and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon.
Ephesians 6:17 (The Message)
Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:17 (New Living Translation)
We use God's mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil's strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ. And we will punish those who remained disobedient after the rest of you became loyal and obedient.
2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (New Living Translation)
-----------------------------
"A stronghold was a fortress in the ancient world -- a place where an enemy became entrenched. In the realm of the mind, a stronghold can be established based on willing participation in lies, habits, lusts of the flesh, envy, jealousy, suspicion, or any number of carnal attitudes and practices. Because those are worldly, fleshly practices, they become a place where Satan can become entrenched in the mind (the life) of a person.
.....
As we read the Scriptures, God will use the rhema of God (the living, experiential word of God) to speak to us about a particular part of our life. It's the same logos (written Word) we may have read before, but God makes it new for us at that moment. And we see how to deal with the stronghold in our mind. Whether it's greed, pride, anger -- whatever the stronghold -- God shows us what it is and how, in the wisdom of Christ, to begin pulling it down by renewing our mind according to His Word (Romans 12:2).
When you identify a stronghold in your mind, subject it to the relentless renewing daily by the Word -- the logos and the rhema. Put on the helmet of salvation and let the wisdom of Christ begin to pull down that stronghold until it is gone.
You must get in the battle; and protecting your mind with the mind of Christ -- His wisdom and His power -- is how you will win."
David Jeremiah, "The Helmet of Salvation", Spiritual Warfare.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
We Need God
... put your hope in GOD and know real blessing!
Psalm 146:5 (The Message)
"We're always aware of something we need or lack most of the time. We're not complete. We're not fully human. This sense of being unfinished is pervasive and accounts for a great deal that's distinctive in us as humans. We then attempt to complete ourselves by getting more education or more money, going to another place or buying different clothes, searching out new experiences. The Christian gospel tells us that in and under and around these incompletions is God; God is who we need. The God-hunger, the God-thirst is the most powerful drive in us. It's far stronger than all the drives of sex, power, security, and fame put together."
Leap Over a Wall
"We Need God", God's Message for Each Day by Eugene Peterson.
Some Biblical Expressions of Praise
Declaring of thanks (Heb. 13:15)
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Clapping hands and shouting (Psalm 47:1)
Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
Musical instruments and dancing (Psalm 150:4)
praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
Singing praise songs (Psalm 9:11)
Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.
Psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19-20)
19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Making a joyful noise (Psalm 98:4)
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
By lifting our hands (Psalm 134:2)
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.
By being still (Psalm 4:3-5, 46:10)
3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.
4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.
46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
By being loud (Psalm 33:3, 95:1-6)
33:3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
95:1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Clapping hands and shouting (Psalm 47:1)
Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
Musical instruments and dancing (Psalm 150:4)
praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
Singing praise songs (Psalm 9:11)
Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.
Psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19-20)
19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Making a joyful noise (Psalm 98:4)
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
By lifting our hands (Psalm 134:2)
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.
By being still (Psalm 4:3-5, 46:10)
3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him.
4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.
46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
By being loud (Psalm 33:3, 95:1-6)
33:3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
95:1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
3 For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Mighty and Faithful
O LORD God Almighty!
Where is there anyone as mighty as you, LORD?
Faithfulness is your very character.
Psalm 89:8 (New Living Translation)
I praise you God because You are mighty and faithful.
Where is there anyone as mighty as you, LORD?
Faithfulness is your very character.
Psalm 89:8 (New Living Translation)
I praise you God because You are mighty and faithful.
Fighting Fair
"[Love] is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs." -- 1 Corinthians 13:5
My husband is a pretty fair fighter. For the most part, he can get angry without getting destructive.
But not so the other night. We were arguing in the living room, and his temper got a little hot. So he stomped out of the room and shut the door. I put a lid on my own temper and reminded him that shutting doors was a low blow. With that, the door cracked open. I was able to wheel into the kitchen where, I am happy to tell you, our silly argument was resolved.
Fighting fair is essential if Ken and I are going to air our differences and effectively deal with them. We have four fair-fighting rules. First, stick to one topic. The issue becomes clouded if you start to drag in past offenses. State your complaint in one sentence such as, "It bothers me that you always speed up when the light at an intersection turns yellow."
Second, allow the other person to respond. Don't use the door-slamming technique as a punctuation mark. Third, don't keep a list of wrongdoings. Like it says in 1 Corinthians 13:5, "Love keeps no records of wrongs." Fourth, take the initiative in forgiving. God didn't wait around until He had an apology from you and me before He sent His Son. If God can take the initiative like that, so can we.
Conflicts come up in any relationship. But with patience and some good, fair-fighting rules, they can be resolved. Besides, making up is much better than fighting.
Read over the list of rules again, this time asking yourself if there’s a conflict in a relationship that needs resolution. Do one thing to take the initiative to settle your differences. And then follow the rest of those fair-fighting principles.
* * * * *
Father, thank You that You took the initiative when my sin separated us. You have given me this example to follow in my own relationships. Give me the courage to settle differences.
And pray
Ephesians 6:18
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
What multitudes of prayers we have put up from the first moment when we learned to pray. Our first prayer was a prayer for ourselves; we asked that God would have mercy upon us, and blot out our sin. He heard us. But when He had blotted out our sins like a cloud, then we had more prayers for ourselves.
We have had to pray for sanctifying grace, for constraining and restraining grace; we have been led to crave for a fresh assurance of faith, for the comfortable application of the promise, for deliverance in the hour of temptation, for help in the time of duty, and for succour in the day of trial. We have been compelled to go to God for our souls, as constant beggars asking for everything.
Bear witness, children of God, you have never been able to get anything for your souls elsewhere. All the bread your soul has eaten has come down from heaven, and all the water of which it has drank has flowed from the living rock-Christ Jesus the Lord. Your soul has never grown rich in itself; it has always been a pensioner upon the daily bounty of God; and hence your prayers have ascended to heaven for a range of spiritual mercies all but infinite. Your wants were innumerable, and therefore the supplies have been infinitely great, and your prayers have been as varied as the mercies have been countless.
Then have you not cause to say, 'I love the Lord, because He hath heard the voice of my supplication'? For as your prayers have been many, so also have been God's answers to them. He has heard you in the day of trouble, has strengthened you, and helped you, even when you dishonoured Him by trembling and doubting at the mercy-seat.
Remember this, and let it fill your heart with gratitude to God, who has thus graciously heard your poor weak prayers. 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.'
Spurgeon
My Soul Waits
My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him. Psalm 62:5 (NASB)
---------------------------------
"My soul waits. Another will is greater, wiser and more intelligent than my own. So I wait. Waiting means there is another whom I trust and from whom I receive. My will, important and essential as it is, finds a will that is more important, more essential ... .
I begin to pray by attempting to manipulate the will of God. I end by putting myself in a position to be moved by his will. Waiting in prayer is a disciplined refusal to act before God acts."
Where Your Treasure Is
"My Soul Waits", God's Message for Every Day by Eugene H. Peterson.
For my hope is from Him. Psalm 62:5 (NASB)
---------------------------------
"My soul waits. Another will is greater, wiser and more intelligent than my own. So I wait. Waiting means there is another whom I trust and from whom I receive. My will, important and essential as it is, finds a will that is more important, more essential ... .
I begin to pray by attempting to manipulate the will of God. I end by putting myself in a position to be moved by his will. Waiting in prayer is a disciplined refusal to act before God acts."
Where Your Treasure Is
"My Soul Waits", God's Message for Every Day by Eugene H. Peterson.
Balance and Fellowship
Is your life out of balance? Are you spending more from your spiritual, emotional and physical account than you're putting in?
Another source of strength comes from fellowship with other believers and loving relationships with friends and family.
Acts 2:42 --They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
One of the great things about being a marketplace Christian is that it forces us daily into interaction with non-believers. But living and working with those who do not share our faith and our love of Jesus is without question a large drain on our inner resources. We need times of fellowship to give us strength; we need church every week; we need small support groups of Bible study and prayer.
I want to strongly encourage you to be involved in a small support group. You need a few people that you regularly interact with, where you can be open and honest, where you are accountable, and where you are totally accepted. People you can call in the middle of the night, if necessary, for prayer support. If you have one or two people like that in your life, it will pour enormous strength into you, spiritually, emotionally and mentally.
If you don't, cultivate such a support group. Start it yourself. I'm sure you can find one or two others who feel like you do and need your support, as you do theirs. It will strengthen you immensely.
We also need those personal relationships from which we gain strength. Some of you are married to people who truly strengthen you. Marriage was intended by God to be a source of strength.
We need close relationships with friends and family. You don't have to have a lot, but you need one or two. Do you have that person who really cares about the details of your life, to whom you can "spill your gut," where you can let your hair down, and be understood and accepted even when you don't have it all together? If not, I encourage you to pray for that relationship. And to be that kind of support to someone else.Christian Working Woman Transcript
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Shout Praise
So, God's people, shout praise to GOD,
Give thanks to our Holy God!
Psalm 97: 12 (The Message)
The Shield of Faith
In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. Ephesians 6:16 (New Living Translation)
---------------------------
From David Jeremiah's study on Spiritual Warfare.
