. It wasn't until God revealed his identity to them that they truelly knew Him - and in that same moment He was gone. These men were friends to Christ even before they knew He was Himself. They served Him though they knew not who He was and in their persistence they were blessed by God.
Let me explain "in their persistence." in Luke 24:28-29, they decided to serve. Christ acted as if he were continuing on His way, but these men insisted that He stay with them. Had they not urged Him, had they not desired to serve they would have never seen Christ the way they did.
Have we ever quit our service to God early because we forgot why we serve in the first place? Have we ever stopped urging Christ to stay with us?
These men did not know they were with God on that road, they served Him as a friend yet a stranger. Their standard was their duty - then they were blessed with inspiration.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
The two men on their way to Emmaus didn't recognize Jesus Christ while they were walking with him. It wasn't until God revealed his identity to them that they truelly knew Him - and in that same moment He was gone. These men were friends to Christ even before they knew He was Himself. They served Him though they knew not who He was and in their persistence they were blessed by God.
Let me explain "in their persistence." in Luke 24:28-29, they decided to serve. Christ acted as if he were continuing on His way, but these men insisted that He stay with them. Had they not urged Him, had they not desired to serve they would have never seen Christ the way they did.
Have we ever quit our service to God early because we forgot why we serve in the first place? Have we ever stopped urging Christ to stay with us?
These men did not know they were with God on that road, they served Him as a friend yet a stranger. Their standard was their duty - then they were blessed with inspiration.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Fellowship with God
This was originally a sermon from Oct. 09, I preached it again last night. I also incorporated another sermon at the end last night that I will post at a later date.
I Thessalonians 4:1-10
1Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
Fellowship with God goes beyond privilege (though certainly it is true that we are so privileged that we may know God), fellowship is a necessity for our "walk" with Christ. We can live without privileges in themselves, but those things that are necessary cannot be forsaken. The necessity of fellowship isnt that we be comfortable, though it produces comfort, the importance of this is subjection. Subjection is recognizing that God is above us in moral standing, and living "upward" that we progress in a holy way of life.
Verse 2 says that these men do what they do "by the authority of the Lord Jesus". First remember this as a warning of claiming the unclaimable for self. We can do nothing of ourselves, the only power of any significance is that of Christ, therefore we must have that same Christ in us before we can commit ourselves to lives dealing in significance. One of my earliest lessons on this topic was with my dad, years ago. He being an former biology major and an astounding student of the Bible, when we were discussing health he pointed out to me a thing which has stuck: the importance of blood. Blood carries everthing that is necessary for proper function (oxygen, nutrients, etc). It also carries that which can destroy us, the things which are harmful often take the bloodstream to be the quickest means of travel. Good blood perpetuates good health. Bad blood hinders growth. And of course if you run out of blood all together you die. We, as Christians, believe, we know that there is power in the blood of Christ. We also know that it is Christ which liveth in us that we have that same life he "liveth".
God's authority is in all He does. What is of God has God's authority. So we must be filled with the things of God, then in turn we receive His authority. We have no means of our own by which we overcome the flesh, no means of our own by which we battle demons or raise the dead. NO! It is by Christ that lives in us that we have authority, that we have strength which is not of ourselves that we combat the things which are not of God's Spirit. If we have not the things of God and Christ in us then how then can we say that we are of God?
Verse 3 is one of my favorite verses, because of the first half. "It is God's will that you should be sanctified." Here I'll take a moment to distinguish between specific will and general will. Specific will is the individual direction God gives you, specific to your life. General will is the direction all have been given, through the Word of God. Having spent a large portion of my life doing things simply because I was instructed to do so, these 9 words made "purpose" make sense. Even if we do not have a specific instruction, these verses show how we are to live. It also proves to us something very available: 1) Salvation and 2) Sanctification.