"Here are two things you must do if you are to appropriate your faith and quench the fiery darts of the devil.
Get Straight About the Object of Your Faith.
The infallible person of Christ will always be worthy of your faith.
Get Serious About the Strengthening of Your Faith.
To build a strong body, you eat right and exercise regularly. You build a strong faith the same way: You consume the Word of God, and you exercise (obey the Word) regularly. Much of the Christian church knows more than it puts into practice. Take what you know of the Bible, and put it to the test in ministry and serving others."
Turning Point Radio
---------------------------
From David Jeremiah's study on Spiritual Warfare.
"Here are two things you must do if you are to appropriate your faith and quench the fiery darts of the devil.
Get Straight About the Object of Your Faith.
The infallible person of Christ will always be worthy of your faith.
Get Serious About the Strengthening of Your Faith.
To build a strong body, you eat right and exercise regularly. You build a strong faith the same way: You consume the Word of God, and you exercise (obey the Word) regularly. Much of the Christian church knows more than it puts into practice. Take what you know of the Bible, and put it to the test in ministry and serving others."
Turning Point Radio
The Real Test of Love
Daily devotions for 02-14-2006:
Title: The Real Test of Love
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Devotion: Elisabeth Elliot
Book: A Lamp For My Feet
Do you enjoy this devotional? Send it on to a friend!
____________________________________________________________
Title: The Real Test of Love
It is not difficult to imagine, in certain moods
and settings, that we love people. We may feel
expansive and good-natured for a variety of
reasons--our own good health or digestion, for
example, or beautiful weather, comfortable
circumstances, nice folks doing nice things for
us. The Bible is a sword that cuts through mere
sentiment. It tells us that the accurate test of
our love for God's children is obedience to God.
"By this we know that we love the children of
God, when we love God and obey His commandments"
(1 Jn 5:2 RSV). It is an objective test, not a
subjective one. Love as the Bible defines it is
perceptible through action rather than through
mere feeling. It is not, as Eric Alexander of
Scotland put it, a "glandular condition."
Much of the talk nowadays about loving one
another is soupy and silly. It will not stand the
biblical test. Love for people goes hand-in-hand
with love for God--if you don't love the brother
you see, how can you love the God you don't see?
Loving God requires submission to his
discipline--He rebukes, chastens, refines with
fire, purifies by trial. Do we love Him enough to
say yes to all that? Do we love others enough to
encourage endurance in them?
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded Love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.
(Charles Wesley)
---------------------------
Devotions.org - http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/authors_attic/elliot.htm
Title: The Real Test of Love
Author: Elisabeth Elliot
Devotion: Elisabeth Elliot
Book: A Lamp For My Feet
Do you enjoy this devotional? Send it on to a friend!
____________________________________________________________
Title: The Real Test of Love
It is not difficult to imagine, in certain moods
and settings, that we love people. We may feel
expansive and good-natured for a variety of
reasons--our own good health or digestion, for
example, or beautiful weather, comfortable
circumstances, nice folks doing nice things for
us. The Bible is a sword that cuts through mere
sentiment. It tells us that the accurate test of
our love for God's children is obedience to God.
"By this we know that we love the children of
God, when we love God and obey His commandments"
(1 Jn 5:2 RSV). It is an objective test, not a
subjective one. Love as the Bible defines it is
perceptible through action rather than through
mere feeling. It is not, as Eric Alexander of
Scotland put it, a "glandular condition."
Much of the talk nowadays about loving one
another is soupy and silly. It will not stand the
biblical test. Love for people goes hand-in-hand
with love for God--if you don't love the brother
you see, how can you love the God you don't see?
Loving God requires submission to his
discipline--He rebukes, chastens, refines with
fire, purifies by trial. Do we love Him enough to
say yes to all that? Do we love others enough to
encourage endurance in them?
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded Love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.
(Charles Wesley)
---------------------------
Devotions.org - http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/authors_attic/elliot.htm
Balance and Deposits
In order to stay in balance, we must first make certain we make the right deposits. Think about what we must do to ensure that our account is continually replenished.
We know from scripture that our strength comes first of all from God's Word.
Psalm 119:28--My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
The Word of God is our resource to get us through times of weariness and sorrow. The Psalmist said it would strengthen us.
John 15:7--If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
This is an incredible blank check, given to us by our Lord Jesus. And few of us ever draw on it. By allowing the Words of Jesus to abide in us, we are given this blank check of resources. Maybe the real problem is we don't want to, don't know how, or for some reason just don't allow God's words to abide in us.
What does it mean to remain in Jesus and allow His words to remain in us? Well, it means time spent reading, meditating and studying God's Word. Significant time. Do you do that regularly? As a child of God, your life will always be out of balance until you have a steady diet of the Bible in your life.
Our strength also comes from the joy of the Lord within us.
Nehemiah 8:10--Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Proverbs 17:22--A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Joy implies contentment, peace, fulfillment. It's important to remind ourselves that joy is not synonymous with happiness. Joy is that deeper, abiding sense of completeness which is present even when circumstances are not happy or enjoyable.
David prayed, "Restore to me the joy of my salvation." When we've sinned and are out of fellowship with the Lord, we lose our joy and that really drains our account. So, we need to pour that joy in by keeping a clean slate with the Lord. Also, if you think about the wrong things, your joy will be robbed. Negative thoughts, critical thoughts, judgmental thoughts, complaining thoughts–these will all rob you of joy, and joy is an essential for a balanced life.The Christian Working Woman Transcript
His Presence
"God never promised you a Disneyland. He offers something better -- His own sustaining presence through any trouble you may encounter."
Come Before Winter, pp. 181-182.
I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
Come Before Winter, pp. 181-182.
I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
Monday, February 13, 2006
Yesterday's Sermon
Some notes and scripture from yesterday's sermon.
------------------------------------
Matthew 3:16 - 4:11 (NIV)
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
Two lessons from a study:
1. Always have in mind what was at stake.
2. Had to believe the administrator of the test.
-------------------------------------
"Sin is meeting legitimate needs with illegitimate methods."
Aaron in yesterday's sermon.
------------------------------------
Matthew 3:16 - 4:11 (NIV)
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
-------------------------------------Two lessons from a study:
1. Always have in mind what was at stake.
2. Had to believe the administrator of the test.
-------------------------------------
"Sin is meeting legitimate needs with illegitimate methods."
Aaron in yesterday's sermon.
Freedom
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. Galatians 5:1 (The Message)
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"Among the apostles, the one absolutely stunning success was Judas, and the one thoroughly groveling failure was Peter. Judas was a success in the ways that most impress us; he was successful both financially and politically. ... And Peter was a failure in ways that we most dread: he was impotent in a crisis and socially inept. ...
Time, of course, has reversed our judgements on the two men. Judas is now a byword for betrayal, and Peter is one of the most honored names in church and world. ... Yet the world continues to chase after the success of Judas, financial wealth and political power, and to defend itself against the failure of Peter, impotent and ineptness. But anyone who has learned the first thing about freedom prefers to fail with Peter than to succeed with Judas."
Traveling Light
"Freedom", God's Message for Everyday by Eugene H. Peterson (Countryman Press).
-----------------
"Among the apostles, the one absolutely stunning success was Judas, and the one thoroughly groveling failure was Peter. Judas was a success in the ways that most impress us; he was successful both financially and politically. ... And Peter was a failure in ways that we most dread: he was impotent in a crisis and socially inept. ...
Time, of course, has reversed our judgements on the two men. Judas is now a byword for betrayal, and Peter is one of the most honored names in church and world. ... Yet the world continues to chase after the success of Judas, financial wealth and political power, and to defend itself against the failure of Peter, impotent and ineptness. But anyone who has learned the first thing about freedom prefers to fail with Peter than to succeed with Judas."
Traveling Light
"Freedom", God's Message for Everyday by Eugene H. Peterson (Countryman Press).
But as for me and my household
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
Joshua 24:15 (NIV)
Is Your Life Out of Balance?
Have you ever tried to take more out of your bank account than you put in? Well, if so, you know the meaning of the term "overdrawn." You know, lots of us are living emotionally, physically and spiritually in the overdrawn mode. We're out of balance in our lives, because we don't deposit enough in our emotional, spiritual and physical accounts to cover the checks we draw on them. When that happens, we live overdrawn, out-of-balance lives, fighting fatigue, discouragement, and depression.
This type of out-of-balance living is often because we don't deposit the right things in our accounts, and at other times it's because we spend our energy very foolishly. I would suggest that we need to know what it is that feeds energy and strength to us and make certain we're pouring into our lives the right resources and the right amount. Then we have to determine what uses our resources and drains our strength, so that we can balance the two.
This calls for an accounting procedure, and that's something we need to do regularly. You have to do some personal balancing and accounting with your checking account to keep it in good order. Well, the same is true of your emotional, spiritual and physical accounts.
Right now stop and ask yourself: Am I spending more from my spiritual, emotional and physical account than I put in? Frankly, I've really had to face this problem lately, and that's why I decided to talk about it this week. It's a continual challenge for me to learn that I cannot be all things to all people and I must take time to replenish the accounts if I expect to be able to keep spending.