If I take a specific road it will lead me to a specific place. I can take Highway 35-South it will lead me all the way to Corpus Christi, (which is quite literally the end of the road and a pleasant ending at that). Apply this to what we know of God. He has willed things for our life, but if we are not on His path, His will, then we never arrive at these specific destinations He has put ahead for us. That may seem like a tangent or a misplaced thought but now I go back to the topics of salvation and sanctification. Salvation is not to be earned, it is to be accepted. God has willed that we be sanctified, before we are sanctifide we must accept salvation. DONT WAIT FOR SALVATION! This miracle has already happened, now it must be realized, recognized and lived by. Living by it is living the sanctified life, that is, to live holy lives. Holiness is just as available to someone who has been a Christian for 5 minutes as it is for someone who has been a Christian for 60 years. To live holy is to live according to the knowledge which we have. The new Christian is responsible (and accountable) to that which he knows, what understanding that has been given to him he must live by; and what knowledge there remains to be gained he must seek out and pray for understanding. The "mature" Christian is responsible to that much more. He is accountable to all his understanding. He is also responsible for the teaching of that which he has gained, that the younger may benefit from his gaining as well.
7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Verse 7 furthers the fact that we are called to be holy people. The things which are of God are holy things, therefore put in the things of God and we learn of sanctification. In giving this sermon I used Garfield's example of osmosis, whereby he lay his head on a book and was 'learning by osmosis'. When we seek God, then we must put in the things of God, we must bring ourselves in contact with all sorts of holy things. The Bible gives testimony of God, it is a manifestation of His truth. When we read the word of God and put its truth into us we are putting in knowledge of God.
Where there is love there can be no malice and where there is malice there can be no love. So in putting in what is pure, holy and loving (that which is of God), that which is impure and selfish must be removed.
We know from verse 8 that sound instruction based on scripture is to be lived by. All instruction that is of God, that is scriptural, that is good, is endowed with His authority. There is no authority by which man can live, truly live except the authority of God, and His authority is in these instructions. This means that when we do not submit to Biblical instruction we are not merely rejecting thought, but God. To defy God's law is to defy God.
9Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
These men did't need to be told to love each other. Many times parents remind their children to love each other (as brotherly love isnt always prevelant between brothers), but these men knew God and so they knew love. God was in them, His love was overflowing out of them and they were pouring into one another. Fellowship with God produces this fruit, this love. The more they knew God the more they loved one another. A great privilege of this fruit is the sharing of it. We have opportunity to give testimony, to share our fruit, to tell people of the goodness of our God and His works in our life. Then we have the opportunity to encourage others to cultivate their relationship with God that they too know this love.
Choosing to do what God has willed isnt about prayer or sacrifice, its about obedience. When we obey there is within us produced a desire to do God's will, which means we desire to put the things of God in us that we better serve Him and do His will. Prayer, sacrifice, discipline, testimony: these are fruit which continue to nourish us that we be furthered in a life of obedience.
We need fellowship with God, if we dont spend anytime with God we will never get to know Him, and never have holy things in us. We must put in Holy things, that Holy fruit come out. Then we must testify about it.
God has called us to holy lives. Remember, always remember that in this life of servitude there is a life more free than the life of any earthly king. Living holy is not living with chains to restrict you, it is to live with love to uplift you.
I Thessalonians 4:1-10
1Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
Fellowship with God goes beyond privilege (though certainly it is true that we are so privileged that we may know God), fellowship is a necessity for our "walk" with Christ. We can live without privileges in themselves, but those things that are necessary cannot be forsaken. The necessity of fellowship isnt that we be comfortable, though it produces comfort, the importance of this is subjection. Subjection is recognizing that God is above us in moral standing, and living "upward" that we progress in a holy way of life.
Verse 2 says that these men do what they do "by the authority of the Lord Jesus". First remember this as a warning of claiming the unclaimable for self. We can do nothing of ourselves, the only power of any significance is that of Christ, therefore we must have that same Christ in us before we can commit ourselves to lives dealing in significance. One of my earliest lessons on this topic was with my dad, years ago. He being an former biology major and an astounding student of the Bible, when we were discussing health he pointed out to me a thing which has stuck: the importance of blood. Blood carries everthing that is necessary for proper function (oxygen, nutrients, etc). It also carries that which can destroy us, the things which are harmful often take the bloodstream to be the quickest means of travel. Good blood perpetuates good health. Bad blood hinders growth. And of course if you run out of blood all together you die. We, as Christians, believe, we know that there is power in the blood of Christ. We also know that it is Christ which liveth in us that we have that same life he "liveth".
God's authority is in all He does. What is of God has God's authority. So we must be filled with the things of God, then in turn we receive His authority. We have no means of our own by which we overcome the flesh, no means of our own by which we battle demons or raise the dead. NO! It is by Christ that lives in us that we have authority, that we have strength which is not of ourselves that we combat the things which are not of God's Spirit. If we have not the things of God and Christ in us then how then can we say that we are of God?
Verse 3 is one of my favorite verses, because of the first half. "It is God's will that you should be sanctified." Here I'll take a moment to distinguish between specific will and general will. Specific will is the individual direction God gives you, specific to your life. General will is the direction all have been given, through the Word of God. Having spent a large portion of my life doing things simply because I was instructed to do so, these 9 words made "purpose" make sense. Even if we do not have a specific instruction, these verses show how we are to live. It also proves to us something very available: 1) Salvation and 2) Sanctification.
If I take a specific road it will lead me to a specific place. I can take Highway 35-South it will lead me all the way to Corpus Christi, (which is quite literally the end of the road and a pleasant ending at that). Apply this to what we know of God. He has willed things for our life, but if we are not on His path, His will, then we never arrive at these specific destinations He has put ahead for us. That may seem like a tangent or a misplaced thought but now I go back to the topics of salvation and sanctification. Salvation is not to be earned, it is to be accepted. God has willed that we be sanctified, before we are sanctifide we must accept salvation. DONT WAIT FOR SALVATION! This miracle has already happened, now it must be realized, recognized and lived by. Living by it is living the sanctified life, that is, to live holy lives. Holiness is just as available to someone who has been a Christian for 5 minutes as it is for someone who has been a Christian for 60 years. To live holy is to live according to the knowledge which we have. The new Christian is responsible (and accountable) to that which he knows, what understanding that has been given to him he must live by; and what knowledge there remains to be gained he must seek out and pray for understanding. The "mature" Christian is responsible to that much more. He is accountable to all his understanding. He is also responsible for the teaching of that which he has gained, that the younger may benefit from his gaining as well.
7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
Verse 7 furthers the fact that we are called to be holy people. The things which are of God are holy things, therefore put in the things of God and we learn of sanctification. In giving this sermon I used Garfield's example of osmosis, whereby he lay his head on a book and was 'learning by osmosis'. When we seek God, then we must put in the things of God, we must bring ourselves in contact with all sorts of holy things. The Bible gives testimony of God, it is a manifestation of His truth. When we read the word of God and put its truth into us we are putting in knowledge of God.
Where there is love there can be no malice and where there is malice there can be no love. So in putting in what is pure, holy and loving (that which is of God), that which is impure and selfish must be removed.
We know from verse 8 that sound instruction based on scripture is to be lived by. All instruction that is of God, that is scriptural, that is good, is endowed with His authority. There is no authority by which man can live, truly live except the authority of God, and His authority is in these instructions. This means that when we do not submit to Biblical instruction we are not merely rejecting thought, but God. To defy God's law is to defy God.
9Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
These men did't need to be told to love each other. Many times parents remind their children to love each other (as brotherly love isnt always prevelant between brothers), but these men knew God and so they knew love. God was in them, His love was overflowing out of them and they were pouring into one another. Fellowship with God produces this fruit, this love. The more they knew God the more they loved one another. A great privilege of this fruit is the sharing of it. We have opportunity to give testimony, to share our fruit, to tell people of the goodness of our God and His works in our life. Then we have the opportunity to encourage others to cultivate their relationship with God that they too know this love.
Choosing to do what God has willed isnt about prayer or sacrifice, its about obedience. When we obey there is within us produced a desire to do God's will, which means we desire to put the things of God in us that we better serve Him and do His will. Prayer, sacrifice, discipline, testimony: these are fruit which continue to nourish us that we be furthered in a life of obedience.
We need fellowship with God, if we dont spend anytime with God we will never get to know Him, and never have holy things in us. We must put in Holy things, that Holy fruit come out. Then we must testify about it.
God has called us to holy lives. Remember, always remember that in this life of servitude there is a life more free than the life of any earthly king. Living holy is not living with chains to restrict you, it is to live with love to uplift you.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Love for a bride-groom
Matthew 7:21-23
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
In marriage, a woman may take on her husband's name, but this does not prove her love for him. This only says, "I want the world to see that I am a bride. I wear my ring, I have his name."
A name does not prove a love. Love must be sincere, cultivated both inside and out. This is the importance of relationship, it is the cultivation of this love.