Now that doesn't mean that I'm never tired, never feel stressed or rushed or stretched, but it does mean that if I'm living in that out-of-balance mode all the time, something's wrong. My priorities are confused, or my discipline has broken down, or my calendar is too full, or I don't know how to stop–or some combination of all of the above.
I'm going to try to give you some help in this process of bringing your emotional, physical and spiritual accounts into balance. And I do this mostly because I need to re-learn this. Wouldn't it be nice if we only had to learn our lessons once! But I find that often I'm have to go through re-training, to remember what God has taught me previously. This certainly is one of those areas where I frequently and easily get sidetracked, and my accounts get out of balance.Not About Me
"WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?" LUKE 18:18 (NIV)
The rich young ruler was educated and respected. He had already achieved the three Ps of success: power, prosperity and posterity. He was a bottom-line guy who cut to the chase and asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Even the way he worded the question suggests that he thought he could get eternal life the way he had gotten everything else in life - by self-effort. So when Jesus replied, "sell all that you possess he became very sad; for he was extremely rich" (Luke 18:22-23 NAS). He had mistakenly assumed that heaven was just a payment away. But he was wrong.
Paul says, "What the law was powerless to do God did by sending His own Son." (Romans 8:3 NIV). Only a cold-hearted God would sell salvation to those who can afford it! That's a hard concept to grasp, since we have always been rewarded for our performance. But just as we wouldn't impress the space-shuttle crew with a paper airplane we had made, or we wouldn't impress a great artist with our crayon sketches, so our character and good works don't impress God. Eternal life costs more than anyone can afford. That's why we need a Redeemer!
Money wasn't this man's problem, self-sufficiency was. His problem wasn't his big income, it was his big ego. It is not just the wealthy who have difficulty grasping this truth; so do the educated, the strong, the good-looking, the popular, even the religious.
To receive salvation we must first declare that we are spiritually bankrupt; that our cupboard is bare, our reputation worthless, and our options gone. We can not approach God demanding justice - we can only come pleading for mercy.
The rich young ruler was educated and respected. He had already achieved the three Ps of success: power, prosperity and posterity. He was a bottom-line guy who cut to the chase and asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Even the way he worded the question suggests that he thought he could get eternal life the way he had gotten everything else in life - by self-effort. So when Jesus replied, "sell all that you possess he became very sad; for he was extremely rich" (Luke 18:22-23 NAS). He had mistakenly assumed that heaven was just a payment away. But he was wrong.
Paul says, "What the law was powerless to do God did by sending His own Son." (Romans 8:3 NIV). Only a cold-hearted God would sell salvation to those who can afford it! That's a hard concept to grasp, since we have always been rewarded for our performance. But just as we wouldn't impress the space-shuttle crew with a paper airplane we had made, or we wouldn't impress a great artist with our crayon sketches, so our character and good works don't impress God. Eternal life costs more than anyone can afford. That's why we need a Redeemer!
Money wasn't this man's problem, self-sufficiency was. His problem wasn't his big income, it was his big ego. It is not just the wealthy who have difficulty grasping this truth; so do the educated, the strong, the good-looking, the popular, even the religious.
To receive salvation we must first declare that we are spiritually bankrupt; that our cupboard is bare, our reputation worthless, and our options gone. We can not approach God demanding justice - we can only come pleading for mercy.
Come to Jesus today - He has a gift that is not for sell at any price waiting for you!
(c)2005 Timothy L. Hudson, UGA Christian Campus Fellowship
Prayer
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7: 14 (New Living Translation)
2 Chronicles 7: 14 (New Living Translation)
Friday, February 10, 2006
A Change of Circumstances or Self: Facing Our Responsibility
Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Philippians 4:11-13 (The Message)
-------------------
"We frequently tell ourselves, If only my circumstances were different, then things would be a whole lot better. And so we begin the merry-go-round of wishful thinking: If only I had a different job ... If only my child had turned out differently ... If only I had married someone else ... If only I had stayed on at school.
It hardly needs to said that this approach to our circumstances is less than productive. It blinds us to what is good in our present situation, and it constantly shifts the responsibility regarding what is happening to us "over there."
A far more productive approach is that we own our circumstances as being the result of our own choices and begin to entertain the question: What is God seeking to do in my life through my present circumstances? Nouwen records the advice he received from a fellow priest: "The issue is not where you are, but how you live wherever you are."
Frequently the most relevant issue for us is not a change of circumstances, but a change of self. A change of self does not occur through avoidance behavior. It takes place when we face our excuses and rationalizations and assume responsibility for what we are making of our lives."
"A Change of Circumstances or Self: Facing Our Responsibility", Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen by Charles Ringma (Pinon).
-------------------
"We frequently tell ourselves, If only my circumstances were different, then things would be a whole lot better. And so we begin the merry-go-round of wishful thinking: If only I had a different job ... If only my child had turned out differently ... If only I had married someone else ... If only I had stayed on at school.
It hardly needs to said that this approach to our circumstances is less than productive. It blinds us to what is good in our present situation, and it constantly shifts the responsibility regarding what is happening to us "over there."
A far more productive approach is that we own our circumstances as being the result of our own choices and begin to entertain the question: What is God seeking to do in my life through my present circumstances? Nouwen records the advice he received from a fellow priest: "The issue is not where you are, but how you live wherever you are."
Frequently the most relevant issue for us is not a change of circumstances, but a change of self. A change of self does not occur through avoidance behavior. It takes place when we face our excuses and rationalizations and assume responsibility for what we are making of our lives."
"A Change of Circumstances or Self: Facing Our Responsibility", Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen by Charles Ringma (Pinon).
Creativity is Messy
Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within.
Proverbs 20:5 (The Message)
"Creativity is not neat. It is not orderly. When we are being creative we don't know what is going to happen next. When we are being creative a great deal of what we do is wrong ... .
An artist makes attempt after attempt at the canvas trying for the right perspective and missing badly, almost getting the right shade but not making it. ... Lovers quarrel, hurt and get hurt, misunderstand and are misunderstood in their painstaking work of creating a marriage ... .
In any creative enterprise there are risks, mistakes, ... but out of this mess -- when we stay with it long enough, enter it deeply enough -- there slowly emerges love or beauty or peace."
Under the Unpredictable Plant
"Creativity is Messy", God's Message for Each Day by Eugene H. Peterson (Countryman Press).
Proverbs 20:5 (The Message)
"Creativity is not neat. It is not orderly. When we are being creative we don't know what is going to happen next. When we are being creative a great deal of what we do is wrong ... .
An artist makes attempt after attempt at the canvas trying for the right perspective and missing badly, almost getting the right shade but not making it. ... Lovers quarrel, hurt and get hurt, misunderstand and are misunderstood in their painstaking work of creating a marriage ... .
In any creative enterprise there are risks, mistakes, ... but out of this mess -- when we stay with it long enough, enter it deeply enough -- there slowly emerges love or beauty or peace."
Under the Unpredictable Plant
"Creativity is Messy", God's Message for Each Day by Eugene H. Peterson (Countryman Press).
Better and Better
"Do you want more and more of God's kindness and peace? Then learn to know him better and better. For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us! And by that same mighty power he has given us all the other rich and wonderful blessings he promised... But to obtain these gifts, you need more than faith; you must also work hard to be good, and even that is not enough. For then you must learn to know God better and discover what he wants you to do." — 2 Peter 1:2-5, TLB
If you're like me, you're looking for ways to love God more. Not just to obey him, (although that's what proves we love him), but to love God with a passion. With spirited affection. Intense desire. I'm talking about longing to know God better and better with fire in your eyes and a furnace in your heart. The passage for today explains exactly how.
If you want to increase your desire for God, then get to know him in a deeper way. And there is no better way to know him than through his Word. Get into God's Word, and you will get a heart for Jesus. Get passionate about Scripture, and your passion for him will increase. Feelings follow faith…and faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Take a look back over the past week. How much time did you spend in the Word? What does that say about the direction your relationship with Him is going? Mark down specific times in your calendar to be in the Word this upcoming week. Be realistic but stretch yourself a bit. After all, you want to know God better, don’t you?
* * * * * * *
Lord God, help me to remember how amazing it is that You have revealed Yourself through the Word. Teach me to treasure Scripture more and to love You more through it.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Blessed Be the Lord
He said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hands, ...
2 Chronicles 6:4 (New American Standard Bible)
"spoke with His mouth ... fulfilled it with His hand"
God can do what He says He can do.
2 Chronicles 6:4 (New American Standard Bible)
"spoke with His mouth ... fulfilled it with His hand"
God can do what He says He can do.
Shamelessly Adore Him
Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, "Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn't quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal." Luke 7: 44-47 (The Message)
---------
"When we see Jesus as he is, we must turn away or shamelessly adore him."
Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, p. 19.
---------
"When we see Jesus as he is, we must turn away or shamelessly adore him."
Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, p. 19.
A Broad Place
I called on the LORD in distress;
The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
Psalm 118:5 (New King James Version)
"Salvation means to be whole again, to be delivered in the midst of peril. Far back toward the Hebrew root of the word, it may even suggest that no matter how closely the evil hedges you about, God will yet clear for you all the space you need to move around in: "I called on the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a broad place.""
Five Smooth Stones
"A Broad Place", God's Message for Each Day by Eugene H. Peterson (Countryman).
The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
Psalm 118:5 (New King James Version)
"Salvation means to be whole again, to be delivered in the midst of peril. Far back toward the Hebrew root of the word, it may even suggest that no matter how closely the evil hedges you about, God will yet clear for you all the space you need to move around in: "I called on the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a broad place.""
Five Smooth Stones
"A Broad Place", God's Message for Each Day by Eugene H. Peterson (Countryman).
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Compassion
"A SAMARITAN CAME WHERE HE WAS. AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE HAD COMPASSION."
LUKE 10:33 (NKJ)
Are you too busy to care about the needs of others? It is easy to get so preoccupied with being good
instead of doing good that we miss opportunities to serve that are right in front of us. No one was busier
than Jesus, yet He always responded to those in need.
In Luke 10, Jesus tells of a Jewish traveller who was mugged by a gang and left to die on the road.
First a priest and then a levite passed by. They were religious leaders; surely they would have
compassion on this wounded man. But no, they both had important appointments to keep and
didn't stop. Then a Samaritan came along. Of all people, he had the most reason to look the other
way, because the Jews and the Samaritans were long-standing enemies. But the Bible says,
"...he came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion."
True compassion rearranges our priorities! The Good Samaritan decided that where he was going
wasn't as important as where he was at that particular moment.
What would you have done that day? Do you think you would have acted like this Samaritan?
How about when God tries to interrupt your inflexible, tightly organised, set-in-concrete schedule
and asks you to take time for someone who is hurting? Are you willing to shelve your personal
agenda and do what He wants?
When we are too busy to reach out to those who are hurting, we are just too busy!
Today, ask God to give you the compassion of Christ, and to help you to take opportunities
to serve others.
(c)2006 Timothy L. Hudson, UGA Christian Campus Fellowship
LUKE 10:33 (NKJ)
Are you too busy to care about the needs of others? It is easy to get so preoccupied with being good
instead of doing good that we miss opportunities to serve that are right in front of us. No one was busier
than Jesus, yet He always responded to those in need.
In Luke 10, Jesus tells of a Jewish traveller who was mugged by a gang and left to die on the road.
First a priest and then a levite passed by. They were religious leaders; surely they would have
compassion on this wounded man. But no, they both had important appointments to keep and
didn't stop. Then a Samaritan came along. Of all people, he had the most reason to look the other
way, because the Jews and the Samaritans were long-standing enemies. But the Bible says,
"...he came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion."
True compassion rearranges our priorities! The Good Samaritan decided that where he was going
wasn't as important as where he was at that particular moment.
What would you have done that day? Do you think you would have acted like this Samaritan?
How about when God tries to interrupt your inflexible, tightly organised, set-in-concrete schedule
and asks you to take time for someone who is hurting? Are you willing to shelve your personal
agenda and do what He wants?
When we are too busy to reach out to those who are hurting, we are just too busy!
Today, ask God to give you the compassion of Christ, and to help you to take opportunities
to serve others.
(c)2006 Timothy L. Hudson, UGA Christian Campus Fellowship
God's Loving Pursuit
GOD'S LOVING PURSUIT
by Max Lucado
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."
Psalm 23:6
Dare we envision a God who follows us? Who pursues us? Who chases us?
Who tracks us down and wins us over? Who follows us with "goodness and
mercy" all the days of our lives?
Isn't this the kind of God described in the Bible? A God who follows us?
Moses can tell you about it. He was forty years in the desert when he
looked over his shoulder and saw a bush blazing. God had followed him
into the wilderness.
Jonah can tell you about it. He was a fugitive on a boat when he looked
over his shoulder and saw clouds brewing. God had followed him onto the
ocean.
The disciples of Jesus knew the feeling of being followed by God. They
were rain soaked and shivering when they looked over their shoulders
and saw Jesus walking toward them. God had followed them into the storm.
John the Apostle was banished on Patmos when he looked over his shoulder
and saw the skies begin to open. God had followed him into his exile.
Lazarus was three days dead in a sealed tomb when he heard a voice,
lifted his head, and looked over his shoulder and saw Jesus standing.
God had followed him into death.
Peter had denied his Lord and gone back to fishing when he heard his
name and looked over his shoulder and saw Jesus cooking breakfast.
God had followed him in spite of his failure.
God is the God who follows. I wonder . have you sensed him following
you? We often miss him.
Through the kindness of a stranger. The majesty of a sunset. The
mystery of romance. Through the question of a child or the commitment
of a spouse. Through a word well spoken or a touch well timed, have
you sensed his presence?
His goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.
by Max Lucado
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."
Psalm 23:6
Dare we envision a God who follows us? Who pursues us? Who chases us?
Who tracks us down and wins us over? Who follows us with "goodness and
mercy" all the days of our lives?
Isn't this the kind of God described in the Bible? A God who follows us?
Moses can tell you about it. He was forty years in the desert when he
looked over his shoulder and saw a bush blazing. God had followed him
into the wilderness.
Jonah can tell you about it. He was a fugitive on a boat when he looked
over his shoulder and saw clouds brewing. God had followed him onto the
ocean.
The disciples of Jesus knew the feeling of being followed by God. They
were rain soaked and shivering when they looked over their shoulders
and saw Jesus walking toward them. God had followed them into the storm.
John the Apostle was banished on Patmos when he looked over his shoulder
and saw the skies begin to open. God had followed him into his exile.
Lazarus was three days dead in a sealed tomb when he heard a voice,
lifted his head, and looked over his shoulder and saw Jesus standing.
God had followed him into death.
Peter had denied his Lord and gone back to fishing when he heard his
name and looked over his shoulder and saw Jesus cooking breakfast.
God had followed him in spite of his failure.
God is the God who follows. I wonder . have you sensed him following
you? We often miss him.
Through the kindness of a stranger. The majesty of a sunset. The
mystery of romance. Through the question of a child or the commitment
of a spouse. Through a word well spoken or a touch well timed, have
you sensed his presence?
His goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.
Sift You Like Wheat
Look what Jesus did for the Apostle Peter, and He is doing the same for us today ...
Luke 22:31-32 :
" Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again,
strengthen your brothers."
Even at this moment, Jesus is at the right hand side of God's throng interceding for us also!
-- Jimmy Turner
I Know Where You Live
"I know where you live," Jesus told the church in Pergamum ," where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name." Jesus knows where you live, too. And He understands that you are not living in friendly territory, but he wants you and me to remain true to His name, even in the midst of this foreign land.
For example, Jesus knows that we live in a world that believes owning and having are the trademarks of success. Where money is power and influence is bought and sold. Where your value and your worth are often based on your bank account.
It is not easy to live in this foreign land and not be bitten by the money bug. Jesus told us we cannot serve God and Money, with a capital "M", because he wants us to understand that money has spiritual power. That means it can exert an incredibly strong influence over us and cause us to do things we would never dream of otherwise.
We've seen many people who've been caught doing all kinds of wrong things for money. And we may think that we would never do that. But don't be so sure. Money corrupts quickly and we are all susceptible to its power.
What can we do, living in this world where money is king, to keep from being caught in this web of greed? First, we must constantly p ray about the power of money in our lives. I often p ray , "Lord, make me positionless and possessionless," and by that I mean, "Make me aware that I own nothing; everything I have is a gift from You and Your name is on the title. And any position I have is an opportunity for me to serve You and others. So help me to remember that I am positionless and possessionless."
Do you own things or do your things own you? One thing that will free you up from the power of money is to simplify your life and get rid of some stuff. Do you find this as hard to do as I do? All you have to do is walk through any mall and you can see a dozen things you think you can't live without, and the power of those things starts to take over. Maybe we need to stop shopping–just stop looking so we are not tempted.
If we want to remain true to the name of Jesus, we must put disciplines into our lives that free us from the power of money and greed. Jesus knows where we live, and He knows that everyone around us is money hungry. But He can give us the power to live free of this greed if we will let Him.Christian Working Woman Transcript, February 8, 2006
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Spiritual Formation
This is a post from Mike Cope's blog from Monday, February 6. Mike is the preaching minister at the Highland Church of Christ in Abilene. I think the interview with David Wray provides some useful insights.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Today, I am interviewing one of my elders, David Wray, for the blog.
There's so much I could tell you about David. First, the obvious. The guy is tall. Real tall (6'9"). Have you seen "Glory Road"? The year after they won the national title, David played against them when he was ACU's center.
He's a godly husband, father, and granddad. As an elder, he is a constant source of wisdom. He has more administrative gifts in his pinkie than I have in my whole body. And he's been a guiding force of spirituality in my life.
I've talked to lots of ACU students who describe his spiritual formation class as one of the most significant times of their lives. So today, I'm asking him a few questions about spiritual formation.