Shall we then say this: religion is the outward, corporate gathering as a community inspired by inward, personal cultivation.
Cultivate your life with Christ as an individual, share that life as a community.
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
In marriage, a woman may take on her husband's name, but this does not prove her love for him. This only says, "I want the world to see that I am a bride. I wear my ring, I have his name."
A name does not prove a love. Love must be sincere, cultivated both inside and out. This is the importance of relationship, it is the cultivation of this love.
Shall we then say this: religion is the outward, corporate gathering as a community inspired by inward, personal cultivation.
Cultivate your life with Christ as an individual, share that life as a community.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Unholy Hurt
“The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”- Romans 13:9-10
Everything that was in me when I logged on was/is wrong. Ironic that I was going to be spiteful, immature and vindictive-all in talking about how I'm not vindictive, spiteful, but sadly immature.
I'm hurt, but I will tell you I've no right to it. It will be gone soon. The Holy Spirit is most gracious in that it shows us when we're wrong. This is inconvenient to the flesh, but beneficial to the spirit. God is so kind that He provides us with the opportunity to make right ourselves for him, in alignment with him. When we seek God we seek a perfect being, THE perfect being. Stand next to perfection and you see your own flaws, HIS light exposes YOUR darkness.
"Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Hurt inhibits our ability to love, it stands in between us and our neighbor. It becomes a wall where love should be our tether. It inhibits us, it destroys us.
No man has any right to be offended, whether the world find it just or not. Call this a rant against myself, or call it a confession. Just don't assume that you know what I'm talking about when I talk about being hurt-I'm not saying this to be rude, but generally people get this wrong.
I'm not satisfied with this blog, but then again its here so I can say what I want.
Everything that was in me when I logged on was/is wrong. Ironic that I was going to be spiteful, immature and vindictive-all in talking about how I'm not vindictive, spiteful, but sadly immature.
I'm hurt, but I will tell you I've no right to it. It will be gone soon. The Holy Spirit is most gracious in that it shows us when we're wrong. This is inconvenient to the flesh, but beneficial to the spirit. God is so kind that He provides us with the opportunity to make right ourselves for him, in alignment with him. When we seek God we seek a perfect being, THE perfect being. Stand next to perfection and you see your own flaws, HIS light exposes YOUR darkness.
"Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Hurt inhibits our ability to love, it stands in between us and our neighbor. It becomes a wall where love should be our tether. It inhibits us, it destroys us.
No man has any right to be offended, whether the world find it just or not. Call this a rant against myself, or call it a confession. Just don't assume that you know what I'm talking about when I talk about being hurt-I'm not saying this to be rude, but generally people get this wrong.
I'm not satisfied with this blog, but then again its here so I can say what I want.
Monday, February 1, 2010
February 1st, 2010
"It is a travesty to say that Jesus Christ travailed in Redemption to make me a saint. Jesus Christ travailed in Redemption to redeem the whole world . . ." -Oswald Chambers
I've been rolling the same thought over in my head for days now, "Have we forgotten that all have been called?" We struggle too much with condemning others, we judge them, but Bonhoeffer would say that we have usurped God's jurisdiction when we do. Those which do not pursue God with unfailed passion have not made themselves enemies of the Cross, how could they when it is through the cross that they have been called friends. All are sheep, though many fall from the fold. (Matthew 18:11-13)
Let's put this another way: all are called, though few seek the Master's voice. Shepherds of old knew their sheep and their sheep knew them. It would be selfishness to think that I am the only one that hears the Shepherd's voice. Though their are few that recognize his voice and even fewer that seek his face, all who hear about him hear his voice.
Christ died that the whole world be redeemed, the tragedy is that most will not take up this redemption. They will not take up that easier yoke (Matthew 11:30).
1 Corinthians 1:17 (New International Version)
17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
My calling is to preach the gospel, that is the calling of ALL Christians. First we are called to Redemption's side, but then, by the voice of that same Redeemer, we are called to preach. We must be both doers and speakers of the Word. If our actions are not matched by our words then is that life which seems so much worth living worth sharing? Men and women see your actions, they'll see love but if they do not hear about the Gospel then they'll never know WHY you love, why your cup is overflowing with the love of God. If your words are not matched by your actions, then are they so shallow and worthless that not even their speaker would employ them?