1. What do we mean by "spiritual formation"?
In a sentence, spiritual formation is the process of maturing (some add "yielding one's self to being conformed") into the image of Jesus Christ for the sake of others. The objective is integrating the virtues and practices of Jesus into the daily life of every disciple of Jesus. Growing in the Christlife includes spiritual information, spiritual formation and spiritual transformation. Spiritual information requires being people of scripture. Christlikeness requires that Christians live in the gospels and there discover the heart, thoughts, and behaviors of Jesus. If we are to imitate him, we must rationally think through the principles by which he taught, related to people, and practiced disciplines that we refer to as "spiritual disciplines." Sermons, daily reading and reflecting on scripture, Bible classes, small group Bible studies, and many other forums enhance one's maturing in spiritual information. Spiritual formation places high value on relationships and spiritual community. In addition to information about Jesus, all disciples need brothers and sisters who provide mentoring, spiritual direction, encouragement, accountability, equipping for ministry, and shepherding. Authentic spiritual community is required in the formation process. No one is able to make the journey of life without brothers and sisters in the Lord. Small groups, shepherding groups, parenting, mission trips, and many other venues provide ideal opportunities for spiritual formation. Spiritual disciplines encourage Christians in contemplative spirituality (listening to God, "wasting time" with God) Spiritual transformation often occurs through losses and times of struggle. Almost all disciples experience times of the "dark night of the soul" as they move through life. These times require that Christians draw on scripture (spiritual information) and spiritual community (spiritual formation) to regain mental, emotional, and spiritual equilibrium.
2. Why has this become such a passion of your heart in your teaching at ACU, at Highland, and around the country?
Historically those associated with the Stone/Campbell movement relied heavily on rational spiritually. Convinced that biblical knowledge leads to holy living, we emphasized sermons and Bible classes. Campbell was fond of saying "come let us reason together." When problems arose in our congregations, church leaders admonished the preacher to develop a sermon series on the subject or asked educational leadership to develop classes to solve the issue. Convinced that information primarily made disciples of Jesus, we eagerly embraced teaching/learning innovations to insure biblical literacy. We now realize that our sermons and worship assemblies engaged left brained (linear and sequential) people while often ignoring right brained (spontaneous and relational) people. Since Bible study provided our organizational principle we invested billions of dollars on "auditoriums" (our language betrays us--others call their assembly space "worship centers" or "sanctuaries") and classrooms. Spiritual formation provides a path that appreciates spiritual information, but encourages us to drink from other streams of holiness, social justice, authentic spiritual community, and the inner life (solitude, silence, prayer). Thankfully many Christians currently live more holistically as they grow spiritually through their intellects, emotions, and relationships. This emphasis on holistic spirituality draws disciples out of the fortress church buildings and into the marketplace to live for the sake of others. This natural result of the spiritual formation process requires congregations to transition toward missional principles. Instead of congregations existing mostly to educate themselves and provide members with "goods" and "services," church leaders are encouraging disciples to welcome, receive, and embrace the reign of God, the kingdom of God, everywhere they find it, inside and outside the church building.
3. How would you help people get started exploring "spiritual formation"? Are there a couple books you could recommend or conferences that you might point people to?
I argue that spiritual formation is more than reading and thinking, although both are a part of the process, but not the whole. Maturing Christians need time for reading, meditating, and contemplating, but they also need immersion experience where they walk along side people trapped in poverty and oppression, where they engage in short term (and longer term) mission experiences, and where they engage in spiritual formation groups. I also recommend ministries such as "Walk To Emmaus," "retreats for solitude, silence, and prayer," and seeking spiritual direction (ancient practice of gaining spiritual wisdom and discernment for seasoned disciple of Jesus).
Having provided this disclaimer, Richard Foster provides disciples desiring to grow in Christlikeness with helpful literature. Recommended books by Foster include: Celebration of Disciplines, and Streams of Living Water. A second contemporary author of spiritual formation literature is Dallas Willard. Christians desiring to continue growing in the image of Christ benefit from his writings which include: The Spirit of the Disciplines, Divine Conspiracy, and Renovation of the Heart. Most of the thirty plus books by Henri Nouwen provide encouragement for disciples to grow deeper into Christlikeness.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Today, I am interviewing one of my elders, David Wray, for the blog.
There's so much I could tell you about David. First, the obvious. The guy is tall. Real tall (6'9"). Have you seen "Glory Road"? The year after they won the national title, David played against them when he was ACU's center.
He's a godly husband, father, and granddad. As an elder, he is a constant source of wisdom. He has more administrative gifts in his pinkie than I have in my whole body. And he's been a guiding force of spirituality in my life.
I've talked to lots of ACU students who describe his spiritual formation class as one of the most significant times of their lives. So today, I'm asking him a few questions about spiritual formation.
1. What do we mean by "spiritual formation"?
In a sentence, spiritual formation is the process of maturing (some add "yielding one's self to being conformed") into the image of Jesus Christ for the sake of others. The objective is integrating the virtues and practices of Jesus into the daily life of every disciple of Jesus. Growing in the Christlife includes spiritual information, spiritual formation and spiritual transformation. Spiritual information requires being people of scripture. Christlikeness requires that Christians live in the gospels and there discover the heart, thoughts, and behaviors of Jesus. If we are to imitate him, we must rationally think through the principles by which he taught, related to people, and practiced disciplines that we refer to as "spiritual disciplines." Sermons, daily reading and reflecting on scripture, Bible classes, small group Bible studies, and many other forums enhance one's maturing in spiritual information. Spiritual formation places high value on relationships and spiritual community. In addition to information about Jesus, all disciples need brothers and sisters who provide mentoring, spiritual direction, encouragement, accountability, equipping for ministry, and shepherding. Authentic spiritual community is required in the formation process. No one is able to make the journey of life without brothers and sisters in the Lord. Small groups, shepherding groups, parenting, mission trips, and many other venues provide ideal opportunities for spiritual formation. Spiritual disciplines encourage Christians in contemplative spirituality (listening to God, "wasting time" with God) Spiritual transformation often occurs through losses and times of struggle. Almost all disciples experience times of the "dark night of the soul" as they move through life. These times require that Christians draw on scripture (spiritual information) and spiritual community (spiritual formation) to regain mental, emotional, and spiritual equilibrium.
2. Why has this become such a passion of your heart in your teaching at ACU, at Highland, and around the country?
Historically those associated with the Stone/Campbell movement relied heavily on rational spiritually. Convinced that biblical knowledge leads to holy living, we emphasized sermons and Bible classes. Campbell was fond of saying "come let us reason together." When problems arose in our congregations, church leaders admonished the preacher to develop a sermon series on the subject or asked educational leadership to develop classes to solve the issue. Convinced that information primarily made disciples of Jesus, we eagerly embraced teaching/learning innovations to insure biblical literacy. We now realize that our sermons and worship assemblies engaged left brained (linear and sequential) people while often ignoring right brained (spontaneous and relational) people. Since Bible study provided our organizational principle we invested billions of dollars on "auditoriums" (our language betrays us--others call their assembly space "worship centers" or "sanctuaries") and classrooms. Spiritual formation provides a path that appreciates spiritual information, but encourages us to drink from other streams of holiness, social justice, authentic spiritual community, and the inner life (solitude, silence, prayer). Thankfully many Christians currently live more holistically as they grow spiritually through their intellects, emotions, and relationships. This emphasis on holistic spirituality draws disciples out of the fortress church buildings and into the marketplace to live for the sake of others. This natural result of the spiritual formation process requires congregations to transition toward missional principles. Instead of congregations existing mostly to educate themselves and provide members with "goods" and "services," church leaders are encouraging disciples to welcome, receive, and embrace the reign of God, the kingdom of God, everywhere they find it, inside and outside the church building.
3. How would you help people get started exploring "spiritual formation"? Are there a couple books you could recommend or conferences that you might point people to?
I argue that spiritual formation is more than reading and thinking, although both are a part of the process, but not the whole. Maturing Christians need time for reading, meditating, and contemplating, but they also need immersion experience where they walk along side people trapped in poverty and oppression, where they engage in short term (and longer term) mission experiences, and where they engage in spiritual formation groups. I also recommend ministries such as "Walk To Emmaus," "retreats for solitude, silence, and prayer," and seeking spiritual direction (ancient practice of gaining spiritual wisdom and discernment for seasoned disciple of Jesus).
Having provided this disclaimer, Richard Foster provides disciples desiring to grow in Christlikeness with helpful literature. Recommended books by Foster include: Celebration of Disciplines, and Streams of Living Water. A second contemporary author of spiritual formation literature is Dallas Willard. Christians desiring to continue growing in the image of Christ benefit from his writings which include: The Spirit of the Disciplines, Divine Conspiracy, and Renovation of the Heart. Most of the thirty plus books by Henri Nouwen provide encouragement for disciples to grow deeper into Christlikeness.
Junk Food
If you're hungry, the airport in Fayetteville,
Arkansas, is not a good place to be. The
selection of "snacks" in the vending machine is
impressive, but there is nothing at all that one
could call food. You can insert your quarters,
nickels and dimes (no pennies) and get chocolate
chip cookies, potato chips (plain), potato chips
with "bar-B-Q" flavor, potato chips with sour
cream and onion (artificial) flavor, potato
"Stix," pork rinds, corn chips, "Cornies," "Pub
Fries," "Cheddar Fries," "Cheetos," "Cheese
Smackers," and things called "Doritos," "Bugles,"
"yammers" and "Dunkums."