This is the wonderful nature of the Gospel, its compelling. When we are exposed to it, we are forced to make a decision, there is no building block system where we gather some outside opinions then deliberate for a time. NO! We decide what we think of it when we meet it. Sadly many choose to disregard it, even those that take kindly to it don't always become doers of the Word, but merely shallow hearted agree-ers. When we accept the Gospel and the call to salvation, to servitude, and put it to work in our lives we are automatically built into a new life. This life is too beautiful to not share. Why not just live like the heathen until you die? Because you don't understand the meaning of this Redemption, not if you're asking that question. True redemption is encountering true Truth (John 14:6). If someone rejects this initial introduction (which is common) there is still hope. You cannot scoff Truth and never expect to see it again. If you believe that you have successfully ignored Reality then you have, of course, entered into the unreal, imaginary life. Instead of accepting the God of love, the God that IS love (I John 4:8), you have made a dark and dismal god of whatever falsehood that you've tried to build into reality. You build your own casket, you lay down in it, and you begin to bury yourself.
I'm here to tell you that the God of redemption raises people from the dead, brings them out of darkness and into the light. There is life beyond a worthless casket, there is a kingdom of Glory that God reigns over. He has called us Sons, He has called us Daughters, He has called.
Recognize his voice, seek his face. Salvation awaits.
I've been rolling the same thought over in my head for days now, "Have we forgotten that all have been called?" We struggle too much with condemning others, we judge them, but Bonhoeffer would say that we have usurped God's jurisdiction when we do. Those which do not pursue God with unfailed passion have not made themselves enemies of the Cross, how could they when it is through the cross that they have been called friends. All are sheep, though many fall from the fold. (Matthew 18:11-13)
Let's put this another way: all are called, though few seek the Master's voice. Shepherds of old knew their sheep and their sheep knew them. It would be selfishness to think that I am the only one that hears the Shepherd's voice. Though their are few that recognize his voice and even fewer that seek his face, all who hear about him hear his voice.
Christ died that the whole world be redeemed, the tragedy is that most will not take up this redemption. They will not take up that easier yoke (Matthew 11:30).
1 Corinthians 1:17 (New International Version)
17For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
My calling is to preach the gospel, that is the calling of ALL Christians. First we are called to Redemption's side, but then, by the voice of that same Redeemer, we are called to preach. We must be both doers and speakers of the Word. If our actions are not matched by our words then is that life which seems so much worth living worth sharing? Men and women see your actions, they'll see love but if they do not hear about the Gospel then they'll never know WHY you love, why your cup is overflowing with the love of God. If your words are not matched by your actions, then are they so shallow and worthless that not even their speaker would employ them?
This is the wonderful nature of the Gospel, its compelling. When we are exposed to it, we are forced to make a decision, there is no building block system where we gather some outside opinions then deliberate for a time. NO! We decide what we think of it when we meet it. Sadly many choose to disregard it, even those that take kindly to it don't always become doers of the Word, but merely shallow hearted agree-ers. When we accept the Gospel and the call to salvation, to servitude, and put it to work in our lives we are automatically built into a new life. This life is too beautiful to not share. Why not just live like the heathen until you die? Because you don't understand the meaning of this Redemption, not if you're asking that question. True redemption is encountering true Truth (John 14:6). If someone rejects this initial introduction (which is common) there is still hope. You cannot scoff Truth and never expect to see it again. If you believe that you have successfully ignored Reality then you have, of course, entered into the unreal, imaginary life. Instead of accepting the God of love, the God that IS love (I John 4:8), you have made a dark and dismal god of whatever falsehood that you've tried to build into reality. You build your own casket, you lay down in it, and you begin to bury yourself.
I'm here to tell you that the God of redemption raises people from the dead, brings them out of darkness and into the light. There is life beyond a worthless casket, there is a kingdom of Glory that God reigns over. He has called us Sons, He has called us Daughters, He has called.
Recognize his voice, seek his face. Salvation awaits.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Character: Pete
I was unsure of what to post about so I considered to leave this alone for the time being, but couldn't stand to look at a naked blog. I've decided to post about the other person in the room with me. My cousin Pete is one of my best friends. Literally one of the coolest and oddest looking people you'd ever see, massive beard demanding envy from people and all.