Alongside that machine is another one offering
brightly colored aluminum cans of sweet fizzy
stuff with which to wash down all those snacks
or, I suppose, to Dunkum. I don't like to
contemplate what state your blood sugar or your
nerves or your sanctification would be in if your
supper comprised a Tab and a package of Jammers,
but on second thought, a look around the boarding
lounge of almost any airport--at the facial
expressions, the behavior of the pre-school-age
tots, and the remarks overheard--give a clue. We
are a nation "overfed but undernourished," to
borrow the title of Curtis Wood's book.
Junk food is not nourishment. It's easily
available (if you have the right coins). It is
packaged up in eye-catching wrappings, presumably
untouched by human hands. It can be transported
to plane, to beach, to movie theatre, to school,
to bed. It can be grabbed in a moment, wolfed
down on the run; and there are no preparations to
make, nothing to clean up except greasy fingers.
It does away altogether with the ritual of
eating--the laid table, the attractive
presentation of a dish, the fellowship with
others, the leisure to enjoy. In a world that
has lost or discarded nearly all other rituals,
what will become of us if we do away with even
this one?
But worst of all, junk food feeds (feeding will
make you fat) but does not nourish. Nourishment
makes you strong. I sat on the molded fiberglass
seat in Fayetteville, waiting for the small plane
which would take me to Tulsa, and wished for a
few crunchy fat Bing cherries or a slice of the
wheat-honey bread that I make regularly at
home--real food.
Don't misunderstand. I like potato chips. I
like Cheetos. I haven't tried the commercially
packaged pork rinds, but I certainly enjoyed the
kind the Indians gave me in South America--fished
out of a cauldron of hot fat bubbling over an
open fire in some jungle clearing, eaten with a
chunk of steamed manioc or a plantain roasted in
the ashes.
We are people of our times and culture. Because
of the "schedule" I seem to be obliged to keep, I
am always looking for ways to use my time more
efficiently, and one of them is to listen to
tapes while I do my hair and face. I switched
the recorder off the other day, disgusted with
what I told my husband was spiritual junk food.
A man was rambling on about his own feelings, his
"meaningful" experiences, and how he got in touch
with himself, with other people, and with God.
No doubt he was telling the truth, but there
wasn't a single reference to Scripture, and not
much there that would nourish me.
Christian bookstores usually carry some real
"meat," if you can find it. It is not likely to
be up front where the paperbacks, the tapes and
the records are, which display on their jackets
color photographs of the author, the speaker or
the singer, often taken in an open meadow, in a
soft, misty light, and with a few wildflowers.
(Are there any analogies here artificial color,
perhaps, or flavor? What about preservatives? I
understand preservatives are used in foods to
give a longer "shelf life." The booksellers
have thought of some tricks, I'm sure, to keep
their wares in the public eye for a few weeks
longer, but no trick takes the place of quality
for preserving a book's shelf life.)
Tastes are developed. Solzhenitsyn, in his
speech at Harvard a few months ago, deplored the
"TV stupor" in which Americans live. He spoke of
the decadence of art, of intolerable music, of
mass prejudice, spiritual exhaustion, material
luxury, and a morally inferior happiness. He is
right. Alas, his own experience of
totalitarianism and concentration camp gives him
the perspective and the authority to judge our
society. We must hear him.
Doctors have been learning of the physical
exhaustion that can result from artificial or
refined or highly sugared foods. Might not one
cause of the spiritual exhaustion which
Solzhenitsyn observes be the spiritual junk food
we consume? What shall be done for the child fed
on the snack-pack, the soft drink and the TV
dinner? Will he never choose, let alone enjoy,
vegetables? Will the Christian whose spiritual
sustenance has been limited to the mass-produced,
who is accustomed only to "snacking," whose
tastes have been conditioned by the majority,
ever choose what is truly nourishing?
What it comes down to, with regard to spiritual
things, is that we ought to learn to do some of
our own cooking. Granted, it is much easier to
grab a package. But sometimes we ought to start
from scratch.
Let us start with silence. That may be the
hardest thing to achieve in our world. But it is
not impossible. For one thing, it takes the will
to be quiet. It is possible to be quiet on a
crowded subway or in the kitchen when the bacon
is frying, the washing machine is running and the
baby wants more milk. It is easier by far to be
quiet when things around us are quiet, and for
most of us this means getting up early.
I was in my study this morning before the traffic
had started up on Route 1A. No sound came from
the road or the house. Only the sweet susurrus
of the crickets in the grass and the cawing of a
crow in a beech tree broke the silence, yet it
took also an act of the will to be still and know
that He is God. My mind races quite naturally
over things done yesterday (burying a beloved
friend's beloved little dog, getting my sister
from the hospital, swimming in the ocean, writing
a page or two) or things to be done today
(writing more than a page or two, having a friend
to tea, getting my mother from the airport). Be
still. It is a command. The Hebrew word used in
Psalm 46 can mean "Shut up."
The great books that have been spiritual meat and
drink for me have been produced, I feel sure, out
of great silence. Men and women of God have
learned of him by being quiet and allowing him to
speak to them in their solitude. They have been
willing to be alone, to shut up, to listen, and
to think and pray over what they have heard. In
our modern world most people choose noise. Go to
the beach or a forest camp and find portable
radios, television sets, record players. Sit
down in a waiting room and listen to what Malcolm
Muggeridge calls that "drooling melange" of
Muzak. People want noise. They would far rather
discuss than think, talk over their problems than
pray about them, read a paperback about what
somebody else thinks about the Bible than read
the Bible.
We cannot stand stillness. Yet we need it. I
wonder if the popularity of transcendental
meditation is due to this felt need. Whatever
may be said about TM's being a religion or not,
the measure of success it seems to enjoy could be
attributed in part to the simple fact that its
devotees spend a certain amount of time daily in
motionless silence. That can't hurt anybody.
As one of those who write the stuff that is for
sale in the bookstores I referred to, I know that
responsibility is laid upon me to provide real
food. So I speak to myself-- I must do my own
"cooking." It is not fast food that I ought
to provide for my reader. I must feed him, but
in order to do that I must myself be fed. What I
speak or write must come out of silence where
only a still small voice can be heard.
I speak also to my reader. Seek what is good for
the soul, even if it doesn't come in paperback.
Read an old book once in a while. (Try P. T.
Forsyth, The Principle of Authority, or Luther's
Letters of Spiritual Counsel.) And once in a
while lay aside the books and the tapes. For a
set period of time be alone, be still. "The man
who lives on me will live because of me," Jesus
said. "This is the bread which came down from
heaven."
Copyright 1979, by Elisabeth Elliot
all rights reserved.
Laying Aside Our Own Agendas
"One of our persistent difficulties is that while we want help, we do not want to change. We are quite willing to go to God to ask for strength, but not so willing to ask for redirection. We are happy to be encouraged, but not to be converted.
In doing this we are making the fatal assumption that we are okay in what we are doing and in our priorities; all we lack is adequate resources. And so we turn to God in prayer asking for more grace, more of His Spirit, and more of His power. Even in our search for solitude and inner peace, we are frequently motivated by the idea that we are simply looking to find greater inner energies in order to carry on with our own agendas.
Nouwen, however, reminds us that the place of solitude "is not a private therapeutic place ... it is the place of conversion." It is not the place where we recharge our spiritual batteries and then continue to live as we have lived before. It is not the place where we catch our breath in order to madly reenter the race. It is not the place where we simply find some quietness before we plunge into the world with its babble of voices.
The place of solitude is where we are changed. It is the place where we abandon some of our agendas, where we acknowledge our compulsions, where we discover new directions, and where, more importantly, we find a new self."
Reflection 14, "The Place of Conversion: Laying Aside Our Own Agendas", Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen by Charles Ringma.
------------------------
The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. They said, "Everyone is asking for you."
In doing this we are making the fatal assumption that we are okay in what we are doing and in our priorities; all we lack is adequate resources. And so we turn to God in prayer asking for more grace, more of His Spirit, and more of His power. Even in our search for solitude and inner peace, we are frequently motivated by the idea that we are simply looking to find greater inner energies in order to carry on with our own agendas.
Nouwen, however, reminds us that the place of solitude "is not a private therapeutic place ... it is the place of conversion." It is not the place where we recharge our spiritual batteries and then continue to live as we have lived before. It is not the place where we catch our breath in order to madly reenter the race. It is not the place where we simply find some quietness before we plunge into the world with its babble of voices.
The place of solitude is where we are changed. It is the place where we abandon some of our agendas, where we acknowledge our compulsions, where we discover new directions, and where, more importantly, we find a new self."
Reflection 14, "The Place of Conversion: Laying Aside Our Own Agendas", Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen by Charles Ringma.
------------------------
The next morning Jesus awoke long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. They said, "Everyone is asking for you."
But he replied, "We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too, because that is why I came."
Mark 1: 35-38 (New Living Translation)Monday, February 06, 2006
Highly Esteemed
And the man said to me, "O Daniel, greatly loved of God, listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you." When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling with fear.
Then he said, "Don't be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.
Daniel 10: 11-12 (New Living Translation)
------------------------------
Daniel is "greatly loved" ; other translations say he is "highly esteemed". I notice that there are two characteristics of his life that are mentioned: he prayed for understanding and he humbled himself before God.
Boasting
23 This is what the LORD says:
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
"Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom
or the strong man boast of his strength
or the rich man boast of his riches,
24 but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,"
declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 9: 23-24 (New International Version) [emphasis added]
Being Churched to Being the Church
"What is the Church? It is a community of people who are each following Christ into his divine life and love here on earth. They are learning how to become by grace what Christ is by nature – the full and complete emptying of self in order to participate fully in God’s kingdom so as to be a redemptive force that recreates all aspects of life and creation (Philippians 2:5-16; Colossians 1:19; Romans 8:19-21). The Church is a group of Christ-followers who are sent as Jesus was sent (John 20:21). In this way, the Church is the continuation of Christ’s incarnation on earth.
These and other biblical aspects of the Church run counter to cultural Christianity and its addictive prepackaged consumerist version of the church. Being the Church is about who I am and who I am becoming as I follow Christ individually and in a community. Being the Church is becoming like Christ so together, I and other Christ-followers may continue his incarnation on and to the world.
A primary difference between being churched and being the Church is how I approach the community. Being churched assumes the organizational church is designed from the perspective that I am a consumer of religious goods and service. Therefore, I am expected to participate in the church’s programs chiefly to receive and consume. It’s the organization’s responsibility to program, coordinate and provide what I need for my spiritual satisfaction.
But being the Church requires me to take full responsibility to follow Christ and Christ alone into his life. I can't say this enough: We are to become by grace what Jesus is by nature. And he did not have an organization mediating his life and faith. He had a relationship with the Father by walking in the Spirit, expressed through a life of spiritual disciplines. Then he invites us to learn from him how to develop the same kind of intimate relationship with the Father in the same way (Matthew 11:27-30)."
Jason Zahariades, Detoxing from Church
--------------------------------
Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.
These and other biblical aspects of the Church run counter to cultural Christianity and its addictive prepackaged consumerist version of the church. Being the Church is about who I am and who I am becoming as I follow Christ individually and in a community. Being the Church is becoming like Christ so together, I and other Christ-followers may continue his incarnation on and to the world.
A primary difference between being churched and being the Church is how I approach the community. Being churched assumes the organizational church is designed from the perspective that I am a consumer of religious goods and service. Therefore, I am expected to participate in the church’s programs chiefly to receive and consume. It’s the organization’s responsibility to program, coordinate and provide what I need for my spiritual satisfaction.
But being the Church requires me to take full responsibility to follow Christ and Christ alone into his life. I can't say this enough: We are to become by grace what Jesus is by nature. And he did not have an organization mediating his life and faith. He had a relationship with the Father by walking in the Spirit, expressed through a life of spiritual disciplines. Then he invites us to learn from him how to develop the same kind of intimate relationship with the Father in the same way (Matthew 11:27-30)."
Jason Zahariades, Detoxing from Church
--------------------------------
Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. "The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Matthew 11:27-30 (The Message)
Belt of Truth
Use every piece of God's armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth ... . Ephesians 6:13-14a (New Living Translation)
------------------------
" .. we must note that the only spiritual weapon Paul list is the sword of the Spirit -- the Word of God. How appropriate to conclude by recognizing that the Word of God cannot be wielded apart from truthfulness in the life of the warrior. Spiritual duplicity will become immediately apparent if the Word of God is spoken from an insincere or impure heart.
Before thinking we are prepared to do battle with one as powerful as Satan we must be clothed with Christ ("I am the truth") and have a conscience cleansed by Christ (allowing the truth to discern "the thoughts and intents of the heart" Hebrews 4:16). Only then will the Enemy flee when we resist him."
David Jeremiah, Spiritual Warfare.
------------------------
" .. we must note that the only spiritual weapon Paul list is the sword of the Spirit -- the Word of God. How appropriate to conclude by recognizing that the Word of God cannot be wielded apart from truthfulness in the life of the warrior. Spiritual duplicity will become immediately apparent if the Word of God is spoken from an insincere or impure heart.
Before thinking we are prepared to do battle with one as powerful as Satan we must be clothed with Christ ("I am the truth") and have a conscience cleansed by Christ (allowing the truth to discern "the thoughts and intents of the heart" Hebrews 4:16). Only then will the Enemy flee when we resist him."
David Jeremiah, Spiritual Warfare.
Set aside garment
"We cannot become the image of Christ until we take off our garment and wash feet." Aaron in yesterday's sermon
----------------
Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. John 13: 3-5 (The Message)
----------------
Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. John 13: 3-5 (The Message)
I Know Where You Live
Monday, February 6, 2006
Do you sometimes feel like nobody really understands what you have to put up with? Nobody really knows what it's like to live in your shoes–in your world? In writing to the church in Pergamum , the Lord Jesus said through John, "I know where you live–where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name."
Jesus understands where you live, and He knows you and I are living our lives where Satan has his throne. Satan is temporarily in power, and we live and work right in the middle of his territory. It's analogous to living in a foreign land, where you speak a different language, have a totally different culture, and a completely alien set of values to everyone else.
But Jesus says, I know where you live–and work. Right in the midst of people who care nothing about spiritual things. They don't want to talk about Jesus, and what you find exciting and encouraging would bore many of them to death, because they're spiritually blind.
How do we live in that kind of world? Well, Jesus says we are to be in this world but not of it. So, we are not to allow the people of this world to pull us down to their level. Yet we are to be available and open to be their friends, to help them when we can, to spend time with them for edifying and harmless reasons.
Each of us has to p ray a lot and ask God how we draw these lines in our own lives. For example, if the conversation among your coworkers is almost always crude, immoral, degrading or negative, you probably don't want to voluntarily put yourself into those group gatherings. Admittedly, that could make you appear to be a loner, but if you have a loving attitude toward these people, you can still have an impact on some of them.
Usually we exert influence in one-on-one situations rather than group settings. So, look for ways to develop relationships with individuals and spend time getting to know them. People are more willing to be open one-on-one than in a group, so that may be one way to deal with this problem.
Since you live in enemy territory, don't be surprised to discover that those around you see life totally different because they don't have God's viewpoint. They are spiritually blind. But you must remain true to the name of Jesus. That's more important than anything else.
Remember Jesus knows where you live and He will be with you in your difficult work environment. So take heart, because He has overcome the world.Transcript, Christian Working Woman.
Boast About Nothing But the Cross
For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate.
Galatians 6:14 (The Message)
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" ... for redeemed sinners, every good thing -- indeed every bad thing that God turns for good -- was obtained for us by the cross of Christ. Apart from the death of Christ, sinners get nothing but judgment. Apart from the cross of Christ, there is only condemnation. Therefore everything that you enjoy in Christ -- as a Christian, as a person who trusts Christ -- is owing to the death of Christ. And all your rejoicing in all things should therefore be a rejoicing in the cross where all your blessing were purchased for you at the cost of the death of the Son of God, Jesus Christ." Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper, p. 51.
--------------------------------------
"My sin, O the bliss of this glorious tho't!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to his cross,
and I bear it no more; Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
O my soul!
It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul. "
Galatians 6:14 (The Message)
--------------------------------------
" ... for redeemed sinners, every good thing -- indeed every bad thing that God turns for good -- was obtained for us by the cross of Christ. Apart from the death of Christ, sinners get nothing but judgment. Apart from the cross of Christ, there is only condemnation. Therefore everything that you enjoy in Christ -- as a Christian, as a person who trusts Christ -- is owing to the death of Christ. And all your rejoicing in all things should therefore be a rejoicing in the cross where all your blessing were purchased for you at the cost of the death of the Son of God, Jesus Christ." Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper, p. 51.
--------------------------------------
"My sin, O the bliss of this glorious tho't!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to his cross,
and I bear it no more; Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
O my soul!
It is well (It is well) with my soul (with my soul)
It is well, it is well with my soul. "
Friday, February 03, 2006
I Am Free to Live for You
Go back and tell John what you have just seen and heard:
------------------------------------
I Am Free by Jan Egan
Through You the blind will see
Through You the mute will sing
Through You the dead will rise
Through You all hearts will praise
Through You the darkness flees
Through You my heart screams I am free
I am free to run
I am free to dance
I am free to live for You
I am free
----------------------------
The blind see,
The lame walk,
Lepers are cleansed,
The deaf hear,
The dead are raised,
The wretched of the earth
have God's salvation hospitality extended to them.
Luke 7:22 (The Message)------------------------------------
I Am Free by Jan Egan
Through You the blind will see
Through You the mute will sing
Through You the dead will rise
Through You all hearts will praise
Through You the darkness flees
Through You my heart screams I am free
I am free to run
I am free to dance
I am free to live for You
I am free
----------------------------
Filling Everything with His Presence
All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.
Ephesian 1: 20-23 (The Message)
----------------------------------
The world is peripheral to the church? Seems contradictory to what we might observe. Perhaps it is by allowing him to fill us with his presence so that we are "living our lives the way Jesus would live it if he were I" (Divine Conspiracy, p. 283) that this happens.
Ephesian 1: 20-23 (The Message)
----------------------------------
The world is peripheral to the church? Seems contradictory to what we might observe. Perhaps it is by allowing him to fill us with his presence so that we are "living our lives the way Jesus would live it if he were I" (Divine Conspiracy, p. 283) that this happens.