Pete is sincere. Wonderfully so, and always consistent. He has proven to me that it is possible to live a life without the slightest cruelty. Many of us slip, even in the slightest, in the matter of love. Pete is a man whom I have never seen act with cruelty or rudeness towards anyone. Even he, in his humblest of ways, could not recall but one instance of cruelty, but even this I did not recognize as having malice, merely mis-statement.
This brings me to several conclusions:
1. We ARE capable of kindness. Pete is not only capable of kindness but of love. We are not capable of love by our own means. It is only by loving God first that we truly become vessels which can carry such great waters. So do atheist not know love? Not as Pete does. Pete knows the love of God. Pete is filled with God, he knows intimacy with Christ.
Pete doesn't walk around looking for opportunity to show love to people. No, if he did it would fail to be love at all but merely measure up as human kindness (which even evil men can show their friends kindness-Luke 6:33). He is unconscious of his service. He is an overflowing vessel, unaware of his spilling of God's love to others, only aware of God himself.
"If we want to know our own goodness or love, it has already ceased to be love."-detrich bonhoeffer
Pete's life is convicting.
2. We must surround ourselves with those that spur us onward to the victory, that point us to the Victor (Psalms 18:35). Do not mistake me, Pete is not perfection, but Pete is sincere. Pete is lovely. Pete is desiring God. Those we allow ourselves to be most intimate with must be those who spur us onward in the victory of Christ. Christ's ministry was amongst the sinners, but He always made time to be alone with his disciples.(Mark 6:32) We get our strength from God, we also feed off of one another and if the ones we feed off of are not of God then we may 'ingest' impurity. Take your sustenance from God, always, or your work will become weak and shallow; but share spiritual energy with those who have come into intimacy with Christ.
Hebrews 6:10 (New International Version)
10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
Matthew 25:45 (New International Version)
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
When God's love is in us, truly in us then we share that love with others, but we are not consciously making this effort (in fact it should be no effort at all). Our cup overflows from God pouring into us and this love soaks the feet of those around us. "He will not forget . . . the love you have shown him as you have helped his people."
Pete teaches me about love, sincere love, cup-overflowing love.
Pete is sincere. Wonderfully so, and always consistent. He has proven to me that it is possible to live a life without the slightest cruelty. Many of us slip, even in the slightest, in the matter of love. Pete is a man whom I have never seen act with cruelty or rudeness towards anyone. Even he, in his humblest of ways, could not recall but one instance of cruelty, but even this I did not recognize as having malice, merely mis-statement.
This brings me to several conclusions:
1. We ARE capable of kindness. Pete is not only capable of kindness but of love. We are not capable of love by our own means. It is only by loving God first that we truly become vessels which can carry such great waters. So do atheist not know love? Not as Pete does. Pete knows the love of God. Pete is filled with God, he knows intimacy with Christ.
Pete doesn't walk around looking for opportunity to show love to people. No, if he did it would fail to be love at all but merely measure up as human kindness (which even evil men can show their friends kindness-Luke 6:33). He is unconscious of his service. He is an overflowing vessel, unaware of his spilling of God's love to others, only aware of God himself.
"If we want to know our own goodness or love, it has already ceased to be love."-detrich bonhoeffer
Pete's life is convicting.
2. We must surround ourselves with those that spur us onward to the victory, that point us to the Victor (Psalms 18:35). Do not mistake me, Pete is not perfection, but Pete is sincere. Pete is lovely. Pete is desiring God. Those we allow ourselves to be most intimate with must be those who spur us onward in the victory of Christ. Christ's ministry was amongst the sinners, but He always made time to be alone with his disciples.(Mark 6:32) We get our strength from God, we also feed off of one another and if the ones we feed off of are not of God then we may 'ingest' impurity. Take your sustenance from God, always, or your work will become weak and shallow; but share spiritual energy with those who have come into intimacy with Christ.
Hebrews 6:10 (New International Version)
10God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
Matthew 25:45 (New International Version)
45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
When God's love is in us, truly in us then we share that love with others, but we are not consciously making this effort (in fact it should be no effort at all). Our cup overflows from God pouring into us and this love soaks the feet of those around us. "He will not forget . . . the love you have shown him as you have helped his people."
Pete teaches me about love, sincere love, cup-overflowing love.
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