The Utter Extravagance of His Work in Us Who Trust Him
A prayer for you and a prayer for the church.
---------------------------------------------
That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, I couldn't stop thanking God for you--every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask--ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory--to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him--endless energy, boundless strength!
---------------------------------------------
That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, I couldn't stop thanking God for you--every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask--ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory--to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him--endless energy, boundless strength!
Ephesian 1:15-19 (The Message)
Possible
"Surrending is not an option if you plan to win a war -- or succeed in a marriage."
Strike the Original Match, p. 31.
Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Luke 18:27 (New International Version)
Strike the Original Match, p. 31.
Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Luke 18:27 (New International Version)
Thursday, February 02, 2006
God Is Faithful
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.
Lamentations 3:23 (New Living Translation)
Lamentations 3:23 (New Living Translation)
GOD CAUSES EVERYTHING TO WORK TOGETHER
Some of the most misunderstood words in the Bible are these: "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son." (Romans 8:28-29, NLT). Misunderstood because many of us read these words as, "God causes everything to work out the way we want it to." That is not what Paul says here. There are many unhappy endings. Only in heaven is everything done God's way!
Let's look at the verse phrase by phrase:
1. "To work together" Just as it takes many ingredients, including some not-so-nice tasting ones, to make a cake, it takes different experiences to make us like Christ
2. "For the good" Much that happens in our lives seems bad at the time, but as we trust God, He brings good out of it
3. "Of those who love God" All things don't work for good for us unless we love God and walk in obedience to Him
4. "And are called according to His purpose" What is God's ultimate purpose for us? To "become like His Son."
We are jewels being shaped by God with the hammer of experience. If a jeweler's hammer isn't strong enough to chip off our rough edges, God will use a sledgehammer. And if that doesn't work He will use a pneumatic drill. He uses everything to shape us!
No wonder James wrote:
"Under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors" (James 1:3).
(c)2006 Timothy L. Hudson, UGA Christian Campus Fellowship
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
God's Timing
"Do not interfere with the work on this temple of God… The expenses of these men are to be fully paid out of the royal treasury." — Ezra 6:7a, 8b
God can turn things around in amazing ways. Take the time the Israelites had been exiled for seventy-some years. Then, out of nowhere, the Lord stirred up Cyrus, the king of Persia, to send this scruffy bunch of exiles back to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple. Who would have dreamed it would happen that way? But the best was yet to come.
Rebuilding the temple wasn't easy. The Jewish refugees had enemies…threats were made… vandalism…the people became discouraged. Soon work on the temple ground to a halt.
Imagine how frustrating that was. God had seemingly opened the door for the Jews to rebuild the temple; yet everything was against them. The Israelites encountered nothing but opposition. Why would the Lord prevent that which He wanted?
Then came the turnaround. God sent two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to inspire the people to begin building again. Of course, the enemies were still hanging around. Those enemies, in an attempt to demoralize the people, wrote a letter to Darius, the new king of Persia, asking him to stop, once and for all, the building of the temple. But the letter backfired. Darius found the original decree from Cyrus, and the result was stunning: Darius wrote back that the enemies were to leave the work on God's house alone, and what's more, they were to pay the full cost of rebuilding out of their tax money.
Now you see why God had planned the setbacks. He did so to insure that the temple would not only be built but paid for!
Are you in the middle of some setback? Maybe God has opened a door only to slam it shut. Remember these words from an old hymn, "Judge not the Lord by what you sense, but trust Him for His grace…behind His frowning providence, He hides a smiling face."
Help me to believe, God, that behind Your seeming frown is Your smile of blessing.
JONI EARECKSON TADA, Devotional, January 31, 2006.
God can turn things around in amazing ways. Take the time the Israelites had been exiled for seventy-some years. Then, out of nowhere, the Lord stirred up Cyrus, the king of Persia, to send this scruffy bunch of exiles back to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple. Who would have dreamed it would happen that way? But the best was yet to come.
Rebuilding the temple wasn't easy. The Jewish refugees had enemies…threats were made… vandalism…the people became discouraged. Soon work on the temple ground to a halt.
Imagine how frustrating that was. God had seemingly opened the door for the Jews to rebuild the temple; yet everything was against them. The Israelites encountered nothing but opposition. Why would the Lord prevent that which He wanted?
Then came the turnaround. God sent two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to inspire the people to begin building again. Of course, the enemies were still hanging around. Those enemies, in an attempt to demoralize the people, wrote a letter to Darius, the new king of Persia, asking him to stop, once and for all, the building of the temple. But the letter backfired. Darius found the original decree from Cyrus, and the result was stunning: Darius wrote back that the enemies were to leave the work on God's house alone, and what's more, they were to pay the full cost of rebuilding out of their tax money.
Now you see why God had planned the setbacks. He did so to insure that the temple would not only be built but paid for!
Are you in the middle of some setback? Maybe God has opened a door only to slam it shut. Remember these words from an old hymn, "Judge not the Lord by what you sense, but trust Him for His grace…behind His frowning providence, He hides a smiling face."
Help me to believe, God, that behind Your seeming frown is Your smile of blessing.
JONI EARECKSON TADA, Devotional, January 31, 2006.
My Life
Make My Life A Prayer To You
by Keith Green
Make my life a prayer to You,
I want to do what you want me to,
No empty words and no white lies,
No token prayers, no compromise,
I want to shine the light you gave,
Through Your Son, you sent to save us,
From ourselves and our despair,
It comforts me to know you're really there.
by Keith Green
Make my life a prayer to You,
I want to do what you want me to,
No empty words and no white lies,
No token prayers, no compromise,
I want to shine the light you gave,
Through Your Son, you sent to save us,
From ourselves and our despair,
It comforts me to know you're really there.
Oh, I want to thank you now, for being patient with me,
Oh, it's so hard to see, when my eyes are on me,
I guess I'll have to trust and just believe what you say,
Oh, you're coming again, coming to take me away.
Oh, it's so hard to see, when my eyes are on me,
I guess I'll have to trust and just believe what you say,
Oh, you're coming again, coming to take me away.
I want to die, and let you give,
Your life to me, so I might live,
And share the hope you gave to me,
The love that set me free,
I want to tell the world out there,
You're not some fable or fairy tail,
That I made up inside my head,
You're God, The Son, you've risen from the dead.
Oh, I want to thank you now,
For being patient with me,
Oh, it's so hard to see,
When my eyes are on me,
I guess I'll have to trust,
and just believe what you say,
Oh, you're coming again,
Coming to take me away.
I want to die, and let you give,
Your life to me, so I might give,
And share the hope you gave to me,
I want to share the love that set me free.
Your life to me, so I might live,
And share the hope you gave to me,
The love that set me free,
I want to tell the world out there,
You're not some fable or fairy tail,
That I made up inside my head,
You're God, The Son, you've risen from the dead.
Oh, I want to thank you now,
For being patient with me,
Oh, it's so hard to see,
When my eyes are on me,
I guess I'll have to trust,
and just believe what you say,
Oh, you're coming again,
Coming to take me away.
I want to die, and let you give,
Your life to me, so I might give,
And share the hope you gave to me,
I want to share the love that set me free.
Shells?
"Consider a story from the February 1998 edition of the Reader's Digest, which tells about a couple who 'took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.' At first, when I read it I thought it might be a joke. A spoof on the American Dream. But it wasn't. Tragically, this was the dream: Come to the end of your life -- your one and only precious, God-given life -- and let the last great work of your life, before you give an account to your Creator, be this: playing softball and collecting shells. Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: 'Look, Lord. See my shells.' That is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. Over against that, I put my protest: Don't buy it. Don't waste your life.
....
This is virtually the mission statement of my life and the church I serve: 'We exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.' You don't have to say it like I say it ... . But whatever you do, find the God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated passion of your life, and find your way to say it and live for it and die for it. And you will make a difference that lasts. You will not waste your life."
Pages 46-47, Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper (Crossway).
....
This is virtually the mission statement of my life and the church I serve: 'We exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ.' You don't have to say it like I say it ... . But whatever you do, find the God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated passion of your life, and find your way to say it and live for it and die for it. And you will make a difference that lasts. You will not waste your life."
Pages 46-47, Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper (Crossway).
A mighty fortress is our God
This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Ephesians 6:12 (The Message)
--------------------------------
A fight to the finish? How will we do this?
---------------------------------
Ephesians 6:12 (The Message)
--------------------------------
A fight to the finish? How will we do this?
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side, the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he;
---------------------------------
1. A mighty fortress is our God,Martin Luther
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevaling.
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
2. Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabbaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.
3. And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
4. That word above all earthly powers,
no thanks to them, abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours,
thru him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill;
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever.
Famous One
But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse. Romans 1:19-20 (The Message)
------------------------
Chris Tomlin, "The Famous One" Lyrics
You are the Lord
The famous one
Famous one
Great is your name
In all the earth
The heavens declare
You're glorious, glorious
Great is your fame
Beyond the earth
------------------------
Chris Tomlin, "The Famous One" Lyrics
You are the Lord
The famous one
Famous one
Great is your name
In all the earth
The heavens declare
You're glorious, glorious
Great is your fame
Beyond the earth
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